Do I need anything for a baby in lap before I board???

[elmonshea]

I just bought tickets for
Myself
Husband and
6 year old Son.
My 1 year old will be sitting in my lap.

Do I need to do anything before boarding with her??
Do I need to show any proof of any type?
Do I need to call Delta and let them know that there is a 4th person but not occuping a seat??

I have never flown with kids so I have NO IDEA how this works.
I have read on here that I can check the stroller at the gate, so I have that much figured out.
Please any help would be so helpful...
Thanks!

 

[annabelle]

You might want to check out the discussion about lap babies:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=732722

 

[pyrxtc]

yes you need to tell them there is a lap child. Bring a birth certificate just in case.
In contrast to the link you have been givien, I have flown with my DD when she was 9 months old and had no problems. I NEVER had a car seat (like most of us growing up) and even though I'm strict about them in my car, a baby is different in the air. They will be spedning most of the time in your lap playing anyways (well mine did). I was told you can bring along an FAA approved car seat and if there is an empty seat you can use it, if not they will stow it for you.

 

[safetymom]

You will need to give the babies name and age to the gate agent at the airport.

 

[CinderellasMama]

You must have the baby on your ticket or you will not get through security (or at least that was my experience). I was flying out of St Louis with my then 18 month old daughter, the ticket agent noted she was with me on my ticket BUT did not put some sticker on my ticket and I had to go back to the desk and get one. I almost missed my flight because of this. Also, it is always a good idea to take the babies birth certificate to show proof of age....just in case. I saw an episode of Airline (Southwest Airlines) where they would not let someone on the plane without one because there was a doubt about the age of the baby. Plus it makes a good ID for the baby.

Yes, you can take your stroller up to the plane door and they will stow it when you get on. Then it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane.

Have a great trip!

Brenda

 

[twojo21]

most airlines require some proof of age (birth certificate) of your baby before boarding. most airlines allow children under 2 to fly without a purchased seat.

although, i would recommend using a carseat because if you hit strong pressure or turbulance your baby could fall from your lap & be injured. also in case of an accident/crash/emergency landing your baby would be safer in a carseat just like while driving in a vehicle. this happened to a women with her baby on a recent trip of ours to puerto rico when we hit a storm & turbulance the baby fell from the mothers arms/lap and got a bloody nose from hitting the built in table/seat in front of her.

 

[akrake]

a carseat....please read the thread that someone linked above. it is so much safer & not worth the risk. imagine how terrible your vacation would be if your baby got hurt during rough weather and you could have bought a seat?
jmho.

amie

 

[Chicago526]

yes, please consider buying a seat if you still can (a lot of the larger carrires will offer the seat for 1/2 the adult fare for kids under two, it's worth checking). No one means to frighten you, chances are you'll be fine. But there is always the possibility of strong turbulance, and you will NOT be able to hang on to your child if that happens. Flight attendents have gotten broken necks from unexpected turbulance. An emergency landing is less likely, but you never know what might happen.

To answer your question, make sure to bring a bottle or pacifier for your little one to suck on at take off and landing, the sucking will help clear their ears and reduce any pain or discomfort from the change in air presure. And yes, the airline does need to have your lap child noted on teh record. Also, while kids under 18 years do not need i.d., you may want to bring her birth cert to proove she is under two and eligable for being a lap baby. Otherwise, you don't need to do anything special.