We're about to travel to Indiana with the girls and I'm not sure what to do with Lauren. She is 3 so she has her own seat, but we can't decide if we should take her carseat on the plane or not. She is 30lbs and about 38 inches tall. When we flew last year, it was such a hassle to keep her from kicking the seat in front of her (which she did with much glee...ugh). I feel like she'd be safer in the seat, but more comfortable without it. We have to take it on the trip with us either way...what have the rest of you done with kids of this age on the plane?

Thanks
j

I'd put her in the seat for safety reasons. The car seat.

Emily

I"d lug the carseat too. Last summer I didn't (she was 3) & regreted it. She kicked the seat in front of her the whole time & couldn't sleep b/c she couldn't get comfortable. Where she's already comfortable in the carseat & could have had a place to rest her head.

When we flew last year (dh, me, and the kids), we brought on both carseats. What a hassle to get two sleeping kids and two carseats OFF of the plane! When I flew with my brother and both kids when we moved down here (DH was already here) I checked both carseats at the gate and had Rebecca in my lap, Justin on the regular plane seat. He was the same size and age as your daughter is now.

If you want to take both carseats, maybe try to get a seat in the front of the plane so you're not bumping them into everyone on the way back...and plan on being the last to exit the plane. If you dont' bring a carseat on the plane for your baby, at least you can all sit in the same row, otherwise you'll have to sit separately.

Remember too that if you are checking them at the gate or carrying them onto the plane, you will be trekking through the airport with two kids and two carseats, so you may want to check a stroller at the gate to help. You can either put one or both of the kids in the stroller, or the carseats, and carry the rest. A sling is good too, but if it's a long walk with the carseat it's hard on your back. At least it was for me. :)