Are you planning your baby’s first flying trip? Then you must be wondering how to fly with a car seat. I believe you know how hard it may be to travel with a baby or toddler, especially when you have to carry the car seat, stroller, luggage, baby bag, etc. It might look too cumbersome, but you better get used to it.
If you have booked a flight with two seats but plan to carry your baby too, it is best to change the reservation and ask for a seat for your baby, too. Traveling with a car seat is much safer and recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here are some tips on how to fly with a car seat if you have a baby or toddler.
How to Fly With a Car Seat
You can carry your car seat on a flight the same as you carry it anywhere else. It is not just recommended to carry a car seat, but you also have a right to use, carry, and fly with an FAA-approved car seat during the entire flight. When taking a car seat on a plane, you must ensure it is properly placed and tightly locked with the seatbelt.
Before learning how to fly with a car seat, you must first check if your baby’s car seat is certified and manufactured for aeroplane use. This information can be found on the seat’s white label near the seat base. There should be a section that allows the car seat to be taken on a plane.
Also, it is important to book a seat for your baby so that you can place the car seat on a separate seat next to you during the flight. You should place the seat facing forward and tighten it with the seatbelt from behind. Press the seat with your knee to ensure it is tight and secured properly.
Another reason why it is good to carry the car seat on a plane is that you may need car transportation from and to the airport. When you see it better, the car seat might be pretty necessary for traveling if you have a toddler or a baby.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Carrying a Car Seat on a Flight
Advantages
- Children of 1 year and older can comfortably sleep on the car seat during the flight;
- Federal Aviation Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend carrying a car seat on a plane for better safety;
- Your child is safe and secured in case of turbulence and during the take-off and landing;
- You can use the seat when traveling from your home to the airport and from the airport to the destination;
- A large percentage of aeroplane companies allow car seats to be carried on the plane (there are still some exceptions);
- It is much safer for the baby to sit on a separate seat than on your lap during the flight.
Disadvantages
- You might have to buy a new seat if your current one has no certification to be carried on a plane;
- You should pay for an extra seat while, in most cases, children younger than 2 years can fly for free;
- Infants and young babies should not be in a sitting position for longer than 30 minutes. They must be placed in a flat position because it is better for their comfort and breathing.
How to Install the Car Seat on a Plane
You can install the car seat in two ways. The first one is forward-facing, and the second one is rear-facing. It is recommended to place the seat next to the window so that you and all the passengers can easily get out of their seats in case of evacuation.
Forward-facing position
- Place the car seat next to the window if the plane has two seat rows or in the middle seat if you are on a plane with a central seat row;
- Push the seat back and place the car seat on the main seat, facing forward;
- Thread the lap belt through the seat’s holes on the back;
- Push the car seat with your knee and buckle the belt, ensuring it is tight and secure.
Rear-facing position
- Place the car seat on the window seat or in the middle seat of the central row;
- This time, you place the seat the opposite way so that the baby will face the back of the passenger seat;
- Thread the seatbelt under the car seat;
- Buckle the belt and ensure the car seat is tightly buckled and secure;
- Push down the armrest for better security.
Flip the seat during the flight
It is okay to change the car seat position if the flight is pretty long. Your child might get bored facing the same direction, so it is okay to make a change.
For example, if the seat is in a forward-facing position, you can place it rear-facing to feed your children.
Also, you can change the position if your toddler is kicking the seat in front of them because they get bored during the long flight.
However, no matter the reason, it is allowed to change the car seat position during the flight because babies and toddlers do not have the patience we have, especially during longer flights.
Related: How Long Do Infant Car Seats Last
Conclusion
It is okay to ask how to fly with a car seat because traveling with a baby or toddler can be pretty challenging.
Actually, carrying the car seat on a flight might be a good decision since you can use it during the entire trip, on the plane, in the car, in a taxi, etc.
It is not just helpful and necessary, but it is also highly recommended to carry a baby car seat during the entire flight because it increases the safety and security of your child.
