does my 4 year old NEED a carseat (5 pt harness) on an airplane? ....?

I work for an airline, and the answer is- It is up to you! It is not a rule or law that any child be in a carseat on an airplane. Any child under the age of two MAY ride as a lapchild, but any child 2 or older must have their own seat purchased. If you desire, you may put this child's carseat in their purchased plane seat, however it is not a rule. He can just ride like the big folks, with his seat belt fastened! If you are planning on bringing the carseat on the trip with you anyhow, I personally like the children to ride in them. It is a familiar ride and helps them feel safe, keeps them out of the aisles (and secure during any possible turbulence), and is more comfortable if they fall asleep. Also, keeps you from checking one more item (and those luggage bins are dirty!!) The only "rule" that really is applied in this situation is, on your carseat, there is a sticker that should say "approved for use in aircraft", and the flight attendant should check for that. If your carseat does not have this sticker, he cannot use it on the plane. Either way, use your own discretion and - enjoy your flight!!

you are never REQUIRED to use a carseat on an airplane. You can hold a baby until they're two, afterwards you have to book them their own seat. My husband is in the military and we were stationed in Germany when our twins were 4 months old. At the time our second was 2 and our oldest was 6. We took carseats for our twins, because we didn't want to hold them for 9 1/2 hours, but our two year old sat in a seat and buckled up just like mom, dad, and big brother did. We did take his booster seat, thinking he might need it, but the airline attendants checked it for us, because it wasn't necessary.

hope this helps

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I wanted to add, because of another answer, that you CAN take a carseat, but it's not needed. We were allowed to use our carseats with our twins when they were 4 months, and when we went home right after their first birthday! If you're in aisle sears they just require that you put the carseats in the middle, in case of an exacuation. If you're in window seats, you'll be asked to place the carseat next to the window.

You might want to check with your airline. Some have different requirements than others. Also, some carseats are not airline approved so if you have to use one, you'll need to make sure it is approved for airlines. Sometimes even if it isn't required, it's nice to have them in a carseat so they can see out the window better and also just to keep them in one spot. I have found that sometimes the airline seatbelts aren't comfortable as an adult so I can't imagine they would be for a child!

Car Seat For 4 Year Old

No. Carseats are never required by law on airplanes. I fly with my kids all the time and only bothered with a carseat with my first child--those good ole days when I didn't have too much else to carry! Now I would never waste my effort and carrying capacity on a carseat for the plane--I'd rather spend it on carrying lots of snacks and entertainment for the kids.

Any child older than 2 requires his own seat. As for car seats,

While not mandated, the safest way for a young child to travel on an airplane is in an approved car seat. Car seats are needed to protect the child against turbulence. In non-fatal accidents, in-flight turbulence is the leading cause of injury to airline passengers and flight attendants. (FAA Facts About Turbulence)

http://www.carsafety4kids.com/airplanesafety.html

my boys were 2 and 4 the last time we flew and we did not take car seats on the plane. The airline told me they were not required for children over the age of 2. I felt they were perfectly safe (as safe as they could be anyway) without them. We rented car seats with the rental car when we got to our destination. I'm glad I did not have to lug car seats through the airport or worry about getting them installed properly on the plane.

I've never seen a small child in a carseat on a plane.

no! he does not need a car seat. my mother is a flight attendant and has never seen that. there would be no more safety or use in using a car seat than just having him buckled into a regular seat.

you should be good to go! btw, 33lbs??? give the child a cookie!

I don't think so, when I have flown in the past I have seem 3 and four year olds without car seats. YOu can check with your airline to be sure.