Flying with 5 month old--does he really get his own seat?

[Anonymous]

We'll be traveling over the holidays with our son who will be 5 months old. Some say to buy a seat for him and use his car seat, but I thought many people just hold babies in their laps. Should we really buy him his own seat?

[Anonymous]

It depends how well you son does in a car seat. My hates his car seat so we knew we would end up holding him anyway, so we did not buy a seat. We also don't think its worth buying a seat for a baby you can hold in your lap. The airline can give you an infant seatbelt attachment if you are concerned about turbulence.

[Anonymous]

It is very unsafe to fly with him in your lap. It is not recommended by the FAA. Do some research before purchasing tix.

[Anonymous]

It's safer in a carseat, but flying with the baby in your lap is still lots safer than (say) driving with your baby in a carseat. Personally, I didn't buy a seat at that age, but I am sure you have lots of responses indicating that such a decision makes me a bad parent.

[Anonymous]

OP, there is always debate on this topic on DCUM. In an accident or turbulence, it's very dangerous to have an infant on your lap. However, the chances of that happening are low. So you'll have to make your own decision and part of it is how well your child does in a carseat, and how long the flight is. You won't know that until you have experience with him/her. I found the risk unacceptable and always bought a ticket and brought the carseat. Safer plus it allowed better rest/comfort for DS.

[Anonymous]

I personally would NOT fly with my child on my lap. My child is squirmy and screams when not comfy etc... It was in my best interest to have her in her carseat secured on an airplane seat (for my sanity and for the sanity of the passengers around me). I was never comfortable just holding my children on my lap for 2+ hours. I also get airsick. I didn't want to vomit on my child. I have flown several times with my children and they have always had their own seats and we have used carseats for them. The last time we flew was the first time neither child used a carseat (but they are older now).

[Anonymous]

I used the ERGO while flying with my 5 months old - 9 hours trip.

[Anonymous]

I flew with my 7 month old on my lap 2 weeks ago. It was fine. I know there are safety risks, but I felt comfortable with it. For me it was a short flight (under 2 hours) and I needed to nurse on take off and landing anyway for DS's ears (the pediatrician recommended that). He doesn't take a pacifier. Most people will probably tell you that you're a horrible person putting your child at risk so that you don't have to pay for an extra ticket. Just know that a lot of us do it anyway and are comfortable with the risks. I've never found many people IRL or on other websites that are so adamant as people on this board that you MUST buy a seat for your baby. Maybe because most people on here have plenty of money to afford an extra ticket?

I'd just do some research on your own and not get too bogged down in everyone's replies here!

[Anonymous]

Wearing the baby for take off and landing isn't usually permitted. I was always asked to take DC out for some regulation reason. Maybe you were overlooked Ergo poster? Nine hours with someone strapped to you sounds like of miserable and sweaty, I am a huge baby wearing fan but bought a seat and the FAA approved carseat every time. Also guarantees that you have it upon landing rather than it getting routed to another flight. Safe travels, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, there is always debate on this topic on DCUM. In an accident or turbulence, it's very dangerous to have an infant on your lap. However, the chances of that happening are low. So you'll have to make your own decision and part of it is how well your child does in a carseat, and how long the flight is. You won't know that until you have experience with him/her. I found the risk unacceptable and always bought a ticket and brought the carseat. Safer plus it allowed better rest/comfort for DS.

Ditto to this post. And will add that we also have always bought a seat (two kids now) for our own comfort...I'm just not interested in holding a squirming child the whole time while trapped on an airplane. It also gives you extra space vs. holding a squirming child next to a stranger who may or may not be kid-friendly. But I get that not everyone sees a need to buy a seat, or can afford it. I think you have to decide what you are most comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

How long is your flight? The only time I traveled with my son as a lap baby he was 3.5 months, and my back was killing me by the end of the approx. 4 hour flight.
I think it's just more comfortable to have them in their carseat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wearing the baby for take off and landing isn't usually permitted. I was always asked to take DC out for some regulation reason. Maybe you were overlooked Ergo poster? Nine hours with someone strapped to you sounds like of miserable and sweaty, I am a huge baby wearing fan but bought a seat and the FAA approved carseat every time. Also guarantees that you have it upon landing rather than it getting routed to another flight. Safe travels, OP.

Probably since I was fully expecting they request me to take it off during take off and landing but they didn't - not even a single time - 5 flights total in this trip (US Airways)

[Anonymous]

We've always bought a seat for our DS, but in my experience flying, most people don't. Both from what I've actually seen on the plane, and in the comments I get from other people (e.g., when boarding a full flight with DS in a seat, they tell me to gate check the seat, assuming he doesn't have his own, rather than asking me if he does). I agree with other PPs that you have to determine your own comfort level.

Also, it may be helpful to note that if you do buy a seat, your DS or DD must be in it for take-off and landing (i.e., you cannot nurse him or her at that time).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We've always bought a seat for our DS, but in my experience flying, most people don't. Both from what I've actually seen on the plane, and in the comments I get from other people (e.g., when boarding a full flight with DS in a seat, they tell me to gate check the seat, assuming he doesn't have his own, rather than asking me if he does). I agree with other PPs that you have to determine your own comfort level.

Also, it may be helpful to note that if you do buy a seat, your DS or DD must be in it for take-off and landing (i.e., you cannot nurse him or her at that time).

I have not found this. I have bought my DD a seat, however, the flight attendant has always walked by and told us - she must either by held in my lap or buckled in her seat for take-off. Even though she has her own seat, she usually will sit with me for take-off and landing since this is usually when she is asking to be held. During the cruising part of the flight is when she wants her own space.

[Anonymous]

I agree with PPs that this is a decision made based on your comfort level with risk. I flew with my son on my lap at about 5 months and was fine. The trip was to Atlanta and pretty easy. At 10 months, I got him a seat for a 5 hour flight without my husband, although we were going to have him on our lap if my husband had gone with us. Now, after a little more research, I plan to buy a seat for our next flight to Atlanta. My husband is still comfortable with the risk, I'm not anymore. Also, he'll be almost 18 months and too much of a handful. Fortunately, we're in a financial position where we have the choice.

Here are the articles/sources that convinced/scared me:
http://www.ntsb.gov/alerts/SA_015.pdf

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/5/1218

There was one other one from the NTSB that I can't find anymore.

Good luck!! We all try to do the best that we can for our kids. Don't let any folks hiding behind anonymity on this board make you feel bad either way you go.