Which seat for traveling?

Cinazu · Mar 23, 2015

We are flying with our 3 kids from VA to CO in a couple of weeks. Our older two can use the regular seat, but I'm trying to figure out the best option for our two year old. I haven't weighed/measured him recently, but at his two year check-up in January e was 33 1/2 inches tall and weighed 34 pounds.

My in-laws have a car seat at their house that I can use once we get there, so I'm only concerned about the flight. He rides RF in a Graco MySize 65 in our van. We also have a Radian 65 and a Scenera that we can use. And we have a CARES harness that we used when my girls were his age. They never tried to open the seatbelt latch, but I'm not sure he will be that tame.

The Radian seems like it might let him use the tray table, which would be nice for snacks and coloring. I'm wondering if the CARES will keep him too far away from the tray table? And the Graco and the Scenera would probably let him kick the seat. Obviously not a big deal if a relative ends up in front of him, but I don't think that's currently how we are seated on the plane.

Any suggestions/thoughts? We've only ever used the CARES or an infant bucket on the plane before.

1mommy · Mar 23, 2015

Really bringing any seat through the airport is a pain, so I would go for the one that will allow him to use the tray table - the Radian. I would suggest carrying it on a luggage cart if possible, or strapping it to your suitcase like this

Amazon.com : Traveling Toddler Car Seat Travel Accessory : Child Safety Car Seat Accessories : Baby

Really IMO the cares harness still allow too much room for wiggling and ability to unbuckle the seatbelt and kids just sit better and behave better! in their own seat.

Dillipop · Mar 23, 2015

I'd take the scenera and rearface him. No worries about kicking a seat and it's the way he's used to. Plus, no need for a tray table as his lap will hold things. Just bring a clipboard to make a lap tray for coloring. And yes, even if he's at the rearfacing limit weight wise, I'd still use it on the plane that way since you have another seat at the end location.