Buy infant a plane ticket?

[goofy4tink]

Everything on the plane has to be stowed and locked for take off and landing except lap infants. If the coffee pot has to be locked in why is it ok for a baby to not be locked in. Arms are not strong enough to hold on to a baby in an emergency.

Probably because there is no one assigned to watch the coffee pot!


Would I do it? As I said, no, I wouldn't. BUT.....not every parent feels that way. It's a personal choice. There is no need to make others feel badly if they don't choose the same way we feel. Give the best info you can give, and let people make their own choices! Yes, there are strong feelings on this subject, but that doesn't mean that 'I'm right and you're wrong'...so to speak. If parent is at all concerned but really doesn't want to pay for a seat for their little one, they can always buy a harness...if there's an issue, strap the harnessed child to your seatbelt.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......If parent is at all concerned but really doesn't want to pay for a seat for their little one, they can always buy a harness...if there's an issue, strap the harnessed child to your seatbelt.

No! Attaching your child to your seatbelt is absolutely prohibited by the FAA. It is allowed in some other countries.

 

[Alesia]

No! Attaching your child to your seatbelt is absolutely prohibited by the FAA. It is allowed in some other countries.

Correct. It is an excellent way to crush your child.

Watch this video (starting at 1:40) from The National Transportation Safety Board if you want to understand why this is so dangerous:

 

[robinb]

Correct. It is an excellent way to crush your child.

Watch this video from The National Transportation Safety Board if you want to understand why this is so dangerous:

You know, if the NTSB wanted to do away with lap babies they could put pressure on the FAA to change the rules. Instead, they produce You Tube videos to make parents fearful.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Everything on the plane has to be stowed and locked for take off and landing except lap infants. If the coffee pot has to be locked in why is it ok for a baby to not be locked in. Arms are not strong enough to hold on to a baby in an emergency.

Thank you...that is exactly what I was going to say.

 

[nugov2]

You know, if the NTSB wanted to do away with lap babies they could put pressure on the FAA to change the rules. Instead, they produce You Tube videos to make parents fearful.

I don't think it is any different than crash tests with cars and showing what can happen when a child isn't properly restrained. It also was a long time before regulations were changed for cars, so I think they will eventually change for planes. In the meantime it is just what each person feels comfortable with. I still see parents driving with toddlers not restrained at all or not properly restrained so obviously some people will always make the decision even when it is the law. Not all people share the same views. For me it makes sense if it is dangerous in a car a plane shares the same risk as far as injury, but I have also been on flights that have run into sudden turbulence so have seen how quick and how powerful it can be.

 

[Gracie09]

You know, if the NTSB wanted to do away with lap babies they could put pressure on the FAA to change the rules. Instead, they produce You Tube videos to make parents fearful.

Although, like may things, its not quite that simple. The airlines have lobbyists, who pressure Congress who then pressures the FAA to keep the status quo because they are afraid it will cost them money.

 

[Alesia]

You know, if the NTSB wanted to do away with lap babies they could put pressure on the FAA to change the rules. Instead, they produce You Tube videos to make parents fearful.

My intention in posting the video was primarily to demonstrate why tethering your child to your seat belt is a dangerous idea. Do you believe that the video has factual errors?

 

[robinb]

My intention in posting the video was primarily to demonstrate why tethering your child to your seat belt is a dangerous idea. Do you believe that the video has factual errors?

I didn't see anything in the video about a child being crushed while attached to a parent's safety belt. There was a clip of 2 crash test dummies in a serious plane crash situation but it was unclear if the baby dummy was tethered.

 

[nalajms]

You know, if the NTSB wanted to do away with lap babies they could put pressure on the FAA to change the rules. Instead, they produce You Tube videos to make parents fearful.

Agree! I'm sure airlines wouldn't mind the extra revenue from charging infants full priced tickets.


OP - If you're worried, buy them a seat. But don't be upset if the child and mother decide not to use it. We do not fly with car seats. My kids wouldn't sit in them. DD flew on our laps until the return flight of her 2nd birthday WDW trip. Even then, she wanted to sit on my lap. It was a struggle to get her to buckle up.

With our first, we bought him a ticket early because having 2 adults + lap infant with 2 seats wasn't comfortable. Having 2 adults, 1 child and a lap infant worked great for us. Now that we buy 4 seats, it's sucks! I'm stuck with both kids in a row while DH snores across the aisle.

 

[rdevine10]

I think it depends on the parents comfort level and actually each child. My oldest traveled several times as a lap infant and was content. (one even being an international flight that was grounded for 3 hours prior to take off). (that was at 16 months old). However, my youngest needed to be in a car seat. There was no way she would of slept/not squirmed, etc for any flight. We bought her a seat and once my oldest wasnt a lap baby we brought our car seats on the plane with us. That was a few rough years of air travel carrying 2 car seats with 2 kids through an airport (with a stroller too), but we survived. I say do what the mom feels most comfortable with.

 

[PurpleKomodo]

We flew with DS as a lap infant a few times before he was too old (7 months, 10 months, and 15 months). By 15 months it was a pretty tight squeeze and I was grateful that he would need his own ticket soon. We were never concerned. Statistically, you are more likely to be involved in a serious car accident than even a minor plane accident. That being said, I think a lot depends on the kiddo. I am not looking forward to flying with DS now that he would need his own seat because I don't know how I would keep him in it. I also look at plane rows and my car seat and think to myself, "how would that work?" Freak things can happen everyday during ordinary situations. I try to rely on fear and focus on what works best for my family in any given situation.

 

[Alesia]

I didn't see anything in the video about a child being crushed while attached to a parent's safety belt. There was a clip of 2 crash test dummies in a serious plane crash situation but it was unclear if the baby dummy was tethered.

Well, you're correct that the baby doesn't have to be tethered to be in that position, but if a child is tethered to the safety belt, they will have to be in that position. There is no ability to quickly move the child to a safer place.

 

[robinb]

Well, you're correct that the baby doesn't have to be tethered to be in that position, but if a child is tethered to the safety belt, they will have to be in that position. There is no ability to quickly move the child to a safer place.

Given the violence of that crash and how the parent hit the seat in front of them, it would be interesting to see the same crash with the baby in a car seat.

 

[nalajms]

That being said, I think a lot depends on the kiddo. I am not looking forward to flying with DS now that he would need his own seat because I don't know how I would keep him in it. I also look at plane rows and my car seat and think to myself, "how would that work?"

The first time DS had a seat, we asked the FA to come tell him that he needs to buckle up. It helped that the FA was a man and very strict looking And lots of toys, books, ipad to distract him. Now at 5, he knows to look for the seat belt sign. As soon as it's taken off, he's unbuckled and playing on and off the seat.

 

[Gracie09]

Agree! I'm sure airlines wouldn't mind the extra revenue from charging infants full priced tickets.


OP - If you're worried, buy them a seat. But don't be upset if the child and mother decide not to use it. We do not fly with car seats. My kids wouldn't sit in them. DD flew on our laps until the return flight of her 2nd birthday WDW trip. Even then, she wanted to sit on my lap. It was a struggle to get her to buckle up.

With our first, we bought him a ticket early because having 2 adults + lap infant with 2 seats wasn't comfortable. Having 2 adults, 1 child and a lap infant worked great for us. Now that we buy 4 seats, it's sucks! I'm stuck with both kids in a row while DH snores across the aisle.

Airlines are concerned that parents will simply opt to drive instead of buying the seat.

 

[Gracie09]

I didn't see anything in the video about a child being crushed while attached to a parent's safety belt. There was a clip of 2 crash test dummies in a serious plane crash situation but it was unclear if the baby dummy was tethered.

http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/Children.aspx#aviation

There are videos of crash test with a few tethers and a car seat.

 

[robinb]

http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/Pages/Children.aspx#aviation

There are videos of crash test with a few tethers and a car seat.

Yes, but the video that Alesia posted did not. The test sled videos were interesting. I wish all of the were done with a double row of seats. The child in the backwards facing car seat took quite a blow in the face from her seat and I would have liked to have seen the forward facing seat with a seat in front of it.

FTR, I did tether my DD when she was an infant. When we flew to Europe and Japan we were *given* tethers by the airlines and we were required to use them. She also slept in a "sky cot" on both flights which is a bassinet that attaches to the bulkhead. I bought a tethering harness for my DD and used it a couple of times but then the FAA discontinued use of tethers. We, of course, complied with their rules. No biggie. My DD was 2-years old soon enough and we bought her a seat.

 

[bumbershoot]

Now that we buy 4 seats, it's sucks! I'm stuck with both kids in a row while DH snores across the aisle.

Why allow that? DH can switch with you for some flights, or halfway through the flight.

Or buy two and two. One kid, one adult.

DH needs to give you some help. My hubby generally gets booked separately from us just in case his plans change b/c of work, and since he has status he is often upgraded. He always insists that I take the first class seat he's upgraded to while he sits with DS. Your hubster needs to step it up!

I am not looking forward to flying with DS now that he would need his own seat because I don't know how I would keep him in it. I also look at plane rows and my car seat and think to myself, "how would that work?"

What do you not know will work? I'm sure we can help you.

Carry the seat down the aisle, put the kid in the middle seat and out of the way while you get the seat in the window seat. Buckle it in. Put kid in seat. Buckle him in. Get everything else sorted.

If you don't want to deal with the carseat, the rule is still the same; kids keep seatbelts on.

Now at 5, he knows to look for the seat belt sign. As soon as it's taken off, he's unbuckled and playing on and off the seat.

But we are ALL supposed to keep the seatbelts on, in case of unexpected turbulence. If he's big into following the rules, that is a rule that we are all asked to comply with. Unexpected, sudden, violent turbulence can send him flying and crashing into the ceiling, wall, or other passengers. That would be awful. Unlikely, but possible. Keep him buckled!

 

[HCinKC]

We have flown with lap and car seat. As clear from PPs, everyone's opinion differs. For us, we do not bring a car seat if we do not need it upon arrival. We fly lap. It hasn't been an issue for our kids. We also happened to fly to Mexico with BIL & SIL and their then 9 month old. She was perfectly content on the lap even on a long flight. Obviously, that varies by kid. If mom has said she prefers to hold baby, then I would let her make that choice. You are on a very short flight. Given that plus her preference, a seat sounds like a waste of money that won't get used, plus the added annoyance of dragging a car seat for no reason. Again, this is my opinion. You really need to talk it over more with mom and do what makes sense and is most comfortable for you guys. Happy planning!