https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 11 Apr 2026 01:54:04 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638674 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 16:26:43 +0000 caterw 2638674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: I am totally fascinated- I had no idea kids could sit in just a seat without their car seat. I am definitely renting a CARES and gate checking my toddler's enormous carseat. Thanks for the info! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638642 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 15:23:09 +0000 Mrsbells 2638642@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StellaJane: Travelling with a car seat can be stressful and its tricky to install some seats in the plane. However I wouldnt want to rely on a rented car seat so I would bring ours and deal with the hassle </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638612 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:47:07 +0000 tequiero21 2638612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took his car seat with us when he was about 25 mo (last month). Totally worth it. The car seat that would have been provided at the car rental place was disgusting!!! So gross we just bought boosters for my older twins. Also, we travelled the month before and he sat on my lap and I guess he realized he's a lil scared so he wanted to nap right away for this last trip both ways in the car seat. Really nice. Only pain in the butt is lugging it. I should have invested in the wheelie thingie for the car seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638596 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:20:14 +0000 jhd 2638596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We flew with our (then) 22 month old this spring without a car seat. It was an 8 hour flight. We did not take his seat with us and he did great! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638592 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:15:34 +0000 psw27 2638592@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've debated this now that my LO is 2 and I think for our kid, the extra space to stand up and play while facing the seat or sit on his own without the car seat is worth it. Unless it was a red eye or some time of day when I thought he would absolutely sleep I would just gate check my car seat (we use a lightweight travel car seat) - we have a nextfit and there is no way I would haul that thing through an airport! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638588 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 14:03:11 +0000 bees_knees 2638588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd check the seat. I've heard horror stories of the car seats you're provided when you rent one at your destination, and car seats can be checked for free, so that was enough to convince me! We just flew with our 2.5 yo and 3 mo, and the snacks/airplane novelty/a couple small toys were more than enough to entertain during both flights! Brought the iPad and headphones too, but didn't even need it until the flight home! Good luck :)</p> <p>ETA: we have a Britax Advocate Clicktight (read: huge and friggin heavy) that DH hauled through the airport...in addition to our infant seat and our luggage. God bless him! 😂 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638576 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:51:39 +0000 StellaJane 2638576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Thanks for the rental info! I think I might rent a CARES for the trip. Just to have it, in case. </p> <p>Thanks for the tips, everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638559 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:27:20 +0000 Beehive 2638559@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StellaJane: @looch: @gingerbebe: We started using the CARES harness around age 3, and it works well for us - I agree it wouldn't work well during the small and wriggly toddler stage, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638557 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:23:52 +0000 gingerbebe 2638557@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StellaJane: Oh yeah, if I got a CARES restraint, I'd definitely get my son a little travel neck pillow. But he doesn't really sleep on planes so it might be a moot point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638553 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:21:33 +0000 rattles 2638553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I bring a seat at that age, and it's really not a big deal. I bring a GoGoBabyz, and they can walk or ride in the seat through the airport. For me, the safety is worth the minimal hassle. Neither kid has fussed about it. They don't know any different, and the novelty of the plane is a good distraction at first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638548 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:19:16 +0000 catlady 2638548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We used a "travel" carseat (Cosco Scenera, which is super lightweight) when LO was around that age. She was able to nap in it and it worked great. We bought a CARES harness for a more recent trip where we didn't need a carseat (I think she was 30 months, but she is small for her age) and that also was fine. She had a little bit more trouble napping but since we timed the flights for nap times both ways, she did eventually fall asleep. We used that on a 3 hr flight. I really loved not having to lug the carseat with us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638546 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:17:47 +0000 yoursilverlining 2638546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I vote no seat, especially since you'll also have a baby with you. Last thing you need is for one parent to be wrangling with a car seat while the other minds 2 kids and everything else. I really dislike bringing a car seat on the plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638542 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:12:21 +0000 SweetiePie 2638542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StellaJane: I have the Chico Nextfit as well and I would never ever travel with that beast.<br /> That being said, for longer flights we do like to take a car seat so he can nap or comfortably watch the iPad, but we got a cheap light one for travel. I think it's safety 1st? We like it a lot. But he also likes the car seat so we don't have to worry about a screaming unhappy toddler. I'm not sure what I'd do in that situation. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638540 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:10:17 +0000 gingerbebe 2638540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@StellaJane: No, we have a Cosco Scenera Next that we travel with because its only 10 pounds. BUT we have to tow our new baby with us for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, so I'm thinking about getting the CARES restraint and checking the carseat to our destination because friends of our's have one and say its been great for them for travel. There's a place online you can rent them for $11.95. </p> <p><a href="https://rentcares.com/?gclid=CMLrgcb55M8CFSwq0wodlk4BsA" rel="nofollow">https://rentcares.com/?gclid=CMLrgcb55M8CFSwq0wodlk4BsA</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638539 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:08:36 +0000 looch 2638539@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With a big seat, the person in front reclining and your kid being at the perfect height to kick the seat in front, I would gate check it if I brought it at all.</p> <p>eta: I also have a CARES harness that we used once. It's not worth it IMO because it doesn't have a crotch strap, it's just basically "suspenders" that attach to the lap belt on the seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638533 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 13:03:00 +0000 StellaJane 2638533@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: We have a Chicco NextFit convertible carseat and he sits forward facing. But I think it's HUGE! I can't imagine trying to install it in a small airplane seat. </p> <p>@gingerbebe: I've read about these but the consensus seems to be that most toddlers slouch down in their seat and it's a pain in the neck to keep them strapped in. Do you have experience with it? I'd love to know if it worked for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638528 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:59:20 +0000 Alivoo01 2638528@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've never brought the car seat onto the plane. DS enjoys the "freedom" of sitting like a big boy in his seat. We can keep him occupied in his seat by giving him toys or books. If turbulence is a concern for you, you could always explain to him what's going on (if the turbulence frightens him a bit), strap him in his seat, then hold his hand or have him lean into you for comfort. Depending on the flight attendant, they may allow you to hold him in your lap for the time being (given your son isn't big for his size or isn't safe for you to do so). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638527 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:59:12 +0000 gingerbebe 2638527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Can you get a CARES restraint harness? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638512 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:45:03 +0000 looch 2638512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What kind of seat do you have and how would you install it (rear or fwd facing) in the plane seat? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/flying-with-a-23-month-old-in-a-carseat-or-not#post-2638502 Tue, 18 Oct 2016 12:39:38 +0000 StellaJane 2638502@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband and I are taking our 23 month-old son on his first flight in a few weeks. It's a 4 hour, non-stop morning flight. We had originally planned NOT to bring his carseat at all, since we're renting a car with a carseat once we arrive at our destination. Our son is pretty calm and not a crazy active kid, but he also hates being restrained in his car seat during car rides, so we figured it was a no brainer to leave it behind and just have him sit in the middle seat between us. After reading so much conflicting advice all over the Internet, I feel like I have to choose between having a comfortable and happy kid who could possibly be flung all over the cabin during heavy turbulence OR a safely-secured screaming toddler for 4 hours. HELP. Looking for other people's recent experiences flying with toddlers! Thanks :) </p>