Lap Child or own seat

[MiniGirl]

Add me to the "buy him his own seat" crowd. Not only is it truly safer for him. It is better for YOU as well. We love our little ones, but holding them that long is hard and tiring. Trying to eat or even keep a cup of soda on your tray can become a challenge. Also, you can put your carry ons under the seat in front of him -- thus leaving the area by your seat free.

 

[katerkat]

I held my son as a lap baby for about a half dozen flights when he was under 1 - all cross country. (No, wait, one was Spokane to Disneyland.) Then when he was 13 months old, he learned to walk, and from then on, we had to buy a seat because I couldn't contain him alone anymore.

The next half dozen flights, we used the carseat, which was great for most of them but a disaster for the last two. He did not want to be in it and he screamed and fought the entire time he was in it.

This upcoming flight, this weekend, will be his first flight sans carseat (but in a seat.) Cross country again! I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[#1 Pocahontas]

He did not want to be in it and he screamed and fought the entire time he was in it.

Oh my, that was our experience the last time we flew. We only had a 2 1/2 hour flight and it was probably the longest 2 1/2 hour of my life. My only saving grace was that I had another mother behind me that understood and she didn't get mad or at least didnt' let her annoyance show.
DD hardly spent any time in her seat. She was constantly in and out of it while I was trying to get her to stop crying and screaming. She was 12 months at the time.

My other daughter has always had her own seat. She never did this, she always just slept the entire flight. Even a 9 hour one! I think she felt totally comfortable in her carseat and just relaxed.

I'd say go with the car seat, but from my last experience I also say be prepared for anything! LOL

 

[cheerbop]

We had my (then 19 mo old) 3 year old in his own car seat the last time. He will be 3 1/2 when we fly this time. He was a BEAR the whole 2 1/2 hour flight back then!!!
We will now have a 9 month old flying with us also. Is it true you are not allowed to have rear facing seats on the flight? That is what his infant seat is. Should we buy him his own seat and use a forward facing seat even though he is to be rear facing normally or????

 

[wendygrace]

cheerbop, check to see if your carseat is FAA approved. It should have sticker on the back part that says "FAA APproved" or something like that. If it does not, then you'll have to get another carseat. I do believe all carseats need to be forward facing but yours might be set up for that while on an airplane. Which one do you have?

Another former airline employer....get the child the seat. It will give you that extra luggage allowance to bring every possible toy that may entertain.

 

[dhardawa]

We had my (then 19 mo old) 3 year old in his own car seat the last time. He will be 3 1/2 when we fly this time. He was a BEAR the whole 2 1/2 hour flight back then!!!
We will now have a 9 month old flying with us also. Is it true you are not allowed to have rear facing seats on the flight? That is what his infant seat is. Should we buy him his own seat and use a forward facing seat even though he is to be rear facing normally or????

All US infant seats are FAA approved and you can most definitely use a seat rear facing on a plane.

 

[dhardawa]

Get him his own seat. First, kids are used to being in car seats and kind of know that once they are in them, they are staying. (At least they SHOULD know this.) So, he is much more likely to sit quietly than if you are trying to pin him down the whole flight. Second, he is much safer in his seat. If you hit turbulence, are involved in a runway accident, etc. his car seat could be the difference between life and death. Lap babies are referred to as "cabin missles" in the airline industry.