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Flying with a baby/toddler

KYmama9286KYmama9286 member
in Cincinnati Babies

Speaking of going on vacations-- My parents are getting a beach house in Wild Dunes, South Carolina (near Charleston) this summer and we've always driven down but with DH's work schedule and how expensive gas has been I am debating on trying to find cheaper tickets. My question is, and I know this may be a dumb question, when you fly do you get a seat for your LO?

What about safety considerations having a child not be in a car seat? I know my sister is really big on car seat safety and always gets tickets so her kids can be strapped into their car seats for the flight? Am I a bad mom for considering just having Nicholas sit on our laps especially since he is so small? What do you normally do? If you do get a seat are children's seats the same price as adults? What do you do with the carseat, which we will need for when we are down in SC? I am such a traveling novice considering the last time DH and I flew somewhere was for our honeymoon 2.5 years ago...

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Re: Flying with a baby/toddler

  • Miller238Miller238 member
    We haven't flown with Katelyn yet, but she will be sitting in our lap on our flight to Florida in May. 
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  • teacherjessteacherjess member
    We flew with Leah to Michigan over the winter. Our situation was slightly different since she was too old to be on our laps, and we did have to pay full price for a seat of her own-- there are no lowered prices for kids to have their own seats. We brought her carseat and a little strap that allowed us to hook her carseat onto our rolling suitcases, so we rolled her through the airport strapped into her carseat, then just brought the carseat on the plane and she rode on the plane strapped into that.
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  • Traycee1242Traycee1242 member
    We have flown quite a bit with Noah.. My father is a retired pilot so we fly on buddy passes : )
    You do not need to buy a seat for him until he is 2 or 3 (different airlines have different rules on ages..) He is considered a "lap child" where he will just sit in your lap. As far as safety is concerned... There is no need for a carseats. Bluntly speaking... A carseat is not going to save his life in an accident and actually might be harder to get him out quickly in case of emergency. It is so very rare.. my Dad always tells me that more people die getting kicked in the head by a donkey every year than in plane crashes. True statistic : )
    We bought a travel bag for DS carseat and checked it ... They throw them onto the belt, in the cargo... So you want it protected. They are like $20 at BRU. Great investment : )
    DS does great on planes, so much to see and we always bring a DVD player and some toys... So much easier than driving!!
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  • robnnoelrobnnoel

    My brother lives in D.C. and I have flown there with DS about 4 or 5 times.  I have always had him on my lap and it has worked out great. There is no need for a carseat on the plane, that would be more trouble than its worth, you will have enough other things to be carrying.  Buy the carseat travel bag and check it in.  Sometimes the seat next to me is empty or I move to an area where there is an empty seat for him and sometimes seatbelt him in, if he will stay.  I also make sure to take the DVD player for entertainment and his favorite movies.  Good luck!

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  • MrsMandaKMrsMandaK
    We flew with our girls last summer and only got a ticket for Lily since she is 4. There happened to be enough room on our flight down to FL, so we were able to bring Charlotte's carseat onboard and sit her in her own seat. Honestly, that was nicer than having her on my lap on the way home. I think it just gave her a sense of familiarity and she was calmer than on the trip home. If he does sit in your lap, though, I'd advise gate checking the carseat rather than checking it as regular baggage. I'd worry about it getting damaged and then you're SOL once you get to your destination.
    ~Amanda
    Mom to Lily Gayle 4.25.06 Charlotte Kathleen 3.27.09 Samuel Thomas ~8.4.12~
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  • doodlebug914doodlebug914 member
    Ethan was over 2 when we flew last March so we had to buy a seat for him.  On the way to Florida, we took his carseat on board and strapped him in.  On the way home, we gate checked the carseat and he sat in the seat.  I would recommend not buying a ticket for him, and gate checking your carseat (checking it directly at the gate vs when you check your baggage.  You can also gate check your stroller.  HTH!)
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  • lovelybirdlovelybird
    I've flown 5 or 6 times with my LO- including a 17 hour haul to South Africa. For what it's worth, I've never bought a seat, and on 80% of the flights, there was one available for the car seat so I always bring mine to the gate with me.
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