Anonymous wrote:I am a car seat safety nazi, so ignore this advice if you want. Checking the car seat isn’t safe, you have no idea how much happens to it while checked. Nor is renting the seat, same idea but you don’t know if it’s been in an accident. I have a 3yo. I have a travel car seat, graco contender, that I also have straps that hook it to the suitcase with. I just travelled alone, with kid, car seat and suitcase. Total pain in the arse, but not really that awful. I used the seat on the plane, easiest to install with seat belt extender.

Gate checking the seat gets around these (unfounded, I think) concerns about 5e seat being damaged while checked.

I am a car seat safety nazi, so ignore this advice if you want. Checking the car seat isn’t safe, you have no idea how much happens to it while checked. Nor is renting the seat, same idea but you don’t know if it’s been in an accident. I have a 3yo. I have a travel car seat, graco contender, that I also have straps that hook it to the suitcase with. I just travelled alone, with kid, car seat and suitcase. Total pain in the arse, but not really that awful. I used the seat on the plane, easiest to install with seat belt extender.

The Scenera Next is great; if your 3 yo is near the 40 lb/40” limits, Evenflo Sureride has also been great.

I would not take a 3 yo on the plane without a carseat.

If you will need a car seat when you arrive, just bring a lightweight one with you and use it on the plane. It's not recommended to check car seats, and my kids always did much better on cross-country flights when they were in car seats at that age. It will cost you more to rent the car seat than to just buy a Cosco Scenera Next. They're super light--we just set it in our stroller and it's easy to push around.

OP, you don’t need a CARES harness for a 3 year old. My 34
lb 2 1/2 year old (well closer to 3) recently flew with just a lap belt and it was fine. Agree with checking the car seat for free. I wouldn’t rent one because you have no idea if it’s been in an accident, has been vomited in, etc.

Cosco scerenas cost $30 at Walmart and are easy to carry. If legroom is tight through seat kicking could be an issue.

Don’t. It sounds like a good idea but isn’t.

Cares harness not needed for a 3 yr old. Lap belt is enough to keep them contained. I never used mine after 2 yrs. old.

OP here. Didn't know it was free to check in a car seat! I think we will go that route, and I will ask around and see if anyone I know has a CARES harness I can borrow. Thanks all for the responses!!

If it was me- no I wouldn’t bring it on board. I would just check it. I have done that several times with my three year old twins and it works out well.

At 3yo we started checking the seat. We have a cheap lightweight seat for travel (maestro). Renting for 3-4 days costs as much as a seat.

Check your car seat. They make car seat bags that will keep it safe, and it is free to check a car seat.

Anonymous wrote:CARES harness for the 3 yo. Rent a car seat when you get there. Pain the butt to travel with car seat.

Thanks, yes I was afraid it might be a pain in the butt. I've seen others try to travel with their car seats, and it looked like a pain. Unfortunately, I won't be able to get a CARES harness in time before we leave for our trip. And the car seat rental is $72 for the week, so it's not cheap, but I guess may be worth the hassle.

CARES harness for the 3 yo. Rent a car seat when you get there. Pain the butt to travel with car seat.

I'm relatively inexperienced traveling with young children. Should I bring a car seat on a plane trip to west coast for our 3 year old? We are not bringing one for our 6 year old, but not sure what we should do for our 3 year old. We have one stop over. And we are renting a car, so we would need a car seat once we arrive. We will probably pack a blow up booster seat for our 6 year old. We also plan to bring a stroller. The other option is to forget about car seats on the airplane, and just rent a car seat from the car rental place.

And would really appreciate any other pro tips for traveling with a 3 and 6 year old!