air travel with 22 month old. Should I use a car seat in flight?

I've read that car seats on the plane are a major PITA -- big, heavy, the tray table doesn't come down. I have an active boy and the flight is 4.5 hours domestic. Should I check the car seat or use it in flight? Thx.

I'd check it, he will only need to sit alone for take off and landing, otherwise he can sit in your lap or play on the floor.

call the airline and ask what the safety guidelines are.

We flew when my child was exactly that age... 22 months, and I will swear by this product:

http://www.kidsflysafe.com/

However it is costly and the one that we flew with we actually borrowed from a friend. There might be an alternative product on the market as well.

The Air lines usually tell you that he can sit on your lap and that way you don't even need to buy him his own ticket, if he sits on your lap his flight is free. Just bring a couple of favorite toys or a dvd player to entertain him.. and a couple of dvds.

Depending on how often you are going to fly and if you are going to have more kids later, you might invest in this http://www.kidsflysafe.com It's the CARES restraint system.

We first used this with our son when he was 21 months and it was fantastic! You're right that the car seat is a major PITA. It can only be used in a window seat and it's heavy and bulky. It also puts your kids feet in pefrect shot of the seat in front of him.

I liked this because he was still safer than only a lap belt (which never would have kept him in his seat) and since he's used to a 5 point harness in the car, he gave us no fuss over using this one. It was incredibly easy to use and we just checked the car seat. It was also really nice being able to put him in between us so we could both tend to him.

Good Luck!

**edit**
Some people rent the restraints on places like ebay.

Also, there is NO WAY we could have done our flights with him in the lap at that age. The last time we did fly with him in our lap he was 15 mo old and we vowed that was the last time.

I have never taken my son's car seat into a flight. When he was 22 months we went to FL, 4.5 h.d. We didn't even buy a ticket for him, it's not requiere by airlines. After he turned 24 months, we started buying his ticket, but we have never used a car seat in. I have seen those parents carry their babys, carry-on, diaper bag, car seat, stroller. It looks absolutely scarring to me... I usually check in his car seat...

I would definately call... I brought a car seat on the plane once for my daughter and they told me that car seats aren't approved for air travel.
If you're worried that if he's not in a car seat he'll want to get up and move around - don't. With both of my kids, the seat belt was enough to give them the message that they have to stay seated.
Bring lots of crayons, color books and snacks. Also, we have one of those hand held computer leap frog games which kept them both busy between Boston and Florida.

Only take the car seat with you if you absolutely HAVE to, and even then, check it as luggage. Don't waste time and space on the plane, it probably won't fit in the seat and he won't want to be trapped in the seat for 4 1/2 hours.

If you purchased a seat, you definitely need to use the carseat. If not, then I would take it to the gate to see if there are any available seats and install it. If not, they can gate check it for you and it hopefully won't get thrown around as much.

We have flown with our daughter both before she was 2 and after. We have always purchased a seat for her and installed her carseat. Not only is it safer, but it's MUCH easier in flight. She usually sleeps and understands that she needs to sit still and be relatively quiet. The parents who have lap babies look completely frazzled and exhausted upon arrival at the destination.