Flying w/ 9 month old on lap

[Eeyore18]

Getting alittle nervous..has anyone else successfully done this? Any tips?
I'm having second thoughts about not having a seat and now the plane is pretty much booked. I also didn't want to split up, we have 3 seats for myself, husband and 7 year old son. Any thoughts or suggestions will help!

 

[MHopkins2]

Get ready for a teapot tempest.

 

[philaround]

check with your pediatrician as to advisability of giving your little one a little Benydryl for the flight. Please do not do this without Pede's approval. If the doctor ok's this you should have a smooth flight.

 

[mar915]

I always use a carseat since my guys squirm alot. If you do decide to get another seat with a 9mo they will almost always at the counter switch around to get you 3 together(that is if it is configured with three seats). We had a party of 6 last time and 4 adults 2 kids..we had seats that my 2 sons were not even near us. THey switched us so we had 2 adults and 2 childer togther and the other 2 adults sat somewhere else. Alot of people do have them on their lap so I am sure it will be fine. THe benadryl is great if your ped. says okay...I did it with my first but not with my second since he hate meds.

Mary

 

[Alexander]

DS was a lap infant several times. Everything was just fine. People do it all of the time. There are at least 2 lap infants on every flight I take to Orlando and back. The best thing is to have them be tired when you board the plane. Then they'll sleep for most of the flight.

It's really no big deal, don't sweat it, people do it all the time! Have a great trip!

 

[dougsmom98]

I think you will be fine. After take off and before landing, there may even be enough room for your nine month old to sit between one of your 7 year old to give your arms a break. With three of you sitting there it will be easy to pass the baby between each other so that you can get a little break. I have always bought seats for my kids, but we are expecting in June and if we go next year, we will definately not buy a seat for the baby. I figure there will be room enough between me and my kids for the baby to sit on the seat some.
Good luck.
-Amy

 

[DebbieB]

One thing to think about - what if you hit bad turbulence? Sometimes it happens unexpectedly. I wouldn't want a baby sitting next to you and a 7 year old unbelted when that happens. Even holding the baby tightly might not be enough. You are not permitted to but the seltbelt around both of you, someone next to me tried that on a flight and the flight attendent said it was not allowed.

 

[dudspizza]

One thing to think about - what if you hit bad turbulence? Sometimes it happens unexpectedly. I wouldn't want a baby sitting next to you and a 7 year old unbelted when that happens. Even holding the baby tightly might not be enough.

I agree with Debbie. Another poster a while back mentioned that they had purchased a harness that they wore and it attached to the baby. If they hit turbulance, the baby was secured to them.

My opinion is to always buy a seat for the baby and have them in their car seat, but each person has to make their own decision.

Duds

 

[CarolMN]

One thing to think about - what if you hit bad turbulence? Sometimes it happens unexpectedly. I wouldn't want a baby sitting next to you and a 7 year old unbelted when that happens. Even holding the baby tightly might not be enough. You are not permitted to but the seltbelt around both of you, someone next to me tried that on a flight and the flight attendent said it was not allowed.

It's not permitted because it is very unsafe for the baby - there is a very real danger of the baby being crushed between the adult and the seat belt if there is any turbulence at all.

To the OP - Lap babies are allowed and many people do it. Should you? It is your decision. Most flights are uneventful. Just like most car rides are uneventful. In the end, it is a matter of how much risk you are willing to accept on behalf of your baby.

Best wishes -

 

[Pinnie]

In March, I was flying from BNA to MDW when we hit a patch of really awful turbulance...to the point some people were screaming. There was a lap child who smacked his head on a tray table and raised a very nice "goose egg" on his forehead.

It's your call.

pinnie

 

[canwegosoon]

I know it is expensive to get a 4th seat and all the lugging the car seat etc., check with the airline if they offer 1/2 price tickets for an under 2yo. Good luck. I am a worry wart, not a lecturer...

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

IMO- If it was truely that dangerous to keep a baby on your lap do you think the airlines would continue to let people do it. The airlines are super tough with wearing seatbelts, when you can and cannot get up and all the other rules I'm sure if there was a grave danger to the lap child the airlines would start making you buy seats for all children under 2. I'm doing it with my 11 month old in two weeks and I know he will be happier with me holding him and I'm sure everyone else on the plane will be happier he's not screaming too.
My best friend is a flight attendent and say's that extreme turbulance is very very rare and if you do have slight turbulance that anyone, including the baby in a carseat, is just as likely to get hit with a flying cup, overhead luggage and anything else not nailed down. Flying is one of the safest forms of travel out there.

 

[DebbieB]

From what I've heard, the reason the government has not passed a law against it is they are afraid more families will take to the road rather than fly if they were forced to buy that extra seat and driving is more dangerous. Plus the airlines are against it because they are afraid they will lose customers. But think about it. If you are in an accident (which I know is unlikely), that baby will go flying.

 

[Eeyore18]

Thanks for all the advice- Looking forward to our trip!

 

[siouxsieQ]

My sister and I took her 9 month old to Europe with us. We did not have any problems on the flight with him ( he was a lap baby).

We were even stuck on the runway for 2 1/2 hours b/c of thunderstorms and he still did fine.

 

[KarenP99]

Personally, I'm more worried about the Disney Transportation...it it just me or is it crazy to pack these busses with small children (and adults for that matter) and send them out on the highway at 60 mph????

I've never bought my under 2 children a seat, however we always fly SW off season, and they allow us to just bring the carseat on the plane (rather than gate-checking).

Karen

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

From what I've heard, the reason the government has not passed a law against it is they are afraid more families will take to the road rather than fly if they were forced to buy that extra seat and driving is more dangerous.

Here is a website that may be of interest, it states DebbieB's points, and also goes into more details: http://www.airlinesafety.com/faq/faq5.htm

HTH !!!

 

[Aneille]

If you are bringing the seat anyway because of a rental in WDW then bring it with you to the gate. Ask the attendent working if there are any empty seats on the plane for your lap child.

If there is a free seat they will allow you to bring your carseat on the plane and your child will get the seat for free. They will try to move a single passenger so you or your husband can sit with your little one.

My last trip to WDW I didn't buy a seat for my youngest. I brought the carseat to the gate and both times were able to get her a seat, and with our family.

I did learn on trick (which I actually am not doing this trip) but if you are trying to get a free seat for a under 2 year old, book window and aisle and leave the middle empty. Then book the your other seats in the row beside or behind. That single seat should get booked last and if its filled it will be filled with a single flyer who will most likely gladly move if there is another single seat available on the plane. And then your lap child gets the seat.

 

[manning]

Russian Roulette.....one loaded chamber and six empty ones.

Would you be comfortable playing it??? I wouldn't!!!

Do you buy a seat and belt the little one in......... or do you consider money more important??????

Your choice!!!!!!

Turbulence can be rare, but.....it can't be predicted and when it does happen the ride can be rough......very rough. I've watched food trays hit the ceiling and you cannot react fast enough to stop it.

Then there is gravity. A 20 pound child in an instant can become 500 pounds.

If the worst does happen.......how long will it take to get the plane on the ground to get the injured medical attention. And then there is the guilt afterwards.

 

[SpoonfulofSugar]

Russian Roulette.....one loaded chamber and six empty ones.

Do you really think this a fair comparsion, or more scare tactic?

or do you consider money more important??????

Do you really think anyone considers money more important than their child? OP never said it was question of money.