thinking LAST row in airplane might be best for first infant flight?

[Anonymous]

I have an 8 wk old and we're taking our first flight - southwest meaning we can pick where we want to sit. at first I thought bulkhead window - more room and window for some privacy for bf etc. But then realized no bag storage under seat in front so was thinking second row...but probably aisle (too hard to get out from window). BUT (possible brain flash) - what about LAST row window...it's the least desirable (and so possibly last filled on southwest) and possibly has the loudest ambient noise for lulling baby to sleep. Also right near the bathroom.

What am I not considering?

[Anonymous]

I would not sit in the last row. It's always really noisy and tons of people will be going by you to go to the bathroom. I was in a bulkhead seat with my 8 month old for a 10 hour flight and we did just fine. I'd much rather do that than sit in the back row.

[Anonymous]

Sit in the first row. There's a bathroom up there and you'll be the first off of the flight. Also, the flight attendants will be able to keep baby entertained from there. Back row too, but you'll just be sitting there for eternity waiting to get off and you'll probably regret that. Bring a small diaper bag and put it under your seat.

[Anonymous]

I would have thought definitely a bulkhead seat since you would have to strap the baby in the cot for taking off and landing.

[Anonymous]

I ended up in the last row, but not by choice, and it did lull my baby to sleep. That being said, I might sit near the back, but I wouldn't sit in the very back if I could help it because lots of times there is a line of people back there waiting for the bathroom, and if you want to nurse, it is a little uncomfortable with all those bored people staring around.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend against the bulkhead b/c of the storage issue you mention. You'll want to have stuff handy, not have to get one or two people up to get it in the overhead. I tried to sit in the last row on SW on my first flight with my 2-month old (alone) and the flight attendants advised me that it had significantly less legroom than the other rows, so I sat in second to last. If you're by the window, you won't even notice the people going through the aisle. Good luck -- the white noise lulled him to sleep on both flights - it was much less of an ordeal than I expected.

[Anonymous]

We sat 2nd to last row with our 5 month old...no problems. The loud sounds kept him sleeping most of the time. The rest of the time he was feeding (breast or bottle). We checked the car seat just before we got onto the plane.

[Anonymous]

The seats often don't recline, if you care about that. There may be people milling about in line for the bathroom, kind of in your space, possibly stinkin' it up...

Breastfeeding is easiest on the window, IME. Wandering the aisles to calm a fussy baby is easiest on the aisle, obviously. I think everywhere has its pros and cons -- don't stress out too much. Seat choice won't make or break you. A diaper blowout might

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have thought definitely a bulkhead seat since you would have to strap the baby in the cot for taking off and landing.

I think those cots are only on international flights, possibly on non-US carriers. Southwest doesn't do them for sure.

[Anonymous]

I recommend last row (we did that for our baby's first flight), but I would try to get the aisle seat so that you can get up and walk the baby around if you need to without bothering anyone.

[Anonymous]

I just flew on SW with an infant. I recommend you sit towards the back of the plane - but not the last row. As others have said, the last row doesn't recline and (more importantly) - the isle seats in the last row are awful because people are usually standing right there waiting for the the restroom. We sat in the third row from last. Baby instantly fell asleep as the plane took off. We were near enough to the bathroom. And, I wanted to be the last to de-board because I knew it'd take me longer.

I highly doubt you'll be able to get a bulk head seat unless you are a SW A lister or buy business class. Used to be that families could pre-board and grab those seats but now family boarding is between the A and B boarding groups - so bulk head seats will be taken by then.

[Anonymous]

I ended up on the last row with my son once and it was fine. He was teething and fussy on that flight but it was easy to stand up and walk him in the back and the flight attendants helped entertain him. The noise kept his fussing from bothering too many people I think. On other flight ( with a happier baby) I've been near front and that was fine too. With one as little as yours baby will probably most eat and sleep so you should be fine regardless. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I flew American with my 8 week old and found the last row to be cramped -- the person in front of us could not recline her seat because my baby's car seat took up the whole space (the woman in front was holding a toddle and wanted to recline a little to help her baby sleep). Other than that, sitting in the back was not a problem for baby in terms of sleeping, or the people in the aisles (I just pulled the bonnet down on the car seat). My baby slept the whole time.