What is the easiest way to use a car seat on an airplane - I'll be traveling by myself with a 2-year-old?

Question

This is my first time travelling with my daughter since she is too big to be a lap child. I understand that I need to use a carseat on the plane, plus I will be renting a car at my destination, so I need a seat anyway. But I will be parking, taking a shuttle, going through security getting on the plane with no help. How can I carry everything I need plus my daughter? Should I buy one of those carseat/strollers? Can anyone recommend one? Or is there a better system? Help!

Answer 1

I have flown many times with my daughter with no one else with me and I can tell you, it is not required for you to have her in a car seat on the plane. Many car rental places have car seats that you can rent, but if you really want to take your own I would check it as luggage and not fool with it on the plane. That is what I always did, even when she was an infant, just make sure you bring a super size clear plastic garbage bag to put the car seat in or it will be NASTY when you get it in baggage claim. Some airlines have car seat bags, but it's good to bring 2 (one for the trip home don't forget) with you just in case.

OK, now for luggage, try to keep it to one suitcase and one carry on, and the car seat of course. Pack your empty purse and diaper bag, unless you have a big enough one to use as your carry on, in your suitcase. It will be sooo much easier to just keep up with one bag on the airplane. Also, if you think you can manage, bring a small stroller, you won't have to worry about your kiddo trying to wander off while you're in the airport and they will check it for you at the plane. Once you have checked your luggage, and the people that run the shuttle will be able to help you get everything on and off the shuttle itself, you won't have that much to worry about. People do tend to go out of their way to help parents traveling alone with their children, or at least that was always my case. Good luck and make sure you have something for your daughter to chew or suck on for take off and landing, my daughter always likes the chewy fruit snacks.

Answer 2

Traveling with a toddler is not fun, no matter what you buy. Give yourself plenty of time to get through security. Remember that you can have the carseat and stroller and check them in at the gate when you get on the plane (so the stroller goes under the plane and the carseat would go with you). They have carrying cases for the carseats in many stores and they do work very well. You can also check on Ebay for them as they might be less expensive. Not sure how much you travel or how much use you will get out of it, so you might not want to get anything too expensive. Get a backpack for all of your stuff. It doesnt have to be made for 'babies', i used the one i had for college so it was less expensive and i just used baggies to seperate the foods, brushes, wipes, etc and organize it (since they dont have all the pockets that the baby bags have). I used a small carry bottle cooler to put his cups of milk in and then all i had to do was take that litlte bag out for security and not emptyt the whole backpack.
As you must already know..... bring lots of things to do on the plane and lots of snacks.
Good luck....

Answer 3

I haven't flown with my children yet..and KUDOS to your for having the guts to it! :)
I did read in Parenting Mag. once that you should be able to board the plane earlier then the other passengers, this will allow you more time to install the car-seat. I can't confirm that you don't have to use one...call the airline and ask. I think you do have a choice...but do you want to try to keep a wiggly two year old in a lap-belt the whole trip? But that answer depends on your patients and your child's temperament. You may be lucky and have a toddler that can handle it.
Is there anyone that can drive you to the airport to help you check your bags....OR can you do curb side baggage check and then go park the car? I'm not sure how that works, but if you can it would definitely open up some hands for you.
Good luck and safe traveling!

Answer 4

#1 - Kudos to you for realizing the importance of her being in a car seat on the airplane. Please do NOT listen to people telling you don't need one, or worse, that its safer without. It most certainly is not!! If she is 2, they will not require one, but who cares? You want what is safe, and generally speaking rules outline only the bare minimum in what is safe/unsafe.

If you are having any doubts about whether you need a car seat or not, check this out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=rC4Q3ofz7SI
And:
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=17873&highlight=airplane

Also, checking a car seat is almost asking for it to be damaged - you've seen the way they often handle luggage. Now remember that if your car seat is thrown or dropped hard, the manufacturers say it has to be replaced!!

They make a wheel/handle device you attach to a car seat so you can pull it through the airport easily. Its not exactly cheap, though, unless you can find one on eBay. There are also carrying devices that turn your seat into a backpack.
"Cheeky Monkey Pac Back" turns your seat into a backpack you can carry through.
"Gogo Kidz Universal Travelmate" hooks to your seat so you can wheel your seat through, BONUS: the child can ride inthe seat while you wheel it through the airport! No escaping child running around the airport when you're in a hurry.
"Safe Fit Car Seat Cover N Carry" is a car seat bag that you can carry as a backpack or use the wheels. Do internet searches on these different products and you will find places that sell them. If you need it cheaper, check craigslist.com and eBay and amazon.

Use a sling to carry your daughter, use a large carry-on backpack for the stuff you'll need. Get an airport cart. There's lots of solutions, just figure out which works best. It won't be easy exactly, but not difficult either. At 2 years old, she's way to old and too big to fit into an infant seat that comes with a stroller. And a stroller is just one more thing to take. If you are taking a stroller already, sometimes you can find a way to balance the car seat on it, but then your daughter can't ride in it.

Check out this thread at a car seat forum, it has a pic in it of a child in his car seat, on a luggage cart. It worked perfectly.
http://www.car-seat.org/showthread.php?t=17830&highlight=airplane

Answer 5

I was a Flight Attendant for two years. If you want to take the car seat on the plane it will be inspected by the gate agent, who will make sure it meets FAA criteria to be in the cabin. There should be a sticker on the side of the car seat that tells you (usually in red print) "This car seat is approved for use in all passenger vehicles and aircraft". As soon as you get to your gate tell the gate agent that you will need to pre-board because you have a toddler and a car seat, you can even request assistance. I recommend getting to the airport as early as possible and making sure you have a way to carry your luggage, toddler, and car seat through the airport.

I have attached a pro and con article about car seats on airplanes. Best wishes!

Answer 6

You don't have to use a carseat for her on the plane. The carseat strollers look nice, and that would probably be easiest. I've always just checked my carseat and taken the child onto the plane without it. Made it much easier trying to get through the airport.

Answer 7

There is no easy way to use a car seat on a plane. If you think you can get by without carrying it on, then I suggest doing so. Most airports have the cart things you can rent to help push all of your items from one place to the next. I used these on my trip. I also thought as long as the child was 2 or younger, they could still sit in your lap during the plane ride.

Answer 8

Check out the One Step Ahead (.com) site. They have some products that may help you!

I have never been on a plane alone with a toddler, so I can not offer any real advice-sorry. Have a safe trip, though!

Answer 9

I would recommend 2 things--1, get a portable car seat, here's my fav, Eddie Bauer Portable Car Seat.
And 2, get a backpack type carrier for your daughter--one that can easily be folded and tucked away into a bag.
Oh, and one other thing--be sure your carryon bag has wheels.

Answer 10

I have a three yr old son and I have been flying with him since he was born...i have always flown by myself with him and probably flown over a dozen times....If you really feel the need to use a car seat in flight...buy the cheapest light weight one you can find. (Safe of course) Because if you have a lay over but your first flight was running late...it is very hard to run with a kid and a car seat. To be honest with you though it is actually safer to fly without one. If there was an emergency in flight...it is time consuming to get the child out of the seat especially if you were panicked.....Good luck to you...its usually quite nice flying because i have noticed my son always falls asleep from the hum of the plane...and my son HATES to sleep!!