Airplane Travel with 3 year old

[jennifer1143]

I am taking my first flight with my just 3 year old DS. Can I take him on an airplane without a carseat? I was hoping to not have to lug his Marathon through 2 airports. What are my options? Do I carry on my stroller or carseat or what? Thanks - I'm really confused!

Jennifer

Drew 7/2/03

[stillplayswithbarbies]

The FAA says children should be 40 pounds to ride without a car seat and use the regular airplane seatbelt.

[momtoB]

Hi,
Just thought I would post a couple of helpful links:

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/ Flying with Children blog put together my a former FA of 13yrs who travels frequently w/her 3 children.

http://www.cpsafety.org/articles/airplanetravel.aspx Air travel and child safety site with tips on installing car seat on airplanes.

http://bbs.babycenter.com/board/baby/babysafety/9421/thread/2913982?i=0&_loopback=1#go] Carseat/Luggage roller combo w/pics. Just thought you (or others reading this) might find this tip helpful!

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ FAA tips for parents using a CRS

hth!

[ppshah]

We recently traveled with our 3 yo. Here's how we do it:

DS in stroller. Diaper bag hanging on stroller. Car seat over my shoulder. I would recommend taking a carseat-we have a touriva-I've never traveled with our marathon. Gate check the stroller. Good luck- DS loves flying he's a pro and loves the airport!

[lzydogrnch]

When DS was an infant we traveled without the carseat. This helped with feeding etc. However, the last time we flew-DS was 1 1/2. He was all over the place. Mostly laying on the floor of the plane. Now that he's 2 I will definetly travel with his carseat. It's a big pain, but i will keep him in his seat and hopefully happy! If you're traveling with someone else, have them board early and secure the seat. You and baby board last. That way he doen't get too restless waiting. Good Luck!

[stillplayswithbarbies]

The scariest thing I have ever seen on an airplane was an 18 month old who wriggled out of his mother's arms and ran down the aisle of the plane just as we were about to land. The flight attendant unbuckled her own seatbelt, ran down the aisle, grabbed the child, gave him back to the mother and said "hold him TIGHT!!", ran back to her seat and fastened her seatbelt just seconds before we touched down.

Had that toddler still been in the aisle when we touched down and the pilot kicked on the brakes and reversed engine, the toddler would have been thrown to the front of the plane at hundreds of miles per hour and been killed. And probably killed or severely injured the flight attendent as well since her seat was rear facing at the front of the aisle.