Suggestions for Travel with Toddlers

Written By TravelingMom Wednesday, May 12, 2010 13:07

I am flying from NY to Atlanta with my husband, 2 year old and 4 month old. My 4 month old will be on my lap. My question is, does my 2 year old need a special airplane booster seat? Or do we bring her car seat with us and strap it to the airplane seat? And what suggestions do you have for toting the kids around the airport? I was thinking of bringing our single stroller for the 2 year old and holding the 4 month old in the bjorn? Unless, of course, I need to have a car seat / airplane booster seat with me.

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#5 leanne 2010-06-18 16:16

For getting around the airport with kids, I totally love the Ride On Carry On (review is here http://raveandreview.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/the-ride-on-carry-on.html). You do need a rolling carry on bag in order to use it, but it is AWESOME!

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#4 leanne 2010-06-18 16:14

If you haven't already, you should check out CARES Travel Harness for plane travel with young kids (my review is here http://raveandreview.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/11/cares-child-aviation-restraint-system.html). For even younger children, there is the Baby B'Air harness (my review is here http://raveandreview.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/10/baby-bair-flight-safety-vest.html).

If you don't have to have a car seat once you get to your destination, this is absolutely the way to go! Even if you do need a car seat, you could always check it and avoid having to cart it on the plane.

Have fun!

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#3 Stephanie Tombrello 2010-06-15 03:34

Please visit www.carseat.org for more information about traveling with kids on planes. Most safety seats with built-in harness systems are certified for use on airplanes as well as in vehicles. If you ever wondered why we care about kids in seats, compare the 30 mph x weight of the child (or you, for that matter) which lets you know with what force you/your child will strike whatever is in the line of travel between the unrestrained human and the point of impact.

Turbulence on aircraft is frequent enough that you may note that every plane seat has "buckle your seat belt" embroidered there. On a plane, you can multiply x 500. It's hard to hold a 10 lb infant with that multiplier. So use a safety seat buckled in on the plane; it's not only a safety factor but is a known place for the child to occupy and makes sure you aren't stuck with a whatever seat the rental car company or your friend's neighbor happens to find.

Think about it. Everyone has to be buckled up; you can't even hang on to a foam cup for take off and landing but it's just fine under U.S. government rules for your 1 year, 11 month old child to ride totally loose. Sensible? Based on the laws of physics? Why? Well, those kids just don't have the vote.

By the way, for the booster crowd (those who can't pass the 5-Step Test (i.e. most until age 10), put the backless booster in a carry-on and let them take it aboard so it doesn't get lost or damaged in baggage. The difference in injury once they hit the vehicles on land is 45%--with vs. without the booster. That's a big number when one realizes that the injuries include perforated stomachs and bowels because the lap belt isn't in the right spot and the kids' bone development until age 10 isn't the same as yours.

Safe and happy traveling!

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#2 Sibylle 2010-06-03 20:16

You will not be able to use a regular car seat for the airplane seats. There are carseats which may be used, but they have to meet the flight guidelines. I used to have a stroller,which converted into a carseat, it was a model sold by Delta airlines and therefore met these guidelines as well. Use the bjorn and an umbrella stroller,change of clothes for he kids, change of shirts for the adults.NY to ATL is not that much of a problem,roughly a 90 minute flight.If you decide to use a twin stroller, that will be ok as well. You will check it in at the gate, therefore you will not have to carry any child. and you will retrieve the stroller back at the gate once you depart the plane. But that depends on how much room you will have once you arrive in Atlanta. Either way, enjoy your stay!

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#1 Renee 2010-05-12 21:04

If you are renting a car on the other end, don't bother with a car seat for the 2 year old. It's too much! When I traveled overseas this past year with my toddler, he ended up playing with the buttons on the tv remote and taking a tour of the airplane with dad. A baby bjorn is perfect for your littlest one with a single stroller. The less you have to carry the better!

Word of advice- bring a change of clothes for everyone- even you and dad and a few shopping bags to hold your soiled clothes. Because it sucks to be thrown up on and not be able to change! Trust me on this one! Even if you don't use them, it's the one time you don't you'll be trapped on a flight in wet smelly clothes!

Good luck! And have fun!

Suggestions for Travel with Toddlers

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