Infand and Toddler sharing seat on plane?

[jrb022704]

Hi! We will be traveling to Disneyworld at the end of Aug. I purchased my daughter a seat b/c she's 3.5 but I did not purchase my son a seat b/c when we go he will only be 10 months old. I figured between my husband and I we could hopefully manage him. He's a pretty easy baby. I was thinking though that maybe the kids could share a seat while we were flying since we do not plan to bring a carseat on the plane. I know we will have to hold him during take off and landing. Has anyone tried this? If so, how did it go? They are both small enough to share a seat.

 

[scanne]

Wow. OK, I'm not trying to flame you or anything, but that just sounds so unsafe. We always purchased seats for our kids when they were babies and brought their carseat. It helped us (mom and dad) manage better and our kids were so comfy in their carseats that they slept on the flights. Now that they're older (3 and 5) they're used to flying and are very good about sitting in their seats correctly.

If you can afford it, I feel it is definitely in your child's and your own best interest to purchase an additional seat. Some airlines will give you a discounted fare for infants.

Hope this helps.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

Would the 3 year old be OK with having the baby right next to her for most of the flight? If she's going to be into her own little activities (coloring, small toys, snacks), perhaps she'll be bothered by the baby sitting right there. Also, how would you handle the seat belt? The 3 year old should be buckled in when she's in her seat. Would you buckle the baby in with the same belt? I'm pretty sure seat belts are designed for one person (adult or kid) and wouldn't be as effective during rough air if you slipped a baby under it too.

We did a 2 hour flight when our oldest was just turning one. He was wonderful on the plane. We took turns holding him on our laps. We had the flight attendant put apple juice in his sippy cup for him. He slept most of the way home because he was so tired from the trip.

I think I would plan on holding the baby and giving your 3 year old her own space. Maybe put her in the window seat so she can look out and you and your husband can sit next to each other and share baby duty. Hope you have a fun trip.

 

[jrb022704]

Wow. OK, I'm not trying to flame you or anything, but that just sounds so unsafe. We always purchased seats for our kids when they were babies and brought their carseat. It helped us (mom and dad) manage better and our kids were so comfy in their carseats that they slept on the flights. Now that they're older (3 and 5) they're used to flying and are very good about sitting in their seats correctly.

If you can afford it, I feel it is definitely in your child's and your own best interest to purchase an additional seat. Some airlines will give you a discounted fare for infants.

Hope this helps.

I can't get another seat next to us. It's too late. I've never flown with kids and I have no idea what the "rule" is. When I bought the tickets I was told that my son didn't need a ticket and my daughter doesn't have to have the car seat. Our flight is only 2.5 hours long and it's during nap time so I hope he'll just sleep.

 

[jrb022704]

Would the 3 year old be OK with having the baby right next to her for most of the flight? If she's going to be into her own little activities (coloring, small toys, snacks), perhaps she'll be bothered by the baby sitting right there. Also, how would you handle the seat belt? The 3 year old should be buckled in when she's in her seat. Would you buckle the baby in with the same belt? I'm pretty sure seat belts are designed for one person (adult or kid) and wouldn't be as effective during rough air if you slipped a baby under it too.

We did a 2 hour flight when our oldest was just turning one. He was wonderful on the plane. We took turns holding him on our laps. We had the flight attendant put apple juice in his sippy cup for him. He slept most of the way home because he was so tired from the trip.

I think I would plan on holding the baby and giving your 3 year old her own space. Maybe put her in the window seat so she can look out and you and your husband can sit next to each other and share baby duty. Hope you have a fun trip.

Yes, I figured I would buckle them both in together while in mid air. If the flight got choppy I would of course hold the baby. My kids are in seperable at this point so I don't think my daughter would mind sharing her seat.

I was told that I could no longer get another seat next to us since I didn't purchase all together and the rest of the seats are full.

 

[Rapunzel]

If the flight gets "choppy", I definaty wouldn't hold the baby on your lap. The baby could become airborne.

I'd be $ that if you bought an extra ticket the person who is next to you would 'trade'. Or maybe you could call the airline and ask if there are 2 seats together somewhere - you could change 1 ticket to be next to an empty. You sit with 1 child, and your husband could sit with the other.

I flew with my kids to Arizona when my son was 3 and my daughter was 9months. I bit the bullet and bought all 3 fares. I liked that when we hit turbulence she was saftley secured in her carseat.

 

[CharmCityGirl]

I don't believe the flight attendant will let the toddler and the baby share a seat belt. Even if they would, I don't think that would be effective at all. You will have to hold the baby the entire flight.

 

[Claireybear]

Hi,
We have just returned from WDW 10 days ago with DD 10, DD 3.5 and DS 9 months. We flew from England so the flight was 9 hours! We too did not buy a seat for DS as he is still in a rear facing car seat and these can not be used on a plane anyway! We took turns holding him and he also spent some time sitting with dd on her seat. It was fine - we did the same with DD when we went to Mexice when she was 12 months. So long as you hold him on take off and landing you can pretty much do anything with him!
Hth
Claire.

 

[Rapunzel]

Actually most rear facing car seats are FAA certified. It'll have a sticker of some sort on the car-seat itself.

This link might be helpful for some:

http://saferidenews.com/html/Airplane_Eng.htm

 

[2goofykids]

Hi
I do not think that you will be allowed to seat belt the two kids together. Honestly I would suggest getting other seat. I have read about what happens to babies who are held on planes in turbulence or worse and it is awful. Also there is no oxygen mask for that child, if one is needed. After reading all this I personally decided it was worth the money to be sure my kids are safely in a seat. Also the FAA and I believe the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly recommend a child under two in a FAA certified car seat on a plane.
Also just remember even a very well mannered baby may get uncomfortable and fidgety on a two hour plane trip and there is not much room between you and the people in front of you.
Not trying to flame you, just speaking from experience.

 

[tanyaandallie]

I'd plan on holding the baby. I cannot imagine a 10 mos old just sitting still in the seat all buckled in. I can see them sitting in the seat together some, but I can't imagine them just sitting there the whole time. If you want the 10 mos old to nap, I'd hold her(or was it him).

 

[scanne]

he is still in a rear facing car seat and these can not be used on a plane anyway!

I used a rear facing seat with both of my kids three or four times.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Yes, I figured I would buckle them both in together while in mid air.

That is absolutely NOT allowed!

 

[LilGMom]

I would have purchased a ticket for both children and had the ten month old, at least, ride in a carseat. Buckling them in together won't work or keep one from become airborne should anything bad happen because the belt won't be fitting properly across two laps regardless of how small they are. If your child is small enough for a carseat that child should be in one while in a plane as well as while on a plane. Like a pp mentioned most carseats are FAA approved rear and forward facing. I know of people that have flown with the carseats rear and forward facing. And most stewards/esses are pretty good about helping you get the seat situated both getting on and off the plane.

You mentioned that it was too late to add a ticket. I would continually check with the airline and check again when you get to the gate - there are always cancellations and changes. Good luck and hopefully you can get another seat.

 

[KJMAX1]

We flew last time with our 5mos old...He was starting to sit up, and our other three kids had their own seats. However, my DD wanted to hold him, so when I needed to get something out of a bag I would let him sit next to her with the belt across them both. It was fine for a few minutes of moving, or adjusting to get something.

 

[thepeach80]

I would just hold baby and hope for the best. How big is your oldest? She may not fit well in the seatbelt if she's small and it would be safer anyways for her to be in her carseat as opposed to just the belt.

Overseas airlines generally don't allow rfing seats on the plane b/c you can reserve bassinets from them for the baby. Most countries also don't have carseats that are 'approved' for flying like the US does.

 

[jrb022704]

I would just hold baby and hope for the best. How big is your oldest? She may not fit well in the seatbelt if she's small and it would be safer anyways for her to be in her carseat as opposed to just the belt.

Overseas airlines generally don't allow rfing seats on the plane b/c you can reserve bassinets from them for the baby. Most countries also don't have carseats that are 'approved' for flying like the US does.

My daughter is about 40" tall and 38 lbs. She is pretty big. Not too big to share her seat, but plenty big to go without a carseat on the plane.

 

[thepeach80]

Yeah, she's the same size as my 4yo and I'm not planning on having him sit in his seat on the plane. Though we'll have it w/ us, so that could change them. I would still just hold the baby.

 

[annie1995]

My DS will be 14 months old when we go in September. We did not purchase a seat for him, and just plan on taking turns holding him between the 4 of us. I can't imagine lugging a carseat around the airport for that short of a flight . I would do it if we had a longer flight, but not on something so short. Its hard enough keeping track of everything else without trying to drag that big thing along.

 

[camouseketeer]

Also there is no oxygen mask for that child, if one is needed.

From my experience, this is not true.

I flew with a lap baby several times, and I was always told there would be 4 oxygen masks dropping (over our 3 seats) to cover the three seated people AND my baby.