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Southwest Airlines Community

Traveling with 3 year old

babyface2390
Explorer C

We will be traveling with my 3 year old daughter next year to Disneyworld. We have never flien before having a child, so I’m not sure what the policy is for car seats is exactly? 

 

Do the airlines treat it as if she’s in a car and we need her car seat on board the flight or how does it exactly work? 

2 REPLIES 2

Re: Traveling with 3 year old

DancingDavidE
Aviator A

It's not like a car - younger than 2 years old the child can be a "lap child" and not have their own ticket, sitting in the lap of the parent.

 

For over two years old the child will have their own ticket, and should sit in that seat during take-off and landing. (And in general in case there is surprise turbulence.)

 

A car seat can be used if it is TSA approved - that applies to all infant/toddler ages except when the child doesn't have a ticket and no extra seat would be available. The car seat would have to be buckled in against the window, or if only two people are in the row it could be the middle seat and the parent on the aisle. It can't be installed in a way to block someone into the row.

 

We have just purchased one of these on recommendation of this community and will be trying it out this evening:

 

https://www.amazon.com/CARES-Child-Airplane-Travel-Harness/dp/B0012E4FV8/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid...

 

They also have it at Bed Bath and Beyond if you are in their mailing list and get the 20% off coupons on a regular basis. If not in stock they can order for delivery to the store.

 

Here is a blog post about CARES vs Car Seat:

https://www.simplefamilytravel.net/blog/caresharness

 

 

 

Home airport MDW, frequent visitor to MCO to see the mouse.

Re: Traveling with 3 year old

babyface2390
Explorer C

Thank you so much! I think I’ll definitely go for the CARES harness!