Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

TIA! ETA- DD will be 4 1/2 months when we fly

Message edited 5/21/2007 1:12:40 PM.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

we just used our lap, but we did luck out both ways with an empty seat in between us as well.. DD was about 6mos when we flew..

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

did the lap thing @ 7 months

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We have flown southwest 2x and they boys were 14 months and 19 months so we flew on an empty flight and they had room for us to bring the car seats. They slept 90% of the flights.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Did lap at 7 weeks and 5 months old. you can always try and book an off time flight and then bring your car seat with you. If there is an empty seat, they will let you have it. If not, you can gate check your carseat. My ds slept the whole time on the plane.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Lap. DD was 4 months old.

I traveled alone with DD on 2 packed flights. An empty seat next to me would've been very nice. Or having DH with me would've been nice too.

ETA: I restrained her with the Baby Bjorn during take off, landing and after the captain came on with a turbulence warning.

Message edited 5/21/2007 3:50:01 PM.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We are traveling next month and I bought a seat. DD will be almost 3 months. It's much safer to fly with a baby strapped in than to fly with a baby on your lap unrestrained. Turbulence can hit causing the baby to fly out of your arms. While rare, it does happen.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

we are traveling in July- at that point DD will be 9 months- and we bought her a seat- she's already pretty heavy so I figured it would make us ALL More comfortable if she had her own seat.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Lap- even though it is safer with the car seat. I didn't let go of her for a second.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We flew with DD at 5 months and she sat on our lap. We're flying again with DD next month - she'll be 8 months and she's getting her own seat.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

at 4/12 months definately on the lap. But as they get older even if they are under 2, I would buy a seat or try to fly at an off-time when your chances of having an empty seat are greater.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Lap @ 12 months - went fine

Lap @ 17 months - never again!

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We did the lap at 4 months. It worked out fine.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We'll be flying (DS and myself) on Wednesday and he'll be in my lap.... but all of a sudden I'm feeling rather irresponsible for not getting him a seat - I'm already stressing about it enough!!

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

flying this summer on my lap

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

We flew when she was 5 1/2 months old and I did not buy a seat but there was one available and I put her in her car seat for as long as she would stay there...

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Lap @ 3 mos old and again at 8 mos old.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

Just had DS on my lap at 8 months. Was totally fine, he slept most of the time.
But It was a short flight, for a long one I would prob get a seat.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

I know that it's so much cheaper to fly with your child on your lap, but ladies..... it's not safe. I blame the airlines and the FAA for giving the flying public a false sense of security that babies are safe on their parent's laps.

At Southwest, if the flight isn't full, we allow parents with lap babies to preboard with their carrier. BUT you can't be guaranteed that all flights will have empty seats.

I've been flying for 14 years and I cannot tell you how many babies are injured due to turbulance, aborted take-offs, and hard landings. There are no approved devices that a parent can use during take-off and landing to keep a child secured to their body (this includes Baby Bjorns and Snuglis). We would never allow someone to hold a baby on their lap in a car moving 50 miles an hour, why do we allow it on an airplane moving at well over that?

The FAA has also mandated that all babies be removed from soft carriers (Baby Bjorn, Snugli) during take-off and landings.

I shake my head at the FAA's logic- We are required to put our carry-on luggage in a secure place under the seat or in the overhead bin, but our precious babies are perfectly secure on our laps?

Sorry for the long post- this is a topic very near and dear to my heart.

Re: Spinoff to flying--- did you use a car seat or your lap?

she was in her car seat in the empty seat between us.