Do I need a car seat for airplane?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not require the use of car seats on airplanes (although they recommend it). While catastrophic air disasters make headlines, violent turbulence or a runway incident is a more common safety event. A car seat is the best way to keep a child from being injured, or worse.



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It's a contradiction: Kids under 2 can fly for free as a lap infant, but experts say babies on an airplane should be buckled into an approved child restraint system in their own seat.

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You may bring your child's car seat and stroller free of charge as checked baggage. You can check these items with your other baggage, or wait until you reach the gate area. Strollers can be checked at the gate or with your regular checked baggage at the ticket counter.

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Prams, three-wheeled jogger-style buggies and larger strollers do not fit in the overhead locker and must be checked on all aircraft. You may bring your child's car seat and stroller free of charge as checked baggage. You can check these items with your other baggage, or wait until you reach the gate area.

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Additional infants under 2 years old must be ticketed and occupy an infant safety seat or in a separate aircraft seat. The infant must be under 2 years of age for the duration of the trip. If they turn 2 during a trip, they will need their own seat for the remainder of the trip.

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Standard strollers, folding wagons, and car seats can be used to get to your gate and then checked for free. They'll be returned to you on arrival. Collapsible strollers can be stored in-cabin. Car seats can be used onboard your flight too.

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Lap infants do not qualify for any checked baggage allowance. Checking a child safety seat will not count towards your checked baggage allowance and there is no fee assessed; however, playpens, wagons, and other infant beds will count as a checked bag and must meet size and weight requirements.

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Just plan to have a lot of little activities like iPad games, movies, toddler airplane snacks, stickers, coloring, etc., then repeat that along with any other entertainment you can create along the way. Often, just the new things your child will discover on the plane make for excellent in-flight toddler activities.

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Simply collapse the stroller, place zip ties around the frame until it feels secure, then wrap your stroller in bubble wrap and/or put it in a protective stroller bag. Zip ties are very cheap and easy to use. Just make sure you have something to break them off when you reach your destination.

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Each airline will have its rules about who can sit where, but a bulkhead seat is generally considered an excellent option for families traveling with young children. The bulkhead is at the front of the cabin and sitting in those seats usually guarantees you some extra leg room.

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If you're traveling with a child of any age, you can bring the following on your flight for free in addition to your carry-on and personal items: Diaper bag. Breast pump, milk or formula. FAA-approved car seat.

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