[hoping123]

Hi everyone,

I don't respond much, but, I still check the forums every day for good advice and hope and pray that the children get home from Guatemala and that they open it back up so other children can find their happy homes.

Anyway, I will be traveling in April with my daughter to Arizona and my mom and dad will be picking us up with a car seat that they already have for my daughter in Arizona. The last time I traveled with my daughter she was under two and she sat on my lap. This time, as I said, she will be over two. If I don't want to bring a car seat, what can I use for a safety restraint? I will already be taking her and everything else I need to carry along with a stroller and I don't think I can manage everything plus a car seat....by myself.

I saw the Amsafe CARES restraint system, but, $70.00 is a bit over my budget after I just spent almost $400 on a ticket for her. Are there any other things I can use that wouldn't be as expensive or is there something that the airlines might have and provide?

I figure that I can't be the only one out there who has traveled by themselves with a young child. I'm hoping someone out there can give me some suggestions.

Thanks and Happy New Year

[cmfayz]

Why not just use the seat belt?

[Melissa M]

we traveled with our daughter in late oct (she was 21 months at the time). we bought her her own seat just so we could have the extra room and she either sat in it with the regular seat belt or on our lap. One leg of the trip we did bring her car seat on board but it backfired b/c she refused to sit in the car seat and since there was no other place to store the car seat on the plane (too big for the overheads) we were stuck not being able to actually use the seat we paid for.

[Disneycrazed]

We are flying with our 2 1/2 year old in April and we are just using the seat belts.

[WJarman]

I bought an airline approved harness from a safety shop (not sure if I can give the name) It was inexpensive and designed to work with the airplanes seatbelt but provide 5-point harness safety.

[CEB]

Well, I traveled back and forth to Denver in May alone with DS for a family wedding (so DH dropped us off at the airport and family with car seat picked us up. Like you I could not manage bringing a car seat on top of everything else). I made do with just the airline safety belt but I will tell you it was not completely pleasant. It took DS approximately 0.8 of a second to figure out how to undo said seat belt. For some reason he behaved on takeoff both ways (watching a DVD) but was in absolutely no mood to sit down when the captain requested for landing etc no matter what tricks and treats I tried. Without a proper restraint, I got yelled at 3-4 times from the stewardesses for him standing on his chair when the seatbelt sign was illuminated and I had to basically hold him down physically for the actual landing, which resulted in 15-20 mins of screaming. Yes, I was the parent with "that screaming child" but at least it was the not until we had started descent so everyone knew it was of limited time duration. Since then, when we have traveled with DH and brough the car seat that he knows he cannot get out of, he has behaved fine. Your sweet DD may not have the same issue and you can indeed make do with the airline safetly belt, but next time, I am getting the Amsafe CARES (its the only one I am aware of). Good luck

[pjb1967]

I have traveled with my daughter several times, both before and after her 2nd birthday. She will be 3 next week.

There would have been NO way I could have added on a car seat to our things. Between me, my daughter ( who I put in a cheap umbrella stoller,) our carry on bags, my purse, her bag of toys there would not be enough hands to handle a car seat too. Just buckle her with the seat belt on the plane.

But my best tip is to go online w/your airline or call their 800# and request seats. Everytime I have traveled with my daughter I have request the window and the isle seat. Very few other people would ever request a middle seat unless nothing else was avalible, the middle seats are always the last to get filled. Therefore you will end up with the whole row of three seats for just you and your child because the center seat will remain un-picked by someone else and worse case, if someone comes up to your row and it supose to sit in the middle, just ask them if they would like to swich and let them have the window or isle so you can sit with your child, no one wants the middle so they would be happy to switch with you. But this has worked for me everytime and have always had the whole row for just the two of us, even on flights they announce are booked full.

Have a great trip,
Pam

[Suzeb1]

There are several people on Ebay that rent the CARES system. $15 seems to be the going rate, and I think you can get it for a week or so. I just checked and it looks like most of the posters have great approval ratings.

Susan

[joshsmom]

We flew with our 22 month old son using the CARES system. We loved it!! We did not have to lug the large car seat and when we reached our destination we had included a rental car seat with our rental car so it was installed and waiting for us when we got there. I wouldn't fly any other way. It is a little pricey to buy so if you can rent it I would go that way.

[luv2teach2]

I would never not put my daughter in a car seat on a plane. It is the safest way to travel. I am single and bought a travel system that you attach to your car seat. It is wheels and a handle so it becomes somewhat of a stroller. Comes off and on very easily. I put my DD in it, stroll through the airport and this way I have a car seat when I visit people. Best item I have ever purchased.

[hbrown22]

We have traveled a lot and we always just use the seat belt on the plane. It works fine for us!

[Larue]

Here is a link to the FAA approved CARES harness. http://www.kidsflysafe.com/ It costs about $75.

I fly about 75,000 miles a year for work. For the past 20 years. And we fly frequently as a family. My Dad is an Air Force veteran and recently retired from United Airlines. I grew up on air planes. Jumbo jets and props. At barely 3 years old, Sabrina is now a veteran of the friendly skies. In my family, it sort of comes with the territory. We just did a 10 hour flight to and from Germany for Christmas. For Sabrina, we just use the lap belt. Though I think we may invest in the harness for our next flight. Mainly for turbulence.

On a side note. A plane crash is NOT a car crash. The #1 thing that determines whether or not you survive a plane crash is your proximity to an exit row. With kiddos we cannot sit in an exit row, but if you can sit in a row within 5 rows of an exit, it will increase your chances. Like a fire in your home, succumbing to smoke inhalation is the main cause of death in a plane crash, and the faster you can exit the plane, the better your chances.

Sorry to be so morbid. Best wishes!

[hoping123]

Well, I'm flying southwest so I can't get an assigned seat, but, I believe we can get on first so at least I can get within 5 rows of the exit row. Thanks for that added information and thanks to everyone who responded.

[joepegcamp]

Southwest Airlines changed their family boarding policies. Instead of getting on first, families can either check-in early enough to get in the "A" line -- or they board between the 'A" and "B" groups.

I called to complain and was told that the policy changed because of the large number of business travelers now using SW airlines.

The only airline that allows pre-boarding for families is US Airways.

We purchased the CARES system also and was shocked at the price. But given what *could* happen during takeoffs and landings, it was well worth the price. Ours is adjustable, so it can grow with him. We reasoned that $80 was a small price to pay for the safety of our son.

[JustBarbara]

Single mom here also. DS will be three in March and he has flown 3-4 times per year since coming home. I just use the airplane belt - and give him the window seat - he has been fine. He loves to fly and I keep him occupied. He is active but I always make sure we get up and walk around for 10 minutes or so to take a break from sitting in one place. I also bring the cheapo umbrella stroller. I usually rent cars at our destination and request a carseat that I install myself. As some others have said, with two bags, toddler, books/treats/games I could not manage to bring a car seat also.