Lap child on air plane

seb3244 · Sep 27, 2013

I am thinking about visiting my friend in Seattle. Dd is 15 months and can ride free on my lap. And due to budget I would really like it if she could go free. Question can I still bring her car seat to the gate so it doesn't get all clanked around being with the baggage?
Does anyone know?
Thanks

1mommy · Sep 27, 2013

It is recommended that you buy your child a seat... however I know in real life that isn't always so if you have to fly with your DD as a lap baby I would suggest bringing her car seat to the gate in case their are free seats, then you can secure her seat next to you for free, if not then they will gate check it, which means less chance of it being mishandled or lost. Please inspect your car seat carefully for damage after you get it back, and be prepared for a worst case scenario which is whoever you are visiting will have to pick up a car seat because the airline lost or damaged your seat. Please post if you would like suggestions on an easy to fly with seat or ways to handle bringing the seat your luggage and your dd.

Baylor · Sep 27, 2013

I agree that it is better to get her a seat and install the car seat so she is safe in the plane and most likely will be happier.
Checking car seats is just a crap shoot. It can be thrown around and abuse, smashed or even lost as we saw recently in another post and then when you get to where you are, no car seat.

In the event of turbulence she is safest in a seat, You may not be able to hold her while getting bounced around and she could be injured.

I would find the money for the seat for her.

gigi · Sep 27, 2013

In turbulence she could also become a projectile and both be injured and injure someone else.

My recommendation is to buy her a seat or don't go. We fly WAAAY less than we used to now that we have kids

redsox_baby · Sep 28, 2013

gigi said:
In turbulence she could also become a projectile and both be injured and injure someone else.

My recommendation is to buy her a seat or don't go. We fly WAAAY less than we used to now that we have kids

I agree wholeheartedly. A trip that can't be afforded safely for all is a trip that does not need to be taken. Perhaps in an emergency (e.g., someone is dying) I'd feel differently, but not to save a few bucks on a vacation.

Athena · Oct 2, 2013

gigi said:
In turbulence she could also become a projectile and both be injured and injure someone else.

Yes, this! Lap babies are a danger to other passengers, including other properly secured children.

rachelandtyke · Oct 2, 2013

I had to turn down going to a dear friend's wedding recently because we couldn't afford the cost of 2 plane tickets for me and DD2 even though she is young enough to fly in my lap. With the recent hard and survivable crash landings that have been in the news, I can't imagine holding my precious cargo in my lap. I know there is no way I could hold onto her in those circumstances, and she would most likely be seriously injured if she went flying.

Lap child on air plane

seb3244

New member

1mommy

New member

Baylor

New member

gigi

New member

redsox_baby

New member

Athena

Well-known member

rachelandtyke

Well-known member

Car-Seat.Org Facebook Group

Sponsors

Forum statistics