Bringing a car seat when traveling stinks, I won’t lie. They are big and bulky, not to mention annoying to get in and out of cars, trains, and taxis. I cringe just thinking about that part of travel. That said, bringing car seats along for babies and young children is often the best choice. How do you decide?
Obviously for a road trip, using car seats and seat belts is not even a question. For those who use trains for long-distance travel, the answer is slightly different – and I will address trains at the end. But many of us take airplanes for our long-distance travel, so let’s look at this situation.
The first question most people ask is whether or not to bring their car seat on the plane. Closely related to that, is whether or not to buy a separate ticket for children under 2 years. So, let’s start there.
From a regulatory perspective, the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) does not require that children under the age of 2 have a separate seat on an airplane. Similarly, no passenger is required by law to use anything other than the provided seat belt. But it’s important to know that the reasons for these are primarily economic for the airlines, and not based on safety.
But considering how rare aircraft accidents are, aren’t kids safer on planes? The answer is both yes and no. Without question, the number of airplane crashes and accidents on commercial carriers is a tiny fraction of those on our highways. But people fail to consider the turbulence during the flight or quick accelerations and decelerations that are common during take-off and landing. And these can be very dangerous for children.
As a strategy consultant, I flew a ton and saw the effects of turbulence flying in and out of places like Texas and Mississippi. You hit an air pocket in a thunderstorm and the plane unexpectedly drops out from underneath of you. Will you crash? No – but your coffee hits the ceiling and your book flies out of your hand.
Now imagine that you are holding a baby. In motion, your baby is much harder to restrain than she is standing still. Remember good old Force = Mass * Acceleration (or deceleration, in our case)? This tells us that a baby moving at 60 mph feels like holding down a grown cow which is impossible (I know…I raised some ornery cows). Suffice to say that you can’t restrain a baby at even moderate speed changes. With significant turbulence, babies can easily fly out of your arms and get badly hurt. Another scary reality is if your plane stops suddenly, lap children can be crushed under your own weight – they become like an airbag in your car.
The FAA and the American Academy of Pediatrics will quickly tell you that it is safest for all children to be in their own seat with approved safety restraints, as you would find in a car. In fact, the AAP is very clear:
“The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require the purchase of an airline ticket for any child younger than 2 years. However, because turbulence is the most common cause of nonfatal injury among passengers…we believe [proper restraint of] infants should be no exception. The safest place for a child under two on an airplane is in a car seat, not on a parent’s lap.”[1]
Don’t be fooled by companies that make wearable restraints, like belly belts and seatbelt vests for planes. These have the same risk as holding a baby or toddler in your lap. The weight limits and stress tests on these wearable restraints are not reliable. You still risk crushing your child if you stop suddenly. None is approved by the FAA and often flight attendants will make you remove them anyway.
The reality is that you could also face these risks while taking your child out of his seat to walk around, taking her to the restroom, or breast feeding him (none of which you would do in a car), but life has to go on. It’s just best to practice safety when you can.
Then there is the issue of ease of travel. Having an extra seat gives you more space and a more comfortable journey for you. More importantly, car seats are familiar to children and calming in a new environment. In your lap, children often squirm or want to get down and wander down the aisle, where accidents are common. Most children will sit normally in their car seats and many will nap comfortably strapped in. Toddlers are a different ball of wax when it comes to sitting still, but the same often applies.
Installing the car seat on the plane take a little prep. The idea is that you run the plane’s lap belt through the car seat’s seat belt path (typically behind the foam padding for your child’s back). Clip the plane’s lap belt into the other end and pull it tight. Make sure the car seat is cinched down pretty tightly so it doesn’t move around. In my experience, this can leave the buckle of the belt right in the middle of your child’s back, which is not comfortable. Put a little extra padding around the buckle (using a little towel or similar) to take away the discomfort. The FAA has a great video on their website, which is worth the 3 min it takes to watch it: (https://www.faa.gov/travelers/fly_children/).
What about for older children? Car seats are the safest mode of transportation as long as a child sits in a standard infant or convertible car seat. Booster seats are actually less safe in aircraft given their instability with only a lap belt (no shoulder strap) and backless booster seats are not permitted.
In these cases, using a CARES Harness is a great alternative. The CARES Harness (http://kidsflysafe.com/) is the only FAA approved seat restraint for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds, and up to 40 inches tall. Technically, the harness is approved for children over 1 year of age, but I would err on a bit older (~2 or 3) when the child has more physical control of their torso and neck, and are better able to sit still while belted in. We used a CARES harness with both of our boys and they loved it.
Not all car seats are approved for aircraft usage. Before you lug your car seat, be sure that it states on the printed label that it is approved for airplane use – and know where this is on your seat in case the flight attendant asks. Generally, car seats need to be no wider than 16” across. You can check with your specific airline if you are unsure.
Choose your seats carefully when buying your tickets. Car seats don’t fit in bulkhead seats unless you are in first or business class (the seats are slightly narrower, and you can’t raise the arm rests). Car seats are typically required to be in the window seats only as they are not permitted to block another passenger’s exit. Furthermore, car seats are not permitted in exit rows – in fact all children under the age of 15 are prohibited from the exit row given the physical requirements of sitting there. I’ve also heard people complain about choosing the last row of seats given that they don’t recline. This makes it difficult to properly position a car seat…not to mention sitting near the restrooms is a bummer and it is often crowded back there.
If you are flying first or business class with specialized seats (e.g., lay flat seats), check with your airline carrier about fitting a car seat. Given how specialized these seats have become, it can be difficult to put a car seat in them safely.
Getting your car seat to the airplane can seem tedious – but there are solutions. The easiest is with infant snap-n-go car seats. Simply bring your frame and away you go. For other car seats, there are great wheelies you can buy to turn your car seat into rolling luggage. We loved the GoGo Babyz Travelmate because we could strap our kids into their car seats when the seat was on the wheelies and it served as a stroller. There are a number of similar products including the Britax Car Seat Travel Cart and the BRICA Smart Move travel cart. Depending on the size of your car seat, simple luggage wheelies can sometimes work as well.
Once your child has transitioned to a CARES harness or no longer uses the car seat on the plane, still to check your car seat through. I am a big advocate of renting baby and child equipment, but I draw a line at car seats. Through direct experience with car rental companies (and this has been echoed by other professionals), I have found their seats to be dirty and poorly-maintained, and are often lower-tier models. It is also difficult to assure you will get the right seat for your child’s size. Plus, your child is familiar with his own car seat, which reduces the battles of getting in it.
Almost all airlines have a policy of checking car seats through for free. While some airlines provide a clear heavy plastic bag for you to put your car seat in, it’s best to invest a few dollars and buy a car seat cover in advance. There are some fairly inexpensive simple bags such as the JL Childress Gate Check Bag, but I recommend spending a little more on Childress’s Wheelie bag which gives you straps to carry it and/or wheels to roll the seat. Zohzo also makes a padded Car Seat Travel Bag, which prevents damage to the seat during transit. Check to be sure your seat fits in the bag – some of the brands with larger seats like Britax, have covers that fit their specific dimensions.
I’ve heard concerns about the risk of damage to, or loss of, the car seat when checked with other luggage. While there is some risk, in the 100+ instances we’ve checked our car seats, we’ve sustained no damage nor lost our luggage (knock on wood!). If the airlines do lose your seat, most have temporary replacements while they find yours.
Riding in taxis presents a surmountable challenge for kids in car seats. I have read of parents opting to use no car seat for kids or to belt them into the seatbelt with the adult. Please never do this! Taxis get in the same accidents as the rest of us and it is not safe for a child to ride without proper safety restraints. Belting a child into the same seat belt with a parent risks crushing the child in an accident. And while convenient, young children risk serious injury using only an adult seatbelt. What’s the solution?
Unfortunately, for infants and babies under one (1) year old you need to bring your car seat along with you. There’s no easy or safer answer here.
For children over a year old, in New York City (and potentially in Washington DC and Philadelphia), many UberX cars carry IMMI Go car seats and the drivers are trained in its installation. Note that you need to select this option when requesting your UberX. You can buy your own as well (https://www.immigoseat.com/).
For kids who are at least 3 years old, the RideSafer vest provides a good option. It positions the shoulder belt so that it supports the upper portion of the body, and the lap belt portion to keep the soft tissues and organs safe. (https://saferide4kids.com/product/ridesafer-travel-vest/).
For older children who use booster seats, there are portable booster seats that collapse down. We tried the Mifold Grab-n-Go which repositions the seatbelt. While it is very light-weight and practical (you can fold it up and put it in your purse or carry-on), it was not the most comfortable for our kids. You can also try the BubbleBum, which inflates and provides the needed height adjustment for your child. It doesn’t position the seatbelt, but this is often all you need for older kids.
Check your car seat through on a train – don’t bring it on board. The biggest issue is that most trains don’t have seat belts – so there is no way to secure the car seat to the train. Frankly, it is more dangerous if the seat were to fall to the ground with your child in it.
But rest assured, trains are one of the safest modes of long-distance travel. In terms of fatalities, trains are only surpassed in safety by planes and passenger boats[2]. However, where airplane passengers risk injury from quick accelerations/decelerations and turbulence, trains don’t have this issue.
For infants and babies, the better option is to use a wearable carrier. For older children, they will be happy to have a place to move around. Just be sure to choose a cabin where other passengers won’t be bothered. If you are going long distance, consider a sleeper cabin so your family can move, grove, and sleep as needed. Amtrak offers a 50% discount on the fares for children, making trains not only fun, but affordable.
Large rail companies check through car seats and strollers for free (in lieu of another piece of luggage) as long as it weighs under 50 pounds. Again, be sure to get a cover to protect your car seat and confirm the policy with your carrier.
Travel well!
-Hanna
- If you have any tips or tricks to share with the community, please leave them below in the comments!
[1] American Academy of Pediatrics, “Family Friendly Flying”, www.healthychildren.org, November 2015
[2] Lu, Alicia, “Are Trains Safer Than Planes? Statistics Are Clear About Which Mode Of Transportation Is Safest”, Bustle.com, May 14, 2015