Car seats on the plane....do or don't???

I can't believe my kids are almost out of school and summer is on the horizon! Summer for many of us meana travel, and specifically airplane travel. Today's post is going to focus specifically on traveling with car seats on the plane. If you are looking for general advice on airplane travel with kids, please check out my previous post (linked here).

We have flown a lot with our kids and very rarely do we elect to bring the car seats. Before you travel consider how much you will use the car seats upon your arrival to your destination. If you are traveling somewhere and plan to rent a car, car rental companies will provide car seats for you to install. If you are visiting family or friends, it's also a great idea to check with them about possibly borrowing a car seat from others or renting through a company. My kids have grandparents that live in FL and there are companies that rent baby equipment, including car seats. However, there are going to be times when you need to bring a car seat whether out of necessity or peace of mind!

First of all, know that you can check your car seat and you do NOT have to carry it on the plane. If you feel that your kids are big enough to sit in their own seat safely or have an infant that will be on your lap, this is the easiest option. You won't have to worry about carrying it through the airport or breaking it down with your stroller and gate checking prior to getting on the plane. I do recommend putting it in a travel bag for safety and to keep it clean - the one we have used is linked here.

If you are bringing your car seat on the plane and you have an infant, attaching it to the stroller is going to be the easiest way to get through security and around the airport. It also make a great spot for a nap if you are stuck somewhere for awhile! (I've walked many miles around an airport letting my kids nap in the stroller!) I loved by baby jogger and chico car seat but I've had other friends swear by the Doona system. (Side note - if you are traveling with an infant, bring a baby carrier too. It will make getting through security and on the plane so much easier.)

Once you get to your gate, you can gate check your stroller and carry your car seat on the plane. Installing a car seat on the plane is a lot like installing it in a car with seat bealts vs use of the latch system. You can use your car seat either forward or rear facing. If you are unsure of how to install your car seat, you can always ask the flight attendants to assist. There are also some great YouTube videos that walk you through this. (I like the Safe in the Seat videos, made by a mom and nationally certified child passenger safety technician.)

In general, you can always opt for a lighter car seat option to make carrying it around the airport or on/off the plane easier. Cosco has a super light weight and inexpensive option which I'll link here. We have also traveled with the Wayb Pico car seat. It's a little more expensive but very light weight and made specifically for travel. It folds up and can be carried like a backpack around the airport. (This is the Wayb in the pic below - was great for traveling across the country with a very active 1 1/2 year old!)

I hope this information helps with your future airline travels! Please feel free to leave any comments or questions!!