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Air Travel w/DD - To buy a seat or not?

hsbbridehsbbride
in D.C. Area Babies

Hi Ladies,

We are headed to Steamboat Springs in Feb. DD will be 9months old and we are debating whether or not to buy a seat for her.  Any thoughts or experiences to share?

TIA!

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Re: Air Travel w/DD - To buy a seat or not?

  • RomeRomance06RomeRomance06
    How long is the flight and do you have to switch planes?
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  • WinesNot WhinesWinesNot Whines

    I think it depends on how squirmy and active your baby is. Can you imagine her letting you hold her in your lap for the entire flight? Another bonus of buying a seat is you get the entire row to yourselves (3 seats across).

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  • ch ch ch chiach ch ch chia

    Are you renting a car once you get there?  How much luggage and stuff will you be carrying through the airport?

    Personally, I'd rather spend the extra several hundred dollars on something else, and tough it out through the flight (which i presume is only a few hours)... but, that's just me.  :)

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  • DCtoLowcountryDCtoLowcountry
    We took a 2hr direct flight with DS when he was 10 months old and we did not buy a seat. With two parents, we just shifted him from lap to lap. On the return flight we lucked out with a seat available in our row and DS was unhappy being in the carseat. I'm with chia - the only time I'd fly with a lap child is under one year, so I say take advantage of it.
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  • kafunderkafunder member

    If your LO likes sitting/sleeping on your lap, you could do that. If, however, your LO is anything like my kids and won't sit still on your lap, then buy the seat. We've flown twice with the LOs and bought both of them their own seats, and it's been great. It makes the flight so easy.

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  • BabyHatchBabyHatch
    Depending on the size of the plane they might have bulkhead bassinets. We flew internationally with DD the first time when she was 14 months and didn't purchase her a seat but the bulkhead bassinet made it manageable.
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  • Heather6907Heather6907
    We flew to Boston with our 10-month old over the summer, as a lap child.  It was a pretty short flight and he did fine.  I am glad we did not pay for a seat.  We just passed him back and forth and had lots of snacks and toys. 
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  • WinesNot WhinesWinesNot Whines
    imageBabyHatch:
    Depending on the size of the plane they might have bulkhead bassinets. We flew internationally with DD the first time when she was 14 months and didn't purchase her a seat but the bulkhead bassinet made it manageable.


    I'm pretty sure these are only available for international flights.
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  • AgrippaRidesAgainAgrippaRidesAgain member
    There is no way that either of my kids would have been happy as a lap baby on a flight at 9 months old. Happy lap babies for us were only feasible at under 5 months. Do we just have non-cuddly kids?
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  • RomeRomance06RomeRomance06
    We're flying to Boston for Thanksgiving and we didn't buy a seat for DD. She's pretty good in our laps and it's such a short flight it's not worth it at this stage. But, we're going to be flying out to Oregon next spring and I already know we'll buy a seat for her for that flight. We'll definitely do direct as well so we don't have to lug the car seat on and off the plane twice. 
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  • Hey JellisyHey Jellisy
    In my experience, the children preferred sitting on laps.  DD at 2.5 this summer spent both flights on either DH or my lap, even though she had a seat.  Ditto for DS who at 7 months could've used DDs seat but preferred being held.  Yes, they were a bit squirmy but we were going to have to entertain them the whole time anyway so it didn't matter.  I would rather have the money to spend on something else.
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    From December 29, 2011
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  • kafunderkafunder member

    imageAgrippaRidesAgain:
    There is no way that either of my kids would have been happy as a lap baby on a flight at 9 months old. Happy lap babies for us were only feasible at under 5 months. Do we just have non-cuddly kids?

    If it makes you feel better, we also have non-cuddly kids. They love to give hugs and kisses but hate cuddling or sitting on our laps for more than 10 seconds. They have always been this way. On the plane, they were extremely happy in their own seats with their own toys and snacks.

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  • hsbbridehsbbride

    imageRomeRomance06:
    How long is the flight and do you have to switch planes?

    Flight is around 6 hours total including layover. Our layover options vary - it looks like we can go through Chicago, Dallas or Denver.  We don't have the option of flying direct.

    DD is ok on laps for the most part, her bigger issue is that she needs a change of scenary about every 30mins to an hour. So in theory we could pass her back and forth, walk her up and down the aisle a few times, put her in an empty seat while one of us goes to the bathroom, etc.

     As for luggage, we plan on just having a diaper bag and a small carry on for DH and I with us.  We are shipping our skies ahead of time and will pack most of our clothes in our ski bag.

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  • WinesNot WhinesWinesNot Whines
    That's a long flight. I wouldn't want to have to hold a baby on my lap for that long, but that's just me. The other thing I'd consider is whether she naps better being held or in her carseat.
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  • ArtslvrArtslvr
    I've flown with all three of my kids by myself (not at the same time - me and each of them at different baby/toddler stages) and I've always flown them on my lap.  I think if you only have one kid and you have your DH with you to give kid options/change of scenery it wouldn't be too bad. Only one out of three of my kids is cuddly.
    Wife, Musician, Fed, WW-er, and Mom of three little kids - not necessarily in that order.
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  • slukd79slukd79 member

    My DD has been on over 10 flights-- your welcome airline industry-- and always been a lap child. She is 21 months now and we always make it work. Sometimes are harder than others, but overall we never had any meltdowns or screaming issues.

    I admit that I am cheap, but it usually works out. The flight attendants always offer us the open seat if there is one. And usually there is one. :)

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