kids on an airplane question

[Llyra]

At what age does a child no longer need a carseat to fly safely?

My mom is going to take my kiddos to Disney World. This is awesome. I'm not going, so I have to decide on what to tell my mom and then work on convincing her it's necessary, so I need to start now, even though it's two months before they go.

The kids will be 6, 4, and 4. Do grade-school kids take boosters on planes? I'm thinking not, because it's a lapbelt. But what about the preschoolers? They're in forward-facing Radians in the car. Should they be bringing the Radians on the plane? Or are they old enough to just ride in the plane's lap belts?

[DahliaRW]

Boosters cannot be used on the plane, you are correct.  I'd be perfectly fine with a 6yo in the lap belt.

I'm fine with a 4yo in the lap belt on the plane unless it's a super tiny 4yo.  The official line from the airlines is 40lbs, but they don't have a rule that you have to have one before that.  That being said, if your 4yo will need a car seat on the other end, I would take the radian on so it doesn't have to be checked.  If no car seat is needed at your destination, I wouldn't bring it.

[Eclipsepearl]

ITA with Dahlia. Sure, the car seats are always safer on the plane but air travel is so safe that the difference, to me, wouldn't justify bringing them only for the flight. Especially since it's your mom who's doing this... 

I have brought our Radian on for a then-5 year old, only because we needed the seat at our destination and this meant I didn't have to check it. Never check car seats as luggage. 

The deciding factor is whether they'll need the seats in Florida. If not, check the CARES harness for the flight but I think your little one is too big. If not, you could rent one on Ebay or Craigslist. 

[Llyra]

I'm sorry-- I don't know what's a CARES harness. Is this something I need to get?

The preschoolers are not tiny-- they're both somewhere between 37 and 39 pounds, I think. They're not actually four yet-- they will be just a week before the trip, though.

They won't need the Radians on the other end-- they're not even going to rent a car-- they're staying in the park, and they'll ride buses and the monorail.

This is two Radians we're talking about. Somehow I can't imagine my mother lugging two Radians around. She'd do it, if I insisted, but she's not going to like it. My stepdad is going, but he's disabled, so he can't help carry them either.

So I'm guessing maybe we'll skip them.

[jennifercp8]

I would skip them.  Especially having to deal with them at the Orlando airport, etc.

The CARES harness has a loop that slips over the back of the seat to create a harness for smaller children in airport seats.  They are fairly pricey if you don't plan to use them that much.

[an_aurora]

I wouldn't freak out about a 4 year old in just the belt on the plane, but what are they going to do for seats on the other end?

ETA: NM, I see that's covered.  

[DahliaRW]

With kids nearly 40lbs, I would not waste my money on CARES.  It only goes to 42 or 44lbs anyways. 

I hope they have a great trip!