Help ease my fears! Flying with 1 year old...

[Jenvenza]

who isnt in a seat! I didnt think twice about this when I booked our airline tickets. Children under 2 can sit in their parents laps. Well, now my sister sent me a bunch of things saying how this is so dangerous and we should have gotten her a seat of her own, because even mild turbulance can injure a child! I feel like I should have realized this and bought her her own seat, but now it is too late - the flight is full.

PLEASE tell me it will be fine and that some of you have flown with a child in your lap. My best friend flew to Pakistan with her 9 month old on her lap and she said it was fine - and my flight is just an hour and a half or so.

Now I am so worried.

 

[jamieT]

you will be absolutely ok with your kid on your lap. most of the trip youll have a seat belt on. my kid has set on my lap before it was fine.

 

[jrmo]

Sorry, but I'm with your sister on this one.

Personally, I could never live with myself if my child were injured or killed because I wouldn't fork over the $300 or whatever for her to be in a safe seat. I know the chances are relatively slim, but I'm just not willing to take that chance with my child. I figure if the government requires me to strap her in for a 25 mph trip around the block, she should be at least likewise secured at 500mph and 30,000 feet. We have a very light carseat for airplane travel (Cosco Scenera) and always take it.

Besides, think how much more comfortable you'll be without a squirming, kicking one year old on your lap.

 

[jrmo]

Sorry, I just reread your post and saw the flight was full. You can do two things to get a seat. Call daily and hope someone cancels, especially in the 48 hours up to the flight. Explain your situation. And take your carseat to the gate in the hopes there's a (FREE) empty seat on the plane. If not, they'll gate check your seat. You can also look into something like the Baby B'air. I've never used it and don't know if your airline will let you, but it's probably better than nothing.

 

[abdmom]

I've flown many times with my kids between the ages of 0 and 2. Sometimes they've had their own seat, sometimes not. For a 1 1/2 hour flight, I would buy them a ticket, if it wasn't too expensive, but would hold them if I felt it was too expensive. BTW, one time on a flight when my youngest was about that age, the flight attendant refused to allow me to use the car seat in the seat that I had purchased and I had to hold ds even though he had his own seat!

But I digress. It is highly unlikely that you will experience turbulence significant enough to injure anyone. Think of all those people who unbuckle their seats or are in the aisles when turbulence hits. Rarely is anyone injured. Plus, a 1 year old is unlikely to want to stay in their seat the entire time. Some kids like their car seats and will fall asleep, and others scream and want to be held. If you are traveling with another adult, then you can take turns holding the little one so that neither of you are on duty the whole time.

It is a royal pain to lug a car seat through an airport terminal and then to lug and install it on the plane. It makes for much more tired and crabby parents.

You will be fine.

 

[Jenvenza]

Sorry, but I'm with your sister on this one.

Personally, I could never live with myself if my child were injured or killed because I wouldn't fork over the $300 or whatever for her to be in a safe seat. I know the chances are relatively slim, but I'm just not willing to take that chance with my child. I figure if the government requires me to strap her in for a 25 mph trip around the block, she should be at least likewise secured at 500mph and 30,000 feet. We have a very light carseat for airplane travel (Cosco Scenera) and always take it.

Besides, think how much more comfortable you'll be without a squirming, kicking one year old on your lap.

The funny thing is, she didnt buy a seat for her 8 month old either, but it trying to freak me out about it.

 

[iheartdisney]

I flew several times when my kiddos were under 2, and never bought them a seat. Relax, it will be OK. The types of turbulance that throw people around the cabin are very rare. And in those cases, the pilot gives you a warning, so you'll be extra vigilant, right? Worst case scenario, the plane crashes, really...what good will a carseat do?
Of couse, I am one of those people that don't agree with strapping everyone in for a ride around the corner, considering how we rode in the car when we were younger. (my dad had an old Ford van, and in the winter, we took turns sitting on the engine compartment, between the front seats. Head about 6 inches ffrom the windsheild)

 

[Jenvenza]

Sorry, I just reread your post and saw the flight was full. You can do two things to get a seat. Call daily and hope someone cancels, especially in the 48 hours up to the flight. Explain your situation. And take your carseat to the gate in the hopes there's a (FREE) empty seat on the plane. If not, they'll gate check your seat. You can also look into something like the Baby B'air. I've never used it and don't know if your airline will let you, but it's probably better than nothing.

I just looked into the Baby B'air. Thank you for posting that. I will be buying one. It says they are FAA approved.

 

[Jenvenza]

I flew several times when my kiddos were under 2, and never bought them a seat. Relax, it will be OK. The types of turbulance that throw people around the cabin are very rare. And in those cases, the pilot gives you a warning, so you'll be extra vigilant, right? Worst case scenario, the plane crashes, really...what good will a carseat do?
Of couse, I am one of those people that don't agree with strapping everyone in for a ride around the corner, considering how we rode in the car when we were younger. (my dad had an old Ford van, and in the winter, we took turns sitting on the engine compartment, between the front seats. Head about 6 inches ffrom the windsheild)

I think I thought the same way as you about if the plane crashed...Horrible thought, but a carseat most likely wouldnt help out.

Now, I do strap her in for a ride around the corner. I know we werent as kids and we were fine, but I dont want to take any chances.

 

[jrmo]

This is not to freak out OP, but to clarify some facts. Carseats can and do help in the event of a crash. People do survive crashes, particularly rear facing. Why do you think flight attendants are rear facing? 15 people survived the recent crash in Madrid. Yes, sometimes there is warning for turbulence. But the more dangerous and severe kind, clear air turbulence, is sudden and unexpected. Unless you have a death grip on your child the entire time, it would be far more likely they would get thrown around the cabin. Yes, people do get out of their seats during the flight, but are asked to remain safety belted whenever they are in their seats for that very reason.

And, I hate to say it, but to the poster not buckling your children in the car: you are being downright negligent.

 

[PlutoPony]

I just looked into the Baby B'air. Thank you for posting that. I will be buying one. It says they are FAA approved.

They're only approved for use while the flight is in the air. They cannot be used during take-off (including taxi time on the ground) and landing......

 

[Jenvenza]

This is not to freak out OP, but to clarify some facts. Carseats can and do help in the event of a crash. People do survive crashes, particularly rear facing. Why do you think flight attendants are rear facing? 15 people survived the recent crash in Madrid. Yes, sometimes there is warning for turbulence. But the more dangerous and severe kind, clear air turbulence, is sudden and unexpected. Unless you have a death grip on your child the entire time, it would be far more likely they would get thrown around the cabin. Yes, people do get out of their seats during the flight, but are asked to remain safety belted whenever they are in their seats for that very reason.

And, I hate to say it, but to the poster not buckling your children in the car: you are being downright negligent.

Of course some people survive crashes. I am not sure how I would put a carseat rear facing on the plane though. If there was extra room on that plane right now, I would be buying a seat. And this will be the last time we fly without buying a seat for her. I was ignorant when it came to this, and should have been more informed. I know better now. So, all I can do is hope for the best and have a good grip on her.

I really didnt want to get off subject here, but I have to agree that I think it is negligent not to buckle your kids in for the trip around the corner, too. Accidents normally happen close to home. In Texas, you would be fined for that if a cop saw you.

 

[Jenvenza]

They're only approved for use while the flight is in the air. They cannot be used during take-off (including taxi time on the ground) and landing......

Yes, I saw that. But it is better than nothing and all I can do at this point.

 

[SDFgirl]

Everything has its risks. I don't think this is a big risk, honestly.

I used to be a flight attendant. NEVER (and I was in the sky a lot!!!) did I experience turbulence that frightened me or made me feel that I would lose my grip on whatever I was holding. Most turbulence is a bump or two at most. You feel the same thing going over a speed bump in your car.

Plus if this was a serious problem, lap children getting injured left and right, wouldn't we hear about it on the news, the internet? I've NEVER heard a story about this either. I'm sure some can be dug up on the internet but you can dig up a horror story for *anything* online.

DD is flying as a lap child with us in a few weeks. I'm not worried at all - the chances of something happening is really pretty slim.

I say enjoy your flight and don't stress over it!

 

[Jenvenza]

Everything has its risks. I don't think this is a big risk, honestly.

I used to be a flight attendant. NEVER (and I was in the sky a lot!!!) did I experience turbulence that frightened me or made me feel that I would lose my grip on whatever I was holding. Most turbulence is a bump or two at most. You feel the same thing going over a speed bump in your car.

Plus if this was a serious problem, lap children getting injured left and right, wouldn't we hear about it on the news, the internet? I've NEVER heard a story about this either. I'm sure some can be dug up on the internet but you can dig up a horror story for *anything* online.

DD is flying as a lap child with us in a few weeks. I'm not worried at all - the chances of something happening is really pretty slim.

I say enjoy your flight and don't stress over it!

Thanks.

 

[DonnaLynn]

I see you did purchase a Baby Bair. I am looking into that option myself now

 

[Zeebs]

Because we live in the UK and my family live in New Zealand we do quite a few flights with the kids and have never bought a seat for the kids while under two.

I did a lot of research before coming to this decision, and I am sorry I can't tell you where I read it, but the chances of your child being injured or killed during turblance/crash is 1in 10,000,000 For me the I am comfortable with my decision that risk to my child and others in the plane is so low that I will carry my child on my lap. Because I breastfeed I also find this helps keep my babies calm and happy.

Now we are lucky with the carriers we use because they use lapbelts which attach your baby to your seatbelt which makes me feel more comfortable, however, even though these aren't allowed on US carriers it wouldn't stop me from flying with a lapchild.

There is risk in every thing everyone does, some people weigh up risk differently and that is their decision they do what is right for their family but I really don't think that you should worry about it especially as there is nothing you can really do to fix the situation.

Kirsten

 

[jrmo]

Sorry OP. That last comment didn't come off as supportive. It sounds like you are doing everything you can at this point. I'm sure it will all be fine. People do it every day. That said, I would still maybe bring the carseat to the gate in the hopes of an empty seat and just gate check it. Good luck with the Baby B'Air.

 

[LoveKermit]

We bought the Baby B'Air for a flight when DD was 3 months and never used it. DD liked to be upright to fall asleep. I don't remember how old your child is. Ours wasn't moving too much on our last flights a year ago. She was 7 months by then.

It's great to be prepared. But sometimes space (and courtesy) are a premium and it's just easier to hold them without any restraint. It's familiar for both of you and less fumbly.

I too have had some turbulence, with and without DD. I have never felt like I would have dropped her, whether she was 12 lbs or 18 lbs. (her approx wts last year when we flew).

For our flight in Oct., she'll be 22 months and it was no question--we bought her a seat because she would have run of the plane and would be putting on a show if she got loose. I would be more concerned about her imposition on other passengers than about her safety. She's a total klutz and a total ham. We are taking our Britax instead.

 

[DjdBrit]

I have flown many times with my kids when they were under 2 and been on my lap, mostly to and from England from Boston which is not a quick trip. I have always asked the flight attendants for the kids belt that loops though my belt and then around the childs tummy. When the seat belt sign goes on we put it on.

I have never brought a car seat onto a plane just as I have never brought one on to other mass transit. Its not a car and in my house the car doesn't go out of park unless everyone inside is restrainded, I do insist on my kids being safe. Relax and have a good trip.