You want to take your baby with you on a trip or a long holiday, but it can be hard, particularly flying with a car seat.
If you are traveling with a baby, it may take a lot of time to get through security.
If you want to know exactly how to fly with a car seat, then this article is for you.
Flying with an infant can bring challenges to any parent. Usually parents have concerns about packing the proper equipment for baby, baby’s ears popping on the plane, if baby will sleep and what to do if baby cries are usually at the top of the list.
The baby gear that you need depends on the age of your baby and how long you will be away from home. Consider buying diapers and wipes when you arrive at your location and only take what you will need for the time at the airport and on the plane.
We’re sharing tips that will help you make traveling with a car seat on a plane easy for you and your family and make your trip a lot more pleasant for you and your baby.
Flying with a car seat is a safe option
Why should you need to fly with a car seat? This is the most basic question.
The answer is seatbelts of the airplane are only designed for elders, not for babies. That’s why flying with a car seat is the safest option.
FAA and NTSB are recommended for traveling safety of children.
You will need a carseat and stroller. You can fly with your child on your lap or in the carseat. If your child is flying in a seat, a ticket will need to be purchased. Don’t forget to bring your child’s birth certificate; the airline employees will need it in order to verify your child’s age. Families with small children are often given advance boarding options. You can get the pre-boarding passes and information when you check-in at the airport.
Once you are inside the airport, you will need to transport your child to the gate. You will want a way to do so rather than expecting your child to walk or to be carried. If you choose a stroller, you can push your child around and check the stroller at the gate. Another option is to get a baby sling or a lightweight baby carrier like Best travel car seats. The great thing about the Comfortable Convertible Car Seat is that it is lightweight, durable, and folds to fit into the overhead bins in the plane.
When you feel that your baby will be fussy, there are a few things that you can do to help alleviate the fussiness that usually comes with ears popping. You can give the baby a pacifier to suck on during the flight. Giving a bottle during takeoff and landing can help pop the baby’s ears and reduce the pressure felt while in the air. You can also nurse your baby during these times as well.
Choose the Right Car Seat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) surveys all car seats for infants and children. They are rated on a number of categories from clear instructions to ease of use. The good news is, car seat manufacturers are listening to the government’s suggestions, and are constantly improving designs.
For current information, visit the NHTSA website. You can easily find a car seat that has earned all As in every category. If you work with eBay or Froogle at the same time, you can also complete some of your comparison shopping online. If you have seen a car seat that you think you like at the store, check out its safety rating.
Know the Age Groups
The following are just guidelines to get you started. You should always read the instructions on every car seat carefully to find out the height and weight restrictions.
Infants need to be in rear facing car seats. This is until they are roughly 1 year old or 20 lbs.
Toddlers need to be put in forward facing seats with tether straps. Tether straps are very important to safety: if your vehicle doesn’t have a tether anchor, contact the dealership to have one installed. This is between roughly 20-40 lbs.
Children who are old enough move out of a car seat still need to use a booster seat. This is until the child is 4’9″ tall. This will probably be until the child is about eight years old. Boosterseat.gov is a site that information on when your child can stop using a booster seat.
Airbags
Children should always stay in the back seat away from any airbags. This means that children should always ride in the back seat until they are old enough to use a regular seatbelt. Again, this will probably not be until your child is 8 or 9.
If you buy a used carseat
Make sure that it has not been in an accident. Make sure there is no discoloration or strain marks on the car seat. Check that it has been certified for safety. Don’t buy a car seat more than ten years old.
NHTSA has a site, the Office of Defects investigation, that lists all car seats that were recalled from the year 1990 to the present. You can check this site for your peace of mind.