Flying with baby and toddler in seats only 2 next to each other...

[MommytoaSweetie]

We'll have DD1 with her own seat, and DH and I each have seats, and DD2 is flying as a lap child. On our flight back on JetBlue, it is just 2 seats next to each other on both sides of the plane (it's 3 together on the way down so no issue there). Do you think it's best to reserve two seats next to each other and then one behind it or one across the aisle from it?? DH and I can both debate it either way and obviously have no experience. I'd love to hear any experiences! It's only a 2.5ish hour flight so it won't be crazy bad. Thanks so much for any help you have!

[thebeesknees]

We've done both, and honestly, I preferred having my DH across the aisle from me. He could see me easier to help when I needed it, and it was nice when the drinks came around to have his tray to set my stuff on so the baby didn't grab it, etc. Have a great trip!

[Zeebs]

Agree with previous poster across the aisle is so much more helpful. Still in reach if you need them.

Have a great time. At least the flight is only 2.5 hours one of our flights we had was 12 hours and my lucky husband got to sit across the aisle while I had the two kids.

Halve way through though my 3 year old wanted to sleep on Daddy so he was stuck with him for a few hours he said it wasn't very comfortable. Shame.....

Kirsten

[dis-happy]

Are you flying coach? If so, I'd put your dh and ds in front of you so they won't recline the seat into your lap while you're holding the baby. JMHO

[Hannathy]

I hope you just mixed those children up when you were typing because your 2.5 cant be a lap baby.

If you have to be separated I would put 1 parent with the 2 yr old and then have the single parent take the lap baby. That way each parent is responsible for the care and feeding of only 1 child wherever they end up on the plane.

[Macduffy]

I'd recommend flying with DH in front of your daughter. when flying with my 20 month old he'd kick the seat a lot (unintentionally of course) and I felt horrible for the person in front of him so DH offered to switch seats. Worked great!

[MommytoaSweetie]

Haha, I guess it's still a good debate then. There's probably no BEST way to do it, but I do like the idea of having a tray for stuff to not fall and be grabbed. On our last trip, the flight back had the same seating but it was only half-full, so we'll pray for that happening again.

(Oh, and sorry if I was confusing before but yes, the 2.5 year old certainly has her own seat)

[brockash]

Originally Posted by MommytoaSweetie

We'll have DD1 with her own seat, and DH and I each have seats, and DD2 is flying as a lap child. On our flight back on JetBlue, it is just 2 seats next to each other on both sides of the plane (it's 3 together on the way down so no issue there). Do you think it's best to reserve two seats next to each other and then one behind it or one across the aisle from it?? DH and I can both debate it either way and obviously have no experience. I'd love to hear any experiences! It's only a 2.5ish hour flight so it won't be crazy bad. Thanks so much for any help you have!

What we always do is I sit in the same row as ds (in own seat) and dd (as lap child), then I have dh sit in the seat directly in front of me. This way when dd kicks the seat, it's just dh's. Granted he doesn't like it either, but I'm much rather have her kicking one of us, than a stranger.

Also, I know some ppl. would think it would make more sense to have one parent with the toddler and one with the lap baby, but for me, again I'd much rather have my ds next to us than a stranger. One, there's more room, because you can invade your own child's space, and also there's less chance of annoying a stranger.

[ericalynn1979]

Here's how I'd do it.

Have DH and DD in the car seat in one row, and have you with the baby across the aisle. I honestly don't think I could handle my lap child and my car seat child at the same time.

[Hannathy]

Originally Posted by brockash

What we always do is I sit in the same row as ds (in own seat) and dd (as lap child), then I have dh sit in the seat directly in front of me. This way when dd kicks the seat, it's just dh's. Granted he doesn't like it either, but I'm much rather have her kicking one of us, than a stranger.

Also, I know some ppl. would think it would make more sense to have one parent with the toddler and one with the lap baby, but for me, again I'd much rather have my ds next to us than a stranger. One, there's more room, because you can invade your own child's space, and also there's less chance of annoying a stranger.

She can't get 3 seats together hence the question.....

[brockash]

Originally Posted by Hannathy

She can't get 3 seats together hence the question.....

If you go back and re-read my post you'll see that as I stated, my row only requires 2 seats (just like in her situation) and then a seat directly in front of me. My lap child, ds and I would sit in one row, which would only have 2 seats.

[wmharley]

Originally Posted by MommytoaSweetie

We'll have DD1 with her own seat, and DH and I each have seats, and DD2 is flying as a lap child. On our flight back on JetBlue, it is just 2 seats next to each other on both sides of the plane (it's 3 together on the way down so no issue there). Do you think it's best to reserve two seats next to each other and then one behind it or one across the aisle from it?? DH and I can both debate it either way and obviously have no experience. I'd love to hear any experiences! It's only a 2.5ish hour flight so it won't be crazy bad. Thanks so much for any help you have!

across.. we did this.. we had a 757 and it was 3+3 config... we did a 3+1 seating araingment..

DH - DD/DW/DS (window)

We opted for this sicne the kids are small enough, leaning back, the person in front wouldn't do damage anyways.. plus, if I needed to swap with DW or DD needed to move so DW/DS could stretch out, I could easily move DD on my lap. if I was in front, and people were next to me, it would be more of a hassle to get back to help. plus, I could easily get up to get anything in an overhead bag.

[RMulieri]

Across.We did it both ways and across was alot easier .

[empty_nester]

I vote for in front because on a recent flight back from Florida with our 2 year old and 15 month old grandbabies we found that they really liked to open and close the tray table-which can annoy the person in front. And when they got too wiggly I could hand them over the seat to their dad or Poppy (Mom stayed home for her own mini vacation away from the kids!). Kids really can't be in the aisles but they might want to be if they could see dad. Granted we had both seats in front of us but we kept them amused and satisfied even when our 2 hour flight turned into a 8 hour one due to storms! Sharon