Flying with Baby, Seat or No Seat?

[sjshark]

So we are planning on taking a trip in May and are getting ready to buy our tickets. But we are really torn on whether to get LO her own seat. I have heard some pretty scary stuff making me want to buy her her own ticket, but then I also have never seen anyone this young not being a lap kid.

Interested in hearing your thoughts. 

[cdseno]

It is so much safer for your baby to have her own seat. The FAA actually recommends it but it isn't enforced because they know less people will fly. I didn't know any of this and flee with J as a lap baby 3 times when he was little and honestly, it sucked. Sure he slept most of the time the first couple times, but I still would never do it again. I was trapped under a sleeping baby, and once he was older and more aware of stuff, he wiggled all over.

Now if we go anywhere I will buy Max his own seat so that he can be in his car seat and have his own space.

Plus, checking or hate checking your seat gives it an unknown history because you never know how they handled it. Think about how your luggage looks sometimes.

[shevacc]

I won't buy DS a seat until I have to. It's a lot of money and I feel like most the arguments for doing so are based on very improbable scenarios. If I were willing to pay more for comfort I'd fly 1st class, but I'm not. So we squeeze in and deal. I'd rather spend that money on a nicer vacation than an airline seat.

ETA - Out of curiosity I looked it up and since 1980 the FAA has documented 298 serious injuries and 3 fatalities due to turbulence. Those are pretty good odds for your lap child.

[merry]

My situation is a little different as we fly standby for free but I would never check a car seat. We checked our stroller once and watched them throw it around. Also I've had league come out with crushed corners and missing wheels, can't imagine what they'd do with a car seat. Then again I find it easy to travel with an infant and hold them on your lap. Both mine wanted to sleep with me on the plane and it's easier to feed them. I travel alone (DH is always working but once in a while meets up with the kids (3yr and 5m) and I on our trips) and manage just fine. We are fortunate enough that since we only travel to visit family they always have car seats for us to use.

[roccobabyk]

I'm flying Sunday and I did not buy DD her own seat. She wouldn't sit in it without making everyone miserable anyway.

[blckroses]

We're traveling twice this summer. Our first trip will be a long weekend to San Jose for a wedding, a 1 hour flight. DD will be a lap baby for that flight. The second trip is a week+ vacation in Maine and Pennsylvania, a 5 hour flight. We will be buying her a seat for that trip. The likelihood of something happening is slim, but I don't want to have to hold her the entire 5 hour flight. We will also be driving from Maine to PA on the second trip, and I'd prefer to bring a car seat that I know the history of.

[Deleted]

We are flying in May also and did not buy LO a seat. I just could not justify the extra $$ when he can fly free. I felt ok about the safety. So far he is super curious and social, so I think he will love it.

[rosebean]

I have flown with my babes when they were 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 15 months. In fact, we flew. Just yesterday. It's worth getting a seat for a toddler, but it's fine flying with your babe on your lap at this age. DD was amazing on our flights out and back. DS was very squirmy, and one flight we lucked out and the stewardess moved us to our own row and he got his own seat.

In fact, 90% of the time I have flown, I always manage to move seats and end up in a row with an extra seat anyways. The airline attendants are so understanding. They will work for you as much as they can to make your flight bearable. Whenever I flew with DS, I remember being moved or switching seats with other passengers multiple times. And it always resulted in a seat for me, a seat for my hubby or mom, and a seat for DS.

[weeklyplanner]

Jan 28, 2015 16:22:54 GMT -5 @becominggold said:

We are flying in May also and did not buy LO a seat. I just could not justify the extra $$ when he can fly free. I felt ok about the safety. So far he is super curious and social, so I think he will love it.

This! Just hoping he stays such a social butterfly until May.

[redhorizon343]

We are flying in late April and we did not book a ticket for LO. It's a three hour flight though. I think if we were flying cross country it might be worth it to bite the bullet and get a ticket.

As best as I can tell, the FAA does not recommend putting the baby on the floor in the case of turbulence.

Here's a link to an article that quotes (and links) to the FAA documentation on this - you're just supposed to hold the baby in a "uniform way".

I will be wearing a baby carrier, so I have to imagine that would be a safer alternative than just using your arms.

This article seems to suggest that the biggest risk of flying with a lap child is falling asleep and accidentally suffocating the child (similar to the risks of co-sleeping)

TL:DR version
Basically, in 2013 there were 10 pediatric deaths during flights. 4 had previous medical conditions (some were flying to seek treatment), 1 was 15 years old, 4 died while the parents slept (see above), leaving only 1 death while everyone was awake. Also, "Almost all children who die on planes are under 2 and traveling on long flights between continents"....So, while the article advocates for a car seat, the statistics suggest that it's safer to fly with a lap child, than drive with a car seat.

[weeklyplanner]

Jan 28, 2015 20:30:04 GMT -5 redhorizon343 said:

We are flying in late April and we did not book a ticket for LO. It's a three hour flight though. I think if we were flying cross country it might be worth it to bite the bullet and get a ticket.

As best as I can tell, the FAA does not recommend putting the baby on the floor in the case of turbulence.

Here's a link to an article that quotes (and links) to the FAA documentation on this - you're just supposed to hold the baby in a "uniform way".

I will be wearing a baby carrier, so I have to imagine that would be a safer alternative than just using your arms.

This article seems to suggest that the biggest risk of flying with a lap child is falling asleep and accidentally suffocating the child (similar to the risks of co-sleeping)

TL:DR version
Basically, in 2013 there were 10 pediatric deaths during flights. 4 had previous medical conditions (some were flying to seek treatment), 1 was 15 years old, 4 died while the parents slept (see above), leaving only 1 death while everyone was awake. Also, "Almost all children who die on planes are under 2 and traveling on long flights between continents"....So, while the article advocates for a car seat, the statistics suggest that it's safer to fly with a lap child, than drive with a car seat.

Call me crazy, but it never once crossed my mind that death or injury was possible because my baby is on my lap. I mean, I guess the plane could crash, but then all the passengers are in trouble. Now I'm over here worrying. I've been on some pretty bumpy (miserable,
everyone puking) plane rides. Yet, it was never "omg I just threw my baby across the plane" type situations.

But, I kind of see it the same as traveling on a city bus. People bring babies and children on busses all the time in major cities and they aren't using car seats.

[shevacc]

Jan 28, 2015 21:26:12 GMT -5 weeklyplanner said:

Jan 28, 2015 20:30:04 GMT -5 redhorizon343 said:

We are flying in late April and we did not book a ticket for LO. It's a three hour flight though. I think if we were flying cross country it might be worth it to bite the bullet and get a ticket.

As best as I can tell, the FAA does not recommend putting the baby on the floor in the case of turbulence.

Here's a link to an article that quotes (and links) to the FAA documentation on this - you're just supposed to hold the baby in a "uniform way".

I will be wearing a baby carrier, so I have to imagine that would be a safer alternative than just using your arms.

This article seems to suggest that the biggest risk of flying with a lap child is falling asleep and accidentally suffocating the child (similar to the risks of co-sleeping)

TL:DR version
Basically, in 2013 there were 10 pediatric deaths during flights. 4 had previous medical conditions (some were flying to seek treatment), 1 was 15 years old, 4 died while the parents slept (see above), leaving only 1 death while everyone was awake. Also, "Almost all children who die on planes are under 2 and traveling on long flights between continents"....So, while the article advocates for a car seat, the statistics suggest that it's safer to fly with a lap child, than drive with a car seat.

Call me crazy, but it never once crossed my mind that death or injury was possible because my baby is on my lap. I mean, I guess the plane could crash, but then all the passengers are in trouble. Now I'm over here worrying. I've been on some pretty bumpy (miserable,
everyone puking) plane rides. Yet, it was never "omg I just threw my baby across the plane" type situations.

But, I kind of see it the same as traveling on a city bus. People bring babies and children on busses all the time in major cities and they aren't using car seats.

This is where I'm at too. I decided not to do a daily bus commute with DS but won't have a heart attack about occasional bus rides (like to the rental car place, for ex).

[rosebean]

I'm just going to throw this out there, but the flight attendants don't want you to have your children clipped into their carriers while flying. She told me that in the event something happens, and she has to grab your child and GTFO, it's much easier for her to grab your LO and run, rather than having to fiddle with your ties and clips.

[mandapanda1382]

Jan 28, 2015 21:57:13 GMT -5 rosebean said:

I'm just going to throw this out there, but the flight attendants don't want you to have your children clipped into their carriers while flying. She told me that in the event something happens, and she has to grab your child and GTFO, it's much easier for her to grab your LO and run, rather than having to fiddle with your ties and clips.

Hm, I've never had a flight attendant say anything. I guess I just assume that if we are crashing we are all in trouble. And if it's bad turbulence- the carrier works great.

[starmile]

Jan 28, 2015 21:57:13 GMT -5 rosebean said:

I'm just going to throw this out there, but the flight attendants don't want you to have your children clipped into their carriers while flying. She told me that in the event something happens, and she has to grab your child and GTFO, it's much easier for her to grab your LO and run, rather than having to fiddle with your ties and clips.

As a fomer f/a I can tell you that carriers are fine for during the flight (above 10,000ft) but during taxi, takeoff and landing they are not supposed to be worn. Unfortunately many flight attendants will look the other way.

[redhorizon343]

Jan 29, 2015 4:11:09 GMT -5 starmile said:

Jan 28, 2015 21:57:13 GMT -5 rosebean said:

I'm just going to throw this out there, but the flight attendants don't want you to have your children clipped into their carriers while flying. She told me that in the event something happens, and she has to grab your child and GTFO, it's much easier for her to grab your LO and run, rather than having to fiddle with your ties and clips.

As a fomer f/a I can tell you that carriers are fine for during the flight (above 10,000ft) but during taxi, takeoff and landing they are not supposed to be worn. Unfortunately many flight attendants will look the other way.

This jives with what I've heard

[Deleted]

how long is the flight? I'm anti-paranoid and I do things for my own comfort/convenience.
We're flying in May from Houston to canada & will probably do lap b/c it would be easier for us.

[weeklyplanner]

Jan 29, 2015 12:00:37 GMT -5 messica said:

Jan 29, 2015 4:11:09 GMT -5 starmile said:

As a fomer f/a I can tell you that carriers are fine for during the flight (above 10,000ft) but during taxi, takeoff and landing they are not supposed to be worn. Unfortunately many flight attendants will look the other way.

Wait. If I'm reading this right, they don't want you to have your kid strapped into their car seat for taxi/take off/landing? Why?  Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious. 

I think it's carrier as in baby wearing, but the carrier car seat.

[starmile]

Jan 29, 2015 12:00:37 GMT -5 messica said:

Jan 29, 2015 4:11:09 GMT -5 starmile said:

As a fomer f/a I can tell you that carriers are fine for during the flight (above 10,000ft) but during taxi, takeoff and landing they are not supposed to be worn. Unfortunately many flight attendants will look the other way.

Wait. If I'm reading this right, they don't want you to have your kid strapped into their car seat for taxi/take off/landing? Why?  Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious. 

Sorry, I meant carrier as in ergo, ring sling, etc. most flight attendants would rather see a kid in their own car seat. Soooo much safer, not to mention the car seat itself stays safe (I wouldn't trust the rampers who load the plane not to bang it around some.)

[roccobabyk]

Re routing the conversation a little, and this is probably personal preference but I wanted to see if you ladies had any different view points. I am flying with DD on Sunday and didn't buy her a seat. I am going to see if they have an extra seat available but if they don't and I have to end up checking the carseat do you think it makes any difference to check the convertible or her infant seat?

[cdseno]

Jan 29, 2015 13:39:14 GMT -5 roccobabyk said:

Re routing the conversation a little, and this is probably personal preference but I wanted to see if you ladies had any different view points. I am flying with DD on Sunday and didn't buy her a seat. I am going to see if they have an extra seat available but if they don't and I have to end up checking the carseat do you think it makes any difference to check the convertible or her infant seat?

It doesn't make a difference which one you check, they will both be handled rough. The consensus among techs is that once any car seat has been checked, it has an unknown history and isn't really safe to use anymore. I have seen pictures of ruined seats from being checked, it is a real thing.