Not Safe to Nurse on Plane?

[Scotch]

We've only taken our son on a trip that required flying once -- over Labor Day weekend to see family on the west coast. At the time he was 4 months old. Even though we bought him a seat and had his own car seat there, he absolutely refused to sit in it -- he'd start protesting and screaming when we placed him into the seat. We were so shocked because he had never done that in the car (up to that period in time anyway). So hubby and I took turns holding him, and I nursed him at take off and landing.

I just read some old posts here regarding disagreement over whether safe to nurse on plane. I totally understand the desirability to strap our baby into the car seat at take off and landings but at this point, but he needs to suck at take offs and landings. He does not use a pacifier (and has never used one). And the big problem is he hates drinking from the bottle. Even though he's been in day care since he was 3 months old after I returned to work, he has never drank well if he is not nursing. He could go hours and hours at day care to this day without drinking more than one or two ozs., after much trying -- then when I nurse him at night he acts like he is starving (probably because he is). He has refused to take the bottle from my husband and me over the weekends as well. So it is highly unlikely that he will be willing to drink from the bottle on the plane for our upcoming WDW trip, at least long enough to alleviate ear pain. I've been trying to get him to learn to use a Sippy Cup but no success so far.

So, back to nursing on the plane. Is it that dangerous? None of the flight attendants said anything on our last flight. Am I a bad parent for not strapping him into his carseat (which we will again bring as we have bought him a seat even though we figure it may stay empty) and nursing him at take off and landing (and perhaps holding him throughout the flight)? This is very stressful. After our Labor Day weekend trip DH and I considered having no more flying vacations until our son reaches toddler age and can drink from a cup, etc. but last month we decided to try a WDW trip in December and I am so looking forward to it. Except now thinking about the logistics again is giving me a headache!

P.S. Someone on that other thread posted nursing her baby while the baby was strapped into the car seat by leaning over . . . . Well, even if I could get my baby to cooperate and sit in the car seat, it just won't work for us given the size of our car seat, the height of our baby, and my less than generously sized *ahem*.

 

[Magic2000]

I think your baby will be OK if you hold him for a while to nurse. If he'll stay in his seat, fine. But if not, just hold him. No use making him cry the whole flight!!! On one of our flights to Orlando, my middle daughter was about 18 months old. She was a "lap" baby and did fine. Thankfully, we had a very smooth flight, but I knew she would not stay in her seat. She slept while I held her and did fine.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[Beth8266]

i nursed both of my kids on trips. Never had a problem. As soon as the flight attendants started moving around on take off I nursed. I find that I personally have more problems with my ears on decent so i always nursed on the way "down". I strapped them in as soon as they were done nursing. You will be fine!!

 

[frsttimers]

You'll be fine...my dd (now 7) was nursed also and refused bottles, pacifiers, anything not attached to mom!!! SHe and I flew across country many times while she was nursing and it was a life saver during takeoff and descent.....it does NOT make you a bad parent.....in fact several times she was a lap baby and used no car seat at all on the plane....relax and enjoy your trip....!!!!

 

[JennsBabySky]

I am in a similiar situation! My son does not like to take bottles from me and I am an absolute carseat freak! Luckily, for most of our last flight, he stayed in his seat. During descent, however, he started to cry. I decided to take him out of his seat and let him nurse. Then I strapped him back in. I held him tightly, so I figured he was unlikely to get thrown during turbulence. Plus, pilots are usually warned beforehand of areas with turbulence. Everytime I have been on a plane with turbulence, the pilots have put on the seatbelt sign and everyone (including Flight Attendants) are seated. Obviously, it is a parental decision and you need to do what you are comfortable with. For me, that is nursing as necessary, but then putting my son back in the seat. My biggest fear is that we will be flying without the carseat and have to "stow" our baby under the seat in front of us. If the carseat is right there, then this cannot happen.

good luck.

Jennifer

 

[jgmklmhem]

Just a question regarding this topic. Can a sling be used on the airplane to hold a baby while nursing etc? We have a seat for our 16mo next week flying for Christmas...but in public she seems to nurse better in the sling since she can't see the outside distractions. My wife doesn't care either way...but it would be something that could hold the baby close to yourself and would most likely prevent the child from "flying" away during turbulence if nursing needed to be done then. I am pretty sure they don't allow snugglies etc...but just wondered about slings.

 

[JennsBabySky]

I'm not sure. For some reason, I don't think they are allowed during landing or take off, but some individual flight attendants might allow it. I'd bring it just in case. My son is at that age where he gets distracted very easily while nursing. Even if you don't use it on the flight, it might be nice to have for maneuvering through the airport.

 

[MrsPete]

I believe there's no law about infants and carseats on airplanes; however, most airplane accidents occur during take off and landing -- the very time you're talking about nursing the baby. You've heard all the statistics about how many tons of force occur in a car wreck and how it's impossible to hold a baby during an impact, and it stands to reason that it'd be worse in an airplane. I remember how difficult it was to travel with infants sometimes, but this is a safety issue. Is it really worth the risk?

Here are my suggestions:
Time your flight so that you can have him thoroughly exhausted. 1:00 or 2:00 would be just right. If he's walking, go to the airport an hour early and let him walk around everywhere --that'll tire him out. Then give him a big meal just before you board. Finally, just before you board, nurse him, wrap him up in his favorite blankie, sing a song . . . whatever you normally do at naptime. Try to board last (so you won't sit on the tarmac forever), then pop him in his seat at the last minute. Hopefully he'll sleep like, well, a baby and your problems will be solved.

Finally, one bad experience doesn't mean that you'll necessarily have trouble next time. Babies are nothing if not unpredictable!

 

[tjmw2727]

Just a question regarding this topic. Can a sling be used on the airplane to hold a baby while nursing etc? We have a seat for our 16mo next week flying for Christmas...but in public she seems to nurse better in the sling since she can't see the outside distractions. My wife doesn't care either way...but it would be something that could hold the baby close to yourself and would most likely prevent the child from "flying" away during turbulence if nursing needed to be done then. I am pretty sure they don't allow snugglies etc...but just wondered about slings.

No, according to FAA regulations you can't use a sling, snugli, Baby B'Air or any other "device". Here is the verbage from the AA website and most others are the same or similar.

FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices, the following may not be used:

Any device without an approval label
Booster seats without an approval label or shoulder harness
Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

First of all don't worry and relax you will have a great vacation and the flight will be fine. Who knows, maybe he will be so intersted in the surroundings and do fine in the seat and surprise you. Don't assume he will need to nurse, neither of my girls had problems with either the takeoff or landing until they were about 4ish. (Now they both get airsick but that's another story!)

I guess your questions were: Is it dangerous to nurse on the airplane - probably not, would I do it, no. Does it make you a bad parent not using the carseat, of course not, would I fly with a lap baby, NO.

I am sure you are a wonderful parent who makes decisions based on your comfort level. Personally I would never travel in the car with a lap baby hence I can't see any reason to fly with one. That said, many people do it safely and happily every day!

My suggestions would be similar to those of Mrs Pete. Personally I stay seated during the flight unless absolutely necessary as do my kids. My sil was one of those unfortunate fliers who was on an aircraft with a sudden drop. No warning, no seatbelt sign and lots of confusion and people bumped and bruised. Luckily both she and my bil happened to be belted. My dh had a landing where they could not determine if the landing gear was out or not, shoes off, heads on lap and yes you guessed it, lap babies on the floor between the parents feet, uggh.

Have a great trip.
TJ

 

[grlpwrd]

I am in a similiar situation! My son does not like to take bottles from me and I am an absolute carseat freak! Luckily, for most of our last flight, he stayed in his seat. During descent, however, he started to cry. I decided to take him out of his seat and let him nurse. Then I strapped him back in. I held him tightly, so I figured he was unlikely to get thrown during turbulence. Plus, pilots are usually warned beforehand of areas with turbulence. Everytime I have been on a plane with turbulence, the pilots have put on the seatbelt sign and everyone (including Flight Attendants) are seated. Obviously, it is a parental decision and you need to do what you are comfortable with. For me, that is nursing as necessary, but then putting my son back in the seat. My biggest fear is that we will be flying without the carseat and have to "stow" our baby under the seat in front of us. If the carseat is right there, then this cannot happen.

good luck.

Jennifer

I don't mean to flame or anything, but it concerns me when you stated "I held him tightly, so I figured he was unlikely to get thrown during turbulence." Holding your child, any child, is a safety risk during the flight. I saw a safety program once and an airline safety expert said if you are lap carrying your baby on a plane to wrap them in a blanket and from what I recall make it pouch and hold the ends tightly together. Safer than being a projectile, I suppose. Might want to read up on that as I only recall from memory.

I nursed my then almost-1yo son when we went from Virginia to WA and I was scared to nurse him and take him out of his seat since I brought his carseat and bought him a ticket. I wrapped him in a blanket from what I remembered and nursed when I could. If the seatbelt light was on I placed him in his seat no matter what and buckled him and his carseat in and just fed him baby food or cereal that I brought along. I was really torn, though, trying to do what I needed to do (nurse him) versus what I should do (be totally safe).

Yes, it is dangerous to nurse a child on a plane if the child is unrestrained, but you gotta do what you gotta do. If your child is older there are other alternatives to help with ear problems upon takeoff and landing, such as eating food, drinking from a sippy cup, sucking on a lollipop with the safety handle or while you hold it, etc. There are alternatives. I would try to feed a child during takeoff and landing and during the flights when the seatbelt light indicates it's okay to nurse him when it "seems" safe in the sense turbulence is not a visible problem or announced by the captain etc.... Still, it stresses me out.

GL!

 

[JennsBabySky]

I understand exactly where you are coming from and it sounds awful the way I wrote it! I know that you don't mean to flame, and I'm certainly not taking it as such (I like these kinds of discussions, if it weren't for them, my child would certainly still be a lap baby!)

Another one of the biggest problems with holding your child during flight is that they essentially become your airbag! Definitely not a good situation. When making the decision to nurse, I decided that a short nursing session to clear his ears (and stop the crying) was better than letting him cry. Although, I'd never make the same decision in the car. We do have better control in the car, I always have the option of stopping and taking a break from driving. I'm a numbers person, so statistically it is more likely to need the carseat in the car than the plane. But, I now always use the carseat on the plane . And I certainly wouldn't take him out no matter what during takeoff and landing (when FA are belted). My husband works on helicopters and small planes (as a paramedic) and the pilots get reports of areas likely to have air pockets which can cause major turbulence. So, my fear is unexpected smaller turbulence (but larger turbulence could always occur suddenly) that would cause a child sitting unrestrained on my lap to fly away. In my opinion, this is definitely a parental decision, with no clear answer. Well, the safest answer is too leave the baby in the seat, but that might not be the most feasible for everyone.

All that said, I probably will try a little harder to keep my son in his seat the whole time during our next flight.

 

[debm]

Wow! And remember the days when we used to ride in the back of the station wagons??

I always use a sling when I nurse on the airplane. A couple of reasons. The sling allows my child to stay close to me and I don't have to hold on. Meaning---if we were, heaven forbid, in an accident if you are holding them they will be thrown from your lap. Obviously the only impacts will happen while you are on the ground--taxiing, landing or taking off so IF you are able to exit the airplane than it will be easier with the baby attached to you. My husband is a "flier" and has always laughed at the car seat thing. He tells me that if an accident happens, smoke filling area, etc. etc. --he went into many details---then the chances of being able to get your child unbuckled from the carseat and carried off the plane. Well, he laughs!! I'm not saying it hasn't happened in a minor fender bender BUT...... He wants me to have the baby in the sling because if we survive any impact we need to use our hands to get off. The likelihood of people getting off in a calm manner is not much and he says children can get underfoot very easily and lost...... Sorry to put a bad picture in everyone's mind but he has told me this for years. Sounds good on paper to have them in carseats but remember car accidents and airplane accidents can be VERY different. Anyhow...my thought is to make your child comfortable and pray for a great flight. Remember that is why we fly. Less accidents than driving!! Everything will be fine. I'm sure everyone around you will be happy that your baby is nursed and content than screaming in pain. I've had that happen to my ears once on a descent and it is excruciating---and you feel very helpless. Your ears will naturally pop going up---it is the coming down that can cause the problem. This is totally my 2 cents so I may get flamed. But I wanted everyone to stop thinking of it from a "black and white" standpoint and a little more reality.

 

[grlpwrd]

Wow! And remember the days when we used to ride in the back of the station wagons??

I always use a sling when I nurse on the airplane. A couple of reasons. The sling allows my child to stay close to me and I don't have to hold on. Meaning---if we were, heaven forbid, in an accident if you are holding them they will be thrown from your lap. Obviously the only impacts will happen while you are on the ground--taxiing, landing or taking off so IF you are able to exit the airplane than it will be easier with the baby attached to you. My husband is a "flier" and has always laughed at the car seat thing. He tells me that if an accident happens, smoke filling area, etc. etc. --he went into many details---then the chances of being able to get your child unbuckled from the carseat and carried off the plane. Well, he laughs!! I'm not saying it hasn't happened in a minor fender bender BUT...... He wants me to have the baby in the sling because if we survive any impact we need to use our hands to get off. The likelihood of people getting off in a calm manner is not much and he says children can get underfoot very easily and lost...... Sorry to put a bad picture in everyone's mind but he has told me this for years. Sounds good on paper to have them in carseats but remember car accidents and airplane accidents can be VERY different. Anyhow...my thought is to make your child comfortable and pray for a great flight. Remember that is why we fly. Less accidents than driving!! Everything will be fine. I'm sure everyone around you will be happy that your baby is nursed and content than screaming in pain. I've had that happen to my ears once on a descent and it is excruciating---and you feel very helpless. Your ears will naturally pop going up---it is the coming down that can cause the problem. This is totally my 2 cents so I may get flamed. But I wanted everyone to stop thinking of it from a "black and white" standpoint and a little more reality.

Well, from the research and websites I've read such as the AAP and others - the bold typeface is mine:

Lap children are subjected to injuries or death during turbulence, sudden stops/turns, rough landings, or emergency landings. It is nearly impossible to hold onto the child during any of these occurrences. The child would be thrown around the cabin, resulting in serious injuries. Sitting on a parent's lap puts the child in the "crush zone." Children have been crushed to death by their parent. A child being tossed around the cabin is also a "projectile danger" to other passengers.

I think if a child is restrained correctly he or she won't be a projectile or crushed and that gives a child more chances for survival.

 

[tjmw2727]

According the American Academy of Pediatrics, wearing a baby in a sling or baby b air on an aircraft is the equivilant to using them as your airbag.

Personally, I don't think they are any more dangerous than just lap sitting but I do feel they create a false sense of security. JMHO -

TJ

 

[debm]

Just to clarify---I'm not saying the sling is going to save them from being killed in a crash. I'm just saying that in all the training my hubby has done for evacuating an airplane in danger. IF you survive the crash and are trying to get off don't picture a calm scene where you are going to be carrying or leading your child by the hand off a burning airplane. I'd much rather have them strapped to me. I'm not disagreeing with the AAP or FAA. But we don't see as many air accidents as traffic so it is hard to get a good picture.

 

[Gillian]

Is your baby eating anything yet? I would also try feeding something else if possible, and keeping the baby in his seat. Swallowing will help with the pressure.

Sounds like the baby is too young for Gerber fruit chews, which is what I used for my son during take off and landing. But he was over 1 at that time. Didn't have a lot of teeth, but the chews are very soft. He'd never had them before and did well.

 

[Scotch]

I appreciate hearing the different viewpoints and experiences. My baby is eating solids now for snacks -- he'll turn 8 months this week. So sucking/nursing/drinking is not necessary to alleviate the pressure and ear pain caused by take off and landing? Eating pureed babyfood works as well?

 

[debm]

Now that I've reread the posts I also want to clarify. IF I am going to have my baby sitting on my lap at any time I always use the sling for just the reasons that GRLPWRD quoted from the AAP research. You don't want your baby to be a projectile. I think this is not a straight answer. #1 the best thing would be no accident, after that it depends what happens in the accident. If you have to get out of a plane quickly I still feel IMHO that having them strapped into a carseat is not good. A nervous anxious parent may get very frustrated and nimble fingered trying to get the buckles undone. Of course these are all "what ifs". I'm just talking about what scares me. In my mind my biggest fear is evacuating a plane. Others obviously have different concerns.

 

[tjmw2727]

Now that I've reread the posts I also want to clarify. IF I am going to have my baby sitting on my lap at any time I always use the sling for just the reasons that GRLPWRD quoted from the AAP research. You don't want your baby to be a projectile. I think this is not a straight answer. #1 the best thing would be no accident, after that it depends what happens in the accident. If you have to get out of a plane quickly I still feel IMHO that having them strapped into a carseat is not good. A nervous anxious parent may get very frustrated and nimble fingered trying to get the buckles undone. Of course these are all "what ifs". I'm just talking about what scares me. In my mind my biggest fear is evacuating a plane. Others obviously have different concerns.

My feelings differ but I understand your concern. 99% of inuries during air travel are not from "crashes" and having to evacuate. Most of the problems are mid air turbulance, objects falling, people falling and sudden air pockets resulting in drops. I am sure that your DH will agree as do my pilot friends (AA and Delta).

I sincerely hope none of us has to evacuate an aircraft but I am very sure that I can click that carseat buckle (just one on ours) in one felt swoop. I can do it in the dark, with one hand and without waking baby. I see it as no different than having a 4yo in the seat next to me who will obviously be in a seatbelt as that is the rule. (And in a buckle I am not as familiar with) Why is my 4yo buckled and not my 18mo? I don't worry about getting the 4yo buckle undone and I don't worry about the CSR buckle. Since I use the carseat each and every day sometimes many times I day I don't personaly share your fear of not getting baby out. No matter what the situation I can't imagine any safer way to travel with baby than strapped in a CSR designed to keep baby safe.

My biggest concern with the use of the sling, baby' b'air and bjorn, I think they make parents feel baby is safer than they are. They are definately not permitted during take off and landing and most are not allowing them during flight anymore. I have seen FA's ask parents to stow them on two occasions now.

Again to the OP if you need to take baby out to nurse and you feel comfortable then do what is necessary to keep baby and yourself comfy and happy. Every other possible moment I would opt for having baby in the CSR expecially since you have already purchased the seat and plan to bring the CSR. Eating will definately help with ear pressure the chew and swallow sometimes helps as much maybe more than sucking. My girls like a fruit chew or starburst but for toddlers maybe the gerber graduates fruit chews would be ok depending on age.

TJ