Do you sit them in a car seat or use a CARES harness or lap belt?
This is a one way seven-ish hour flight at night. I am thinking it might be best to sell the car seat here and buy a new one in England, but obviously not if I need it for the plane...
pineapple / 12566 posts
I've never used a CARES harness, but can she sleep using it (like lean over or lay across your lap)?
I would most likely just use the airplane lap belt.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
I have a CARES Harness, but we've never actually used it in flight.
If you can arrange for a car seat at your destination, then I'd do lap belt, no car seat.
squash / 13208 posts
I would use the car seat for sure!!! 7 hours is a long time and if she was in your lap and you moved and she woke up - uh- oh!!!
I took a 4 hour flight when DS was 16 months and he slept happily in his car seat and when I had to pee I just left him there sleeping peacefully =)
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
I should add, I doubt she would sleep in the car seat. I would bet she would end up in my lap to sleep.
nectarine / 2272 posts
Neither...? I didn't know you were supposed to do that....oooops.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@lamariniere: @looch: I didn't realize the lap belt was an option (only ever flown with her as a lap infant and didn't think the lap belt would be snug enough) but that sounds like the best idea!
squash / 13208 posts
@travelgirl1: are you flying alone or with someone? If alone can you hold her for 7 hours???
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@hotchildinthecity: Don't worry, it's me being dim and not realizing you could use the lap belt. Will edit my original post.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@Mamaof2: with DH. But yeah, I could manage if she were asleep. This flight is likely to depart at around midnight and land around her usual waking up time. Although, I doubt she will sleep the entire flight. I'm seriously not looking forward to it!
nectarine / 2272 posts
@travelgirl1: I'll be honest, he didn't sit strapped in correctly for the majority of the 14 hour flight we were on with him. They had us buckle him in for takeoff and landing but I never had him sitting in there correctly during the flight.
pineapple / 12566 posts
Nothing (car seat or harness) is required in the airplane for children other than the lap belt when indicated like for everyone else.
The only exception I've seen so far is in Europe if you have a lap baby, they give you a baby seat belt that hooks through the adult lap belt and they require you to use it on your child when indicated for everyone else. But there isn't anything for children with their own seats.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@lamariniere: and that is the worst thing you can use with a lap baby. The forward force of your body will crush your child, they're safer as a projectile, apparently.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@looch: interesting. I've heard that's why they don't let you wear them in carriers, at least for take off and landing.
grapefruit / 4291 posts
Apparently having LO strapped into a carseat is the safest option if the seatbelt sign is on as the carseat will contain the child best in the event of turbulence.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@lamariniere: yep, that as well.
The safest place for kids on a plane is in their own seat. The FAA says that you can use an approved restraint for kids up to age 18.
pomegranate / 3858 posts
We used a car seat and we told her she had a very special seat to use on the plane. She was fine - she didn't sleep, but if the flight had been longer (only 3 hours), I expect she would have.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@looch: I didn't know that about the restraints. That's interesting that restraints can be used until age 18 -- I wonder how long people actually use restrains past early childhood?
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@lamariniere: it is intended for people with special needs. It has to be an approved seat, which becomes more difficult as the kids move to the harness to booster seats, which are not FAA approved for use on aircraft.
pineapple / 12566 posts
@looch: ah, I see. I read that to mean *anyone* up to age 18. That's a totally different area. In that case I would think that any age of special needs traveler would need a special harness or other device, depending on their disability.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
@lamariniere: the way it is worded it is for anyone up to the age of 18. It is designed to be inclusive, rather than exclusive, for people that don't have obvious signs of needing additional restraints. This way, they do not need to prove they need it, as it is a possibilty for everyone under the age of 18.
I hope that made sense.
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@regberadaisy: We are, back to England in about six weeks. We found out today.
@oliviaoblivia: I know. Mega 
Thanks everyone, lots of useful info here!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@travelgirl1: oh wow, short notice! But exciting at the same time. 
is it temporary?
pineapple / 12053 posts
@travelgirl1: wow! exciting! i would just do the lap belt, sell the seat and buy a new one there to go with the cars there!
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@regberadaisy: It will be permanent, we're both from the UK and our families are there so it would be tough to leave them again. We're pretty gutted about it though, we really wanted to have the new baby here 
pomegranate / 3729 posts
I typically travel alone with LO (who will be 3 in May). When she was almost 2 I carried her on as a lap baby and it was difficult. The next time we flew it was in her car seat and I don't regret it for a second. She was restrained and is content to sit it her seat and knows not to ask to get out. And, she fell asleep easily whereas when I held her she just squirmed and squirmed. Will be travelling again in a couple of weeks and fully intend to take the car seat again.
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