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Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Traveling with lap child while pregnant?
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Anonymous
No time to do more research but the FAA and Dr. Spock are enough for me. http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ http://www.drspock.com/article/0,1510,5998,00.html |
Anonymous
I don't think anyone is arguing that carseats/harnesses with children in their own seats is the "safest" method of flying with infants/toddlers. But these articles do not provide actual evidence as to the risk of NOT having a separate seat. A quick search provided the following stats: http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/08/05/planes.turbulence.danger/index.html Since 1980, three people have been killed in turbulence-related accidents, according to the administration. At least two of those deaths involved passengers who reportedly were not wearing seat belts while the seat-belt sign was on. There have been 234 turbulence-related accidents since 1980, and 114 passengers were seriously injured in those accidents, the FAA reported. ...No passengers were reported seriously injured in turbulence incidents in 2008. |
Anonymous
| oh so the issue is only if people know you're pregnant? what a responsible mother! |
Anonymous
now, you super smart and responsible mother, can you show me what's more common? cars driving through living rooms or turbulences strong enough to hurt a child's cranium?! |
Anonymous
Umm, that actually is what I'm arguing--that carseats/harnesses with children in their own seats is the "safest" method of flying with infants/toddlers. For my kids and any kids under my care, I would always choose the safest if it is practicable, and in this case the only difference is money. I wouldn't compromise to save a few bucks, and if that means I can't afford the trip, so be it. Note that I said "if it is practicable"--I'm not advocating carseats in the living room or a protective bubble for all children under 5. But it is more than practicable in most circumstances to buy another airplane seat, leave the kid home, or simply skip the trip. I know I will get a million responses from people who had to make it to grandma's deathbed and simply couldn't afford another seat, but I do think 99% of airplane travel with babies is discretionary, and all of those people who "can't afford" another seat are probably spending plenty of money on other discretionary items. For me, safety is not discretionary. |
Anonymous
LOL - I just love getting the holier than thous up in arms ...  .
If someone would like to explain to the grandparents in Denver that Christmas travel is "optional", and due to the airlines highly inflated fares around the holidays, we can't afford to buy a seat for our 18 month old (I checked, the "affordable" infant fare was all of $10 less than a regular fare - which is at least twice as much for travel that week than the rest of the year), please do so. Otherwise, keep your judgements to yourself and if you can't be helpful, don't post. I mean really, haven't you ever heard of "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"? |
Anonymous
| It may not be possible over the holidays, but I've found that the great thing about flying solo with a lap child is that the ticket agents, flight attendants, and fellow passengers go out of their way to try and place you next to an empty seat. I've flown alone with my almost two-year-old daughter on over 20 flights, and unless the entire plane is full, they've moved us so we had an extra seat. Also, rather than bring the carseat on board, the harness that a PP referred to is the CARES safety harness. You can find it at: http://www.kidsflysafe.com/ |
Anonymous
| this mothers sound just like the moms that say that there's nothing wrong with running here or there with the baby in the car and one day the baby is forgotten there to die in the heat. |
Anonymous
Wow, such vitriol! What does this have to do with the question posed by OP? |
Anonymous
Ladies, ignore the safety trolls. They should get back to tending their children's bubbles, anyway. |
Anonymous
Oh yeah... like let's forget about strapping the kid to the stroller or why wear the wrist leash/use the breaks if you're holding the stroller right? I would rather be safe, thanks. [youtube] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CswJlbWSD3I[/youtube] |
Anonymous
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This thread might have already hit the skids, but in case you are still here looking for real advice:
The only thing I'd be worried about that's different when you are pregnant is how much it hurts when the toddler steps on your stomach. If your toddler is anything like my DD was at 18 months, on the flight she tries to use me as a jungle gym. I don't handle that very well now that I'm pregnant. |
Anonymous
| Why don't you ask your OB what she thinks? |
Anonymous
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OP Here - to those who posted reasonable, helpful responses - Thank You.
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Anonymous
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Someone asked for statistics - although they give you a big picture as to general safety - all you need to know is 1 and it makes it all different.
The only passenger who died in the plane crash mentioned in the link below was a lap child: http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/19488629.html It is not stated in the article that she was on her mother's lap - but I am aware that she was. |