Kids and Car Seats

[MusketeerMan]

So...my kiddo turns 2 this month and we'll have to start paying for him to fly. My question is will he be required to be in a car seat? And if so, will the car seat have to be FAA approved??

Thanks for the help!

 

[Toria]

I have flown with my niece several times. She is three. You are not required to have a car seat. But, she sat in it better than if she was free to roam in her seat and slept in it well. It needs to be FAA approved if you use one. It was kind of a pain to carry during connections: car seat, back pack full of toys, my carry on, and her because we were running to get to a connection. Plan longer between connections to get food and be on "toddler time" to get to the next gate.

 

[MQAAord]

Toria is spot-on

Car seat not required for someone aged 2. However, I do highly recommend it. Partly for the safety reasons, one is always safer in a 5 pt harness than just a lap belt. Also, tots that age are very used to being in a car seat. When they're in their carseat they 'understand' that's where they're supposed to be, and they're not free to roam around. It can be difficult to contain a 2 year old in a seat with just a lap belt because they don't 'get' that they're supposed to sit there! It's something/someplace new and they want to explore. In their own carseat they're far more likely to sit quietly and, most importanly, far more likely to sleep!

If you do use a carseat it must be FAA approved. Most carseats made after 1983 are approved, however not ALL are! So be sure to check the sticker on the back or the side of the seat for the words "approved for use in motor vehicles and aircraft".