How long in car seat on airplane?

[ect876]

How long would you all recommend that a child be in a car seat on an airplane? I am flying alone with 7 mos old and almost 3 year old next week- I have a seat for both and will definitly be bringing the infant seat. When faced with the "just me" logistics I am wondering if it would be ok for the toddler to not use a car seat on the airplane. My mom has my cousin's non-expired but outgrown car seat for us to use when we get there if we need it.
If your thought is to bring both seats, any logistical suggestions for how to get 2 car seats thru the airport and on to a plane?
Thanks!

 

[KaiLing]

How big is the 3 year old? Under 40 lbs the FAA recommendation is to take a car seat, and I think that's a good cut off based on when my kid fit in the belt. Under 40 lbs they just kind of fall out. I think with a squirmy 3 year old I'd rather have the car seat as child wrangling device--my kid has thrown some epic fits when tired and traveling and if I had to spend all of take off or landing holding a seat belt on a screaming 3 year old I'd likely lose my mind.

I put two seats on a folding luggage cart. The FF seat goes in the bottom of the cart, the RF seat goes inverted over the top. I secure with a bungee cord and the latch straps.

 

[DMS721]

I used a light weight Maestro when I flew with my 3 yr old. There is no way he would have been able to sit still long enough at that age. Now that he is 4, I think I would probably forgo bringing a car seat provided I had one to use at our destination.

 

[Unregistered]

Thanks! He's on the heavy end of 35 lbs and I was leaning towards bringing the seat just to be able to "tie him down" if anything but everything seems to think I'm crazy for bringing a seat for him when my cousin's have one we can borrow at our destination.

 

[wendytthomas]

I'd definitely bring his. There are news articles of pilots ejecting three year olds who won't stay buckled, and at 35 pounds he may not be properly restrained by the airplane seatbelt.

For everyone who says you're being ridiculous, point out the FAA recommendations. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

Wendy