Even if you’ve traveled on planes many times before, traveling with a baby or toddler can seem like a foreign experience. Suddenly there are more questions on the arrival board than there are delayed flights. The first is: Should you bring your child’s car seat on a plane?
Surprisingly, there’s no official yes-or-no policy here, but trustworthy experts recommend bringing your child’s car seat for the safest possible journey. However, airlines can have varying policies, and not every car seat receives permission for use on an airplane. This article will explain the requirements for traveling with a car seat and how to choose the best option for your family. Additionally, you can browse Flyopedia, the best online travel website to book cheap tickets from Toronto to Ahmedabad.
Are You Allowed to Bring Child Car Seats Onto a Plane?
It is possible, in fact, highly recommended, to take your child’s car seat on an airplane. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) both advise using an airplane harness or car seat that has received FAA approval for newborns and early children. These should be buckled up using the airplane seatbelt, not the car seat base.
If you are unsure how to install the seat without the base on the aircraft, read through the manufacturer’s instructions and practice in your car at home until you feel confident in your ability to do so. Once on board, you can also ask a flight attendant for assistance if you need it.
Car Seat or Lap: Selecting the Safest Option for Your Baby on a Flight
The majority of airlines typically don’t ask you to purchase a separate seat for children under two. If your baby or tiny toddler does not have a car seat or her seat, she will have to sit on your lap the entire journey. It might not seem too difficult to hold a little child for the duration of the flight, especially given the possible financial savings from forgoing the purchase of an additional seat. But it can be challenging on a long-haul journey such as if you have booked Vancouver to Mumbai flight tickets. Consequently, using a car seat is safer.
Another factor to consider is convenience. Even if you hold your baby for part of the day or take her on short trips up and down the aisles, having the option to place her in a car seat can be a welcome respite. (If you inform the airline about your lap-held baby, they might try, but it’s not always a promise, to retain the seat next to you empty.)
Many parents worry that their child won’t enjoy being restrained, and you’re not alone in this concern. That worry is something that almost all parents who have traveled with a baby have encountered.
Pros and Cons of Bringing a Car Seat on a Flight
Should I pack a car seat when traveling with kids or not? The most popular question in the forums for family travel. Although it is not legally necessary to use a car seat for your infant, toddler, or child when flying. What matters the most is what both you and your child find most comfortable. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of bringing a child seat while flying:
Pros:
- Safety
Every parent’s priority is always making sure their child is safe. In addition to the additional cushioning that comes with your car seat, using a five-point harness is the best safety measure for your child when they are flying.
- Security
Many kids, regardless of age, experience anxiety when they fly. Giving your child a car seat they are familiar with could provide them with that sense of security and lessen their fear.
- Luggage Allowance
Installing a car seat during the flight may limit the quantity of luggage you’re permitted to bring if you need or want to use it after reaching your destination. You can bring as many baby things as you wish on certain flights, including a stroller, high chair, and porta cot. Many only allow a single free item of baby gear. Any excess luggage will incur additional fees If you decide to use the car seat on the plane, you still have that one unaccounted-for item of baby equipment.
Con’s
- Comfort
Installing the car seat on an airplane seat would restrict your child’s area for moving and sleeping. It is not possible to remove the car seat from the airline seat while traveling. This suggests that you can’t raise the armrest to allow your child to stretch out across the seats on the airplane to sleep.
- Space to Move
Since you are unable to remove the car seat, your child may feel restricted. The car seat doesn’t take up much space, so your child might crawl all over you, act up, or worse, annoy other passengers.
- Leaving the Car Seat Behind After the Trip
If you have no intention of utilising the car seat in your vehicle after the trip, it may be occupying important storage space or space in your hotel room as it sits there.
Now that you know all there is to know about taking a car seat on an airline, it’s time to take your little adventurer on thrilling excursions. Visit Flyopedia, the one-stop destination for all your travel requirements, and book cheap flights from Toronto to Chennai India today.
Also Read: When Traveling with Toddlers via last minute flights, Parents Should Consider These Guidelines
