Do I need carseats on the plane for my 3 year old and 7 month old?

[GoldenSnitch]

In just less than 10 weeks, we'll be taking our 3 year old DS and 7 month old DD on our first overseas holiday since the children were born. We're going to Portugal. We're flying with Easyjet.

I've had very little to do with booking the holiday as DH's parents chose and paid for everything. It's thier 40th wedding anniversary and they wanted to take the whole family away to celebrate. Both SIL's and families are coming too.

Tonight, I asked DH what we were going to do about carseats for the children on the flight. I've never taken children on a plane before, I assumed we needed them. He thinks DS will be fine on a seat on his own and I can hold DD for the whole (3 hour) flight. Is this right?

Do we need car seats on the flight? Will they be safe after being checked in?

I have no idea what to expect and am worried now

Your DH is right. Under 2 you can just sit the infant on your lap (they give you an extra lap belt to fasten to your one) and at three they can sit in a seat. We took my son to Australia at 8 months and 2 yr 3 months to see his family using these methods. I hope you have a nice trip.

Yes - as nikkiiii says.

You check the car seat in at check-in, and take your buggy with you to the plane. They take it from you as you go up the steps and put it in the hold. You then collect it from the carousel/large luggage the other end.

I think Easyjet take the buggy without extra payment, but you may just want to check on the car seat.

Have a lovely time - Portugal is fab with kids!

But won't they get thrown around and busted by the baggage staff?

I'm beginning to really dread it TBH. As normal, it's bloods v outsiders so I have no clue what's happening cause I've not been included in discussions. Feeling a bit lost.

As the others have said, your 3 yealr old will sit in his own seat and your baby will sit on your lap.

Your buggy and car seat go in the hold with the cases.

I have flown loads of times with a buggy and it has never been thrown about or busted so try not to worry too much.

Have a great holiday!

I think you have to book an extra seat for the baby if you want to use the car seat on the plane.

I've also flown a fair amount - with Easyjet in fact - and have never had a problem. Unfortunately you just have to trust them as you have to take these things with you!

I have flown a lot with my two little ones. Under the age of 2 they HAVE to sit on your lap because you won't have a separate seat booked for them. They are an infant and you will be given a special seatbelt for them to sit on your lap with.

The three year old will have his own seat and will sit in normally.

You can take the car seats with you. We used to check in the 3 year olds car seat and pick it up off the luggage belt as you would a suitcase. We used to carry the little baby in the car seat direct to the plane and then they will put the little car seat on just as they will put a pushchair on - direct as you get on the plane - then the little one will sit on your lap as I mentioned above.

Don't worry - it will be fine. And there are a lot of people flying with kids. PLUS you get to get on the flight first!!!

Have a LOVELY time x

Most car seats aren't suitable to use on a plane as there are only lap belts to secure them, we've flown loads and I've never seen anyone use one. Tbh, a car seat won't do much in a really bad crash (!), and you can put your arm round your DS and hold on to him in case of any bumping around or during landing.

Take you baby's rear-facing seat and put it in the hold, wrapped in a bin bag. At the age your baby is she'll be ready to move into the next seat up anyway if anything untoward happened to it. Or bubble wrap it if you are worried. Then hire a seat when you get there for your three year old.

You can book a seat for an under 2 yr old but they have to go on your lap for take-off and landing.

We book seats once they are over about a year as they are too big really to spend a whole flight on your lap. But a 7 month old will be fine, esp with other rellies to pass her to.

Just to make it clear - take the little car seat to the plane with you - and they will ask you to take the little one out JUST before you enter into the plane and they will load the car seat there and then into the plane hold.

When you get off the plane one of two things will happen with the little car seat (bear in mind you have already checked the bigger car seat in with your luggage so don't need to worry about that one) - you will either collect it again direct getting off the plane OR it will come down the luggage belt like the bigger one. Simply ask the plane staff.

In all the flights I have been on, I have never had a problem with anything going missing etc

You can rent car seats the other end. Portugal is an EU country and the carseats are generally of good standard - we have always hired them and have had no problems.

I have never seen anyone use a carseat on a plane for a child of any age and we have flown a lot with both children. The norm is to carry a baby on your lap and for an older child to have their own (adult) seat. However the easyjet fAQs state:

You can take a car seat onboard providing these conditions are met:

• The car seat must have a rigid metal or plastic frame;
• It cannot be wider than 42cm;
• It has to be up-right and forward facing;
• It must include lap, shoulder and crotch straps.
• Booster seats are not accepted.

Car seats are accepted for any child between the age of six months and 3 years for whom an airline ticket has been purchased.

If you choose to take the seats in the hold, your baby's buggy will be carried free of charge and probably also her carseat although it depends how they interpret the regulations. They sometimes state one piece of baby luggage per infant but sometimes allow multiple - v confusing!

However your toddler's seat is unlikely to be carried free of charge as children over 3 have their own luggage allowance, and it would be included as part of this, so you should check the weight and take it into account when weighing your luggage.

Hope that helps!

But before you load up, remember that you'll have to carry one, possibly two (tired) children, plus your hand luggage, through the airport to the baggage reclaim before you get your buggy etc. So if you are allowed to take your car seats in to the cabin, you may find you don't have enough hands when the plane lands!

I have never booked a seat for my under 2 year old and have had to have them sit on my lap the entire flight. I am too tight to book a separate seat until I really have to!!!

I have used a carseat for my DC but only for long haul flights which generally have wide enough seats to take a forward facing carseat. For 3 hours and a baby that young I wouldn't bother with booking an extra seat.

Yes, I'd never book a seat for a

I was thinking I might get a cheap stage 0 car seat for DD rather than risk our expensive Maxi Cosi in the hold.

DS was in stage 0 till about 18 months. DD won't quite be 8 months by the time we get back so I'm not sure she will be ready to move up to the next stage.

Feeling a bit better about the flight now. Thanks guys

Any tips for keeping the 3 year old amused and sat still for 3 hours!!

Small aquadraw or those pens from Crayola that only write on Crayola pads, portable DVD player.

Plus spare outfit for the children and a clean top for you/DP, and lots and lots of wipes [bitter experience] - the steward on a longhaul flight had eyed-balled my large hand luggage when I boarded but was FULL of admiration when DD threw up mid-flight and from my Mary Poppins bag I produced wipes, nappy sacks and spare outfits, plus bibs to catch further sick (the plastic ones with the pelican catchy bit are good).

Have fun!

Good luck - it will be fine.

Toddlers are usually very interested in what's going on and fairly easy to amuse. Wondering's suggestions are good - also lots of books of course, and if you have an ipod he might like to listen to songs or audiobooks? Plus MASSES of snacks, otherwise you will get constantly pestered every time the trolley comes past.

Babies (or at least mine ) very often puke or do explosive poos on takeoff - the pressure drops and all the gases in their tummy expand and it comes out one way or another. Take loads of wipes and a spare outfit for the baby, plus a spare top for whoever is holding her (or a blanket). But they frequently sleep throughout the flight, as they are usually awake throughout checkin etc, and very tired by the time the plane takes off.

Encourage both of them to drink on takeoff and landing as it helps prevent sore ears - if you are breastfeeding the baby then do that throughout takeoff. No-one will bat an eyelid.

It will be fine - I've flown many times with our kids, starting from when DS1 was only 12 weeks. It's always been fun but tiring!

We have aquadraw (and pelican bibs!) Will look into the portable DVD player. Might be able to borrow one - we have a friend who borrows our travel stair gate for every holiday who has just bought one. I knew that'd pay off

Oh, and do a nappy change (if you have time) before you board. It is IMPOSSIBLE to change a nappy in an airline toilet. Well, I exaggerate a little, but it's very difficult. They seem to delight in making the change table 3 inches smaller than the baby, and only 1 inch smaller than the exact area of the cubicle.

Chances are the baby will poo everywhere anyway, but you can always try.

Better carry on with that diet then else I'll never get and and the changing table in the loo