My husband and I are taking a trip to Maine with our only son to visit my very best Friend of many years in late September. We will be flying out of SF to DC then a 1.5 hr hop to Maine. Similiar trip home.
My questions are: Is it necessary for me to have my son sit in a car seat on the flight? My son weighs about 38lbs and he's aaprox 3'4" in height...he is also pretty well behaved and I think he will do fine with the lap belt. However, I want him to be as safe as possible. If we don't have him sit in the car seat during the flight I am still going to need a car seat when we get to Maine. What kind of booster/car seat should I get for my trip? Has anyone else had experience with long air travel with younger children, layovers, etc.? I am greatful for any advice you moms may have.
Went to Hawaii when my son was 4. Just took the simple booster seat and all was fine. Simpler is better!
If it were me and I could afford it, I would get him his own seat and check the carseat. It would be more comfortable for you all, and that is a lengthy trip. Also, if the airline doesn't have the mini tv's in the seats, they usually give them out for 5 bucks each. They are a Godsend. Bring lots of boxed snacks for him too.
We go to NY about once a year with my child/children. My oldest who is only 3 has been a few times. We went just a few months ago and this is the first time we didn't make her a lap child because we have our other daughter. My older daughter has always done amazing on flights and this time was no exception. She didn't have a car seat and was okay with putting on her seat belt. We had a DVD player and some of those color wonder books with the markers that only color on the paper and she had a great time with those. The first flight with children is always a wonder-hope you have a good flying experience!!
At 4.5 I'd check in the car seat. Boosters generally are not FAA approved. If you want you could try the CARES harness. I've never used it, but it may relieve your mind. If he can sit still for a while by being occupied by snacks, coloring, dvds, etc., he'll be fine. If you don't want to mess with the booster on the airplane, see if your friend can find a booster for him. That way there is one waiting for him on the other side. Some car rental places rent out car seats. They may rent out boosters as well.
I've travelled with my then 4 year old to Hawaii (a 5 hour flight) and she was fine in the lap belt. I'm planning to go again in a few months and I know she will be fine with the lap belt. She is currently 5. I also have a booster waiting for me at the other end so I don't have to worry about the booster or haul it in the airport.
Hi M.,
I would check with the airlines first, sometimes they have guidelines for children and car seats. If they allow boosters then he can still be comfortable and safe. They are small and pretty affordable too! I wish you the best of luck, it sounds like an amazing trip!!
Hope that helps,
C.
Making my home safer for my girls and helping moms work from home!!
http://www.AtHome4MyGirls.com
Nah on the car seat if he's 4.5 yrs old. I would bring a booster seat since he still needs one for any car travel you do, but not a big car seat, you'll already have your hands full with luggage plus your son's hands. Enjoy!!
My son LOVES flying. Probably because we flew quite a bit when he was under 2 & still free but after that, we haven't flown as much and he pouts whenever we take a car trip rather than fly. (He's 7 now)
Bring a small backpack that your son can carry/wear filled with different activities such as colorwonder markers, magnadoodle, a few books that are good at holding his attention, a few toys (preferably without small parts that come apart and get lost) that he plays with well, a cuddly toy or blanket -- really, you know your son, you know what he can sit and play with for 30+ mins at a time. Bring that. but not the whole toy chest, of course! Some planes, like JetBlue, have a TV at every seat, so that might hold his attention some of the time as well.
Snacks/drinks/gum(if your little one can handle it) are great on takeoff/landing since the motion of the jaw helps relieve pressure in the ear. Window seats (not directly over the wings) are great entertainment when you can see the airport crew and luggage going in/out of the plane. :-)
Take advantage of layovers to walk walk walk. Some airports have a great kids play area, but whether DC has one or not, walk around! Find windows to look out of, the airport is such an interesting place! Don't spend it sitting when you still have another flight to get on, or he'll (want to) be kicking and jumping on the plane.
So many great suggestions already listed, however after flying from Michigan to Hawaii & back and forth a few times, I would also suggest noise reducing ear muffs. I purchased some for a truck show we went to and found they help for sleeping while on the plane as well as dealing with air pressure changes. The best part is when your son is wearing them, he can still hear enough to respond. You can usually get them at a sports store that carries hunting or shooting items. I ordered mine online.
One other thing: be sure to let your son run & jump & exhaust himself before you board the plane. You may also consider carrying a bit of drammamine with you just in case. My doc suggested it to me, however it wasn't needed, but it was nice to have for peice of mind. Good luck & enjoy your trip!
Most airlines will allow you to check your carseat/booster seat like luggage for free. I would however cover it at least with a plastic bag. We have had minor rips to our seats fabric during travel and the airlines are not responsible for damage. Some airlines provide a plastic bag for you for that purpose. That said, I would have your child use the airplane seat without a car seat. We tried a car seat once for our then 3+ year old child and when the person in front of us reclined their seat there was no room left for my childs legs due to her elevated position with her car seat. So ended upholding her in my lap for most of the 5 hour flight. Even without the seat in front reclined my daughter had to sit very still or her feet kicked into the passengers seat in front of her very easily.
You can adjust the planes lap belt to secure your child in his seat. So my experience has been that checking the car seat is much more comfortable for all.
I will also second that a portable dvd player certainly comes in handy if you have access to one.
Hi there,
We traveled on an airplane w/our twins when they were just a year old, so at the time they were both lap children, which wasn't entirely fun...but we brought their carseats & just checked them like luggage to use in the rental car. It's easier & less expensive to have your own carseat/booster than to rent one or buy a new one altogether, whether you'll have a rental car or if someone is picking you up in a car.
My twins are 4 now & we are planning to fly again w/them either this coming Nov-09 or Feb-10 & we definately plan to bring their booster seats if not for the plane, definately for the rental car. Now whether it is required that children under a certain age/weight need to be in a carseat/booster on the plane, you'd have to check w/your airline, but an alternative to having the seat on the plane as opposed to checking it would be to use a CARE harness. I think it's somewhere in the $70 range give or take, so a little pricey, but it's for safety & from what I've heard, it's specifically made for airline seats. Again it depends on the airline, as some may not allow it & may require actual carseats/boosters. Regardless of what you are allowed to have on the plane though, you should definately at least bring your carseat/booster for the car after the plane ride, as I don't think your son is at the age/weight yet that would allow him to not have to use a booster. One of my 4 yr old twins is 46 lbs & 3'6" tall & he still needs to be in a booster.
Hope this helps!
