seat for infant - no flames please!

[JoyG]

I have always chosen to buy a seat for my children because I once read on the internet that in the case of an emergency/crash landing, a lap infant would be required to be placed under your seat for the landing and not held in the hands of the mother.

Now I don't know if that's really true, and I can't remember where I read it except it was probably on an internet board such as this. But I was so horrified to read it that I resolved I would always buy a seat for my kids.

I would love to hear if anyone has any experience with this or has heard this as well.

 

[stacy6552]

The study linked above is and old one that seems to be about the study of different types of seats for use on aircraft. Similar to what a seat has to go through to get FAA certification for use on airlines. Its probably the kind fo study that lead to the ban of booster seats and laprider tethers like the baby bjorn. The study refers to airline seast collapsing forward. They are meant to go forward to minimize the impact of someone behind the seat falling into it (the reason crash position is to lean into the seat in front of you). A properly installed FAA approved carseat ian't going anywhere. The study does indicate that an averaged sized child of 3 is safe without a carseat on the plane.

Here is a more relevent (and by that I mean to the general issue) link... http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/108/5/1218

Additionally, remember that impact is not the only threat to a child. On UAL Flgiht 232 that crashed in Souix City, a child survived the impact only to die of smoke inhalation because nobody found him after he was torn from his mother's grasp.

 

[KimberlyC]

This is all very disturbing as well as confusing to me. I keep seeing conflicting information. Obviously, I want to do what is safest for my child, but also what is practical. My DS will be a week shy of 2 when he flys for the first time for a b-day celebration at WDW. Technically, I could put him on my lap but whether its safter or not it wouldn't be fun for either of us. So he's getting a seat on the plane. He's big for his age (though his growth seems to be slowing down). There is no way he can go rear facing in a car seat (where would his legs go?). I planned to bring his carseat because I read that it was safer and because I think he'll behave better (at least I hope so). Plus I will need a careseat in the rental car and I think he'd prefer his own to a rental. So I'm willing to deal with the incovenience of lugging it around based on 1) safer, 2) better behaved, 3) wont need a rental. But honestly, if its NOT really safer, that would be cause for reconsideration. After all, how bad can a rental car carseat be AND if he won't behave maybe the flight attendant will duct tape him to the seat

 

[tjmw2727]

Kimberly-

Despite the interesting article above the AAP, FAA and every airline I have ever checked currently recommend that children under 40lbs use a CRD in an aircraft.

Here is the link from the AAP
http://www.aap.org/family/carseatguide.htm
and from American Airlines:
https://www.aa.com/content/travelIn.../childrenTraveling.jhtml#Seating Restrictions

I can't find the FAA link right now but I will take a longer look later if you like.

Make sure that your carseat has a sticker on the back that says its approved for use in aircraft and your all set.

If you want to use your CRD front facing for your child in the aircraft, you paid for the seat and its approved then you should feel safe and happy in your decision.

TJ

 

[tjmw2727]

I found it

The study quoted above is from a link to an outdated study from 2002, here is a link to the old information.

http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplaneRF.aspx

The FAA and AAP agree that children can (should?) stay rear facing as long as possible and until they exceed the requirements of the seat to be rearfacing. However, both agree that until at least 40"lbs a CRD front facing or rear facing is safer than a lap belt alone and a lap belt is safer than a lap.

HTH
TJ

ETA - the website is current and has some great information, but the link to the study on rear facing is from 2002, sorry for any confustion.

 

[stacy6552]

Interesting. Useful. Bare in mind that your child facing forwards isnt any more likely to hit the seat in front of them then anyone else and thats why the plane seats are designed to fold forwards in a crash. It could also be argued (contrary to that article) that your child is less likely because they are restrained at the sholders, unlike regular passengers.