To Carseat or Not to Carseat? Airplane Traveling and your Toddler

Flying with a toddler soon?  What about that carseat?  Do you check it or bring it on the plane?

These are some questions every parent asks when flying with a toddler.  This topic has come up a couple of times to me recently so I really wanted to explore it further.  To clarify further, today we are discussing options for a toddler (2 years +) that you have to buy an airplane seat for, regardless if you want a carseat or not.

So what really are the pros and cons?

My travels:

In my experience, we have flown with a toddler carseat for our 2 year old so she would sleep during her naptime.  She was the type who would only sleep when left alone and it worked like a charm. I personally found it difficult to get the seat on/off the plane because of the small aisles, and in addition to the other carry-on bags.  Our carseat also didn’t allow us to use the seat table in front of my child because the carseat made her lap too high.

The next problem came when connecting to a next flight.  I found it difficult to transport everything to the next gate.  Once, traveling by myself with an infant and a toddler, I had a stroller, infant carseat, and a toddler booster plus a carry on bag…way too much stuff!

Every time after that flight, we really preferred to check the carseat and found it much easier.  You have the access to the table, and your toddler has a little freedom. Granted that comes with a slightly bouncy child, but make sure you pack some fun things to do!

If traveling for an extremely long flight however, I might reconsider bringing the carseat so a toddler could sleep.  It is interesting to note that on our overnight flight back from Kauai, I did not see any families with carseats.

Pros and Cons:

So, the pros that I see for bringing the carseat for a toddler:

–familiar seat to your toddler

–better restraint

–easier to sleep

–no bouncy toddler

–safer for child

Cons:

–no access to tray table

–lug between plane connections

–hard to transport on/off plane

Have you decided to bring it?  Make sure you know the Airplane regulations:

Carseats must have “Airplane approved” on the side.  The FAA does not allow booster seats with no approval label or no shoulder harness.  Make sure you know your airline’s policy, especially if you are traveling overseas and using partner airlines.  International airlines in particular have special regulations for carseats.

Other options to make things easier:

1.  Try an airplane restraint system.  One example is CARES Child Aviation Restraint System, a harness approved by the FAA for toddlers 22-44 pounds.

Keep in mind that because the CARES system is the only system approved, you will not be allowed to use other kinds during taxi, take-off, and landing.  They are however, welcomed in the air.

2. Try something to help transport the carseat between gates, like the Traveling Toddler Carseat Travel Accessory

or

3.  Use a travel cart you can strap the carseat to, like the Britax Car Seat Travel Cart for connecting flights and transport in the airport.

4.  Buy or borrow a carseat that is approved for the plane and either has an attachment for a snack table, or is low enough to allow the tray table to come down.

One example is the Radian RXT.  This carseat folds and has a lower profile.  User reviews say they love using them on the plane, but it is very heavy.

Please share if you’ve used a carseat on the plane for a toddler or decided against it.  Hot topic to learn about!  Make sure you also take our poll on facebook.  Thank you!