Flying With or Without the Car Seat
The last time that we flew with my daughter was around this time last year. She was still under 2, so she sat in one of our laps the entire time. This year, she no longer qualifies for lap-baby status, as she is now over two and looks like a four year old. I can only imagine how uncomfortable it would be if she had to sit in my lap for an extended period of time on a long trip now in such a confined space. We are off soon for a little trip to the San Francisco area and I’m wondering if I should check her car seat in or if I should bring it on the plane and strap her into it.
Do kids have an easier time sitting for a couple of hours on an airplane if they are strapped into their car seat? I’m thinking that it might help to keep her contained since she’s used to sitting in it already, whereas if she’s in her own seat without her car seat, she may just want to hop out of it and onto our laps. Talk about achy legs and a long trip! What do you do when you fly with your young one? Any tips on keeping kids entertained while traveling?
June 15th, 2009 at 9:06 am
We have flown both with and without a car seat and honestly the easiest way is to check the car seat. Our son (who is VERY active) liked feeling like an adult so much that he pretty much stayed in his seat the entire flight. He did want to get up and stretch his legs a bit, and once you are in the air it’s fine to let them up. Also, have her go potty before you get on the plane, because once she discovers the bathroom you will end up making the trip down the isle the rest of the flight.
Entertainment=anything NEW! games, movies, music, ect.
June 15th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Take it! Do you have one already where you are going? We usually are going to need it at our final destination anyhow (and paying the rental fee is never fun), so we figure why not use it on the plane. There are some great little hook-ons (we used Tote a Tot/cheap and easy) that you can use to lug the thing around. The Tote a Tot was great for hooking up to the carry-on roller, and it allowed Kaelan to sit down and ride through long walks in airports. For really light travel, those booster seats work great. Happy travels!
June 15th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Hey Catherine!
Jennifer here, from the Pflugerville moms meetup group.
When we flew to Austin, I chose to do it without carseats just because they weren’t required and I was traveling alone with the boys. It may have made them a little more comfortable in that they’re used to the carseat, but I think it would have been a big pain to carry them.
As far as entertainment-about a week before the flight, I bought a movie that was deemed the in-flight movie. We didn’t open it until we were on the airplane, and I did the best I could to hype it up, so they were excited to see it by the time travel day came (they were also excited that I got them each their very own set of headphones). I also got them crayons (the Melissa and Doug triangle-shaped ones are great–no rolling!) and new coloring books and some snacks.
I hope you have a great trip!
Jennifer
June 15th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
when i flew with livie by myself around this time last year, i didn’t take her car seat on the plane. i couldn’t handle carrying it, pushing her stroller, and carrying carryon items. it worked out great…much better than when we’d flown with her car seat (after she was walking anyway). i “boxed” her into the window seat and as soon as the seatbelt signs were off, she hopped down to stand/jump/dance/wiggle on the floor space in front of her seat. she used her seat as a table for snacks, toys, and drawing. she huddled up on the floor to play with some of her toys, too.
we are flying with both kiddos in a few weeks, and we didn’t buy a seat for quinn. i am super NOT STOKED about flying with the most wiggly/bouncy/flappy/hair-pulling baby in my lap for 4 hours. but, it would have cost us a fortune to buy him a seat, too, and we would have had to sit in separate rows – one parent with each child. at least this way, when he’s mashed my legs/arms/shoulders to a pulp and pulled all my hair out, i can pass him to dad ;-p