When traveling with a baby, toddler or child that still need to be in a car seat, figuring out if you should take your car seat on a plane or not can cause a little headache. In this post I am going to tell you all important things you need to know before taking your babies car seat on a plane by highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of flying with your kids’ car seat and give you some tips and tricks that I have learned along the way.
And if you would like to see more visual tips and tricks on how to make traveling with babies and toddlers easier, make sure to follow us on Instagram @ellafamilytravel.
There is a chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you click one of them, we may receive a small commission (for which we use to keep this blog running) at no extra cost to you.
First of all, do you HAVE to use a car seat on a plane?
Legally you are not required to use a car seat on a plane, but it is highly recommended by the American FAA to use an approved child restraint device when traveling with infants and toddlers less than 2 years old. Saying this, let’s move directly to the advantages of taking your babies car seat on a plane.
Advantages of taking your babies car seat on a plane
Safety
Having your baby sitting in their car seat when flying is definitely the safest option. In case of any turbulences your baby is strained and cannot easily get hurt. Make sure to read the car seats manual beforehand to see how to install the seat correctly on a plane.
Own Space
This is not only great for your baby, but also for you. A car seat gives your little one its own space to play and hang out. That way you have your hands free to enjoy your meals, read a book or even get a little bit of sleep knowing that your baby is safely sitting in their car seat.
Better sleep
Babies sleep better in a well-known environment which is why having them in a car seat during the flight will help them to settle down easier. It’s much more comfortable and they are probably already used to nap in their seat from car rides at home.
If you want to learn more about how to help your baby sleep on a plane make sure to read “10 Ultimate Ways to Help Baby Sleep on a Plane”.
No lost or broken car seat
Another good reason why you should take your little one’s car seat with you on the plane is that it cannot get lost or damaged. There is nothing worse than arriving at your destination and not having a (working) car seat. I remember traveling alone with my daughter to Germany and when I arrived, I ended up without her car seat. I had to call several taxi companies until I finally found one that had a car seat available. Then I still had to wait like an hour for the taxi to arrive to the airport to ultimately take me and my one-year-old daughter to the hotel. It was exhausting.
There are not only advantages of taking your babies car seat with you on the plane, but also a few disadvantages that should be considered.
Disadvantages of taking your babies car seat on a plane
Have to carry the car seat around
Most of the time parents are not bothered by the idea of taking the car seat onto the actual plane, its more about having to lug it around the airport. You already have so many things to carry when traveling with little ones, thinking of having to transport a heavy car seat through the airport makes one anxious. Luckily, there are a few things that makes it easier to move around with a car sear like this car seat protection bag with rolls or this one in backpack style.
If you are a frequent flyer you can also take into consideration of buying a light and cheap travel car seat like this one or this cool travel car seat from WAYB.
Buy own seat
One reason why we sometimes don’t bring my daughters car seat onto the plane is because we are taking advantage of her being under 2 years old. Children under two can fly as a lap infant, and you don’t have to purchase another plane ticket. We do travel mostly internationally, so it is a huge cost saving. I know from friends that this is the number 1 reason NOT to take the car seat on the plane, but instead to document it together with the suitcases.
Before finishing this post, did you know that you can only bring certain types of car seats on a plane? Car seats need to be FAA approved to be allowed. How do you know if your baby’s car seat is certified? There normally is a sticker on the side of the seat that says “This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft”. So, make sure to check this beforehand.
I hope the advantages and disadvantages mentioned above give you some help in your decision if taking your babies car seat on a plane or not. Ultimately everyone must decide what they prefer as a family.
If this post was helpful to you or if you have more questions please leave a comment below. I also love to connect with other travel passionate parents over on Instagram @ellafamilytravel
This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Amazon and the Amazon logo or trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.