Do you need to bring a car seat when travelling by shuttle from the airport to our hotel?

We are flying down to Disneyland in a few weeks and I am debating whether we should bring car seats for our two children. I don't really feel the need to use them on the plane, but am unsure whether we need them for our shuttle to the hotel. We are flying into LAX so it is about an hour long shuttle ride. I'd prefer to pack as lightly as possible with two children (2 and 7 months). Help!Do you need to bring a car seat when travelling by shuttle from the airport to our hotel?
I would, if you require it by law there they may not let you on the shuttle with out it- you could always call them and ask.Do you need to bring a car seat when travelling by shuttle from the airport to our hotel?
Disneyland with a 7 month old, bless your heart. You have just redefined bravery!





Car seats are a bother, and I know it's tempting to leave them at home. Tis better to hassle with the fool things and not need them than to have needed them and have regrets.





You have my utmost and sincere admiration.
Sounds like fun - I've never been!





Hate to dampen the vacation, but car seats are a needed accessory that goes hand in hand when traveling with kids in any type of vehicle - car, plane, shuttle, taxi, rental car...etc.





There are some links below that I will include hoping to convey why it is so important to take the car seats on the plane and use them with the kids - especially at those young ages. The 7 month old isn't required to even have a seat, which is about the dumbest rule I think we still have. I mean, they require a 2 year old or older child to be buckled in for the flight, why don't babies deserve that same safety?





You aren't required to, but its a really good idea to take one. Kids do better when they have their seat on the plane, same as in the car. They are less likely to want to run around and such since they are used to being put in a car seat whenever traveling. And believe it are not, they are safer. Should turbulence happen, they are less likely to be injured or scared.


Its not actually plane crashes you are protecting against - many planes go through severe enough turbulence to cause injuries, especially to children. And when moving at such high speeds anything feels 'big' and can cause you to lose control and let go of a lap baby.





it is better NOT to check car seats as luggage. Think of how your luggage gets banged around - well, if your car seat gets banged around, it is no longer safe to use. A car seat is only made to withstand being dropped/in an accident once! And if it gets dropped and you don't know about it, you unwittingly put your child in danger. Better all around to take the seat on the plane. And the airline is very unlikely to replace the seat if they do damage it. Just check to make sure that your car seat is FAA approved for aircraft use, should say so somewhere on a label on the seat.





Also - if you are planning on having your baby as a lap baby, you should know the truth of what can really happen, check the links below. Flight attendants refer to lap babies as MISSILES!!!! That's right, b/c missiles is what they become when there is heavy turbulence or other problems or rough flights. They give the count as ';127 pax (passengers) and 3 missiles';. Is a missile what you want your baby to be?





As for the shuttle - if it has seatbelts (and I believe they do) the kids need to be in car seats. I would absolutly NOT want to be stuck trying to hold and entertain both a 2 year old and 7 month old for a long plane ride followed by an hour long shuttle ride! It is in their best interests and yours to bring their seats and a few interesting toys or snacks. Snacks are always the perfect diversion. So is a portable DVD player. :)





Inconvenient? Absolutely. But let's be blunt - how much more inconvenient would it be to have to plan a funeral for your children, knowing you could have prevented it? Another poster totally hit the nail on the head - better to bring the seats and have a turbulence free, accident free trip, then to not bring them and have trouble and have to pay the consequences with your children's health or lives. Not worth it. Just take the seats. Look at the links below for accessories to make traveling with car seats easier. If you think your current car seats are too bulky to deal with, grab a Cosco Scenera or 2 from Walmart, $45, make great spare/travel seats b/c they are lightweight, FAA approved (most car seats are) and fairly easy to install. Stash them in the hotel when you get there.





Oh - and your days of packing light are pretty much over. Sorry. :D