traveling with a LO under 1 year old.

m&m2006 · June 2011

those of you that have flown with your infants...did you carry them on your lap, or did you buy an infant seat? if you carried on your lap, was it comfortable for you and LO?

thanks ladies!

nicolita14w · June 2011

We traveled with my first DS when he was 5 months old and 10 months old. Both times, we held him on our laps and it was no problem at all.

We traveled again with both kids when DS#1 was 20 months and DS#2 was 8 weeks. That time, we got DS#1 a seat-- he was walking at that point and it was much easier to have him contained.

howleyshell · June 2011

Until they were walking laps were fine for us with both!

GL.

AlissaCell701 · June 2011

When he was an infant we lap seated him..he slept most of the time so it was fine. We did 3hrs Fort Lauderdale to Boston. We just traveled again w him he is now 10mnths and we bought him a seat. Best 120$ we spent! We brought his convertible seat and he just sat there and watched tv (jet blue!) most of the time.. It was great! He is just to sqirmy amd won't sit still otherwise..I also gate checked stroller! And we tried to time the flights around his naps.. He did sleep for a bit both ways...

dusk42 · June 2011

We've always gotten her a seat - we brought her on in the infant bucket carseat for about the first year, then switched to the convertible (RFing). She's always been a good sleeper in her carseat, so it helped a lot to have her in that familiar environment on the plane. Now that she is mobile, she understands that being strapped into the seat is not negotiable, so it's not really a fight to keep her in her seat (and she generally sleeps part of the way). We strap the carseat onto the stroller (Peg Aria), she rides in the carseat, and we gate check the stroller. Super easy.

Temp848906437505510 · June 2011

We flew Baltimore to CA and then CA back to NJ when Alana was 8 months. We didn't buy her a seat and it was MISERABLE!! She is not the kind of baby that will just fall asleep in your arms and she was tired and screamed so much of the flight. I requested the last row so that I would be able to stand in the galley with her. On one flight they let me do it, and I literally walked back and forth and rocked her for hours. She would finally fall asleep, I'd sit down, and someone would walk by and wake her up. On the flight home, the flight attendants wouldn't let me stand in the galley with her. Honestly, it was probably the longest 6 hours of my life. She screamed for 90% of the flight. She was tired and wanted nothing to do with the TV. I went through so many snacks it was ridiculous.

I know that some people have an easy time. It was torture for us and I would never do it again without buying a seat. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be now that all she wants to do is be up and running around. I shiver at the thought of it.

Sara Scissors · June 2011

We traveled with DS when he was 6 1/2 months old from St. Louis to Vegas. We did not buy a seat, he just sat on our lap. On the flight there we sat in a 3 seat row and no one sat with us (guess they were scared!) so DS technically had a seat for free. On the return flight he literally had to be on our lap the whole time. Being so young and unable to really move around too, too much made it much easier than I worked it up in my head to be beforehand. He either slept or flirted with the ladies around us. It was slightly uncomfortable but I think sitting in an airplane for 3+ hours is anyway!

And in the end we were happy we did not spend hundreds of dollars for him to have his own personal seat.

LVBlvd · June 2011

We have traveled a lot with ours, and never got them a ticket. When Paige was a baby, we would wear her in the wrap and it was super easy. With the twins, we took the double snap n go and were each responsible for a baby. (DD stayed home that trip).

It has always been very easy having lap children.

Ali212 · June 2011

We've flown a lot with both of our kids from when they were babies (DD1 first flew at 8 weeks and DD2 first flew at 3.5 weeks). With the exception of my 2nd daughter's first flight (at 3.5 weeks and it was only 45 minutes), I always get a seat for mine. For me, I just prefer the convenience and knowing I have the carseat if needed to put them down. That said, the 45 minute flight with my 3.5 week old in my lap was super easy. I had my toddler with me as well (obviously she had a seat) but my 3.5 week old just slept and nursed.

CandT · June 2011

We flew with DD when she was 11 months. We held her on our laps and the flights were completey booked. The 4 hour flight was a little long for her. Her naps got messed up due to delays and she was awake, bored, and fidgety the whole time. We did fine and she just moved between DH and I a lot and we walked around with her a lot too. I'm not sure that she would have stayed in her own seat, but I did feel bad for the people that got stuck next to us.

prazenjc · June 2011

we travelled w/LO at both 9 months and almost 14 months. we carried him on our laps both times. we were comfortable, b/c he slept and i know how to position him for long periods of times like that. he was a champ!

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