Flying with Kids About This Page:

[jbell412]

any suggestions for flying with a 3 yr old and a 20 month old when we take our first trip in May 2010 ? I know I need a seat for the 3 yr old but do we need the "cares" device ? Can the 20 month old sit on our laps ?

[Mom2Stitchy&theDQ]

The 20 month old will be able to sit in your lap, any child under 2 can do this. I always purchased a seat for my son when I started flying with both him and my daughter who is 2 yrs older. It made it so much easier to take the car seat on the plane and have my hands free a lot of the time. I know now though there are more restrictions to which car seats you can take on planes. If you are doing this check with the airline.

Bring lots of snacks and toys that won't easily roll away like anything that is round (crayons) or has wheels (matchbox cars). When they drop they roll several isles away and can be difficult to retrieve.

Good luck!!

[Colexis Mom]

We started flying with DS when he was 15 months (DD was 4 at the time). We purchased a seat for him and brought his car seat. Yes, it was a pain, but he was comfortable in his seat, it lifted him up higher so he could look out the window (car seats should go in the window seat) and it confined him. I can't imagine having him on top of me for the 3 hour flight!

We brought lots of snacks, and "toys" to keep them occupied. I think the thing he liked best was playing with Cheerios!

[feonag]

My girls are 13 months apart and we flew with them when they were 1 and 2. They shared 1 airline seat in the middle between my hubby and I. We took their blankets and they slept thru most of the flight. I am lucky my girls are great travelers, one lady asked if I had drugged them on the plane LOL but it was during their nap time and they just fell asleep. Snacks and new little toys are a must also.

[EddieCVS]

They should both be free to fly.From what I remember we did not pay for my daughter until she was three. If your flight isn't long I would hold them, our flight is only three hour. Otherwise I'd get an extra seat.

[EddieCVS]

Sorry misread the age of the three year old. I would definatly hold the younger child. You have the three seats in the aisle, you have room to spread out a little. Plus your flight shouldn't be much longer than ours, Jersey isn't far from you at all.

[Griffin]

Just to add, you don't need a seat for your 3 year old. Though it can prove to be a benefit to you if you want one. DS started flying with us at a little under 2 and we never personally used a car seat. It's up to you if you think it would be beneficial to lug one but keep the kids in one spot most of the flight.

Good luck!

[eff051102]

We always buy a seat for our DD who is now 2yo. With the squirming and
wanting to move around it's just easier to have her in her own carseat and in
her own seat. Also we have experienced some bad flights (storms) and with
all the turb. I couldn't imagine having her on my lap.

This is a personal choice and only you can make it. Good luck!

[ChristineJ]

We have 4 children ages 5,3 and twins that are 1. We have been flying with our 4 from about 3 months old. We are military and lived in Germany. I say bring lots of snacks and toys just as PP said. The 20 month old can sit on your lap. We are holding our twins this trip in 2 weeks and last trip they were 8 months and we held them again. I just like to save $$ but when they are *of age* and require a seat I will then purchase it. I don't mind holding them. Everyone has their own prefrences

[Dave Marx]

Just to add, you don't need a seat for your 3 year old.

Lap carrying is limited to children under 2 years of age. All children 2 and over must have their own seat. The airline will refuse you boarding unless you have a ticket for a child 2 or over, and it'll be a whole lot more expensive to buy another seat at the airport (if one is available) than to buy one in advance.

While the FAA does not require child safety restraints for children under 2, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB, the organization that investigates all airline accidents) strongly disagrees with the FAA's position. Associations of flight attendants, pediatricians, and safety advocacy groups also disagree with the FAA. The FAA's reasoning is that, if they required parents to buy seats for children under 2, more families will choose to drive, and everyone knows driving is more dangerous than flying. Personally, I think that's faulty reasoning. The FAA should be concerned about the safety of every passenger who does fly, rather than risk the safety of the smallest, most precious passengers in order to encourage others to fly rather than drive. One of the scariest comments I've heard came from a flight attendant, who said that in the case of a crash/rough landing, a lap-carried child becomes the equivalent of an air bag for the parent holding him/her. Further, while a parent will be trying to grasp their child securely during take-off and landing, they're much less likely to be holding them securely during the rest of the flight. In the case of unexpected, severe turbulence, small children (as well as anything/anyone else not tied down) have been known to go flying around the cabin (that's why the airlines advise everyone to keep their seat belts fastened at all times, even when the seat belt light is off). While the chance of that happening is quite low, considering all the other low-probability risks we pay attention to when our children are involved, it's worth considering this, too.

Although the FAA does not require child safety restraints, it still recommends them. Here's the relevant page from the FAA site: Child Safety on Airplanes

Jennifer and I have also gone on record on many occasions urging parents to purchase seats and use appropriate safety restraints for smaller children.

Most child car seats sold today for children under 44 lbs. are certified for use on planes, so that probably won't be a problem. The FAA web page tells you where to look on your car seat for the certification. Some of the wider car seats may not fit between the arm rests on Coach seats. Generally, they need to be 16 inches wide or less to fit.

Jennifer and I have also used and endorse the CARES device, but it is optional. When your toddler gets larger (22-44 lbs.) car seats become less practical on a plane (FAA recommends a safety restraint through 40 lbs., seat belts when they're over 40 lbs). The CARES device is a much less cumbersome method for providing restraint for children in that age group. If you're already carrying one car seat for a child under 22 lbs., the CARES can eliminate carrying a second car seat for the older sibling.

[Griffin]

My mistake, I should have said, you don't need a car seat for your 3 year old. That was my only point

[jbell412]

I appreciate everyone's input. My 3 (almost 4...next May) will definately be over the 44 lbs. He is almost 41 now. I take it from what I am reading.....I can get him his own seat and use the normal seatbelt (no car seat). I am hoping to avoid car seats altogether.....

Dave - can I use CARES in place for our 20 month old ?
Thanks to everyone!

[SARH7]

Lots of snacks!!! We flew Jetblue last year and my dd was glued to the TV...not really a great thing, buy hey...she didn't make a peep the entire flight!! DS is older this tim and no Jetblue...but we will bring the portable DVD player. I bought Crayola Color Wonder sets for the kids and will probably get dd a workbook...she just loves doing them. Not sure what else to get ds...I was thinking some new cars, but the rolling thing is making me rethink that!! Maybe some new dinosaurs or something.

[Tigger71]

We have flown lots with our gang and always (even on a one hour flight) take a spare pillow case. No - I'm not crazy and no it's not for the pillow on the plane! Once onboard I fill the pillow case with a small handtowel, spare T-shirt of DHs (I could wear it if needed)& a full set of clothes for youngest child. This can be used by someone as a pillow and is handy for when emergencies occur.
I also carry babywipes in the seatpocket & lots of snacks although we hardly ever get through even half of what I bring...We also pack a small backpack of new toys/games plus a cotton baby wrap (or muslin sheet with velcro sewed on one edge) to rig up between child and top of seat in front to catch 'lost' pens, toys & food.
Of course we never travel without fav cuddle toy or teether (and spares) and a 'take & toss' type sippy cup (even after we are too old for these at home).
When our kids were young enough to travel as a lapchild we did this to save dollars but most of those flights were international (like the trip from Sydney to Manchester via London that took 23hrs!!!!) and each time we said "never again" and the very next time we did it again because of cost. You need to ask yourself if your child will happily sit on your lap for the journey and whether you can eat & drink without the traytable down?
Good luck!

[becky_ak]

Since we split our time between Idaho & Alaska we have been flying with our DS since he was 2 months old. My biggest advice for flying with young ones, especially toddlers are to bring lots of snacks and things to keep the kids buys. For my DS, now 2 1/2 years old, I pack a backpack with color books, story books, his favorite bear, cheerios, fruit snacks, and juice. We also always have our laptop with us, so we try to bring a movie (usually Cars or Brother Bear, his favorites). I find that the variety of things to do keeps him busy and he doesn't really think about being bored on an airplane.