No More Lap Babies!

[superdiz]

Are we sure on the O2 masks? I want to know exact numbers - any airline workers lurking?

 

[AndyLL]

1) Even though the baby was in the mom's lap when the turbulence hit we do not know if the baby had its own seat or not. We always purchased a seat for our son but it was likely one of use would be holding him during large portions of the flight.

2) The argument that lap babies are an added risk to other passengers is laughable. Laptops, which are not even required to be put away when the seat belt sign is on, are a much bigger danger if turbulence hits.

 

[Ceila]

The flight was full
First week of Dec 2013
it was a 2 -2 seat row

we were next to grandparents
Parents in two seats in front of them

Parties are often split up on flights. The group probably had the four seats you listed as well as another seat somewhere else on the plane that they didn't use.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

You don't have to shut up. You are free to rationalize that while you wear a seatbelt for safety, a baby doesn't need to.


No one could ever convince me that this makes sense.

Money is the only concern here.

So the fact there have been all of 10 injuries, and the risk of an injury flying is much lower than driving, meaning we're probably talking 1/10th of a percent if even that, means that everyone who doesn't bubble wrap their kids is cheap? Nope, not at all, geez the sanctimoniousness on this thread is thick!

 

[goodeats]

I wonder if all the people who buy seats for their under 2 yo also rent a car at Disney (to avoid using DME and the other buses that don't have seat belts).

 

[sam_gordon]

I was on an under sold flight once where parents had an unbuckled toddler laying across three seats on the back row so she could "sleep". I saw it when I passed to the back to take my own kid to the bathroom.
I pointed out how unsafe it was to the stewardess. She looked at me like I had three heads. Idiot. That kid could have died if we had experienced turbulence, and the kid was big enough to require a paid seat.
The fact that they still allow lap babies boggles my mind.

But if you had hit severe enough turbulence to throw the sleeping toddler out of the seats, wouldn't it have also thrown you and your child around? After all, neither of you was secured at the time. What's the difference?

 

[MIGrandma]

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?

I agree.

My purse and my under-the-seat-in-front-of-me carry-on both have to be under the seat, not in my lap. Why should a baby be allowed to be on a parents' lap?

There is no way I would put my baby in any danger by holding them on my lap during a flight. If I couldn't afford to buy a seat for the baby, and stap them in their car seat, I wouldn't be flying. Babies have to be safely strapped into car seats while riding in a car, they should be in their own seat on a plane and strapped in as well. You never know what could happen.

 

[kidshop]

So the fact there have been all of 10 injuries, and the risk of an injury flying is much lower than driving, meaning we're probably talking 1/10th of a percent if even that, means that everyone who doesn't bubble wrap their kids is cheap? Nope, not at all, geez the sanctimoniousness on this thread is thick!

Do you wear a seat belt on the plane? Does the pilot? Why? Are you bubble wrapped for wearing the seatbelt?

 

[BadgerGirl84]

So how is a mother supposed to nurse her baby on a flight if the baby is strapped into a carseat? What if the baby starts crying and can only be comforted if the parent picks up the child? What about a child or adult any age going to the bathroom? Turbulence could just as easily happen then.

As for people "being cheap" not everyone on a plane is going to Disneyland. Families often have to travel for work, funerals and host of other reasons. Not having the money doesn't mean you are cheap.

How about all of the children that are injured in car accidents that were strapped in carseats that have rendered them handicapped?

This thread is getting hysterical.

Excellent points and I agree with your description of this thread.

 

[LSmith]

But if you had hit severe enough turbulence to throw the sleeping toddler out of the seats, wouldn't it have also thrown you and your child around? After all, neither of you was secured at the time. What's the difference?

Patiently awaiting the answer to this.

 

[LSmith]

Do you wear a seat belt on the plane? Does the pilot? Why? Are you bubble wrapped for wearing the seatbelt?

Nobody, including the pilot, wears a seatbelt when they go to the bathroom. Should we not allow pilots, flight attendants or anyone else to ever get out of their seats on a moving plane in case of turbulence?

Why won't anyone who insists on children under two being in a car seat on a flight answer this question?

 

[LSmith]

I agree.

My purse and my under-the-seat-in-front-of-me carry-on both have to be under the seat, not in my lap. Why should a baby be allowed to be on a parents' lap?

There is no way I would put my baby in any danger by holding them on my lap during a flight. If I couldn't afford to buy a seat for the baby, and stap them in their car seat, I wouldn't be flying. Babies have to be safely strapped into car seats while riding in a car, they should be in their own seat on a plane and strapped in as well. You never know what could happen.

You can have a heavy laptop on your lap during the flight though. You can also have your purse on your lap during the flight, just not during take off and landing.

First class customers get real glasses for their meals. You know they could potentially go flying due to turbulence?

Have you ever been on a 12 hour flight? I can assure you that people take off their seat belts and walk around or stand in the back on every one of these flights.

 

[sam_gordon]

Nobody, including the pilot, wears a seatbelt when they go to the bathroom. Should we not allow pilots, flight attendants or anyone else to ever get out of their seats on a moving plane in case of turbulence?

Why won't anyone who insists on children under two being in a car seat on a flight answer this question?

I think there are two situations regarding "lap babies"...

1) Takeoff & landing. As has been mentioned, you're not allowed to have weighty objects (purses, laptops, bags, etc) in your lap during take off and landing. So why are babies allowed to be held? I don't have an answer for that one.
2) Cruising. People are allowed to have laptops & bags in their lap, and are allowed to get up and move around. So how is that any different than a lap baby? To me it's not.

 

[LSmith]

I think there are two situations regarding "lap babies"...

1) Takeoff & landing. As has been mentioned, you're not allowed to have weighty objects (purses, laptops, bags, etc) in your lap during take off and landing. So why are babies allowed to be held? I don't have an answer for that one.
2) Cruising. People are allowed to have laptops & bags in their lap, and are allowed to get up and move around. So how is that any different than a lap baby? To me it's not.

Well, being the cheapo that I am, during take off and landings the flight attendant would come around to make sure that I am holding my child (whom I obviously don't love) tightly the entire time.

 

[pigletgirl]

I think there are two situations regarding "lap babies"...

1) Takeoff & landing. As has been mentioned, you're not allowed to have weighty objects (purses, laptops, bags, etc) in your lap during take off and landing. So why are babies allowed to be held? I don't have an answer for that one.
2) Cruising. People are allowed to have laptops & bags in their lap, and are allowed to get up and move around. So how is that any different than a lap baby? To me it's not.

Some babies need to suck on take off and landings. Not all babies like pacifiers but they still need comfort.

Would you rather have a screaming baby or a baby that gets assistance with their ear trouble?

 

[NaLisa]

But if you had hit severe enough turbulence to throw the sleeping toddler out of the seats, wouldn't it have also thrown you and your child around? After all, neither of you was secured at the time. What's the difference?

Great point. I'm guessing those who would never allow a lap baby assert that their chances of being injured by turbulence are lessened because they're only out of their seats and unstrapped a small percentage of their time on the plane. But as has been pointed out several times on this thread, the risk of injury due to turbulence is miniscule. If you're so worried about turbulence during the flight, why get out of the seat ever, for anything?

 

[Shutterbug]

I think there are two situations regarding "lap babies"...

1) Takeoff & landing. As has been mentioned, you're not allowed to have weighty objects (purses, laptops, bags, etc) in your lap during take off and landing. So why are babies allowed to be held? I don't have an answer for that one.
2) Cruising. People are allowed to have laptops & bags in their lap, and are allowed to get up and move around. So how is that any different than a lap baby? To me it's not.

Probably same twisted logic where I am in my car with the most state of the art safety equipment ever devised but people go all crazy about not wearing a seatbelt, where as a motorcyclist can go flying past with not even a helmet.

 

[pigletgirl]

Great point. I'm guessing those who would never allow a lap baby assert that their chances of being injured by turbulence are lessened because they're only out of their seats and unstrapped a small percentage of their time on the plane. But as has been pointed out several times on this thread, the risk of injury due to turbulence is miniscule. If you're so worried about turbulence during the flight, why get out of the seat ever, for anything?

Perhaps finding another mode of transportation would be the best bet.

 

[sookie]

But if you had hit severe enough turbulence to throw the sleeping toddler out of the seats, wouldn't it have also thrown you and your child around? After all, neither of you was secured at the time. What's the difference?

We were up and down for a short period of time. I know that when we get up to go to the bathroom, we spend the shortest amount of time out of our seats as possible. And we stay buckled in our seats when we are in them. Yes, it would have hurt us if we had some turbulence.

However, the kid was at a greater risk because the parents were apparently letting child nap, unbuckled, spread out over a row of seats, the whole flight. That is dumb.

 

[mrsp1030]

In Europe if you have a lap baby you must use a seatbelt restraint system at least British airways made us use it.