adelbert
Amethyst
Posts: 7,001 Likes: 40,197
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Post by adelbert on May 30, 2018 8:47:23 GMT -6
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Post by coffeeandwhine on May 30, 2018 8:52:46 GMT -6
I may be extra about flight safety but I would be putting them in a car seat or harness. It’s not about wiggly child or not, it’s about keeping them safe in the event of anything non routine during flight. I also like to have a stroller with me and use gate check. I can see being all about safety, but I also think it depends on how long the flight is and the personality of the kid. Commercial air travel is so, so safe. Would you insist on putting your 3 yr old kid in a harness or car seat if taking a city bus or traveling by train? Those modes of transportation are less safe than air travel, but I don’t see anyone putting their toddlers in a car seat on a bus or a train. Just to put things in perspective. If it’s a short flight or you have a really wiggly kid who needs it, I’m all about the CARES harness at age 3. It doesn’t take up a lot of space and is easy to transport. For long flights (over 2 hours in my opinion), I’d only use the CARES harness on take off and landing/taxiing. Toddlers need to move around on flights - and even just having them sit in the seat with a lap belt can help them not feel so constrained (which keeps them happier). Just my opinion - the CARES harness is a really great compromise. Car seat is just way too much trouble considering the minimal risk at age 3. 🤷♀️ Yes I think the harness at that age would definitely be the better option. I don’t really think the comparisons to other modes of travel really works just based on the nature of an aircraft in flight (ie turbulence etc). I do work in the industry and I’m fully aware of the safety record of commercial flight. But I’m not here to change the world with my travel opinions either.
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joy
Global Moderator
TTC, Pg, B&C
Posts: 9,194 Likes: 41,673
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Post by joy on May 30, 2018 9:48:55 GMT -6
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joy
Global Moderator
TTC, Pg, B&C
Posts: 9,194 Likes: 41,673
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Post by joy on May 30, 2018 9:50:02 GMT -6
Note - he didn’t tighten the red strap well with the CARES. I’ll use the tips in here to help him on the flight home (put it behind the tray).
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Post by robotsvswrestlers on May 30, 2018 10:00:21 GMT -6
I just bought this car seat a few months ago for DD (just turned 3 and over 30 lb) and I love it. It is secure but really light and easy to use. I specifically chose it because I am flying alone with her in a few months and will have to lug it around by myself. I plan on taking it on the plane, but I have a direct flight. I’m team no stroller bc my daughter won’t sit in one anymore.
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Bookshelves
Emerald
Generally at a 2
Posts: 11,560 Likes: 104,419
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Post by Bookshelves on May 30, 2018 10:08:04 GMT -6
Snacks are obviously a good and necessary thing to pack, but keep them accessible and easy to remove for screening. Some TSA checkpoints are extra and will make you remove each one to be scanned individually. (Like, every tiny bag of goldfish, each pouch, etc.) Same with baby wipes if your kid is still in diapers. Like Cher said, I find it easier to pack the carry-on bag as light and simple as possible, and super organized so those things are easy to find and remove to put in the screening trays, because the checkpoints can be a little chaotic no matter how prepared you are.
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Post by wildflower on May 30, 2018 10:21:00 GMT -6
I just flew, alone, with my 3 yo and 1 yo. I had 1 car seat, other seat purchased/mailed ahead to the destination. I did take the seat on board because it works for us... and Southwest will let you have a free seat for the lap child if the flight isn't full and you ask nicely.
On the way out, I wore both kids (one front, one back). On the way back, the 3 yo put up a fight being on my back and so I put him down in the middle of Denver and told him he better not get lost. He velcroed himself to me amazingly well and did really well walking and navigating the escalators.
Our carry ons were my diaper bag and my purse. I had snacks, activity books, tablet, and changes of clothes (which we used!!) in the diaper bag and that was enough.
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Post by tincupchalice on May 30, 2018 10:24:10 GMT -6
I'm team stroller for airports, but my kids are the slowest walkers ever, alternating with running off in all different directions like speed demons. Plus every time we've scheduled a nice long layover something has happened to delay flights and we've had to race to the next gate.
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Post by Lord Disick on May 30, 2018 10:29:38 GMT -6
Can you gate check the 3-year old and just drink and sleep the entire flight?
(I'm pretty over my own 3yo right now)
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piratecat
Diamond
Posts: 36,035 Likes: 143,912
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Post by piratecat on May 30, 2018 10:45:43 GMT -6
I just flew, alone, with my 3 yo and 1 yo. I had 1 car seat, other seat purchased/mailed ahead to the destination. I did take the seat on board because it works for us... and Southwest will let you have a free seat for the lap child if the flight isn't full and you ask nicely. On the way out, I wore both kids (one front, one back). On the way back, the 3 yo put up a fight being on my back and so I put him down in the middle of Denver and told him he better not get lost. He velcroed himself to me amazingly well and did really well walking and navigating the escalators. Our carry ons were my diaper bag and my purse. I had snacks, activity books, tablet, and changes of clothes (which we used!!) in the diaper bag and that was enough. You wore two kids and carried a diaper bag and purse?? I'm impressed!
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loony
Emerald
Posts: 12,589 Likes: 45,028
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Post by loony on May 30, 2018 10:47:23 GMT -6
We are going to Chicago, then driving to SO's parents' in the middle of nowhere, so bringing our seats is pretty imperative (I also don't trust his parents to purchase or install anything). The kids don't know any different, so treat a seat on the plane just like in the car. They also are both tiny, so it puts them just high enough to use the tray table (both have Diono, so they're slim and narrow). We bring a smallish Britax stroller, mostly for use as a stuff cart and gate check.
This thread did remind me that I need to get DD a new backpack and I'm going to order one that has a leash for DS...he's 2.5 and has discovered that running is fun.
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Post by wildflower on May 30, 2018 10:52:51 GMT -6
I just flew, alone, with my 3 yo and 1 yo. I had 1 car seat, other seat purchased/mailed ahead to the destination. I did take the seat on board because it works for us... and Southwest will let you have a free seat for the lap child if the flight isn't full and you ask nicely. On the way out, I wore both kids (one front, one back). On the way back, the 3 yo put up a fight being on my back and so I put him down in the middle of Denver and told him he better not get lost. He velcroed himself to me amazingly well and did really well walking and navigating the escalators. Our carry ons were my diaper bag and my purse. I had snacks, activity books, tablet, and changes of clothes (which we used!!) in the diaper bag and that was enough. You wore two kids and carried a diaper bag and purse?? I'm impressed! Diaper bag and purse got slung over the car seat, which was bungee corded to a luggage cart. So I still had a hand free after checking the bag!
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piratecat
Diamond
Posts: 36,035 Likes: 143,912
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Post by piratecat on May 30, 2018 10:57:16 GMT -6
You wore two kids and carried a diaper bag and purse?? I'm impressed! Diaper bag and purse got slung over the car seat, which was bungee corded to a luggage cart. So I still had a hand free after checking the bag! That is still a lot of stuff to juggle, good job!
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Post by wildflower on May 30, 2018 11:03:45 GMT -6
Diaper bag and purse got slung over the car seat, which was bungee corded to a luggage cart. So I still had a hand free after checking the bag! That is still a lot of stuff to juggle, good job! Thanks! I got a lot of help from people, too. I felt pretty bad ass, though.
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robot
Ruby
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 51,769
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Post by robot on May 30, 2018 11:17:29 GMT -6
Can you gate check the 3-year old and just drink and sleep the entire flight? (I'm pretty over my own 3yo right now) I asked the guy who came to give us a moving quote if 3 year olds were one of the items allowed on the truck. They’re the worst.
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Post by August Blooms on May 30, 2018 19:53:25 GMT -6
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Post by Dramaphile on May 31, 2018 6:44:52 GMT -6
For anyone who has used a CARES harness Transatlantic/longhaul or on flights with built in televisions in the seat, does the top strap not interfere with the passenger behind them? Taitai I have used the CARES and love it! You need to ask the person behind you to lower their tray table so you can install it, then they should be able to close it again. The only issue might be if the plane has recessed tray tables, then it might not close correctly... Pro tip: If your kid is small-ish or wiggly, bring a sheet of no-slip drawer liner to put under their butt so they can't slide down out of the harness (it doesn't have a crotch strap. I used it for my petite two year old on a cross-country flight and she napped in it and everything.
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