Travel with newly adopted children

For the flight home I do not think it is the law to use a carseat I think that is up to the parents to decide...and many people do use them because they need them where they are going....but, many people don't use them. For the drive home from the airport--it depends on your state laws.....but, most states do have laws about car rides. The citiations are usually very high for car trips without a car seat and the injuries in a minor accident can be horrible without one. Maybe it is possible for you to have a family memeber or friend loan or buy you a car seat--after you find out the weight and hight of the children? Also, there are really only two basic kinds of car seats.... The ones for newborns are simply used differently then the ones for toddlers. In an emergency oneday I placed my 48lb five year old in her 1-year old brothers car seat and readjusted the straps..... It was just fine and secure.....so I would error on buying the ones designed for infant and toddlers and then just adjust them when you get to the ariport.

Our daughter was 18 months old when we brought her home and we bought a convertible car seat for the ride home -- rear facing for infants and forward facing for babies over 20 lbs. We actually didn't use it rear facing at all, but that's because she was around 20 lbs when we brought her home. I believe airlines require children over 2 to be in their own seat. I personally wouldn't travel without a car seat in the plane for a child of ANY age. I knew someone whose child was permenently brain damaged because she lost hold of him when her plane hit turbulence. There is something called a Sit & Stroll which is a stroller/car seat combination that is FAA approved. I highly recommend it -- we used it for our daughter coming home from India.

Where could we find a Sit & Stroll? I've never heard of this before. It sounds like a lifesaver!

I traveled home with my two year old a couple of months ago. God Bless you for managing two! I did not bring a car seat, but I did buy her a seat on the way home. I can't imagine the trip home without it! It gave her space to play and half lie down. Although the airlines indicate that you can't hold a two year old, I certainly saw people that did. It was a very long 10 hours and I can't imagine her on my lap the whole time. I did also bring a stroller. I was advised that I didn't need it, but again, the best decision! Just to get through the airports etc, I couldn't have made it with her in my arms. Also - bring lollipops. Helps with the ear pressure and general amusement. Good luck on your journey.

yes, spaypet---you are irght I have heard of some bad injuries even for adults in flight sitting without a belt. Personally if were flying with small children I would bring a carseat. When my bio kid's were 1 & 2 we flew on a 2hr flight with them on our laps and it was horrible (back in the 80's)! I can tell you that unless there are empty seats they you will have to buy a child a ticket---most airlines still allow children under 2 to fly free on your lap....but, with such a long flight I wouldn't even try that in the first place! Car seats are a really big deal, when I gave birth to my children in 83 and 84 they actually went to the car and checked out the car seat before we were allowed to leave the hospital. That was back when the new laws were just starting to be made about car seats. When I was a little girl my parents had the old kind from the 60's and my father was rearended--I had surgery for a tear in my intestines! Any of the newborn/toddler seats will hold a small or rather large child..... the onther choices are booster seats and made for much older children. However last year when we got ours we were amazed at the 'speciality' modles now being sold! If you stick with the basic carseats they will meet most needs. It is the more expensive ones that come with more features, and are designed for every little stage development level.

1. You MUST buy a seat on the plane for a child age two or over, and you're not likely to get it at a cheaper rate than an adult seat. Whether you use a car seat on that seat is up to you; however, if you do, it must be FAA approved. Your choice of seating on the plane will be somewhat restricted, as you cannot use a car seat in an exit row or, I believe, on an aisle seat. 2. If you wish, you may buy a seat on the plane for a child under age two. This will give you more room to spread out, but at considerable cost. There is unlikely to be a reduced rate if you buy a seat, even if your child is 18 months old. Again, you may choose to use an FAA approved car seat in that seat, if you wish, but you are not required to do so.. 3. Your other option for a child under age two is to buy a "lap ticket," which is about 10% of the cost of a regular adult ticket. A lap ticket does not give the child his/her own seat. Thus, you cannot guarantee that you will be able to use a car seat. You will have to hold the child at all times, unless there just happen to be some empty seats on the plane and the flight attendants are willing to move you next to one of the empty seats. I have seen people put a blanket on the floor when sitting in an exit row or bulkhead row and let their child sleep there, but it may not be allowed by the flight attendants. 4. Whether or not you buy a seat for a child under two, you may request a bassinet, if you sit in a bulkhead row. A bassinet, which is free, screws into the wall of the bulkhead. The advantage of a bassinet is that it lets the child lie down and sleep. There's usually a Velcro strap over the top that will help protect the child from falling out. There are several drawbacks to bassinets, the most obvious being that they don't work if a child is over about 20 lb. I used one for my daughter, who was 18 months old when I adopted her, but she was tiny -- only 17 lb. Another drawback is that you cannot use bassinets on takeoff and landing or during periods of turbulence. A third drawback is that flights can have only a few of them, so you need to order them early and reconfirm once in the foreign country. A fourth drawback is that you probably won't have them on the domestic portions of your flights. And, finally, if you use one, you will have less legroom and may be unable to recline your seat. 5. Traveling with an approved car seat makes sense from a safety perspective. It is the ONLY way to protect a child from the risk of severe turbulence. HOWEVER, it is a royal pain for most families, since it must be carried with you on your trip. On an adoption trip, you may be bringing a lot of gear for your new children, and a car seat is just one more darn thing to haul and keep track of when you are tired and dealing with a cranky child. You also have to understand that you are unlikely to be able to use it in automobiles, taxis, and tour buses/vans at your destination. Many cars used overseas won't have seatbelts, so there will be no place to install them. 6. Some people like the Baby B'Air safety vest for traveling with infants and toddlers. You can learn about this safety vest online. However, my understanding is that you cannot use it during takeoffs and landings, or during periods of turbulence. Sharon

[url]http://www.safelinekids.com/skprodsns.asp[/url] This page has a list of retailers -- I think we ordered ours online -- maybe from One Step Ahead? This was a lifesaver -- you don't even have to take the child out to collapse it into a car seat. The only issue we had was the handle got a little loose on the trip out to India (we checked it). If you manage to keep it in the original box, that probably won't happen.

Hi! Did they consider it a carry on? With limited amounts of luggage you can take with you, I'm wondering where I "count" it. Thanks!

we checked it on our way to India and, no since it didn't take up any room in the overhead bin or under the seat it didn't count as a carryon (or perhaps it counted as our daughter's carry on -- after all she counts too!)

If I check it, that means one less suitcase I can bring for all of the stuff--and it seems like there is A LOT of stuff I have to bring! :)

Where are you traveling and for how long? We brought one suitcase each and one carryon (well, two, because I had a fanny pack). I brought only about three outfits for me -- we used the hotel laundry alot! We didn't bring formula -- bought it in country. We did bring medications and lots and lots of diapers. Of course we were going to India which is hot so we didn't have bulky clothes.

If you figure on adopting a child around 18 months of age, get a good quality convertible car seat. A convertible car seat can switch from the rear facing position to the forward facing position. Many children over one year of age will be able to face forward; however, if your child is under 20 lb. or very delayed -- e.g., unable to sit up well or hold his/her head up well -- you will want to use a rear facing seat for a while. Basically, the convertible seat is good in the forward facing position until a child reaches about 40 lb. and/or 4 years of age, unless he/she is unusually tall. If you figure on adopting a child age 3-4, I would recommend getting a high back car seat that is equipped with a five-point harness and convertible to a booster seat. You need the high back because many children over age 3 or 4 are too tall for the traditional convertible car seat. If the 3-4 year old is under 40 lb., you definitely need to use the five-point harness. If the child is 40 lb. or over, you may generally switch to the booster mode (where the child is held in place on the seat by the car's seat belt system), although some pediatricians recommend keeping the child in the 5-point harness as long as possible, because it is safer. There is a good discussion of car seats and boosters on the website of the American Academy of Pediatrics, which you may want to read, as you think about your options. My daughter was 18.5 mo. old when I adopted her in China. She weighed only 17 lb., but had good head control and was able to sit up well. As a result, the pediatrician said that I didn't need to use the rear facing position. She was in a convertible car seat until she was about 5, as she was so tiny. I then bought a high back car seat that can convert to a booster. She didn't reach 40 lb. until she was almost eight (!), so she continued to use the 5-point harness, rather than the booster option. Although she is now 8 and about 42 lb., she still likes to use the 5-point harness. I plan to switch it over to a booster soon, if she'll let me, but meanwhile, she uses the booster I bought for use when transporting her larger friends, when she's in the mood. Sharon

Your state may have a law about the pounds AND age in which the child is allowed to face forward. In Indiana, a child has to be at least 1 year old AND 20 pounds to legally ride forward. This law has just been in effect for 3 or 4 years and I am sure many do not follow it.

My advice would be to ditch the car seat and go with the bassinet for the infant (it has a safety cover to secure the baby inside) and a seat for the older child. Northwest/KLM offers discounted fares for families adopting from Eastern Europe. Their Special Delivery program information is available on the Web site. The less you have to lug with you, the better off you will all be. God's blessings on your journey. It will be glorious! :D