https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 21:33:42 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860732 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:45:02 +0000 smuckers 2860732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catgirl: Thank you for letting me know! I've always wondered how helpful this would actually be, and I'm SO glad I didn't spend $$ on this when it's not super helpful :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860730 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 17:42:53 +0000 QBbride 2860730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes absolutely, bring a carseat! He will sleep better and will be safer. He will have outgrown the cosco. How about the Harmony Defender? Or Graco Tranzitions (I think you guys have it in the US!) will you need a car seat at your destination? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860695 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 15:39:17 +0000 magnolia 2860695@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@milano14: that’s sooo sweet of you! But I’m in nyc . Thank you though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860667 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:32:27 +0000 catgirl 2860667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smuckers: The cares harness is generally not helpful. It really only fits children at the larger end of it's weight limit. It doesn't reposition the lap belt to smaller kids can slip right under it. And it only has a 40 inch height limit. There is a very small window where it fits some children, but for most it's useless. Though it would be great if they could redesign it and create a better version, such a great concept. </p> <p>@magnolia: I would definitely bring a seat on the plane and not check it. Either your regular seat or a lighter combination seat (depending on his stats). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860664 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 14:22:38 +0000 smuckers 2860664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would this work? WAY less bulky, still strapped down (though not enclosed). It's unfortunately priced, but cheaper than a new carseat.</p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012E4FV8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&#038;pd_rd_i=B0012E4FV8&#038;pd_rd_w=7POKB&#038;pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&#038;pd_rd_wg=9oD0x&#038;pf_rd_r=FSNXPN1WEAAZGGTJGGT7&#038;pd_rd_r=0bb48e3a-f98c-11e8-9b91-6b5ee7e95935" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0012E4FV8/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&#038;pd_rd_i=B0012E4FV8&#038;pd_rd_w=7POKB&#038;pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&#038;pd_rd_wg=9oD0x&#038;pf_rd_r=FSNXPN1WEAAZGGTJGGT7&#038;pd_rd_r=0bb48e3a-f98c-11e8-9b91-6b5ee7e95935</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860642 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 13:12:08 +0000 milano14 2860642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: where do you live in NY? Possibly close to the CT border and Greenwich?<br /> We have always brought a car seat on the plane for my boys. We treat it like a car ride. And therefore the same rules apply. Other than getting up to go the bathroom they stay in their seats.<br /> We had Britax convertibles when they were little and I wasn't a huge fan of lugging those around, so I bought an Evenflo Maestro, which you can sometimes find for $40, but I'm not seeing that price in my searches now.<br /> We also bought a backpack bag for my husband to carry the car seat in.<br /> That's why I asked where you live because it's just sitting in a closet and I would be happy to let you borrow it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860624 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 12:08:23 +0000 magnolia 2860624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@kiddosc: yep I did this last time we took the car seat! I’m think I’m going to have to go this route again </p> <p>Those carts looks cool! @Amorini: @JennyPenny: @Raspberry: I just don’t want to spend the money! </p> <p>I’m going to see if I can borrow a lightweight seat otherwise we will just be strapping the Britax on our luggage and hoping for the best. Maybe I’ll check the stroller and he will wear himself out running around the airport :grin:</p> <p>Thanks everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860475 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 23:51:50 +0000 Amorini 2860475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are flying in a few weeks with our 2 y.o. He has his own seat on each flight and we need the car seat at the end, so we plan to bring it on board and hope for the best. I think it will help contain him and he also tends to sleep easier, better and longer while in it. Fingers crossed that carries over to air travel as our first flights are also close to bedtime. </p> <p>We already have a Graco Contender for our “cheaper” car seat and it’s pretty light compared with our Chicco NextFit Zip. While it might be cheaper, I don’t want to check it and potentially have it thrown around. </p> <p>We just got the Travel Go-go Babyz thing to cart it and DS around in the airport. We chose it based on the Car Seat Lady advice. That said I love @kiddosc: ‘s DIY solution! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860466 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 22:04:01 +0000 kiddosc 2860466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think in your situation it makes sense to take the seat. I would look at an evenflo maestro, which is a relatively inexpensive, lighter seat good for travel. </p> <p>When we travel, we flip our seats upside down on our rolly carryon and bungee it to the suitcase with a plastic hook, adjustable bungee cord I found at Walmart. Much easier to get through the airport.<br /> <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-Secure-10-In-48-In-Adjustable-Fat-Strap-Bungee-2-Pack/24087314" rel="nofollow">https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reese-Secure-10-In-48-In-Adjustable-Fat-Strap-Bungee-2-Pack/24087314</a> </p> [attach=1439/18/pjaoip.337x600.77E7A3CC-4716-4491-8161-371CD961747C.jpeg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860456 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 21:32:12 +0000 JennyPenny 2860456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We recently had some long flights with our 4 year old and brought a Britax convertible for him. He used it on one flight but struggled to sleep in it. From our experience (and reviews I’ve seen) the only way to install it has the seatbelt buckle right in their back :bummed: On the flight back we still brought it with us to the gate, but asked if there were spare seats anywhere. They moved us to a row where DS had a spare seat next to him and he was able to lay comfortably across the 2 seats. Much better. So maybe my advice would be to bring the seat in case (especially if you need it when you arrive) but see if you can get a spare seat if the flight isn’t full. We also have the cart @Raspberry mentioned and love it :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860433 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:13:43 +0000 Raspberry 2860433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Britax makes a car seat travel cart that you can strap your seat to and roll it through the airport. I bet you could find a gently used one on Craigslist. Would that help? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860401 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 18:06:09 +0000 Foodnerd81 2860401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: but if he is four, he may be outgrowing the cosco for height- that’s the big complaint I have heard. </p> <p>I wonder if there is a combinations seat (harness to high back booster) that would be lighter weight. When this new baby needs a convertible, your older son will probably need a new seat anyway- but that’s not for a year or more. </p> <p>I haven’t actually flown in years and back then it was with a one year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860397 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:34:29 +0000 snowjewelz 2860397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@magnolia: I know people love the Cosco brand for traveling; lighter and cheaper! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860396 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:33:18 +0000 magnolia 2860396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: I don’t want to buy one but maybe I could borrow one locally. Any ideas which brands are light weight? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860391 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:09:27 +0000 snowjewelz 2860391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How about buying a lighter cheaper one? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/air-travel-with-4-year-old-car-seat-on-plane#post-2860390 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 17:07:01 +0000 magnolia 2860390@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’m flying from NY to LA in a few weeks with my 4 year old and DH. Last time we flew to Florida we didn’t bring the car seat on the plane. My son did OK on the flight there but was very fidgety on the way back. I want him to sleep on the flight to LA since we are leaving at 7pm EST. </p> <p>I think he will sleep better in the car seat. He has some special needs/low muscle tone and i think he does better when he has a contained space around him if that makes sense. Selfishly I don’t want him lying on me the whole time. But I know it’s going to be a pain to lug around the seat as I have a Britax Marathon. DH doesn’t think we should bring it on the plane. Any suggestions/ideas/solutions other than the car seat? Or should I just suck it up? </p> <p>I’m also 4 months pregnant. :grin: very excited for this trip but stressed about the flight. </p>