Do You Use a Car Seat on a Plane with a 2 Yr Old?

We've never used one when my daughter was an infant. I did use one of those vests that the baby wears and that locks into my seat belt. Once my daughter was over the age of two, we just bought a seat for her so she could sit next to us.

We flew in October with our then 20 1/2 month old and did not use the car seat. We got him his own seat because we also had a 3-month-old. I felt we had much more room and it was easier to have him lay across dad's lap to nap. I also did not want to drag the seat through the airport with all the other stuff for two under two. We did not have to wait for them to bring out the seat after, it came out with the regular luggage.

WE tried to bring ours for our then 2yr old, dont' remember if it was United or American, the person at the gate checked it and it was not FAA approved so she wouldn't let us bring it aboard, so we checked it in and got it back at our destination. Our 2yr old did fine in the seat with the lap belt, and the portable dvd player :)

I just flew with my 2.5 yr old on Southwest, and she had her own seat. I did not bring the car seat. I will saw a god sent on the trip was bringing a portable DVD player. That kept her occupied for an hour.

Hi!

We've used a carseat with our two-year-old. It's kind of a pain, but they are safer if somthing (like turbulence) happens. those little seatbelts on the plane seats won't hold them very well! A friend is a flight attendant with American and she agrees with me. We have a Britax seat, which is FAA approved.

Good luck...bring lots for your little one to do and eat!

I've done both. The car seat can be a bit difficult to get on and off the plane. We just bought a harness that you can put on the back of the seats, for kids who have their own seat. It's called Kid Cares, and you can buy it from American Airlines. We used it in August for our 4 and 2 year olds.

We've used our car seat the last two times we flew with our 3 yr old. In my opinion, if you're bringing the carseat anyway, it's almost easier to bring it on with you and strap it in instead of gate checking it (then you have to wait for them to bring it up at the end, I'm always nervous it got left, etc.)

Also, my daughter sort of prefers it -- she's up a little more and can see out of the window and the carseat is familiar territory to her so she's a little more comfortable.

Every time we've taken the seat onboard with us it's been checked -- they just look for the little sticker on the side.

Have a good trip!
Aimee

Your carseat should say if it is FAA approved. I checked babiesrus.com and couldn't find any that say. I too have a Britax and it says that it is FAA approved on the seat and the box. The FAA has to approve the seat for you to use it to fly. I was told that the booster seats are NOT FAA approved b/c they could snap with a crash. The convertibles do much better.

they sleep so much better with one
then it won't be damaged in the compartment either
if you are bringing a stroller check it at the gate that way when you get off its right there and less chance of damage being put in that compartment in my opinions

I have flown many, many times with my children. It is easiest and probably safest to have them in their (car)seat. Do make sure it is FAA approved so you don't have to check it. One time they checked mine and only then did I realize it wasn't FAA approved. So I had a lovely flight of a crying, whining child who did not want to stay in her seat or on my lap. She kept taking off the lap belt because that was great fun. Now the youngest is 3 and flies much better sitting in the lap belt belt but 2 year olds just don't understand the buckle isn't a play thing.
Happy Flying!!

YES!!!! I would assume you still have your 2 year old in a harnessed convertible seat. Bring that on the plane and install it using the lapbelt. Boosters/belt positioner seats may not be used on planes, since there is only a lapbelt. But, I would continue to bring any harnessing carseat onto a plan for my child.

In the event of a crash or bad turbulence, a lapbelt will not be enough to protect your toddler. Please read this article: http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3793966&page=1