Traveling with 8 month old on a plane

[mthompxx]

Hi, we are taking our daughter who will be 8 months at the time to disney on a 2 hour flight.
I just want to hold her on our laps. My wife wants to buy a seat for her, and have her use a carseat. She doesnt like the idea of holding her in our laps because she isn't secure.

We will be staying at the dinsey resort and will not have a car so i don't want to lug around a car seat.

What would those who have flown with a child that age recommend. I am also saving 2 hundred dollars by not purchasing her a seat. We have an 8 year old and a 4 year old also.

thank you.

 

[Bren's Mom]

According to the FAA, your wife is right. Your baby on a lap will not be secure. The FAA strongly recommends children NOT fly on someone's lap. They do allow it, yes, but only because statistically flying is safer than driving. Therefore, if they prohibited it some people would drive instead putting children at even greater risk. However, that does not make flying with a lap baby safe, just safER than driving.

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

I have flown with my son, always in his own seat. My sister and her husband, both commercial airline pilots, would never ever consider flying with their own children in their laps.

Turbulence happens.

 

[jodifla]

Hi, we are taking our daughter who will be 8 months at the time to disney on a 2 hour flight.
I just want to hold her on our laps. My wife wants to buy a seat for her, and have her use a carseat. She doesnt like the idea of holding her in our laps because she isn't secure.

We will be staying at the dinsey resort and will not have a car so i don't want to lug around a car seat.

What would those who have flown with a child that age recommend. I am also saving 2 hundred dollars by not purchasing her a seat. We have an 8 year old and a 4 year old also.

thank you.

We never bought our child a seat before age 2. Worked out just fine.

Yes, bad things could happen....but the law of averages says they won't, and your baby in your arms on a plane is safer that your baby in a carseat on the road.

 

[brockash]

Hi, we are taking our daughter who will be 8 months at the time to disney on a 2 hour flight.
I just want to hold her on our laps. My wife wants to buy a seat for her, and have her use a carseat. She doesnt like the idea of holding her in our laps because she isn't secure.

We will be staying at the dinsey resort and will not have a car so i don't want to lug around a car seat.

What would those who have flown with a child that age recommend. I am also saving 2 hundred dollars by not purchasing her a seat. We have an 8 year old and a 4 year old also.

thank you.

You're going to get a lot of ppl. on these boards that are going to tell you that you're not a responsible parent if you don't buy your infant a seat. I personally have 2 children have flown many times with both when they were under the age of 2, and have never bought a seat for them, and have never had a problem. I think it's your personal choice. I think going to disney, not renting a car would be a huge reason why I would not take the carseat and just let the baby fly in my lap. I can't imagine having to lug around the carseat just for the flights. It's really up to you two. Personally, I don't think you'd have any safety issues, althoug depending on your child, it might be easier for her to be in her carseat (from what I've heard, like I said, I've never tried it.) Good luck on your decision.

 

[dsnymomof4]

Well, if you're DD is anything like my DS was at 8mos, he doesn't really like being held for too long without wanting to get down. I cannot imagine trying to hold him on my lap for an entire flight! When we flew with him in April, he was 4 months and I was so glad I had his carseat. He slept the whole flight and I was able to tend to the other kids. Now, at 10 months, I would never be able to keep him happy on my lap for 2 hours. At least if he is buckled in his carseat, he knows he has to stay in there, just like if he was in the car. It would be easier to entertain him or feed him and do other things. Good luck!

 

[mthompxx]

apparently, spirit air has changed their prices for our flight. It will not cost an additional 350 dollars to get her a seat instead of the 170 it was going to be. Plus they won't add her to the reservation, She needs a completely new reservation, and it won't create her a new one since she is only 8 months.

Ahh, the joy of a call center that doesn't speak english.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

We flew to Orlando in 2006 with a 5-month-old and did not buy a seat/take a car seat for him. We felt there was no reason to do so--it was just going to be extra luggage. He was happy sitting on mommy's lap the whole flight--even slept a portion of the trip. It was nice not having to rent a car to do Disney!