so dd is 36lbs and her marathon RFs to 33. We're flying this weekend, and FFing puts the seat soo close to the seat in front of us, and I think in the past, she kicked the seat in front of her like crazy if I didn't really stay on top of her with holding those wiggly little legs down! The temptation is just irresistible. Is it okay to install her rear facing on the plane if kicking is a problem?
I would guess that the seat might not fit in rear facing. I've had problems with that before. The person in front couldn't recline their seat without ramming the carseat & forcing it to an impossible angle.
How old is she? Is CARES or just the lap belt an option.
I wouldn't use it rearfacing beyond the limit, even on a plane. And if the FA questions you, you will have to turn it since you aren't using it properly.
I think you still need to follow the limits of the seat, even on a plane. When we traveled with DS, on our return flight the attendant insisted the seat MUST be FF, that they couldn't allow it RF on "this type of plane". I knew she was wrong, but didnt' want to argue the point (since we didn't pay for the seat, they were letting us bring the carseat on to use an extra, I was afraid she'd just say forget it at that point)...
Originally Posted by LiLStar
She's barely 2, so definitely needs the car seat.
Then I'd put it forward facing and just have to deal with it. If you take her shoes off it makes the kicking less sever on the seat. And you'll just have to work with her on not kicking.
The most frustrating part of a MA on a plane is that it sits too high to use the tray table. The only carseat I've taken on a plane that has worked FFing with the tray table is the radian.
Originally Posted by expatmommy
I would guess that the seat might not fit in rear facing. I've had problems with that before. The person in front couldn't recline their seat without ramming the carseat & forcing it to an impossible angle.
It will fit rfing (I've done it many times), but the person in front of you has to deal with the fact that they can't recline their seat. If it bothers them, they can ask the FA for a seat change.
Yeah I guess the ideal thing to do would be on any flights that arent too full, ask to be reassigned to a row where there wouldn't be anyone sitting in front of her. Then she can kick all she wants!! Oh, and one of our flights is really empty, so I fantasize that on that one they'll see a hugely pregnant woman with a toddler and have enough pity to upgrade us to first class
The Alaska Airlines attendant told us it was illegal to install a car seat rear facing. We had to install it ff.
I wonder if it's an airline by airline policy....
I just mention this in case you run into the same issue.
When I had that issue, it was ironic because on our departing flight we had no problems. Installed it RF with no issues. Then on the returning flight (same type of plane) the flight attendant told me the same thing. I think some of them are just misinformed and think they know everything.
yeah i once had a flight attendant tell me that I couldn't have my dd in her car seat for take off and i had to hold her until we reached cruising altitude. I knew that was bs but I didn't feel like arguing so I just took her out. She came back a few minutes later to apologize and say she was wrong!
yeah i once had a flight attendant tell me that I couldn't have my dd in her car seat for take off and i had to hold her until we reached cruising altitude. I/QUOTE]
I would ALWAYS hold my baby/toddler for take off and landing. I nurse them to prevent any ear pain.
Originally Posted by LiLStar
She's barely 2, so definitely needs the car seat.
I've never used a carseat on the plane. Neither child would ever sit still for that long in a carseat (I have carseat screamers), and I don't even sit still that long in my seat.
I'd just put her FF, but really putting it in RF on a plane isn't the end of the world. The big reason to have a car seat on a plane is kid containment and contentment, not really as a lifesaving device, so it wouldn't bother me to have it RF. It's definitely much more convenient.
Originally Posted by SparklingGemini
According to the FAA's site, carseats can only be installed rearfacing when the child is 20lbs or less, irregardless of the seats limits.
Is this still the rule? Or did it change?
FWIW~We flew to FL in October with a BLVD(same size shell as the MA)and I had zero issues installing it RFing.
Where on the site does it say that, I can't find it. Some seats don't FF until 22 lbs.
OK. It's on this page too. I just didn't scroll down far enough...
Quote:
Keep Your Little One Safe When You're in the Air
Be sure the shoulder straps are properly adjusted and fasten the airplane seat belt around the CRS.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions when using a CRS. FAA recommends that a child weighing:
Less than 20 pounds use a rear-facing CRS
From 20 to 40 pounds use a forward-facing CRS
More than 40 pounds use an airplane seat belt
A child may also use an alternative, such as a a harness-type restraint, if it is approved by FAA. FAA has approved one restraint appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. This type of restraint is not safe for use in motor vehicles.
I see that it says recommends and not requires but I was still asked about my DD's weight from the FA when we flew. Luckily, she's teeny and was just under 20lbs.
I wish they would change it to say RFing until the child meets the seat's limit.
Well, I would argue that my child can use the seats to the limit, and I have rf'd over 20 lbs on the plane. Also, if your seat is 22 to FF and your child is over 20 but under 22 I would think that's covered by the following your seats instructions thingy in there. There is nothing prohibiting it. If nothing else, they can't make you prove what your child weights.
"Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for using a CRS.... Do not place a child in a CRS designed for a smaller or larger child than indicated on the manufacturer's instructions." So, if your convertible says to RF until 33 or 35 lbs., you'd be violating the instructions to forward-face your 21-lb. child.
Originally Posted by Ironica
The brochure also says:
"Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for using a CRS.... Do not place a child in a CRS designed for a smaller or larger child than indicated on the manufacturer's instructions." So, if your convertible says to RF until 33 or 35 lbs., you'd be violating the instructions to forward-face your 21-lb. child.
As much as I would like that to be true, in all cases, I think, the sticker says "RF to 33 (35 lbs, etc.)" on one side and on the other says "FF from 20 to 40 (etc.)". This is a constant source of confusion for parents and techs alike. I have been asked multiple times which rules to follow. I don't think there are any convertibles that can't be used forward facing over 22lbs.
Originally Posted by vbactivist
I would ALWAYS hold my baby/toddler for take off and landing. I nurse them to prevent any ear pain.
Which is your choice, when they're under 2... but that doesn't make it the safest option.
FWIW, I've never nursed during takeoff/landing, and my son has never had a problem with it. I was really nervous about it the first time we flew with him, because I've had a bad experience with ears popping in flight (I was 12, and flew in a not-really-well-pressurized cabin with a very, very bad head cold... I was crying in pain, and my ears didn't fully unpop for 24 hours), but it was fine. If baby is congested, then it's more of an issue, though.
Originally Posted by DahliaRW
Yes, but they are not goign to take you OFF the plane to said scale.
At this point, I wouldn't put anything past the FA's
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