How many actually purchase seats for 1-yr-old?

[Ronald Duck]

My wife and I are going to WDW in early August with my daughter, son-in-law, 3 year old granddaughter, and 1-year old grandson.

All of us were surprised and disappointed to discover that the supposed "affordable" Infant fares on Southwest are actually significantly more expensive than the discounted Adult fares we got online! We went ahead and purchased a discounted adult fare for the 3-year old, but we need some advice and information about the infant.

How do other parents deal with flying with their infants? Do you purchase a seat or not? If not, what do you do to keep your child safe (and to keep yourself from being freaked about your child's safety?).

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I always purchase a seat so I don't have any of those worries.

 

[DonaldsDaisy]

I would suggest buying one for the 1 year old.

We took DD at 7 months and held her as a lap child. She was very good but started to get squirmy about 2 hours in to our 2 1/2 hour flight. DD will be turning 1 during our September trip and we went ahead and got her a seat. We decided that we wanted to do it for safety reasons as well as conveince. With her starting to walk I know it will be worth every penny.

 

[Hannathy]

We never bought a seat for either of our kids when they were under 2 and they flew a lot and I mean a lot! For the very slight statistical risk involved the money saving was worth it, my kids were able to see their grandparents several more times before they died because of this.

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

We just booked our airfare for our Sept trip yesterday on Southwest. We bought a seat for our infant (will be 4 months old then) at the discounted adult fare so that we can strap his car seat into a seat. The good thing about Southwest is that if there are any empty seats on your flight then you can get the infant's fare refunded (just ask the gate agent before you board).

For us it was worth $49 to Orlando and $79 back to have the baby in his own seat. If the flights aren't full and we get his fare back that is just bonus money in the bank that we will need after our Disney trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Just get the discounted adult fare for the infant, too! You don't HAVE TO use the infant fare for an infant. Use a Ding! fare, or an internet cheapie fare, whatever. The "infant fare" is just half off the FULL price, so I'd never even consider using that unless I was desperate, had that amount, and there was no other choice.

We flew with DS at around 15 months and held him and it was a HUGE pain. I'm used to holding him and carrying him and am quite strong, but my arms were SHAKING by the end of the flight, they were so tired.

We had an EARLY flight (silly us, we thought he'd fall back to sleep on the shuttle and on the plane, but it was all so interesting to him that he was wide awake) and wanted to sleep on the plane (with DS) but even once he DID fall asleep...how exactly do you sleep while holding a baby? Without dropping him? Maybe if you have him in a sling, but.....you're not really supposed to have baby in sling while on the flight (some flight attendants will overlook it but I wouldln't count on that). So you're awake the whole flight long, NO rest.

The next year he had a seat, and it was SO MUCH BETTER.


Although I'm all about carseat safety in a car, and although I've heard the 3rdhand stories about lap-babies in turbulence...that thought doesn't get much time in my brain b/c there's a strong possibility that, during the flight, the baby might be out of the seat anyway during turbulence. I'm sure many would be aghast at how little I think about it (when I think of so, so much else related to safety on a day to day basis), but that's just my honest statement about what I take into account.

And honestly, the EASE of not having to hold the kiddo the whole flight long works for me, since I've experienced it each way (same flight by the way, Seattle to San Diego and back each time).

 

[Stimpy]

Always, always have purchased seats for my children when they were infants. They both flew many times before they were 2. It was well worth the money & peace of mind.

 

[jodifla]

We never bought a seat for either of our kids when they were under 2 and they flew a lot and I mean a lot! For the very slight statistical risk involved the money saving was worth it, my kids were able to see their grandparents several more times before they died because of this.

ITA! We flew a lot before DS was 2, and never bought him a seat. We gate checked our car seat, and the FAs let us use it about half time time, since there was extra seats on the plane (this was 2001-2002, before flights got so full....)

 

[ClarabelleCowFan]

Also we signed up DS with his own Rapid Rewards number with Southwest so that if we dont get the fare refunded then he is at least earning credits!

 

[Ronald Duck]

THANKS for the advice...all of you have convinced me to pony up with the cash!

We bought a seat for our infant (will be 4 months old then) at the discounted adult fare so that we can strap his car seat into a seat. The good thing about Southwest is that if there are any empty seats on your flight then you can get the infant's fare refunded (just ask the gate agent before you board).

Wow...that is an interesting piece of info Did others know about this? Would this apply even if we purchase a discounted adult fare for the infant?

 

[Tigger&Aidan]

We did not buy a seat for our DS last year and he was under 2. He did fine - sat on my lap or with DH. Honestly, I guess it depends on how far you have to go - we had about 2.5 hrs. If we had to go further, I would have likely gotten him a seat.

 

[chiefdragon]

DH and I flew with DD when she was 1 and did not purchase her a seat...which as a huge mistake. There were 9 of us on the plan from the family and we passed her around to keep her busy, but it would have been much easier if we had her in a seat to herself.

 

[Stimpy]

THANKS for the advice...all of you have convinced me to pony up with the cash!



Wow...that is an interesting piece of info Did others know about this? Would this apply even if we purchase a discounted adult fare for the infant?

Yes it does! Unfortunately, we were only able to do it once since SW tends to fill up the flights we take. But it is nice to know!

 

[all4fun]

We also bought a ticket for ds on four different trips between 13mos-23mos of age. It was well worth it. I figured if I'm going to be seatbelted in, then why shouldn't he be?

 

[Davscotcar]

As we have a 9 hour flight to Orlando we would always get a seat for an under 2 as you have 9 hours of being cramped. Shorter flights we always had ds on our laps.

 

[pednurse]

In my opinion, the life and health of my child is priceless....therefore we ALWAYS have bought them their own seats so they could be safely buckled in. No different than if we were driving in a car.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

In my opinion, the life and health of my child is priceless....therefore we ALWAYS have bought them their own seats so they could be safely buckled in. No different than if we were driving in a car.

Will you take WDW buses? or pay for a rental car so you can use a proper car seat. WDW buses don't even have seatbelts which my ds quickly pointed out at age 4. Even our public school buses have seat belts.

 

[pednurse]

Will you take WDW buses? or pay for a rental car so you can use a proper car seat. WDW buses don't even have seatbelts which my ds quickly pointed out at age 4. Even our public school buses have seat belts.

OP asked how many bought seats on airplanes for 1-year-olds. I answered that question. Buses are a moot point in this discussion 1. because OP wasn't asking about buses 2. my kids have outgrown carseats by weight/height/age standards. Want to start an argument with me, take it up with me personally.....no need to start attacks on boards where someone asked opinions.

 

[Stimpy]

Will you take WDW buses? or pay for a rental car so you can use a proper car seat. WDW buses don't even have seatbelts which my ds quickly pointed out at age 4. Even our public school buses have seat belts.

Yes, we do rent a car so DD will have her car seat and will not take the free ME. It's not the sole reason, but the fact there are no seat belts/car seats does cross my mind. I really believe my children are worth the cost. Even though my DD does not use her car seat on the plane any longer, we still check it for the rental car. I also bought the CARES restraint to keep her safer in her seat on the plane until she is older.

We also avoid the parking lot trams as much as possible after my DS was hurt as a toddler on one when the driver stopped short.

I guess I am just overly cautious

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

OP asked how many bought seats on airplanes for 1-year-olds. I answered that question. Buses are a moot point in this discussion 1. because OP wasn't asking about buses 2. my kids have outgrown carseats by weight/height/age standards. Want to start an argument with me, take it up with me personally.....no need to start attacks on boards where someone asked opinions.

Please, I'm not trying to attack at all. Sorry if I offended you. I just find it ironic that so many people worry about safety on a plane and buy seats for babies but don't worry on a bus doing 50 mph with a baby on their lap.
I guess I'm weird but I'm just the opposite. I wouldn't worry as much on a plane as I would in a car.
Restrained passengers in a plane have no better chances of surviving a crash compared to non-restrained passengers; whereas in a car your odds of survival are much higher if restrained. JMHO.