Flying w/ a lap child.....Anyone?

[Not so Dumbo]

This will be our first trip flying...well anywhere. We are taking our DD6mo and I'm going to either hold her on my lap or put her in our front carrier. She absolutely love the front carrier and will sometimes fall asleep in it. We didn't think much of flying her as a lap child when we bought the tickets and afterwards we started to have second thoughts, especially about the safety aspect, but it was too late to purchase a seat for her. Has anyone else flown with a lap baby? How did it work out? Where there any safety issues? Any advice would be helpful. Our flight will be about 3 hours. TIA

 

[jodifla]

This will be our first trip flying...well anywhere. We are taking our DD6mo and I'm going to either hold her on my lap or put her in our front carrier. She absolutely love the front carrier and will sometimes fall asleep in it. We didn't think much of flying her as a lap child when we bought the tickets and afterwards we started to have second thoughts, especially about the safety aspect, but it was too late to purchase a seat for her. Has anyone else flown with a lap baby? How did it work out? Where there any safety issues? Any advice would be helpful. Our flight will be about 3 hours. TIA

You've touched one of the third rails of the DISboards. There are some here who feel that having a lap child is just about the same as throwing the child onto the path of an uncoming train.

We did it all the time. It was not a problem, particularly when DS was a infant and wanted to be held by us anyway. It was trickier when he was a toddler.

We normally gate checked our carseat. Half the time their was an empty seat on the plane, so they let us use our carseat anyway.

Front carriers can't be used during takeoff and landing, fyi:.

 

[wrighter]

Both of our kids have been lapchildren at one time or another. IMHO, it really only works when they are young and "imobile." Once they want to crawl/walk everywhere, it's time to upgrade to their own seat.

Both of our kids were 2 months when they first flew, and it was the easiest travel we've ever done with them. All they really do is eat and sleep. As long as you're prepared for take-off and landing, you'll be golden. In case you aren't already knowledgeable: Make sure you bring things for them to suck on for the way up and the way down. This can be a bink, but some people find it works better if they are feeding. The sucking motion clears their ears. We have always done this and have never had an ear problem with our kids (knock on wood!) Be prepared to change diapers in a tiny bathroom if you have to - when you board, ask a flight attendant if any of the bathrooms have the pull down changing station - some do, some don't. Also be prepared to walk around as much as you need to - depending on the temperament of your little one.

Rest assured that your little one won't be the best traveler on the plane, but chances are she won't be the worst, either. Be prepared for anything and just roll with the punches. With any luck she'll sleep for most of the flight - you'd be surprised what the hum of the airplane will do for sleep!

Good luck! You'll be fine!

 

[Hannathy]

I flew a lot with both my kids (enough to be upgraded to elite status) when they were under 2 and I always flew with them as lap babies. Never had any problems even in bad turbulence and a bad landing. They loved being held and they never had any ear problems. I would keep a bottle handy or lollipop when they were a bit older just in case. They will tell you how to hold them facing you if it would ever be an emergency.

 

[carissanboys]

I've done it many times. And even when we've flown and the military has paid for our tickets, I've still held my youngest. He just isn't a kid that will sit happily in a car seat on a plane. So instead of making everyone listen to him scream, I held him.

I wish the U.S. had what Australia has. Most people in Australia don't use carseats on the planes (at least in our experience it wasn't as common as here), but they have these seat belts that go around the adults belt and then around the child. Would make it much safer to have a child on your lap during turbulence.

 

[alloyd1170]

Both my kids were lap babies and we traveled often. With ds I just held him in my lap and he slept. I did try that Baby B'air but found it to be a waste of money as not all airlines apporved it. With dd, I discovered Hotslings and wore her around the airport (using the stroller as a luggage cart for our carry ons) and on the plane. Only thing I had to take the sling off to go through security and during take offs and landings. DD loved being in her sling and slept almost the entire flight.

alison

 

[Mouse House Mama]

You've touched one of the third rails of the DISboards. There are some here who feel that having a lap child is just about the same as throwing the child onto the path of an uncoming train.

You totally read my mind!!!
We fly with lap children and (gasp!) no carseats. It works out fine as long as your child likes to be held.

 

[Not so Dumbo]

I'm glad it sounds like she'll be alright. I've heard so many horror stories about injuries due to turbulence, rough landings ect. DD loves to be held and would probably cry the whole time if I couldn't hold her. I'm glad I didn't too badly.

 

[MinnieGi]

Both our kids have flown as "lap" babies when they were young infants. I figured they wouldn't want to sit in their car seat anyway! They were the carry me/hold me all the time infants!! However after they were crawling we did buy them seats that they used for take off and landing. Much of the rest of the time they were still held. That made it a much more pleasant flight for everyone!! Now if the pilot turned on the seat belt sign b/c rough turbulance was coming we would put them back in their car seat. Buying them the seat also gave us more room as a family too which was very beneficial!!!

 

[KandiB47]

We normally gate checked our carseat. Half the time their was an empty seat on the plane, so they let us use our carseat anyway.

Yep, we've flown twice with DS. One time they let us take the car seat on but DS just cried until I took him out of the seat anyway.

I'm shocked there aren't any lap child bashers yet on this thread.

 

[4greatboys]

We flew with ours as lap kids until they were 2. They were both fine and we were lucky enough never to encounter any bad turbulence. My kids preferred to be held too so we would have ended up holding then anyway.
Check the flight before you go to the airport. If its not full then you can take your carseat if you like and put the child in it.

 

[hthrbells]

We had my son in a car seat when we fly to Bermuda.....what a waste!!! We did not need it except for the plane. We are going in Dec and now have a secon child. We purchased 3 seats because we will be picked up by the shuttle at the airport, so there will be no need to waste the extra arm power. Besides when we went to Bermuda our DS wanted to be held the whole time anyways. Good luck with however you chose to fly.

 

[MiniGirl]

Hi. I'm not a lap child basher, but I do think a car seat is the safest place for a baby during take-off, landing, and turbulance. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of flights go off without a hitch, and severe turbulance and troubles on take-off and landing are rare.

I am a former flight attendant, so perhaps I heard and saw more than the average air traveller. After I had kids, we started flying all the time. We always brought our carseat but didn't get to use it all the time. Since we always flew stand-by, we didn't always have an extra seat for baby. Now, we would still get on the flight, and still feel our DD was safe. I have always said that the extra seat is as much for the parents as for the child. Having the extra seat to stow things under is great and keeps the adults' leg room relatively clear. Also, 3 hours in a small cramped seat is a long time. It is just a nice break for mom and dad to be able to put a child down.

Anyway, no bashing from me, but I would still bring the car seat and hope to get an extra seat. It really is better for all involved.

 

[bjakmom]

No bashing here, but there is always another side/experience. As a young mom I travelled often with my DDs as lap babies - no problems and I never thought twice about it. Then when DS (late life baby) was 5 mos old we were lapping him on a flight from LAX into MCO and experienced an emergency landing situation (landing gear would not fully engage). That is when I learned that you cannot secure your baby in the front carrier, or even hold them on your lap - you MUST place them on the floor between your feet while you assume your own crash position - that is when I realized why lap babies don't fare well in emergency situations! Fortunately for us all went well and our landing was safe, though rough (and met by a full force of emergency/fire vehicles on the runway) - but I have never again travelled with any young child without buying them their own seat (and bringing car seats when they are under 2). Every one makes their own decisions once they know the risks - which we all know are few and far between, but pretty drastic when/if they do happen.

 

[grlpwrd]

Hi. I'm not a lap child basher, but I do think a car seat is the safest place for a baby during take-off, landing, and turbulance. Fortunately, the overwhelming majority of flights go off without a hitch, and severe turbulance and troubles on take-off and landing are rare.

I am a former flight attendant, so perhaps I heard and saw more than the average air traveller. After I had kids, we started flying all the time. We always brought our carseat but didn't get to use it all the time. Since we always flew stand-by, we didn't always have an extra seat for baby. Now, we would still get on the flight, and still feel our DD was safe. I have always said that the extra seat is as much for the parents as for the child. Having the extra seat to stow things under is great and keeps the adults' leg room relatively clear. Also, 3 hours in a small cramped seat is a long time. It is just a nice break for mom and dad to be able to put a child down.

Anyway, no bashing from me, but I would still bring the car seat and hope to get an extra seat. It really is better for all involved.

I am a former employee for 2 different airlines (Hawaiian and American) and I have had my share of stories, too.

I can't discourage safety, but OP, please do your research.

 

[carissanboys]

No bashing here, but there is always another side/experience. As a young mom I travelled often with my DDs as lap babies - no problems and I never thought twice about it. Then when DS (late life baby) was 5 mos old we were lapping him on a flight from LAX into MCO and experienced an emergency landing situation (landing gear would not fully engage). That is when I learned that you cannot secure your baby in the front carrier, or even hold them on your lap - you MUST place them on the floor between your feet while you assume your own crash position - that is when I realized why lap babies don't fare well in emergency situations! Fortunately for us all went well and our landing was safe, though rough (and met by a full force of emergency/fire vehicles on the runway) - but I have never again travelled with any young child without buying them their own seat (and bringing car seats when they are under 2). Every one makes their own decisions once they know the risks - which we all know are few and far between, but pretty drastic when/if they do happen.

A very good point. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. And thank goodness you all were ok!

 

[sharibrat]

If a flight attendant told me I had to put the child on the floor........well, I would not listen! Or I would do it until she passed by me and then you better believe that child would be strapped to me!

 

[alicenwonder99]

We flew SW in Sept with a lap baby (6 months). She slept most of the time. Just make sure your airline knows you are bringing a lap baby. If you booked online, just call the airline and tell them you are bringing along a lap baby and they will mark your reservations. You will need to get a special boarding pass for the baby to get through security and to board the plane.

Also, if you are flying SW (not sure about the other airlines), you won't be able to check-in online 24 hours in advance. You can check the rest of the family members online, but who ever has the "lap baby" with their name (most likely mom), won't be able to check-in online. You just have to check in either at the curbside or inside the airport. That's when you show your baby's birth certificate (if the baby's age is in question), and you get your baby's boarding pass.

HTH

Let me know if you need any other info.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

When we went in 05 our dd was 11 months, it was alittle tough, but I would think a 6 month old would just fine, seeing how they love being held!!
You'll do fine.

 

[chobie]

You've touched one of the third rails of the DISboards. There are some here who feel that having a lap child is just about the same as throwing the child onto the path of an uncoming train.

Both my kids flew as lap babies, dozens of times, with no problems.

But then again, I'm one of those selfish, horrible parents who is known to keep their kids out past bedtime while at WDW.