Should I Buy a Airplane Seat for My 17 Month Old??

He just might go to sleep or you will luck up and get an empty seat. Lie him across the both of you while he sleeps, you can get comfortable at the room when you land!

My daughter traveled by air several times before age 2, and each time I did buy a seat for her, and had her in an airplane approved car seat (which I needed at my destination anyway). This way, she was contained in a familiar "container" and could adapt to the plane just like being on a long car ride. I personally would not opt for a lap unless she was truly itty bitty, and even then, I would still want her strapped in - just in case. Also, I could tilt her car seat in the airplane seat - better for napping. And, better yet, if you have a car seat that pops onto a stroller, then if you have a sleeping child, its even easier.

My son is now 9 but I always bought him a ticket so he had his own seat. I usually traveled with him by myself and wanted the extra seat. It used to be if the child was under 2 yrs old you could buy the ticket for 1/2 price, so I thought it was worth it.

I'm sorry if this was already mentioned, but you could by him a safety lap harness if you want to be hands free while he's in your lap. Baby B'air makes a lap vest that is FAA-tested. This is a link for more information: http://childtogo.com/catalog.htm?item=42.

I've traveled overseas with my under 2 year old son by myself. We entertained ourselves with books and the DVD player, as well as slept a lot. I find the best thing for me was to travel as light as possible. So if that meant not having to lug a carseat through the airport, I was a happy camper. Because you have your husband to help you it will be better. Even now that my son is 5, he likes laying on me when we fly that he might as well be in my lap.

I just had this decision myself and chose to buy a seat for my son that will be 18 months when we actually travel. Mostly, b/c he is already the size of most 2 yr olds and I can't imaging him or myself being comfortable and b/c he will need his carseat at our destination.

I did some research and if you are flying Southwest Airlines they have a baby fare (if you buy tickets in advance, likely the regular fair is A LOT cheaper than their baby rate). So, I called about this baby rate and basically he recommended buying the extra seat for my son. If on travel day, there are available seats, I can get a refund voucher for his ticket...and then would have a year to use the voucher. That way, you're covered either way. Good luck!

i see you've already chose to buy a seat. i saw that some people suggested to check the carseat. if you do decide not to use it, i would recommend gate checking it. while i know it would be a pain to carry it through the airport (i've had my 7 mo old, diaper bag,stroller and carseat by myself) if the airline would happen to lose it, you'd really be in trouble when you get to where you are going.

my suggestion would be to buy 2 seats . . . a window and an Aisle, middle-rear of the plane (assuming you are flying with assigned seating). The chances that you will end up with an open seat between you are pretty decent unless you are flying on the typical business flights (early morning, mid-late afternoon, mid-week).

Worst case scenerio, the flight is full and you have to ask the person in the middle to take the aisle or window and one of you scoots over.

If you really think about it, do you think your son would sit in his car seat for the whole 4 hour flight without screaming his head off? At least on a lap (or two) there can be variety (snack, toys, bouncing, etc).

Save the money for when he is too old/too big to fly for free.

I flew from Austin to Raleigh-Durham with an 18 month old boy in my lap. He slept for an hour of the 4 hour flight. I could not afford the extra seat. Other than some major stiffness in the southern regions of my body, it was ok. You and Hubby can switch off. Be sure to bring activities. My sons loved their portable DVD player on the plane w/headphones. Put in her favorite movie. It can be done.

I would buy the seat. I have 2 children now 11 and 8 and we always bought them the seat. They slept in their car seats on the plane and we would keep them in the seat even if awake. We have many friends who work as pilots and they advised us that if we hit turbulance that was bad it could be difficult to hold the child. You can't hold them as safely as they would be in a car seat. The cost of the seat is well worth the safety and your comfort for that long of a flight.

We flew a similar distance with our then-13 month old, and again when she was 26 months. Both times, we bought her a seat. It's hard for little knees to be still for that long (heck, MY legs start to hurt if I sit still too long).
With his own seat, there will be empty space in front of it for him to stand in for a few minutes. Our daughter was also used to falling alseep in her car seat, so she napped on the plane just as she would in the car. We didn't use Benadryl, either: we got an early flight. She was a bit sleep-deprived from having been gotten up so much before her usual wake-up time, that the white noise on the plane just lulled her to sleep. Take your son's favorite bedtime comfort object with you on the plane.

Also, take two new toys he's never seen before, one for going and one for coming.

Have a good trip!

I just traveled with my 13 month old on a 3 hour plane ride along with my 6 year old son and she was fine. My daughter is like you son where she will not sit still for more than a minute. I would do what someone else suggested and skip nap time that is exactly what I did and my daughter slept for 2 hours. The sounds on the airplane help with sleeping. Also what you can do is check on line for the flight that you are taking and request a window and an isle seat because people don't usually buy a middle seat again that is what I did and on both my flights there and back we had the middle seat open. So good luck to you going on line and checking each flight for that day to see availability really helps.

Happy vacationing.
C.

I have not yet flown with my daughter. However, if we were going to, I would buy the seat for her with the intention of installing the car seat. Point blank: I would NEVER let her ride in the car without being buckled in... So why would I let her ride an airplane without her car seat either? Seriously, the force of turbulence required to make a 20-40 pound child fly up off your lap and slam her head into the ceiling would be minimal; and that's not taking into account the chance of any runway/landing accidents, etc.

that's a hard call. my last flight was christmas when my daughter was 14 months old and i was flying w/o my husband. i would see how full the flight is when you purchase your ticket. if there are available open seats you can take your car seat on the flight and not pay for the seat. if you get there and the seats are full you can gate check or regular check your car seat. i had connecting flights and knew the one flight had no open seats so i checked the seat with my luggage. another flight was delayed so there ended up being openings. she sat in the seat next to me or on my lap and that worked well. however, if they have the seat belt sign on -even midair for turbulence - he HAS to sit on your lap and the flight attendants will make you hold him (totally sucks!) i knew my daughter wouldn't sit in her carseat the whole time, but that would have been easier than to hold her on my lap. good luck!

Hi A.,
I was so happy I purchased a seat for my 15 month old son. He was very squirmy in my lap and never could get comfortable. He preferred being in his car seat (own seat) because it was familiar space and was able to fall asleep in it.
Good luck:)

I am with Debbie H...I have been a flight attendant (FA) for 20 yrs. SAFETY is the main reason, & you will need it when at destination. Since children are already conditioned to sit in a car seat, it works great on a plane. If you drove around the block at 30 MPH would you put a child in it? Of course. What about a plane that is flying 500 MPH? Not too mention it could be a very bumpy ride. Before you get on flight make sure you get there early, it will make your flight more enjoyable. Rather than letting him sit in stroller to your gate, let him walk with you to the gate (look for a small back pack to put things he can play or snack on during flight). One of you can tote the carry ons, back packs (not too big) work great to keep hands free. Place the seat on the window seat, otherwise it makes it very difficult for window parent to get around it. During the flight do not go and let him walk around airplane, once they figure this out they won't want to go back to the seat during turbulence or landing. Get up for changings only & make sure seatbelt sign is off. If you were taking a 3 hour car ride would you let him out of seat? Probably not. Playing out of seat is not a good idea, never know when turbulence happens. When there is no car seat, they feel as though they are in a place they can walk around, the seat belt has no shoulder harness, which is like nothing they have seen. Don't mean to sound harsh, but I once saw a 12 month old fall off the seat and hit her head on floor, about 1 inch of seat hardware (I told you a not so scary story).
Be sure to take snacks, activities, toy, DVD (can't be used 1st & last 10 minutes of flight). Also, I found these things are great things to have lavender essential oil (Jason's makes some great products, it is very calming), ginger for nausea(pamela's ginger cookies-Whole Foods or ginger chews-WF carries a small box for 99 cents)& Rescue Remedy childrens formula-great for stress (www.vitacost.com). Also make sure he is chewing or drinking something during take off and 20 min before landing (usually the pilots will make announcement that they are not far from airport & temp). Have a fun, safe adventure. C
www.mybiopro.com/claudia13 (learn how to protect your family from cell phone radiation & EMFs)

I think it's a matter of choice. My daughter is 16 months and has been on two 6 hour plane rides with my husband and I already. We have another scheduled in June and we have never purchased a seat for her. My daughter sounds alot like your son - she rarely sits long enough for me to put shoes on her. The last trip we took was when she was 15 months old. She slept some (which was kind of uncomfortable, but not horrible), but she was more intrigued with looking at all the people. We were on Southwest, so I tried to find a seat close to other parents with small children. My husband and I also let her roam around the "leg room" area whenever possible. I hope this helps.

I know with the economy right now everyone is looking to save money. We have always bought a seat for our children even when they were under 2yrs. Mainly, for safety reasons and also for comfort for us. My brother is a pilot. I have spoken to him about this in the past, and it is safer for your child in the event of an "incident" to be secured in their own seat. Some airlines (at least they use to) will sell reduced price tickets for a child under 2. You would have to ask. So anyway, that is my advice. I hope you and your family enjoy your trip.

In December, we traveled from Austin to Orlando and back with a 21 mo old and a 19 mo old. There were 9 of us all together, and we purchased 8 seats, so there would be an extra one, "just in case". The flight to Orlando was full, but there was still an extra seat for both babies. We didn't use a carseat on either flight. If you have a portable DVD player and your baby likes to watch Baby Einstein, Sesame Street, or other videos, I would recommend that as well. I would say that you could go either way on purchasing the extra seat. It was nice in that it allowed the babies more freedom of movement, but since there were 5 adults on the trip, they spent a lot of time going back and forth. The trip was pleasant, and the babies were both very good. I know this didn't exactly answer your question, but I think that you'll be fine either way. We did sit as far to the back of the plane as we could, and people do tend to try and sit as far away from families with small children as they can.

If you can afford it, I probably would. But at the same time, you have your husband to help out. I guess it depends on if you think you can control him for that long. The times that I have flown with my son, it's just been me. I look back on it and am asking what was I thinking? But I managed and didn't have much of a problem. He slept alot. We made sure to get to the airport early and had a layover more then an hour and we walked ALOT! We walked for a good 30 minutes up and down our terminal pushing our umbrella stroller. You have to try and get some of that energy out. I then brought a few small new toys and a few of his favorites and I found a small corner and sat and played with him. I did bring tylenol and gas drops and dosed out both before boarding. Can't hurt! Having said that, I think with your husbands help, you will be okay to not buy a seat. You both can take turns walking with him in the aisle (if it gets to that). Be sure to bring a copy of his birth certificate in case they ask for proof of under the age of 2. Also be sure when booking the tickets you put lap child and make sure you and your husbands seats are next to eachother. I know when I've let them know in advance, If there's an extra seat they will try to accomadate you. GOod luck and happy flying! (beats driving!)

I understand about the extra money, but yes, buy the extra seat. I have 2 little ones (3 and 18 months) and have traveled with them since the oldest was 1. It is hard enough trying to keep them occupied on a flight that long, and if their in a car seat, at least they are strapped in and not wiggling out of your arms, trying to get down. And the planes just seem to get fuller and fuller. So especially traveling on a domestic flight, don't count on an empty plane. Both of my children sleep well on planes and I do try to book during a natural sleep time. And I also try to 'wear' them out before we get on the flight.Another thing that may not be a popular idea, but if your son will watch a video (Baby Einstein, Elmo, etc) take a portable DVD. It also helps if you are in a hotel room. Good Luck!

Hi! We traveled in Dec. of 2008j with our 3 year old and having her in the carseat with her own seat worked out well. I sat behind a Mom who had a 2 year old or younger on her lap and the baby would not sit down or stop moving around, she felt freedom. I think if you have a car seat your child will most likely stay put but of course may need to get out once in a while but he knows that the carseat is a must when you are moving and already knows the routine. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with a infant on your lap for 4 hrs, I would think would be uncomfortable just because their is not much room to move. Hope this helps.

Ok....when my oldest one was 18 months old, we went to Morocco. We did not purchase a seat for him. On the way up it was fine because we had a seat next to us that was empty. He was really good. But on the way home, the plane was full and we had to have him on our laps. It was horrible. Very uncomfortable. There is not much room in the seats as it is, and adding a child to that is much worse. When it was time to eat...my husband had to eat first while I held our son. Then when he was finished I had to ask the flight attendant for my meal (because we couldn't have both trays down at the same time with him in one of our laps) so then I would eat my meal. And if you have to change a diaper? It is much easier if you have your own seat. I don't remember diaper changing areas in the little airplane bathrooms. We are now flying to Morocco on Tuesday with a now 4 year old and a 2 year old and are very happy to have a seat for him!

Good luck!

I would buy the seat. Hopeful it's an aircraft w/ three seats across. But some new little things like a notebook, colors and books then wrapping them up is fun for little hands. Also a favorite toy and blanket. gl

We always bought a seat for our kids. It is way more comfortable for you and everyone around you. The airlines usually let you board before most of the other travelers so that you can set up your carseat. I would say Yes to getting a seat. 17 Months is a lot of baby to have sitting on your lap for 4 hours.
Have a safe and happy flight.

YES!!!! The best thing I did when I flew with my son was get him his own seat. Since he would need his carseat anyway when we got to our destination(and I was afraid of the airline losing his carseat) I bought him a seat. I installed his car seat and since he was already used to sitting in it when we went places, the plane ride was very non-eventful.

I say it depends on your child =) My older daughter has been on many many plane rides and up until she was 2 1/2 she just sat on someone's lap. But she isn't one to jump all around, she will just sit and color or read books or play quietly. I think if my younger one had been on a plane at that age, she would have needed her own seat! She is very all-over-the-place and we would need the space! If you really don't think your son will sit still, then buy the extra seat =) You'll be glad you spent the extra money to have the extra space and if you don't, you might end up having an unhappy child the whole flight and that is no fun at all!

We have always always bout a seat for our daughter. Her first flight was at 3 mos of age. She flew in her carseat, next to the window. She ate, slept, played with her toys. Best of all, when she slept, we slept. It is just so much more comfortable for all. Plus safety is an issue for me. If there is unexpected turbulence, I always wanted her buckled in, not in my lap.

Buy the extra seat so YOU will be comfortable. It's worth it, especially since you know your child will not stay still. Give him a window seat so he can look out and he will eventually get sleepy. Good Luck.

If you can afford the seat, go for it, but don't be surprised if he still sits on your laps. This may sound harsh, but a dose of Benadryl can be a godsend, also a portable DVD player, favorite or new DVDs, some new books and snacks. Good luck

I can't answer your extra seat or not question---that largely depends on finances and time/ day of travel.

There are going to be some moms out there that aren't going to like this one--but it really worked for us. And the pediatrician suggested it.

Our families are 6 hours by plane from us. When our kids were little, we took along a small med. dropper and Children's Benedryl. Our boys also did great the first hour and then everything went downhill quickly! No game, toy, video, song anything worked! They hated sitting still---car, airplane, anywhere!

So we'd follow the exact dosing instructions, but a little Benedryl in their juice, give them some juice and give them a tiny snack....then it was out for a little nap!

When they wake up, they are fine and rested, parents are calm and I can't tell you how many passengers on the plane will comment on your darling child. They will not be the screaming baby that everyone complains about.

Again, disclaimer: we used this only on plane trips when we risked making a large part of the traveling population hate us and we also used the dosage listed for their weight, or a little less.
Yep, gonna get emails on this one....

If you buy a seat - request that you all sit together and then check the car seat. Your toddler will only have to be buckled in or held during take-off and landing and that will help. Without the car seat to lug around you will feel better and not so stressed out and with the extra seat between you and your hubby you can have room for your toddler to stretch and play quietly without bothering the entire plane. Personally whenever we fly, we always try to get an entire row to ourselves because it's easier for the kids to spread out and if by some miracle of miracles they do fall asleep, they can lay down on mom or dad's lap because the middle arm rests come up. Take plenty of snacks and some empty sippy cups and then fill them up after you are threw security with some juice or whatever you allow your toddler to drink but at least that way you'll have something for him/her to drink. The money isn't the only consideration - peace of mind and an easier trip is a lot to consider also.
Best of luck!!

My sister traveled a few times with her son at that age and they bit the bullet and bought the seat. With how packed airplanes are today it would be luck if there was an open seat on your flight. I would suggest buying the extra ticket.

I would not get another seat I when on the plane 8hours with my son he was 15 months at the time and he did ok.oh and sometimes there is empty seats and u can use them if u want

I don't know if the airlines still do this but when my kids were that age we could by a ticket for them that was reduced. I believe it was half the price of a regular ticket and they got their own seat. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Hi A.,

I'm too cheap to spend the $$ on the extra seat. I flew several times with a different little one under 2 on my lap, without my hubby. The key is to have a carry on bag with their favorite toys that they pick out, snacks and drinks, and give them a dose of Tylenol 30 minutes before the flight takes off. Your pediatrician can confirm the Tylenol. Also give them a drink right when the flight is taking off so they can be swallowing. It helps their ears.

Good luck!
C.

Hi A.!

I took my daughter on her first plane ride when she was 18 months old. While she's usually a cuddly kid, I went ahead and got her her own seat and I'm glad I did. It gave her plenty of room to wiggle, to get down on the floor to stretch, room to color, etc. This was only a 2 1/2 hour flight and it turned out to be an awesome experience for both of us. Because she had the room to move around, she behaved really well. We got a lot of compliments from other passengers when it was time to get up and leave because those in front of and behind us had no idea a little one that age had been right there. If you can afford it, I'd recommend getting your son his own seat.

My husband and 19 month old son recently traveled from Houston to Calgary, Alberta Canada. It is approximately a three hour flight. We purchased a seat for our son and used his car seat. We decided it was worth it for safety and he ended up taking a two hour nap in his car seat each way. It also gave us a little more room for carry on bags and our son was able to stand up and stretch his legs without being in the aisle. He did get a little restless during the last hour of the flight. I used coloring books with washable crayons, a magna doodle board and snacks to keep him entertained. It certainly wasn't the easiest trip we have ever taken, but overall we're glad we did it. Good luck!

My husband is an airline pilot, so we travel a lot. If you can afford it, definitely buy the seat. I've traveled with both my children since they were 4 months old, both with and without the extra seat and it's so worth it. With my kids it helped because it's a familiar place to sit and they're used to staying in their seat, so hopefully he won't trample you the whole flight. A portable dvd player is a lifesaver too. I always get a few small new toys to pull out during the flight, as well as sticker books and crayons. One other tip - be sure you bring a cup for him to drink during take off and landing, but not a straw cup! I've learned the hard way that the pressure makes the liquid come straight back up the straw. Bring a spout cup. Good luck to you - hope your travel is enjoyable.

My busy little girl rode in our laps 8 round trips in her first two years, 5 of those trips, I was by myself! I only had a problem one time. It was nap time and she would not have any part of it. She screamed and cried until she passed out with exhaustion. Even I was on the verge of tears. The plane was almost empty and the nearest people were 2 rows away. They were very sympathetic.
As a former flight attendant, I can say the airline personnel are not as helpful as I was in that job. I don't know if it is true, but when asked to hold my daughter so I could put our bag in the overhead bin, the flight attendant said they were not allowed to.
If I were you I would take my chances. Every one on the plane should remember they were once 2 years old. Good Luck!
L.

Hi A.,

My husband and I will be traveling as well with our little one. Now she is only 4 months old at that point but we figured she wouldnt want to be in her own seat in the car seat. We did not buy a seat for her. If you are flying in the morning time, usually there are seats available.

If you can afford the additional seat for your son then go for it. Otherwise, I wouldnt.

We took our daughter on a plane trip when she was 18 months old and she was happy to sit in our laps ( we went to California, I think it was a 4 hour trip too). But she loves to be cuddled and held , so it was no trouble for her. I think it really depends on the child on wether or not this would work. Also, make sure you have lots of stuff to distract him with like toys and colors and such. Oh, and snacks too! Good luck.

We have done both, on a shorter flight we did not purchase the extra seat and just made sure I was buy the window so she could look out....you also would need lots of distractions with you either way. Try to skip a nap so the flight could be used as nap time. When we took the longer flight to Hawaii we did buy the seat but because she was still under two we did not bring the carseat on board so she flew on my lap for take off and landing but then she was able to move around in that extra seat throughout the flight. I don't think my daughter would have lasted long sitting in her carseat for a long flight.

Yes yes yes! Call it an investment in your mental health. I have been here and done this more than once. I know, you'd think I would learn. Now that I have baby #3, we buy the extra seat. It give your son his own space, which he needs, and it gives you space. Everyone will be happy and the entire plane will thank you. There is nothing worse than a tantrum on a plane (confined space) and having to hold onto the child who is screaming, arching the back, and kicking. Seriously, buy the ticket. Bon Voyage!

When I traveled with my son I would just put him in my lap. One of the flights I was on a family had purchased a seat for their toddler and brought the car seat. The car seat ended up being to large for the seat and the flight attendants made them check it anyway. I think the majority of the flight the toddler ended up in the mother's lap anyway.

If you can get a late night flight, then I would try skipping the seat for the kiddo. Trips are expensive, and that could be money spent on something more fun. We just traveled with our 9 month old on a 4 hour flight. My husband and I put the arm rest up between us and brought a pillow to lay on our lap for our son to sleep on. Also, a portable DVD player would probably be handy to keep him occupied when he is awake. One more word of advice, make sure you pack plenty of his favorite snacks and drinks. I don't normally use food as incentive for good behavior, but for this occasion, your neighbors might appreciate it.

The only time we flew before my son turned 2 he was just over a year. We did lap child. Since it was his first flight and I didn't know how he would handle everything, I gave him a small dose of tylenol as the plane prepared to back from the gate. He ended up falling asleep before we were in the air. Woke up for change of planes and then back to sleep again for the 3 hour flight. He did wake up before the end, but had toys and his bottle.

I would definitely consider it for a 17 month old. How is he when he goes out to eat, does he sit relatively still? I don't know about the car seat though. You're talking about a lot of room being taken up beside you and hubby. I would just put him in the seat with the belt on and tell him he's a big boy on an airplane. Since you are buying an extra seat, check his car seat as part of his luggage. Or if you are renting a car at your destination, rent a car seat too. That's what we did, ended up getting a brand new one.

It is worth it. We decided that we would never fly with our kids unless we could afford seats for everyone. I mean, what would your reaction have been if you were in the plane that landed in the Hudson and you hadn't got a seat for your baby? To me, the peace of mind is worth every penny

You might consider calling the airline and asking them the rules and procedures for either case. There might be some fees if you take him on your lap as well. My 12 month daughter and I flew to Honduras (3hr), with her on my lap, because I waited too long to buy flight. Our flight was at 9am we woke up at 6am. When we daparted she was ready for a nap,(1.5 hrs), not comfortable but she did ok. When she woke up, one of passengers next to me offered to help hold her for a little while. In your case, your husband could help. Coming back was more work for me. She was wide awake during trip. I played with her, walked her down the aisle,read,sang,danced anything that would keep her happy. Lesson learned: If travel by myself with her again I buy her a seat ahead of time. Hope this helps.

most airlines charge 1/2 for kids under 2 yrs. i have gone both ways. it is easier to get mine to take a nap when he is strapped in to the familiar carseat.

Buy the extra seat!!!! It will be well worth it!!! I travelled alot with my daughter when she was 17 months and was so happy I bought her a seat. Seats seem to be smaller than they used to be and you will feel so incredibly cramped for 4 hours with a wiggly child on your lap. It will be some of the best spent money!!
p.s. I didn't end up using her car seat on the plane. She would never sit in it. We checked it. Take lots of toys!! Stickers are some of the best entertainers!!!