• Air travel with children can be an exciting and stressful time. Parents want to protect their children and make sure that they are safe, and this does not change when traveling. Currently the airlines, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Transportation Security Administration do not require children to travel in car seats, but they can be used on a plane and may provide comfort to parents and children alike.
  
  

Current Regulations and Rules

• According to the FAA, a child-restraint system, or CSR, is a car seat that is approved for use in both planes and cars by the government. Planes also have a harness restraint that is approved for children weighing more than 22 lbs.
  
  While children under 2 can travel for free when held in the lap, turbulence and other flight issues may make parents uneasy without proper restraints. Some airlines will allow travelers to use empty seats and some offer discounted tickets for children under 2 to have their own seat.
  
  

Seats and Restraints

• The FAA also suggests CSRs be used rear-facing for children under 20 lbs. and special harnesses for children who are tall enough but may still require restraint. While you can bring your own car seat on the plane, it is wise to check with the airline and see if they provide one, because if they do, they may require you check your car seat.
  
  Booster seats and harness vests are prohibited for use in planes, and you will be required to check these types of items, because they are unsafe for plane travel.
  
  

Seating and Other Tips

• When traveling with a CSR, travelers will want to purchase seats that are next to each other and place the car seat by the window. Airlines also do not allow children to sit in exit rows, due to the tasks that may need to be done in an emergency.