Traveling with a baby

[dedex13]

I'm mostly trying to decide whether or not to purchase a ticket for the baby. She will be 6 months old and wants to be held all the time anyway, so probably will not spend much time in the seat. Money is definitely an issue, but am concerned about safety as well.

 

[Alesia]

I would buy her a seat, but it's really a personal decision. There are plenty of good parents who fly with lap babies.

One thing to note: in the unlikely event of severe turbulence or a crash, passengers are instructed to place lap babies on the floor, primarily to keep them from becoming flying projectiles. If that makes you uncomfortable, buy her a seat.

 

[maxiesmom]

If money is not an issue I would buy her a seat. Even if you do end up holding her a lot, it will be available if you need a break. And a place to put some extra stuff.

 

[amandaleigh2]

I've flown numerous times with my children before they were 2 as lap children and never had an issue. Airline tickets are expensive! Um, and I've never heard of the airlines telling you to place your baby on the floor, and I've hit turbulence twice when my kids were on my lap. So I say if you're comfortable with it, don't buy an extra seat.

 

[DisneyBaby823]

I struggled with this but then my trip arrangements were pushed back. Now, he will be turning 2 during the trip. The airline is charging us for the extra seat no matter what.
What type of aircraft are you taking? I feel much safer on airbuses than larger 757's. They don't tend to have as many issues and if I'm not mistaken they even fly lower than a huge plane (I could be wrong about that though, it might be a destination thing ... I know a flight overseas flies at a much higher altitude than a flight to Florida).
It also depends on air carrier... when we flew Southwest airlines both to and from the west coast (just husband and I) we had to sit apart each time. We didn't know when we booked that the cheaper you paid for your seat the last pick you got to choose from. As far as I know U.S. Airways does not do that, your party sits together. I will be very upset if this policy has changed.
And how long is your flight? For us it's only 2.5 hours. I intended to go cheap and fly with baby on my lap. As I'm flying with another adult it would be easy to take any breaks from holding him. But if your flight is several hours you might want to consider her own seat also.
Does she still take significant naps, will the flight time be during a usual naptime? If so, that might make it easier to just have her in your lap.
There are several factors to consider. Just have to dig around for info that pertains to your trip (like air carrier) and weigh the pros and cons of the other things.

 

[Alesia]

Um, and I've never heard of the airlines telling you to place your baby on the floor, and I've hit turbulence twice when my kids were on my lap.

It's standard procedure during heavy turbulence or a crash.
https://www.google.com/webhp?source...F-8#q=putting lap babies on the floor&es_th=1

 

[dedex13]

Thanks for the insight. We're flying Southwest and it's a short flight (2 hours). There will be three adults and the baby flying, plenty of people to hold her! And if we get her a seat, someone will have to sit by themselves. Which leads me to another question, if I do purchase her a seat and purchase early bird for myself and one daughter (since my older daughter will be able to board after A group with the baby), could we take the car seat with us when we board and get it set up (which would also help with saving the seats)?

 

[kaytieeldr]

You might want to see th "don't ask if this seat is saved" thread... If the person occupying the car seat isn't authorized to board at certain point, a seat shouldn't be being saved for that person. Insteaed of three and one, what about two and two?

 

[tjmw2727]

Is the baby your daughter or your granddaughter?

If your granddaughter then I think I would let the mom make the decision! Speaking as a Mom who always bought my kids a seat (with my own $) with a MIL whom I love dearly who could never understand why If the mom is fine with a lap baby you have your answer; if not maybe she will cover the cost of the baby's ticket? (I did!) I always felt it was my responsibility to keep all my kids as safe as possible so I personally was never comfortable with a lap rider.

As for boarding SWA has no policy on seat saving so it varies from flight to flight, sometimes people will choose a seat you hoped to save and sometimes not. I am not sure if you would be allowed to board with a car seat and no baby?

 

[dedex13]

For some reason I was under the impression that saving seats on SW flights was okay... it seems I am mistaken. Perhaps I will purchase the ECBI for the baby and let her mother fend for herself. She actually might not mind sitting alone.

The baby is my granddaughter and I have asked her mom what she wants to do and if she'll pay for 1/2 the ticket. The thing is, she'll probably go for the cheaper option since money is an even bigger issue for her.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Southwest has no policy on saving seats. They don't allow it and they don't prohibit it. Passengers who wish to sit with their entire party should board with their entire party. That may mean buying or upgrading at the airport to Business - to be among the first fifteen passengers - or purchasing EBCI for everyone or all boarding together at the last person's boarding position. Very, very, very rarely does one party have the entire plane. One's fellow passengers need to be treated r e reasonably.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

..... Which leads me to another question, if I do purchase her a seat and purchase early bird for myself and one daughter (since my older daughter will be able to board after A group with the baby), could we take the car seat with us when we board and get it set up (which would also help with saving the seats)?

There would be no problem with boarding with the car seat and installing it before your daughter and grandaughter board.

 

[goofy4tink]

I see no issue with someone taking the car seat with them and installing it, while mom and baby wait in the family boarding group. It shouldn't be an issue. Yes, it's technically saving a seat, but realistically, I doubt anyone is going to have an issue with it.
There really is no policy regarding the saving of seats on SW flights. They will tell you that you may take any open seat, as you board the aircraft. BUT....what, exactly, constitutes an 'open' seat? There's the rub...and probably the reason few FAs will get involved in the 'discussion'!!

 

[dedex13]

That's kind of what I was thinking... who is going to want to sit next to a baby. Particularly a baby who I have been told is going to scream the whole flight because she hates her car seat (my daughter has decided not to take the risk and to purchase the seat). A moot point now about the car seat since I will purchase the ECBI for the flight home so we don't have to worry about checking in and to purchase it for the trip there will only be an extra $25. I tend to get very stressed and I guess $25 is not too much to spend to be able to prevent some of that. Although, us all going together is probably going to create some stress for the people behind us since we'll be taking extra seats while the car seat is installed.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

.......BUT....what, exactly, constitutes an 'open' seat? There's the rub...and probably the reason few FAs will get involved in the 'discussion'!!

I can only imagine how sick and tired Southwest FAs get with dealing with these seat saving issues.

 

[AliceIn]

I would always buy a seat for an infant. I used to fly every week for work, and I've seen sudden turbulence that would make you never want to risk having a child on your lap. Sudden drops that caused laptops to slam into the ceiling and break, etc, or extremely bumpy landings that caused the overheads to fly open. Everyone is much safer buckled into a seat.

 

[maxiesmom]

I can only imagine how sick and tired Southwest FAs get with dealing with these seat saving issues.

Well you know how people are, especially those that post on the Disboards. If they are not forced to stop doing something, what they are doing must be ok. No matter what the rules or common sense would tell you.

 

[TeeterTots]

We flew to disney twice last year. My son was 7mo and 11 mo and both times he was in my lap. I used my baby bjorn carrier and he was front facing during take off/landing and turbulence. It worked out well for us.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

We flew to disney twice last year. My son was 7mo and 11 mo and both times he was in my lap. I used my baby bjorn carrier and he was front facing during take off/landing and turbulence. It worked out well for us.

What airline was this? Do you know that using a child carrier such as a Baby Bjorn is PROHIBITED by the FAA during take off and landing. Shame on your flight attendants for permitting you to do so (I'm sure you didn't know this wasn't allowed).

http://fsims.faa.gov/WDocs/8900.1/V03 Tech Admin/Chapter 33/03_033_006.htm

 

[ban26ana]

My husband is a car seat tech and an aviation buff. (Getting his private pilot's license and hoping to be commercial in the next few years.) Because of his knowledge, we will ALWAYS buy a seat for our infant. If we can't afford to buy a seat for the baby, then we can't afford to go.