Tips for flying with a 2 year old and her car seat

Traveling with my youngest has been really “easy” until she started walking. That was the time when air traveling became my nightmare. On our trip to California I was finger crossing that she would sleep through the flight, and it was that way, the thing is she was a couple of days away of turning two and she was still flying in “lap” so I was exhausted of having her in my lap for 3 hours. I can’t complain she woke up when we were landing.

On our way back, she didn’t slept and we even had bought her a seat. Let’s just say we were that family with a toddler which everyone on the plane hates.

A couple of weeks later we were heading to Guatemala to spend the holidays. We were flying on Christmas eve, so I really wanted the flight to be as pleasant as possible for everyone.

I spent quite time on google and Pinterest trying to get the best tips to travel with a toddler. I read an article about bringing the car seat, it didn’t sound that crazy because she was already 2 years old so we have to pay for her seat anyway. We wouldn’t have nothing to loose in trying. Short story it was a total hit! That was the only tip I needed, she slept almost all the time during the flight.

So here I’m sharing with you:

6 reasons why you need to bring your toddler’s car seat to your next flight:

1. Your toddler will be comfortable, calm and secure. Toddlers are used to be on their car seats, it’s something familiar over hundred of new things they are being exposed at the airport.

2.You have more probability that your toddler will fall asleep. If they usually fall sleep in their car seat  the probabilities that they will fell sleep during the flight are high. 

3.It’s free. Every kid has the right to bring a car seat and a stroller.

4.You don’t have to rent or borrow at your destination.  Car rental car seats are not really reliable. On a trip to Costa Rica we rent a car seat, and I can’t even call it a car seat. I think my daughter was more secure holding her in my lap rather than on that “car seat”. Also they don’t always have car seats available.

5.You will be hands free. Passing treats, games or entertaining your toddler will be much easier if she is in her own space without invading yours 🙂

6.It’s safer in case of turbulence or any other incident.  

Now that I convince you that it’s a good idea to bring your toddler’s car seat, you might be asking yourself… How am I going to carry the car seat with my toddler and baggage and pass through security? Will my car seat fit on the seat?

Is it really worth it?

  1. Yes! It’s a little bit inconvenient to carry the huge car seat. For us it was not that hard, because my 14 year old was really helpful carrying it. But next time I would definitely buy a car seat strap. This strap turns your car seat into an airport stroller by attaching the car seat to your luggage! Genius! And you can get one for $12 or less
  2. Check your car seat or car seat manual; if it’s safe for flying, it will have an FAA-approved sticker
  3. Car seat widths may vary, so it’s safer for you to measure your car seat and ask for the dimensions of the plane seats.

When I wouldn’t bring my toddlers car seat?

  • If I’m using public transportation or uber at my destination
  • If my toddler hates the car seat
  • If my toddler it’s big enough and had probed before that she can seat still for a while.
  • If It is a 2 hour or less flight

Tell me… did you find this article helpful? Have you flight with a car seat before? 

You may also like

1 comment

  1. My girls dont really love their carseats, but you got me at point number 5… I’ll give it a try just to have my hands free!
    Great post!

Leave a Reply to Paulina Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.