Babble

Have any of you flown with a baby before? I'm taking my daughter on a flight in a couple months, and I'm undecided as to how to do it...should I buy the extra ticket and put her in her car seat? Or should I keep her in my lap/sling? She'll be 6 months old then. It's a short flight (just over an hour), so I don't think I'd be uncomfortable with her in my lap (she's not such a fan of staying in her carseat anyway).

The FAA and the AAP both say it's safer to have her in her own seat with a car seat, but it's not required, and it obviously costs more to buy two seats (even if the 2nd one is discounted). It seems to me that if it were VASTLY safer, it would be required. It might be nice to have the extra *space* of two seats (since my husband won't be along on the trip). If/when I whip out the boob, i might not want to have to jostle for the armrest with a stranger.

And if I do take her in my lap, what do I do with the car seat? Check it? That makes me worry that it'll get lost and I'll have no way to get her out of the airport once we land!

Oh, and I won't even start on worrying about bringing frozen breastmilk on the plane so she can eat when I'm at this conference or whether I'm going to give her benedryl or something to keep her calm on the flight. Ugh. What. Am. I. Thinking?

Anyway, experienced flyers con bebe,  what do you advise?
 

We've done both - I have to say that when my kids were younger than 2 they far preferred to sit on my lap (especially when they were nursing.) For our 5 hour flights to SF, my son stayed firmly latched on, under a blanket, alternately snoozing and nursing for the majority of the flight. Even when we had the extra seat and car seat, he refused to sit there, much perfering my lap. Your baby is little, save the extra money! You can check your car seat at the gate or with your luggage.

 

I think will go ahead and just buy the one ticket--when I told my husband I was considering buying the extra seat, he looked at me like i'm an idiot. And I think my experience would have been much like yours--that she wouldn't sit in her carseat anyway. Thanks!

 

Since your husband isn't going to be along, I'd say get the extra seat.  Unless you are an expert juggler, having that extra seat (with the carseat) to put the little one in while you are fumbling with clothing, diaper, pack-o-peanuts, etc. is priceless.  Plus, you get some separation from your potentially grumpy fellow travelers.  A baby on the lap in a crowded plane seat is a handful.  Putting her next to you gives you both the space to smile at each other and look eye-to-eye without being literally nose-to-nose.  Sure, it's more money, but the added comfort and lowered stress level is worth it, even for a 1+ hour flight.

Jah

I took a 9 hour plane ride with my 6 m old.She was with me,when breastfeed I cover myself with thin blanket ...and told person next to me that I have a baby who is breastfed.(On the way there it was a father of four with 5 m. old baby at home,on the way back a older woman who was acting like a nice grandmother...)

Just do what you comfortable with...GOOD LUCK 

I always took the car seat with me. I was nice to have the option to put her down if I wanted to. And I didn't have to worry if there would be a car seat available when we got wherever.

 BTW, nurse during take-off and landing. It helps ease the pressure on their ears.

Ava's first flight was an 8 hour transatlantic trip to Dublin.   She was 4 months old and did not have her own seat...and it was fine.  She nursed & slept on my lap (actually, I wore her in a moby to keep my hands free - highly reccommend that) through all of the 'way there' trip and most of the one on the way home.  For a one hour-ish flight, I can't imagine purchasing a ticket for anyone who didn't require one. (Of course, I say that as the mama of a very calm kid and as someone who could deal with anything for an hour to save $200!!)   Really, though, I think you and your daughter should be fine with her on your lap.  Don't sweat the benadryl and breastmilk...she'll have plenty of strangers flirting with her on the plane and will live if you supplement with formula for a day!  Bon Voyage!

I am a believer in buying my kids their own seats. That being said since your flight is only 1 hour and you are still nursing I would not buy a seat. I would bring a seat and ask when you check in if the flight is full. If it is not they will give you a seat for free. If there is not a seat available you will just check you car seat either at the check in desk or the gate. Since you are nursing it will make the flight much easier. You should nurse the baby on take off and landing to help ease the pressure on her ears. Since the flight is only 1 hour long she will be in your lap most of the time already. Therefore I would think that after burping, etc she might only be in her seat for atmost  1/2 hour. That's my opinion. I have done both and am flying friday with 2 kids who each have their own seat. 5 hour flight with a 12 month old and 2 1/2 year old.