[misoutmom]

I'm asking a lot of questions but I know I have come to the right place. Do I need anything for the baby on the plane? A car seat or does she just sit in my lap? Just curious as to what the airline requires?
thanks everyone for your thoughts and expertise.
Missy

[riptune2]

We brought a car seat. Alistair was booked on as a Lap ticket but at the gate, we found out the were extra seats that we could use to keep ALL of us together. He got his own seat on both legs of the trip home. If there were no seats available, they would have just gate checked it and given it back to us once we got off the flight. No biggie.


Shannon

[JunipersMom]

We didn't bring a car seat. She rode on my lap and it wasn't an issue. Plus then we didn't have to pay for another seat. Baby's can lap sit until age two - personally I think 1 would be more realistic because I dont know many two year olds that will sit in a lap for extended times.

[menadam]

She sat in my lap and I carried with a carrier and it was like she was part of me she slept most of the time on the flights and it worked great for us.

Here is Carsyn in between flights

[kacmom1]

I did not take a car seat and I did buy Luca a seat for himself because he was over 2 (I would have done that anyway even if he was a little younger). He had room to move around and he was in my lap a lot of the trip. He loved to look out the window! The carseats are very confining and since the Guatemalan kids are not used to being confined in a carseat, I was afraid that Luca would be uncomfortable. It was such a new experience (being on a plane...with a new mom...not knowing WHAT was going on) that I think LUca felt much more comfortable snuggled up with me instead of restrained in a seat. He did have to sit on his own, buckled in the big seat, during take off and landing. No problem at all!

[kcbailey777]

I didn't bring a carseat. She did very well in my lap. I used a snugli at take off and landing for added protection.

Lisa

[foxl]

We did not. Our agency recommended against it to another couple who asked ... thing is, you are gonna have a LOT of luggage to keep track of, stroller, and so on, PLUS a kid to keep track of ... it is overwhelming as it is, without a car seat.

And most cars down there do not permit use of them, anyhow, for the short distances and brief times you are in cars, for this trip.

[Jett's Mama]

Nope... just your arms or a carrier.

[Wait4Spencer]

Most airlines don't require a car seat as long as the child is able to sit up unassisted. Depending on how wiggly your child is... you may or may not want to buy them their own seat. Spencer came home at 8 months and was on my lap. A couple weeks ago, we flew to NV, and he had his own seat. He is almost 2.

[Annee]

We bought a regular ticket for Jesse and took a carseat. It just seemed safer to us, but it turned out that he would only tolerate being in the carseat during takeoff and landing anyway. The rest of the time he was in my lap or in the baby bjorn as I walked up and down the aisle.

I note that most of the other folks on the flight with babies had lap tickets and no car seat.

[ahfdragonfly]

After 2 short flights from Albany to Orlando & back, with a 14 month old in my lap, I really recomend getting a seat for the baby! If nothing more than to give you the extra room.

Millie

[riaanne]

When i took my dd to FLorida, we brought a car seat. I went with the theory that she was used to a car seat and used to having to stay in them. It worked for the most part. But carrying it around is a pain and if I hadn't needed one in Fla, I might have rethought.

Keep in mind if you use a car seat - the car seat has to be in the window seat per airline regulations it cannot be in the middle

Can't decide what we are going to do going to Guat. with a baby not used to being a seat or me and dh.

If you decide to take a car seat and are worried about juggling luggage and child I just saw a really cool backpack carrier for it in the one step ahead catalogue (no idea how it is - do not own it)

[FamilyofFour]

I've traveled quite a bit with my daughter (3 years now) and we do get her own seat, but do not take the car seat. She usually ends up falling asleep in my arms not long after takeoff and then we lay her down on the seat between my DH and me (with a blanket on the seat first, I'm never comfortable with the cleanliness of the airplane seats). We bring two small blankets and her little pillow and that makes it easier for her to fall asleep. we loosen the seatbelt a little and make sure it is strapped around her, just in case of turbulence.


If it doesn't look like it's going to be a full flight, you can just get her a lap ticket while you and your spouse have the isle/window seats. More than likely, no one will want to sit in that middle seat, so you will get to use it for free. in the unfortunate event that the plane is full, you can offer the person in the middle seat your isle or window seat so you can sit together with your spouse, though the baby will have to stay on your lap for the entire flight.

_______________
Tracie

[cerca]

When we travel with our bio kids (4-7 times a year) we always buy seats and bring car seats until they were in boosters. The nice part about the extra seat is the extra room you have. It is hard if you are in a 3 person row on a sold out flight with another person (who does not have kids) next to you. Believe me it is a long flight when someone next to you is grumpy and whinning (and I'm not talking about the baby!!)

[LRA]

Sometimes you can request the bulk head seats, the first row after 1st class. If you are lucky enough to get them you will have a little more leg room. We traveled with dd when she was little and she could even sit on a blanket there and play with a few toys. Otherwise she was asleep in my lap.

LRA