Checking a car seat

DisneylandMom

New member
We aren't traveling for a few months. We have been planning to use our car seat on the airplane (Evenflo Maestro.)

But I am also liking the looks of the CARES harness for the plane.

We need our car seat at our destination though. I know bag checking a car seat is a big no-no. But what if it's in the original box? I mean, I highly doubt it was handled with care before it landed on our doorstep. So would it be safe to baggage check it like that?

Though I did find it odd that there was literally NO packing material in the box. Just the seat in a cardboard box, basically. Not sure how that's safe but I guess it must be.
 
ADS

MelodyoftheForest

Active member
I would just use it on the plane and save the trouble and expense of the CARES harness and checking the seat. The Maestro is nice and lightweight to move through the airport, and it will be familiar to your child.


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ketchupqueen

CPST and ketchup snob
Staff member
If a seat absolutely must be checked, in a sturdy well fitting box (NOT the original as they may be only designed for one use), with added padding if possible, is the best of poor available options. It still opens you to the possibility of loss or damage.

The CARES has a very limited use of kids it actually fits (as it doesn't change lap belt fit.) and it is $$$.

My preference of options usually goes, in order of convenience and less risks:
1. Use seat on plane
2. Use CARES or belt only and have appropriate seat waiting at destination or bring Go or RSTV or booster that can be carried on
3. Use CARES or belt only and get seat once there (either other adult taking a cab while you wait, or taking public transport to a store, or public transport to hotel and one adult goes to store- but you run into risks in terms of available stores and seats)
4. Check in sturdy (preferably double wall), well fitting box with padding as appropriate and have a backup plan should seat be lost or damaged.
 
U

Unregistered

Guest
I've done #2 and while it was nice not to have to deal with a car seat while flying solo with my dd as far as getting through security and getting on and off the plane I would probably choose flying with a light car seat over using the CARES Harness again unless it was a really short flight during hours where I knew dd wouldn't be sleepy. DD fit in the harness perfectly fine, but kept sliding down because there is no crotch strap. I had to keep pushing her back up. On the flight back she was tired and miserable and the CARES Harness doesn't exactly lend itself to sleeping comfortably.

Of all the times I've flown with my dd she has been most comfortable rear facing in a car seat on the plane. She's almost 4, 37 inches and 30 ish pounds. We flew with the CARES Harness last spring. The flight was just over an hour.
 

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