Question about flying with baby

murph04 · June 2009

DH, DS and I have to fly up north next month. DS will be 3 months old. The flight is non-stop, two hours from taxi and takeoff to landing.

I think it is best to fly with DS as "infant in arms." DH thinks we should buy him a seat because he thinks it is safer. My reasoning is that I'm going to want to feed him during takeoff and landing to help with his ears, and he's probably going to want to be held most of the time anyway, so why buy a seat?

Experienced Moms, what say you?

Thanks!

ECUGirl2004 · June 2009

I'm flying with Nate next month and we did not buy him a seat. I'm planning on me or DH holding him the whole time. I agree that you will want to feed him and I'm pretty sure if you buy a seat you cannot hold him during takeoff and landing. I think if I had flown with Nate that young, I definitely would have wanted to hold him the whole time, so I would not have bought a seat for him.

Evans · June 2009

At 3 months, definitely Infant in Arms. ?He will be happy to cuddle and you will be feeding him or soothing him most of the time anyway.

cate1119 · June 2009

We just flew up north with Ella (about a 2 hour flight too) and we held her in our arms. It was just easiest so I could nurse her and also comfort her when she got fussy (which wasn't too much thank goodness).

If you do hold her and want to nurse I would suggest getting a window seat so you have more privacy and something to butt up against. Also - grab a pillow as well.

flamencogal · June 2009

definitely no separate seat. My guess is that if you bought him a seat, you'd be doing the whole car seat thing and he'd be screaming during take off and landing b/c you wouldn't really be able to comfort him or let him nurse to help with his ears. Also when they aren't mobile yet, they are usually fairly content being held. Just take lots of things to entertain him although he might end up sleeping some too. Does your DH think it's "safer" in case of a crash?--probably true but the likelihood of that being a factor...?

GL!

murph04 · June 2009

flamencogal:
Does your DH think it's "safer" in case of a crash?--probably true but the likelihood of that being a factor...?
GL!

I honestly don't know WTH he is thinking.

I'm just going to book it for Infant in Arms.

ETA: Thank you all for your thoughts and advice!

raceyrae · June 2009

At 3 mo, I'd definitely just hold him in your lap, save the money. The 3 flights we've taken (including last weekend) we did not get Natalie her own seat and it worked out well.

raceyrae · June 2009

ECUGirl2004:
I'm pretty sure if you buy a seat you cannot hold him during takeoff and landing.

I think that's the case also -- they make you use put and keep him in a car seat during take off and landing.

kateland3 · June 2009

murph04:

flamencogal:

Does your DH think it's "safer" in case of a crash?--probably true but the likelihood of that being a factor...?

GL!

I honestly don't know WTH he is thinking.

I'm just going to book it for Infant in Arms.

ETA: Thank you all for your thoughts and advice!

it IS safer to fly with an infant in his/her carseat, and not just in the event of a crash. severe turbulence has caused many infants serious injuries, and some have even become flying objects and injured others. the NTSB and the FAA both recommend flying with a child in a carseat because of the liklihood of injuries to both babies and others, however they won't mandate it because it would cause a significant decline in the number of air passengers. most people will just drive, rather than pay for the extra ticket, and driving is less safe than flying. so that's their rationale.

ALL that being said... i'm flying with henry to minnesota and florida in july. he'll be riding on my lap. i will be taking a carseat along though, and i'll either gate check it or have him in it if there are any empty seats (they usually let you do this). i'll probably fly with him as a lap infant until i have to pay full price. i've never been in turbulence severe enough to knock anything off my lap, and i fly a lot.

SpeedGlenn · June 2009

We didn't start buying Ben seats until he was about 1. At 1 he was too busy and didn't want to be held to cuddle. He wanted to look around and explore.

We flew with ben at 11 or 12 wks old and we held him in our lap and it was perfect for all the reasons mentioned. Once he got past a certain age though, I couldn't imagine flying with him in my lap. There wouldn't be enough alcohol on the plane!

murph04 · June 2009

it IS safer to fly with an infant in his/her carseat, and not just in the event of a crash. severe turbulence has caused many infants serious injuries, and some have even become flying objects and injured others. the NTSB and the FAA both recommend flying with a child in a carseat because of the liklihood of injuries to both babies and others, however they won't mandate it because it would cause a significant decline in the number of air passengers. most people will just drive, rather than pay for the extra ticket, and driving is less safe than flying. so that's their rationale.

ALL that being said... i'm flying with henry to minnesota and florida in july. he'll be riding on my lap. i will be taking a carseat along though, and i'll either gate check it or have him in it if there are any empty seats (they usually let you do this). i'll probably fly with him as a lap infant until i have to pay full price. i've never been in turbulence severe enough to knock anything off my lap, and i fly a lot.

I planned to gate check Nolan's car seat. That's good to know about the empty seats though, thanks!

I hadn't thought about the turbulence as a reason for using the car seat in the cabin, but I've also flown a lot and have never encountered turbulence bad enough to knock something off my lap either.

unc00ref · June 2009

We didn't buy Caroline a seat last month when we flew (she was 3 months)

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