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Flying with a toddler

mbenmben
in Toddlers: 12 - 24 Months
We will be taking a 2 1/2 hr flight with our 16 month old son.  We cant decide if it is really necessary to buy a seat for him or try just holding him in our lap.  Also, if we buy a seat for him, do we have to bring a car seat for him or can we hold him for take off/landing?
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Re: Flying with a toddler

  • kelbriankelbrian

    Buy him a seat, unless he is a very quiet little boy who is content to sit in your lap for so long. My DD is certainly not like that.

    I believe that you can hold him during take off and landing, but I would check with the airline. Also, will he sit still in his seat without a car seat during the flight? My DD would have been all over the place. She instead went into her car seat and slept during both flights.  

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  • ElizCElizC
    I just flew with a very active 14 month old.  We didn't get him a seat and he did just fine.  We place him in between us, when he wasn't in out laps.  We had a 3.5 hour flight and 2 other flights that where 2 hours each.  I wouldn't waste the money on getting his own seat.
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  • gretchenhgretchenh member

    I'd also suggest buying a seat, unless maybe flying first class or Jet Blue with decent leg room.  We've bought DS seats the last two roundtrips we did and did not regret it one bit.  Last week we were patting ourselves on the back and so thankful we had done it as the flights were completely full.  DS would've never stayed still for the flight, instead he was snuggled up in his car seat sleeping the flight away.

    I don't know if you have to hold him for takeoff if you buy a seat, I'd lean towards no.  Will you need the seat when you get there?  You could always gets a HUGS harness if you want to make it a 5 point harness.  We are thinking of getting one of those, at least for our trips to Florida to visit my parents where we have a spare car seat.

     

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  • eris1995eris1995 member
    I'm flying alone with DS in a month and will be buying him a seat.  He's very active and I don't think he'd sit on my lap very well.  It's also a 2 1/2 hour flight.
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  • andrea922andrea922 member
    imagegretchenh:

    I'd also suggest buying a seat, unless maybe flying first class or Jet Blue with decent leg room.  We've bought DS seats the last two roundtrips we did and did not regret it one bit.  Last week we were patting ourselves on the back and so thankful we had done it as the flights were completely full.  DS would've never stayed still for the flight, instead he was snuggled up in his car seat sleeping the flight away.

    I don't know if you have to hold him for takeoff if you buy a seat, I'd lean towards no.  Will you need the seat when you get there?  You could always gets a HUGS harness if you want to make it a 5 point harness.  We are thinking of getting one of those, at least for our trips to Florida to visit my parents where we have a spare car seat.

     

    I think you mean a CARES harness. 

    I would get a seat. We fly with ds all the time and after about 14 months it became a nightmare to hold him.

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  • t-lou rosalest-lou rosales member

    I have yet to buy A a seat when we fly. And we've been to mexcio (4hrs) 2 times. And Seattle (6hrs) 3 times. My son is very very active and curious about everything. It is difficult but totally managable. I guess if you have the extra money to buy him a seat why not...more room the better. Also I think we've been stuck once without a seat for him..cause the flight was totally full. Otherwise we've been lucky.

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  • Shell24Shell24 member

    We've flown with my DD plenty of times, but just last month I flew alone with my DD and I did not buy her a seat.  I banked on the fact that it was a Monday and the flight wouldn't be full, but I was wrong.  My DD is a super active toddler and she did GREAT just sitting on my lap, playing.  A few times she slid down and stood between my legs and played, but for the most part she slept the whole way, and while she sat on my lap, I pulled the tray down and she colored and played with a magnetic book. 

    If he has his own seat, he needs to be in a restraint.  You can still hold him for takeoff and landing though.

    If there are 2 of you, I especially don't think it's necessary to buy him a seat...I'd personally rather save the money, but that's just me  :)

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