carseat or no carseat w/ 20mo???

Looking for some advice as I am on the fence about this.  We will be moving to Manchester next week and I can't decide if I should use the carseat or not for 20 mo DS.  It's a direct flight, he has his own seat.  I will be traveling alone with him and 3.5yo DD.  I plan on taking stuff for them to do, videos and if all else fails-- benedryl but not sure about using the carseat to keep him contained a bit and also so he has something more comfortable to sleep in.  We are planning a trip back for Christmas and my thoughts were he'd be more awake for that leg which would probably equal more squirming.

Any thoughts??? What would you do

I'm not bringing my car seat for my 17 month old. I bought the CARES harness instead.

Check with the airlines, they'll have a policy about it. I say you should bring the carseat.

I don't know of any airline that has a policy requiring you to bring a car seat.  So I don't know if an airline would be any help.  It's really up to the individual traveler.  Plus if you are traveling by yourself with two little children, I'd imagine you'll find it difficult to carry a car seat on top of everything else!

I called the airline mainly to ask if there would be a problem taking a US carseat on  any part of the flights.  I was mainly thinking that on the UK side returning to the US they might not like it but both BA and AA said it would be fine. 

Geeta-- have you used the CARES harness yet?  Were they able to sleep ok in it? 

Part of me would like the restraint part just because the 2 kids against 1 adult  won't be great but I also thought he would sleep a little better in the carseat because he can sort of just lean his head to the side but then the other part of me says it'd be a pain to carry and I could just get by w/o it. 

As far as carrying that I will have a buggy and a backpack- that's all but I was going to see once everything is packed up how manageable it would be.  The nice part is they are direct flights each time so it's just on and off and to the car- sort of:)

I haven't used the CARES yet.  I actually am still bringing my son as a lap child, so I can't bring the car seat on board anyway.  But I am still trying to figure out if I should bring it for the car when we actually get there - for when we are picked up at the airport. 

The other thing is that at least my Britax Boulevard is pretty big, and I'm not even sure if it would fit in a regular airplane seat.  I had a tough enough time with my Graco Snugride (even had a flight attendant once ask me if using the seat was 'allowed' on board...um, you should know that it is!).  I just can't see it fitting even though it is approved for airplane use.  I bought a big backpack-like thing so that I could carry the car seat on my back through the airport, but it just seems like such a hassle to carry it anywhere that I'm not sure I'll even use it.

I think the restraint part of the car seat is attractive, but again, not sure how happy my guy would be sitting in it for too long, and there's just so little space that I feel like he'd be happier having the extra room and me making him a little bed with lots of blankets/pillows.  Not sure.  But I only have one, so I can see why you might want it with two little ones!

Yeah I wouldn't bother with just the one.  When we moved back to the US with DD we were lucky and the seat next to me was open so she was fine that way but it was a daytime flight and only took a couple short naps and definitly not the squirmy sort.  You should be fine.  I think you can check carseats for free with your luggage so you might still be able to have it for the car and not lug it around the airport

We used a CARES harness on Jean when she was 19 months with good results.

Well we are leaving this Friday so I'm not sure if I will be able to get a CARES harness in time.  I am thinking about it though for future trips though and will see if I can get one for the daytime return flight which is what I am worried about the most.  I looked into renting one too so that would be an option to try and see how it works

How did Jean sleep in it?  Did you put a pillow or something?

Nah, I just fly with mine on my lap. I never see anyone using car seats on international flights. My daughter is the same age, and I just hold her, its a bit fiddly, but not a big deal for a few hours. Good luck! Get in touch with you get here!

Also, FWIW, not all airlines allow carseats.  Just came back on Virgin today and they won't allow carseats in the cabin.  If you require something like a carseat for a child too big for a sky cot, but under 2 years, they have a carseat-like seat that they charge extra for.  Hmph.  I don't think it is a requirement, but i didnt do too much research sincd it wasn't an issue for us, as our baby is still okay for a sky cot.

My daughter travelled when she was 18 months in her own seat and we didn't use a carseat or a harness and had no problems. She wouldn't have tolerated being in something restrictive (like a carseat or a CARES) for the flight (nearly 12+ hours from LHR to SFO), she did like her seatbelt though and did quite well.

Keep in mind as well that you aren't going to have your push chair when you get off the plane.  You won't get that until you've got your baggage (it's usually dropped off at the gate, but returned to you with luggage).  So you'll be hauling little one around while they try to run off or want to be carried with a big old car seat on another arm and whatever bags you are carrying all at the same time.  I would so say that just is not worth having a bit of a headrest during the flight.

Also, remember that car and seat specs are slightly different out here, so you'll need to get a new car seat once you arrive.  So you'll be carrying it, just to chuck it.  I just wouldn't bother if it were me.  I've flown twice with my little ones now, and they managed to do a lot better than I thought they would.

I the last time i flew into MAN I saw others with a pushchair while standing in the immigration line??  Does anyone else have an idea about this?? Hubby is already there and was lucky enough to get a car already so went out and got the new carseats yesterday.  We are returning at christmas so I was figuring to just use it on the 2 flights then leave it in the US as our return the UK in Jan he will be a lap child then.

I don't think I can get a CARES harness in time this time so maybe will decide after I have all my stuff ready to go about the carseat.  Was also thinking I could check it and just see how things go then can always either check for the december trip or use it for then and leave it in the US--BOTTOMLINE-- I think I am just freaking over nothing and in the end it'll all be fine

I fly United exclusively. They always check my pushchair at the gate and I have it waiting for me when I step off the plane (just outside the cabin door). Never had to claim it at baggage claim.