No More Lap Babies!

[kidshop]

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?

Sure, but if they get turbulence they have a seat to go back to and they would be buckling their belt ASAP. They watch for it and then no one is allowed to be unrestrained. Except for the babies.

I bought the seats and used them for much of the flights. I did take the baby out to nurse, whatever, if the seatbelt sign was off. Not the whole flight though. I's not the same....out of the seat when the seatbelt sign is off compared to not having a seat.

Has anyone brought up what you have to do with a lap baby in the event of assuming crash positions? (And yes, in a crash everyone will probably die anyway)

When my ds was 18 months old we had a terrible flight that involved a landing at a different airport and then a 4 hour bus ride! I had his seat and was very disturbed about the lack of seat belts on the bus. For some reason we had 2 bungi cords with us and I rigged up straps for his seat so he would be secure.. Not ideal, but better than flying loose through the bus! So , no I would not use transportation if could avoid it that I involved my child not in a car seat.

 

[LSmith]

Sure, but if they get turbulence they have a seat to go back to and they would be buckling their belt ASAP. They watch for it and then no one is allowed to be unrestrained. Except for the babies.

I bought the seats and used them for much of the flights. I did take the baby out to nurse, whatever, if the seatbelt sign was off. Not the whole flight though. I's not the same....out of the seat when the seatbelt sign is off compared to not having a seat.

Has anyone brought up what you have to do with a lap baby in the event of assuming crash positions? (And yes, in a crash everyone will probably die anyway)

When my ds was 18 months old we had a terrible flight that involved a landing at a different airport and then a 4 hour bus ride! I had his seat and was very disturbed about the lack of seat belts on the bus. For some reason we had 2 bungi cords with us and I rigged up straps for his seat so he would be secure.. Not ideal, but better than flying loose through the bus! So , no I would not use transportation if could avoid it that I involved my child not in a car seat.

Most of the worst and unexpected turbulence occurs without warning so the seatbelt sign doesn't mean much.

If you were in Canada or the US and rigged you baby up with bungie cords in a vehicle and were stopped by the police, you would likely be charged under the highway traffic act. Completely unsafe!

 

[ronandannette]

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.

I agree with this entire post so much I can't believe I didn't write it myself! Not trying to downplay safety concerns; things evolve over time. But honestly, I'm glad I was raised and subsequently raised by DS during simpler times.

 

[kidshop]

Most of the worst and unexpected turbulence occurs without warning so the seatbelt sign doesn't mean much.

If you were in Canada or the US and rigged you baby up with bungie cords in a vehicle and were stopped by the police, you would likely be charged under the highway traffic act. Completely unsafe!

It was a greyhound bus. No seat belts at all. I had his car seat with me. It was an unexpected detour when the plane had to land at an alternate airport.

I still have a seat for my baby in unexpected turbulence. I'd get him in it fast!

 

[cjbcam]

You can always say only 30 some people get hurt flying a year and the risk is negligent. But when push comes to shove anyone who had their child seriously hurt or killed (you know one of those 30 some injuries a year) you would regret not having your child in a seat. I could not live with myself if that were to happen especially when the prevention is so easy. My kids have always had their own seat and are strapped in unless they are up going to the bathroom. Sometimes you just can't help it but I would at least know I did everything I could have to prevent it.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

It was a greyhound bus. No seat belts at all. I had his car seat with me. It was an unexpected detour when the plane had to land at an alternate airport.

I still have a seat for my baby in unexpected turbulence. I'd get him in it fast!

Greyhound buses don't have seatbelts. And I'm surprised they let you do that since it's unsafe. In the event of an accident, the bungy cords weren't going to hold the car seat to the seat.

 

[kidshop]

Greyhound buses don't have seatbelts. And I'm surprised they let you do that since it's unsafe. In the event of an accident, the bungy cords weren't going to hold the car seat to the seat.

I had never been on a greyhound bus before, and they let me on with the giant seat! I didn't know there weren't belts. In the event of an accident that loose seat would have gone flying. There was no way I was leaving it unsecure. It really was quite tight. I would never choose that scenario but you do what you have to do.. We were already on with the seat.

It was after a hellish flight and in the middle of the night. They probably just didn't care.


Why don't they put seat lets in those things!? It doesn't seem right there either; to be unrestrained. If I am in a moving vehicle I want a seatbelt. Call me crazy.

 

[anniemck]

All this is why when my kids were younger we did not fly, besides the expense, we love seeing the countryside. We took a trip every year to Kentucky from Florida and Ohio every other year. Now husband and I drive to Tennessee every year to visit family. Heck with flying and dealing with cancelled or delayed flights then having to rent a vehicle when arriving. NO THANK YOU.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I had never been on a greyhound bus before, and they let me on with the giant seat! I didn't know there weren't belts. In the event of an accident that loose seat would have gone flying. There was no way I was leaving it unsecure. It really was quite tight. I would never choose that scenario but you do what you have to do.. We were already on with the seat.

It was after a hellish flight and in the middle of the night. They probably just didn't care.

Why don't they put seat lets in those things!? It doesn't seem right there either; to be unrestrained. If I am in a moving vehicle I want a seatbelt. Call me crazy.

To be honest, I'm not sure why buses don't have seat belts, but I'm sure there is a reason. And I agree with you on the safety issue. On buses like that though they wouldn't have you use the car seat all, so there wouldn't be a chance of it flying.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

You can always say only 30 some people get hurt flying a year and the risk is negligent. But when push comes to shove anyone who had their child seriously hurt or killed (you know one of those 30 some injuries a year) you would regret not having your child in a seat. I could not live with myself if that were to happen especially when the prevention is so easy. My kids have always had their own seat and are strapped in unless they are up going to the bathroom. Sometimes you just can't help it but I would at least know I did everything I could have to prevent it.

Well, it's closer to 10 passengers a year. Of the 30ish people hurt each year, over 20 are crew members who are rarely in their seats. I would guess that over a million people fly each year in our country. I'll take those odds. My three month old was happy as a clam being held in my arms on my flight to FL last year...she drank her bottle, looked at toys/books and took a nap in my arms.

Here is something to think about...I don't think we've heard of a story of an infant dying on a plane from turbulence. I have heard MULTIPLE stories about babies dying in their car seat taking a nap due to their airway being blocked. Therefore, I would say that it's actually more of a death risk to keep my baby strapped in her car seat for a four hour flight (no breaks to get out of the car seat because I don't want to risk unexpected turbulence!) than to take her out to be held.

http://******************/article/b...-canadian-official-to-warn-parents-of-dangers

Yes, I realize that sounds ridiculous, but that's how ridiculous the "if you really loved your child you'd buy them a $500 plane ticket" crowd sounds to me.

 

[LSmith]

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.

You, your child and the toddler sleeping on the seats had the EXACT same risk during the time that you and your child to the bathroom.

When a plane drops unexpectedly, don't have a false sense that the seat belts signs will warn you first because in severe cases that you hear about, the warning signs were too late.

 

[sookie]

You, your child and the toddler sleeping on the seats had the EXACT same risk during the time that you and your child to the bathroom.

When a plane drops unexpectedly, don't have a false sense that the seat belts signs will warn you first because in severe cases that you hear about, the warning signs were too late.

Yes, but the toddler laying sprawled out across a row of seats napping for 3 hours was at risk for a longer period of time - as the toddler was unbuckled for for several hours! No carseat, no restraint, no one nearby - nothing.

I know that every time we travel, the pilot always makes the annoucement that even when the seatbelt sign is turned off, please keep your seatbelt on when seated in case of unexpected turbulance.

I'm sorry, but my kid that was up and unbuckled to take a whiz for 5 minutes and then buckled in again was at less risk over the entire course of the flight, compared to the kid that was unbuckled for most of the flight (except for take off and touchdown). During that window when my kid got up to pee - same risk. Overall flight - the kid who was not buckled in - more risk, as the toddler spent more time "exposed".

 

[sookie]

You, your child and the toddler sleeping on the seats had the EXACT same risk during the time that you and your child to the bathroom.

When a plane drops unexpectedly, don't have a false sense that the seat belts signs will warn you first because in severe cases that you hear about, the warning signs were too late.

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?

So are you both saying you feel it is OK to leave a sleeping toddler in the back of a plane, unattended and unrestrained in the back of an airplane for several hours? And that you do not feel that the child is unsafe being unrestrained for a prolonged period of time?

 

[ORMom2Four]

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

If being hit by a flying child is truly your concern, shouldn't you worry about laptops/books/e-readers/purses/bags etc.,? I'd estimate 90% of passengers have those, compared to one or two lap babies per flight. Should we ban everything? No high heals, those are pointy and could hurt someone--sneakers only from now on. Perhaps we should take away peanuts/crackers/drinks during flights? A projectile peanut could take my eye out in turbulence, or a hot coffee could burn me!! No more coffee for any of you!!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

A question for those who are opposed to lap babies...do you ever choose to drive instead of fly when you travel? If the object is reduce the risk to your child, why would you ever take that risk instead of flying, since it is a MUCH safer option? Does the convenience of having your car at your final destination or the cost of gas vs. flights justify the extra risk? Perhaps if you were loving parents, you would always choose to fly (yes, I'm joking, but to make a point ).

The truth is, we all make decisions based on perceived risk, and often the fear of something happening (like 'flying babies during turbulence') makes us over-inflate that risk. Everyday risks that we take, like every time we get in car, become acceptable because we have a clearer understanding of how rarely the unthinkable occurs. The real risk of an incident during flying is so small that it's kind of amazing that people here are getting so worked up about it!

 

[MegSmethurst]

If being hit by a flying child is truly your concern, shouldn't you worry about laptops/books/e-readers/purses/bags etc.,? I'd estimate 90% of passengers have those, compared to one or two lap babies per flight. Should we ban everything? No high heals, those are pointy and could hurt someone--sneakers only from now on. Perhaps we should take away peanuts/crackers/drinks during flights? A projectile peanut could take my eye out in turbulence, or a hot coffee could burn me!! No more coffee for any of you!!

Don't forget the pets under the seat, heaven forbid those go flying! People are being so judgmental! I'm not ashamed to say that it is about the money for me! If I thought it was truly unsafe, I would pay for a set but I don't think it is.

Sometimes I get really sick of the "if you don't have the money, too bad" attitude. If you can't stay onsite, too bad. No money for a plane seat, too bad. We all budget for our vacations what we can afford, it shouldn't be anyone else's business.

P.S. First you complain about kids making too much noise, then it's annoying strollers in the parks, then they're too young to remember, now they're flying through the air and hurting people...a family with a baby had just better stay home. Those babies are just not worth the risk!

 

[sam_gordon]

So are you both saying you feel it is OK to leave a sleeping toddler in the back of a plane, unattended and unrestrained in the back of an airplane for several hours? And that you do not feel that the child is unsafe being unrestrained for a prolonged period of time?

I'm guessing the parents were either across the aisle or (at worst) the next row up, so I wouldn't say he was "unattended".

I'll also concede the sleeping toddler wasn't as safe as one sitting up with their seat belt attached. However, I'd be willing to "play the odds" and let my child be more comfortable than worry about extremely rare possibility of hitting severe enough turbulence to cause injury.

 

[sunshinehighway]

They should just make you put lap babies under your seat during take off and landing.

Seriously though, the article doesn't even really mention a baby other than a quick little thing about a mother calling for her baby. There's nothing to say it was a lap baby.
As other have pointed out, so few people per year are injured by turbulence and most of them are flight crew. Projectile lap babies are not a real problem.

I would also like to again point out this thread was started by someone with a new join date and an awfully low post count. It's also school vacation week for many. Now I know that doesn't necessarily mean anything but it's not the first thread this poster has been so in your face with an opinion either. Just something to think about before everyone continues arguing about the made up problem of turbulence projectile babies.

 

[JanaDee]

There was another incident of severe turbulence overnight, with multiple passengers and crew hospitalized.

http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/19/travel/cathay-turbulence/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Yes, I realize that sounds ridiculous, but that's how ridiculous the "if you really loved your child you'd buy them a $500 plane ticket" crowd sounds to me.

I think you are very defensive - and I get it - you are in arguing from a position of weakness.

However - it is mandated that ALL passengers fasten their seat belt! Except for kids on laps? Does that not sound ridiculous? Maybe you think no one should have to wear a seat belt. Advocate for that.

But to leave the smallest and most defenseless purposely unrestrained SOLELY due to the price of a ticket is (to me) ridiculous.