No More Lap Babies!

[Blinking Blue Light]

Please. If you don't care enough about your child to strap them into a car seat on an airplane, fine.

But I do NOT want to be hit by your child in the even of turbulence. It would be like being hit with a bowling ball. Not good.

Hoping parents are made to buy seats for children of any age in the near future.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/18/travel/united-airlines-turbulence/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[Mkrop]

I heard this story this morning on the news, and I hope it does make people change their minds about lap babies. Buy them a seat and put them in a car seat, for everyone's safety

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Projectile babies! Just one more reason I prefer to drive

 

[izzy]

I never have understood the airlines allowing lap babies. I'm not allowed to have my purse on my lap during takeoffs and landings because it could be dangerous if it flew out of my lap, yet people are allowed to keep BABIES on their laps?

 

[Tinkermommy]

Both of my kids took their first flight when they were around one years old. I always got them their own seat and brought their car seat on board. They were safe and seemed more secure/comfortable for the flight.

Unfortunately, until it becomes the rule to have babies in their own seat people will save money and bring them as lap babies.

And I always keep my seatbelt on, even when the light is off.

 

[goodeats]

I'm guilty! When we were a family of 3 we always got a seat for our under 2 year old. The first time we flew as a family of four DD2 was a lap baby. Four tickets was hard to swallow! I kept her in the Ergo though. Now she is over 2 so we have to buy her a seat, but I certainly see the incentive to lap babies.

 

[eliza61]

I'm guilty! When we were a family of 3 we always got a seat for our under 2 year old. The first time we flew as a family of four DD2 was a lap baby. Four tickets was hard to swallow! I kept her in the Ergo though. Now she is over 2 so we have to buy her a seat, but I certainly see the incentive to lap babies.

Lol. I'm guilty also, but then again, I'm guilty of letting my kids ride bikes without a helmet so what do I know.
I'm amazed that my kids made it past puberty with every week a new "danger" lurking.
My kids flew to Europe when they were babies, no way was I paying for extra seats. But once again, no one was screaming about human projectiles.

 

[disney junky]

I'm guilty too. In all the times I've flown, I've never ever experience turbulence to this degree. The baby was unharmed. It was the adults who were injured. Was the seatbelt sign on? Accidents are accidents. Sadly, it's rare incidents like this and public outcry that will drive the policy makers to create another law/rule governing choice.

 

[Jennasis]

If kids need to be belted in a car then they should be belted/secured on a plane.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

My "babies" are 15 and 20, but when they were true babies, I always brought along their car seats and bought them airplane seats. I have to admit, I wasn't thinking safety so much as sanity, DH and I didn't want to hold a squirmy baby for an entire 2+ hour flight.
When we flew to Seattle from NY, the airline even offered a reduced rate for the toddler in car seat. It made so much sense to get him his own seat.
I hope airlines start rethinking their rules regarding lap held babies.

 

[wiigirl]

If kids need to be belted in a car then they should be belted/secured on a plane.

Agreed....that being said I have been guilty of this.

 

[sukhakuli]

How many lap babies are injured in planes from turbulence?

Flying is much safer than driving, so I don't think it is apt to compare putting kids in car seats in cars with flying. Are the numbers of death or injury comparable?

Lastly, I've taken that flight, and it is turbulent as hell. You can get winds in Billings topping 80 mph, and it can wreak havoc with the small planes they fly there. But I have to wonder if she had her seat belt secured. If she did, how did she hit her head?

 

[Blinking Blue Light]

Lol. I'm guilty also, but then again, I'm guilty of letting my kids ride bikes without a helmet so what do I know.

To be honest, you don't "know" about the vulnerabilities of the skull. Or maybe you don't care that you put your children at risk when you don't put a bike helmet on them. And, I get it. You are cool and hip and one of those "60's, 70's, 80's" Children" that survived lead paint and no bike helmets, etc. Yes, I have read that Facebook forward

So, you don't care about protecting your children. Too bad for them, but whatever. I am past the point of caring about the safety of others. I care about me. I don't want your child flying through the air and smashing into me or my loved ones.

Like someone above said, pocketbooks can't be on a lap. But a baby can?

ETA: I have never understood people that bragged about NOT putting bike helmets on their children. It just seems so sad to me. Boasting that you don't care about your child's safety. Sad.

 

[Laura66]

I never have understood the airlines allowing lap babies. I'm not allowed to have my purse on my lap during takeoffs and landings because it could be dangerous if it flew out of my lap, yet people are allowed to keep BABIES on their laps?

Oh my gosh I hadnt thought about it that way! You're right! Our friends always thought we were nuts because we ALWAYS bought a seat for our children!

 

[Arielle22]

I never understood why lap babies were allowed. My DDs are 18 and 20 and have flown since they were infants. We always bought them seats. It was a budgeted item just like tickets or hotel.

This was in the mid-90s and DH had both car seats (one upside down on the other) on a collapsible luggage cart pulling them through the airport. The workers at security were impressed at how easy it was to pull them through.

I figured they were my most precious belongings and they deserved as much protection as I could give them. I have been on planes with them (under 2) when there was turbulence. I would not have wanted to try and keep a tight grip on them when the airplane acted like it was a roller coaster.

 

[Blinking Blue Light]

I never understood why lap babies were allowed. My DDs are 18 and 20 and have flown since they were infants. We always bought them seats. It was a budgeted item just like tickets or hotel.

Exactly. What happens when these people who just can't afford to pay for a seat once the baby turns into a toddler and NEEDS a seat purchased. Do they just never fly again?

I figured they were my most precious belongings and they deserved as much protection as I could give them.

Most loving parents think this way

 

[sunshinehighway]

Op, I highly doubt you are a perfect parent. Maybe you need to realize that it's not your place to judge other parents so harshly.

 

[eliza61]

Exactly. What happens when these people who just can't afford to pay for a seat once the baby turns into a toddler and NEEDS a seat purchased. Do they just never fly again?



Most loving parents think this way

Maybem maybe not.

Personally I don't make travel plans today on what may happen 4 years down the road.
When I purchase plane tickets, I go the most inexpensive way I can TODAY. I don't say, oh I'll buy an extra seat because in 3 years I'll have to anyway so I may as well get use to it now.

 

[JanaDee]

Yes, every single person on an airplane (regardless of age) should be made to have their own seat/seatbelt.

If I can't have my bag on my lap, you sure as heck shouldn't be able to have a CHILD on your lap.

 

[Blinking Blue Light]

Op, I highly doubt you are a perfect parent. Maybe you need to realize that it's not your place to judge other parents so harshly.

Putting your child in carseat is being a "perfect parent"? I hardly think so.

I am not a perfect parent, but I use common sense when it comes to protecting my child.