s/o airplane trip with my 5 year old

AmandaJLewis

what do I need for her to sit in on the plane (if anything). I think we may rent a car down there  but not sure. Might as well get this figured out now rather than rushing around in April while i am trying to dig out our summer clothes for Disney!

waltsgirl102503

Noah was 7 when we took our trip last June and he did not need a seat for the airplane.  (Neither did Brody and he's 2).  I bought a Bubble Bum to use for the ride to the airport and home.   I highly recommend it - it's a great emergency seat to have around.  And it deflates and you can roll it up and tuck it in to your luggage.  No carrying anything around the airport.  

http://www.bubblebum.co/us/

ETA: You'd only need this if you're going to rent a car and you'd need a seat to use in the car in Florida.  If we hadn't of taken the car service to the airport and needed the carseat for that, we didn't need anything on the plane. 

 

lishie

We've flown with jackson twice in recent months and didn't  need anything for him. Michael isn't two yet, but we bought him a seat, and officially we didn't need anything for him. We had brought a car seat that online said was FAA approved, but the staff still wouldn't let us use it because they couldn't find anything on it saying that, so he was buckled in the same way we all were.

If it's not FAA approved they won't let you use it anyway.

Meghan&Rich

When we've flown with the boys, it has been to visit my parents when they're in Florida.  They drive down for the winter, and already have car seats for the boys in their car.  Since there isn't a need for us to bring car seats, we just had the boys sit in the plane seat as is (who were 1 and 3 for the last trip).  I am sure it's safer/recommended to use a car seat/booster on the plane, but not required.

rona118

When we went to Disney/ FL in Sept DD was a little over 3 1/2 and did not need any type of booster. We rented a car and seat when we got to FL. Stayed with DH aunt and uncle at the beach for a few days. The rented seat wasn't great but with going to the beach and getting sandy it was nice to say, "not my seat" and let her get into in a wet suit etc.

MandyMilller

I have been debating this as well. I'm a big carseats on planes person, but for Lanna this year I'm considering letting her sit in a regular seat. There's no point at all in bringing her booster from what I can tell, and it's monstrous with the back and five-pt harness attached. We can't use it on the Magical Express, so it'd just be for the plane. I do think I'll bring Wes's seat though. I don't see him staying in his chair with just a lap belt and at his age I feel like the safety benefits are worth the inconvenience.

AmandaJLewis

Thanks! As always, very helpful!

bride2003

Last time I flew with Caileigh she was 6 & I didn't take her car seat.  My friend had an extra booster for her but if not I would have just rented one or checked it (depending on who we flew with southwest vs usair etc...). 

Luckystar2

Last year when we went to Disney was the first year we flew without a seat.  There didn't seem to be a point. We didn't need a carseat while down there (staying on disney property).  I was nervous for safety reasons as well as just making sure she was contained. But having flown with and without a carseat, it was SOOO much easier flying without!!  She did really well sitting in the seat. And when she was in the carseat she was so much closer to the seat in front of her and would try to kick it. Without the carseat she couldn't. One less thing to worry about.

We're flying in a couple weeks and definitely not using anything on the plane.  We will probably bring her backless booster with us and use that in the rental car, but won't use anything in the plane.