Lap baby or buy a seat?

[PanamaMike]

I recently watched a documentary about the crash in Iowa and one of the survivors interviewed was one of the flight attandents.

She said that telling a passenger to put their child on the floor of the plane was the hardest/dumbest thing she's ever had to say because she knew that child would not survive the crash.

 

[trirae]

ITA with everyone else about the need for the carseat on the plane. I'm not sure what your plans are when you get there, but unless you are doing a shuttle BUS of some kind, you will need a carseat when you arrive to transport from the airport. Perhaps you were planning to check your carseat and still have it with you, but since you will likely need to have the carseat anyway, it's certainly worth it to use it on the plane as well.

 

[clori]

I just purchased a seat for my 3 week old who will be 7 months old when we go on the cruise. I just feel better/safer that way. Once on a flight I was seated near a couple sitting one behind the other with each holding a 18 month old lap child (twins). That would have been okay but both parents allowed the child to stand and jump all over the lap tray. I was seated with my older daughter who was the same age at the time. The passenger sitting next to me thanked me several times for not allowing my daughter to climb on everything.

 

[inkkognito]

I do not have children, but if I did, I most definitely would invest in a seat, no matter what their age. We fly a lot, and we've had some bad turbulence experiences where I can't even imagine holding a child safely. And on our last flight, I was holding a bag with a couple of books I'd purchased at the airport. I turned my head backwards to watch the landing (I like to see how the stretch 757s fishtail when landing at Midway), and one of the books went flying out of the bag and at the poor flight attendant in the jump seat in front of me! I felt so bad and kept apologizing. Mind you, this was a smooth, normal landing...I can't even imagine if that had been a child in my hands and it had been an emergency situation.
Barb

 

[sweetypie925]

Okay, I purchased my daughter a seat today which was half price. I feel so much better. Thanks for the advice!

Teresa

 

[chrisann]

I'm going to buy a seat for our 18 month old. I was thinking because it was only a 2 1/2 hour flight that he would be fine. After reading your post, I can't imagine being put in that scenerio!! Thank you!!

 

[mobetsy]

To both of you: good for you! You will enjoy your flights more (and every little bit helps when travelling with kids!) because you know they are safe.

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

I have to say that I am one of those parents that did not purchase a seat for my 1 year old when we went to WDW in May (she turned ONE the day we flew home May 8th). Or ever when flying with my oldest daughter who is now 4 1/2!! After reading this thread I WILL be purchasing a seat for my 18 month old when we travel to Florida in November!!

I cannot thank you enough for this information. I had no idea that you would have to put a mobile baby on the floor in preparations of crashing. With everyone in panic mode at that point how could you keep your child contained / restrained?

THANK YOU again for this invaluable information!!

Lisa

 

[Pinnie]

Originally posted by chrisann
I'm going to buy a seat for our 18 month old. I was thinking because it was only a 2 1/2 hour flight that he would be fine. After reading your post, I can't imagine being put in that scenerio!! Thank you!!

Please don't think that just becuase your fight is 2.5 hours long. that is how long it will REALLY be.

This just happened this past Sunday to my friend on a flight from Lousville back home to MCO.

Here is his C&P from an email I just got from him:

The delays (all weather-related):

30 minutes before boarding plane (3:02 departure to approx. 3:30 departure)
60 minutes before heading towards the runway (finding out that Atlanta had 'closed' the airport due to weather

5:45 ish flight delayed until 7:20, no make that 7:25...

60 minutes at gate, while seated on plane as second storm rolls through. It had also rained/was raining in Orlando, which didn't exactly help things out any!!

So keep in mind that those "lap babies" may be in those "laps" a LOT longer than the time that plane is in the air.

As a very frequent flier, I appreciate all you parents who buy your children a seat. The "transfering" from lap to lap always seems to occur in the seat behind me and it can't be achieved without banging into MY seat numerous times.

pinnie