Toddler safety on planes - car seats etc.

0scar

Hi,

We're flying in three weeks to the states with our 18-month who's already going through the "terrible twos" (!), and need some advice - has anyone brought their car seat to use on the plane (ours is a britax first class SI); anyone any thoughts on this, or experienced any difficulties in safely attaching a seat to the lap belt? Don't want to rely on the lap belt for her. It's going to be a difficult enough 7-hour trip, and any advice would be appreciated.:(

robinph

You only need to keep them strapped in during the take-off and landing, or if it gets a bit bumpy during the flight, they will take the seat off you and put it in the hold once to get to the plane anyway.

0scar

Thanks for your reply Robin, why do you think they'd take the seat off you if its one that fits, despite possibly not being FAA approved? from my reading a lot of people are using them on long-haul flights these days. Even I keep the lapbelt loosely closed during a flight, and my daughter is too small to be adequately protected by that.

shrapnel222

you won't get a seat for your daughter, she will be on your lap for the entire flight and you'll get a seat belt to attach around her waist and attach to yours. children only get their own seat when over the age of 2 and you pay for them. the car seat would be of no use to you whatsoever

0scar

Hi Shrapnel;
I have booked a seat for her - she's way too heavy to sit on my knee for 7 hours! Why else would I bring the car seat?!:D

shrapnel222

lol, fair enough, i had no idea you could do that. i would suggest then that you phone the airline and agree it with them, as only they will be able to give you permission or not. i've never seen it done personally, and the thought of carrying that monster of a chair around with me in the airport would put me off the idea pretty quickly

robinph

Even though you have paid for the seat I'd expect the flight crew to insist on you having the child on your lap for take-off/ landing though. During the flight though it's more a case of keeping the kid amused than worrying about how secure they are in the seat, unless its just the need to stop them running up and down the cabin. Stick the kid in the window seat though and they will not be able to get out anyway.

0scar

Thanks guys, I have phoned Continental (i know, i know, but they're cheaper than Aer lingus), and they're spectacularly unhelpful, no surprise. We'll see what happens.

robinph

Oh, and the reason I'd expect them to take the seat off you, and also to have to have the kid on your lap, during the take-off/ landing is to do with random objects flying about the cabin in the event of it getting bumpy. The car seat is unlikely to be able to be secured adequately to the aircraft seat and if the kid is too small/ light then they will need the addition of you holding them on your lap rather than just the regular lap belt to stop them flying about the place.

TequilaMockingBird

Would you try the little baby reins type things? For take off and landing baby will be on your knee (ask them for a baby belt to attach to yours). Then the regular seat belt would be fine for the rest of the flight.

When he/she gets restless you could have a wander up and down the aisle using the reins, at least then if they are unsteady you can control any falls etc.

Good luck!

mrs.marchese

Im in the same situation at the moment!
Im flying to new york with continental with my toddler (22months)..

I'd love to hear how you got on with bringing the carseat on and securing it etc..no probs with it not being faa approved?
Also whats wrong with continental? haha.. ive never had a problem with them? just curious why you said 'i know i know'!

Anyway, id appreciate it if you would reply on here or send me an email <snip>
Thanks!