Advice for seating arrangment on plane

[tartemis]

Hi! I'm looking for advice for our plane trip to Disney next week. Travelling is myself, DH, DD(5 months) and DD(almost 2 1/2 years). DD2 has her own seat (but no carseat) and DD5mons. will be a lap baby. I know the configuration of our plane and there are just two seats on either side of the aisle -- so we can't get 3 seats immediately together.

My initial thought is to have the 3 of us set in the same row -- which means one adult will be across the aisle. I will be nursing the baby on take off and landing, so I think it may be more comfortable for me to be next to DD2 instead of a complete stranger. (I nurse in public frequently and am not exactly shy, but I've never nursed so close to someone else in an enclosed space and I do somewhat worry about offending the hypothetical business man that I would surely be stuck next to.) On the other hand, if I'm holding the baby, I won't be able to attend to DD2 very well... so maybe I should suck it up and be the one to sit across the aisle. I keep going back and forth.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Tara

 

[disneymarie]

I have sat window seat w/infant, youngest next to me, dh isle seat next to us.
I had a lap baby many trips, and no issues. Dil and ds, took car seat and paid a ticket.

 

[robinb]

I would put the toddler in the window seat, sit next to her and have your DH sit across the aisle. Who cares if someone sees you nursing?

 

[cbrob]

I think it is your best plan. This will give you room to sit the baby on the seat too when you need a rest, pop up the arm rest in between the seats and you'll have a bit more space for the three of you. Your DH will be close enough to reach across to help out your older one if she needs it.

 

[tartemis]

I would put the toddler in the window seat, sit next to her and have your DH sit across the aisle. Who cares if someone sees you nursing?

That is what I'm leaning towards, I'm just worried that if the baby falls asleep nursing (I can only hope), that I won't be able to attend to DD2 very well.

And I don't really care about someone seeing me nursing . . . it was more that I was a little uncomfortable being the person across the aisle sitting immediately next to a stranger nursing. I have this fear that it would be someone who would make a big commotion out of the whole thing and then I would be stuck sitting next to them for hours. Usually, if I offend someone I take solace in knowing that they aren't stuck next to me -- or vice versa.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I would sit your DH next to your toddle and put you in front of your toddler in the next row. This way your DH can worry about keeping your toddler quiet but not have to worry if she kickes the seat in front of her, or bangs the tray table a bit too much, etc. It gives you all one less things to try to control with little ones on planes
If possible put the toddler and yourself on the aisle and then it is easier for your to get up to switch with your DH if need be, or to get up to hand the baby off for a while, etc.

 

[seashoreCM]

I suggest all of you in the same row, one of you across the aisle.
Let DD2 choose which seat (one window two aisles) she wants and you and DH take the other two.

If someone is acting offensively or encroaching on your seating space, then push the FA call button. If you think someone thinks you are acting offensively, and you are not encroaching on his seating space, then ignore him and let him press the FA call button.

 

[wdwfan16]

Sit at the window and put DH across the aisle.

 

[puffkin]

I would sit your DH next to your toddle and put you in front of your toddler in the next row. This way your DH can worry about keeping your toddler quiet but not have to worry if she kickes the seat in front of her, or bangs the tray table a bit too much, etc. It gives you all one less things to try to control with little ones on planes
If possible put the toddler and yourself on the aisle and then it is easier for your to get up to switch with your DH if need be, or to get up to hand the baby off for a while, etc.

That is exactly what I would do Having travelled many times with DS3 we always sit someone in our party in the seat in front of him. It is much less stressful not having to worry about the inevitable kicking and tray table bumping.

 

[tartemis]

Thanks everyone. We have booked bulkhead seats so we don't have to worry about DD2 kicking anyone in front of us. (Of course, I could change our seat requests.) We are also flying business class (yes, we are those people bringing two kids into business), which should give us some more room. My husband is 6'7" and I'm 6'1" so it is very difficult to fly coach unless we are in an exit row, which you can't do with kids. We always try to fly business once we have enough free miles to do so. Part of my insecurity regarding all of this is probably also that I know that many people don't even think that kids should be up in business class and this is our first flight as a family of 4.

I like the idea of asking DD2 which seat she likes.

 

[**eeyore**]

Have you considered purchasing a seat for the infant and bringing your carrier carseat? Most airlines offer discounted infant fares (we have paid 50% of the adult fare in the past). This way you would end up with an entire row, you would not be seated next to strangers and would have the peace of mind know that your infant in safe & secure during the flight.

If that is not an option, then I would agree with previous posters and suggest that you & your toddler sit next to each other, with you DH in the aisle seat next to you. Once the flight is in the air, you can always switch with your husband, or hand him your infant if you want.

 

[arielmomma]

When I flew with DS when he was 3 and DD was 4 months DS insisted that he be by the window. This actually worked out really well. I nursed DD during take off and landing. Having DS next to me gave me a bit of extra room to hold her. DH sat across the aisle from us. Once DD fell asleep, as she generally did when she nursed. I handed her to DH and I entertained DS. It was a very peaceful flight.

 

[tartemis]

Have you considered purchasing a seat for the infant and bringing your carrier carseat? Most airlines offer discounted infant fares (we have paid 50% of the adult fare in the past). This way you would end up with an entire row, you would not be seated next to strangers and would have the peace of mind know that your infant in safe & secure during the flight.

If that is not an option, then I would agree with previous posters and suggest that you & your toddler sit next to each other, with you DH in the aisle seat next to you. Once the flight is in the air, you can always switch with your husband, or hand him your infant if you want.

I thought about purchasing a seat for the infant, but I just couldn't justify the expense just to alleviate my possible embarssment -- I will definitley be holding the baby for take off and landing anyway to nurse, so I'm not sure we would ever use the extra seat.

Plus, one of the main reasons we do the Disney vacation is so we don't have to lug around carseats.

 

[deannanb]

I have nursed on a few plane rides -
I understand your anxiety - but it isn't really a problem on the plane.
Bring a coverup - even if you don't usually use one - it makes it much easier to cover up than using a blanket - and it will make you feel better.

I would put DD at the window - and have some "fun" new activities ready for her -
put them in the seat pocket in front of her so she can reach them on her own (Target dollar spot is great for this). and a few suckers

Have DH hold the baby as you get on the plane so that you can get DD settled in her seat. I would sit next to DD and let DH sit on the aisle across from you. It makes it much easier to hand the baby across the aisle than in front or in back of you.

Have a great trip!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Thanks everyone. We have booked bulkhead seats so we don't have to worry about DD2 kicking anyone in front of us. (Of course, I could change our seat requests.) We are also flying business class (yes, we are those people bringing two kids into business), which should give us some more room. My husband is 6'7" and I'm 6'1" so it is very difficult to fly coach unless we are in an exit row, which you can't do with kids. We always try to fly business once we have enough free miles to do so. Part of my insecurity regarding all of this is probably also that I know that many people don't even think that kids should be up in business class and this is our first flight as a family of 4.

I like the idea of asking DD2 which seat she likes.

If you have bulkhead then I think really any confugation works. You can move yourselvse around once ariborn quite easily without bothering anyone. Don't worry about looks from those who don't want children in business class. We used to get a lot of those looks. It sounds like you are aware of how your children will impact others and ready to try very hard to keep it from being an issue so it should not be one The kids have just as much right to the seats as anyone else. Also, I nursed mine on planes many times. I never had an issue or a dirty look for that at all.

 

[dis-happy]

I would try to switch out of bulkhead due to not being able to have any bags with you in the seat area until after the seatbelt light goes off (and also during landing). Very inconvenient if your baby should need something from the diaper bag!

Being in Business Class your 2 year old's legs won't be in kicking range either way.

 

[Hannathy]

I would try to switch out of bulkhead due to not being able to have any bags with you in the seat area until after the seatbelt light goes off (and also during landing). Very inconvenient if your baby should need something from the diaper bag!

Being in Business Class your 2 year old's legs won't be in kicking range either way.

I agree more so for the toddler actually than the baby. Bulkheads mean no toys, snacks, and etc and sometimes they leave the lights on the whole flight which really makes it rough.

I would definitely put your DH with the toddler no matter where you sit. you don't need to be dealing with 2 kids when you have another parent with you.

 

[brockash]

Hi! I'm looking for advice for our plane trip to Disney next week. Travelling is myself, DH, DD(5 months) and DD(almost 2 1/2 years). DD2 has her own seat (but no carseat) and DD5mons. will be a lap baby. I know the configuration of our plane and there are just two seats on either side of the aisle -- so we can't get 3 seats immediately together.

My initial thought is to have the 3 of us set in the same row -- which means one adult will be across the aisle. I will be nursing the baby on take off and landing, so I think it may be more comfortable for me to be next to DD2 instead of a complete stranger. (I nurse in public frequently and am not exactly shy, but I've never nursed so close to someone else in an enclosed space and I do somewhat worry about offending the hypothetical business man that I would surely be stuck next to.) On the other hand, if I'm holding the baby, I won't be able to attend to DD2 very well... so maybe I should suck it up and be the one to sit across the aisle. I keep going back and forth.

Any advice?

Thanks!

Tara

I think your original plan of sitting next to dd and dh across the aisle is best. I always say that I'd much rather sit with both of my kids, and have any/all of craziness in our little area, than to also involve a stranger If it got too bad, you could always sit your dd in the seat next to the aisle and you in the window seat, that ways your dh could basically entertain your dd while you were attending to the baby.

 

[clanmcculloch]

How about getting a baby sling? You can wear it on the plane and nurse discreetly and then use it in the park for carrying the baby when not using a stroller or parking the stroller.

 

[bavaria]

Thanks everyone. We have booked bulkhead seats so we don't have to worry about DD2 kicking anyone in front of us. (Of course, I could change our seat requests.) We are also flying business class (yes, we are those people bringing two kids into business), which should give us some more room. My husband is 6'7" and I'm 6'1" so it is very difficult to fly coach unless we are in an exit row, which you can't do with kids. We always try to fly business once we have enough free miles to do so. Part of my insecurity regarding all of this is probably also that I know that many people don't even think that kids should be up in business class and this is our first flight as a family of 4.

I like the idea of asking DD2 which seat she likes.

On most carriers the bulkhead is NOT recommended for families as you need to put ALL your items in the overhead bin for takeoff and landing and won't be able to access it for about 30 min at the start and end of your flight.

Some carriers are variable like economy on the Airbus twins on UA, but you may want to reconsider.

(oops, I see that two of the wise posters already pointed that out - but definitely try and move out of the bulkhead! On many aircraft it also means LESS legroom, even in business class)