The Plane! the Plane!

hi H.,
you could just call the airport ahead of time to see if the plane is full or not. I use to fly with my oldest son all the time. It isn't that bad. Even at that age they usually sleep the whole way.

My daughter is 2 and 1/2 and I have had her on a plane more than 5 times. You could check & see if you could still get another seat. But, when I flew with my daughter (before she was 2) the flight attendence were very helpful about asking people to move around to get my husband and I a 3 row seat (even though we only paid for 2) if the plan wasn't full. I have found it very helpful to bring something for her to suck on (to release pressure in her ears) and usually gave her a little baby tylenol to help her sleep. Now that she is almost 3 I make sure I take plenty of snacks & her travel DVD player (she is starting to love movies). I hope you have a great flight!

Good Luck,
D.

Husbands are so quick to say what they are going to do until the time comes. Your son will probably stay on his dad's lap for about 45 min(if that) then in the end you will be the one dealing with him. Your husband will probably say something like here take him I have to go the bathroom and just forget to take possession of him once he gets back to his seat. Then there you are left with a crying baby who can't keep still. I flew with my daughter and it was no problem but it wasn't 4 hrs. I would go with the car seat since it is 4hrs and his first trip. I would wait to do the lap thing when the trip is only maybe and hour or two. No matter what you plan please make sure that you take some snacks!!! and something for him to do!! Maybe buy a new toy to keep his interest instead of an old toy that he has played with a thousand times(and do not let him see it until he gets on the plane). Maybe bring your charged dvd player on the plane with cartoon cd's. Since they are going so crazy with liquids on the plane (bring an empty sippy cup) and just wait until you get on the plane then ask the stewardess for something to drink. Good Luck

Hi H.

My advice would be to not buy your son a plane ticket. Now I have had experience flying with small children, my son was around 1 year as well. I would just bring some toys and snacks that he likes. If the plane is not crowded people will opt not to sit next to your family because many are worried that children will be noisy. So I say hope for a free seat and also if your son needs to go for a little walk up and down the aisle people should not be too bothered. I hope your flight and trip go well.

I have a 2 1/2 year old, a 1 year old and a 3 month old. All three of my girls hate being held for long periods of time especially if there is no way in the world they can get down and walk/run around. Although, it can be expensive, I highly recommend the extra seat on the plane with your son's carseat. It will make him happier on the plane and it will also make you a lot happier too! He, of course, will still get restless being strapped in, but he can be more entertained while in his own seat instead of Mommy and Daddy's lap. My husband has a tendency to say "we'll just do this, and we'll just do that" then I find myself doing all of it and he just sleeping on the plane and what not, so just tell your husband that you really really think the extra seat will be costly, but well worth it. Have a safe flight!

relax. most likely there will be a seat available on the plane. at least one and you'll get to use it.plus if that doesn't happen you two can take turns holding him. just take a few toys to keep him occupied during the flight. i have been on airplanes with my kids since they were little and have always had seats available for them. mine also sleep almost the entire time.
good luck
vlora

H.,
I have worked in the airline industry for over 10 years. I would never NEVER let my child travel on my lap. I don't care what age. First of all, if on you lap, the child will wiggle, squirm, stress you out and annoy those around you. Most important though, what if you hit turbulence or a huge air pocket? Does your husband really think he can hold tight on to your son in a millisecond? I have seen children fly off their parents laps and onto the seat behind them. I have seen children hit the ceiling and bounce down into the aisle. I saw one child, after a moderate size pocket, hit her head on the air flow control and put a huge slice above her left eye. We had to make an emergency landing for this child to keep her from losing her eye!!! This child was only 4 months old. All of these parents thought they too could hold onto their little ones.
Flights are rapidly filling up so I would not plan on an empty seat.
I have been out of the industry for 3 years now. I have a 4yo old and I have ALWAYS purchased a seat for him. And I have ALWAYS brought his car seat for him to sit in.
So, here is my question for your husband....Is it really worth saving $300 and risking your child's life and your marriage if something happens?
Oh, I was not a flight attendant, so imagine all the other horror stories I could tell if I was one.
BUY A TICKET!!!!

H.,
Don't stress too much about it. It will be fine. I was just like you when I flew from Oregon to DC 6 weeks ago. I have a 3 year old and 12 month old at the time. I was totally worried about it and everything went fine. Now I did have a seat for both because the army was paying for it, but I learned a lot about this. First it is SO nice to have the seats when in flight, but going through airports it is the worlds biggest pain!! If you do want to try you can always bring the carseat and if their are extra seats then you might be able to use it. If there are not extra seats then they can check it at the last minute at the door. I am not saying it will be easy to fly with a 14 month old, but have small toys, snacks and maybe a little benadryl (make him sleepy). I have to fly alone with both kids back to Oregon (6 hr flight) in August. I am not buying a seat for my daughter who will be 16 months by then and I am thinking I will not be bringing the car seat for my son. While this will be difficult I know how hard it is trying to get the thing through the airport at connections and getting the car seat set up with people waiting to get by you. If it is a direct flight then you will probably be fine and you will have your husbands help. It truly will be better then you worry about. Do bring something to help with his ears on take off and landing. If he uses a pacifier or bottle those work well or even a sippy cup. something for sucking motion to help pop the ears. Portable DVD's are also nice. I know at that age the attention span is less, but at least something to distract. With maybe a baby einstiens movie. They also make a vest/harness thing that attaches to your lap belt. While this is not for saftey in a crash it is nice that he is attached to you sitting and you can somewhat have your hands free (ie don't have to worry about him falling off your lap). I have not tried mine yet, but I will see how it works in august. GOOD LUCK!

H.,
I am a mother of three (6, 3, and 1)and will be flying in two weeks. Two years ago I flew with my then 4 and 1 yr old. My 6 yr old had her first flight when she was your sons age. I have never purchased the little one's seats. I would save the money. We had available seats for the flight with just my daughter... and she didn't stay in her own seat. Instead, she played musical parents. It really wasn't all that bad, actually. The second flight with two kids was MUCH worse. We scheduled the flight during their naptime, but they wouldn't sleep. We didn't have an extra seat, but mostly because the seats were three across and it was four of us. There were other open seats on the plane, but obviously we couldn't send our little devils there. Anyway, my kids were all hyped up and playing a lot. No crying or temper tantrums, but they were just so excited. My husband is a bit strict and didn't want them looking over the seats at the family behind us, so that made it difficult. I brought new little toys for them to play with and keep them occupied. However, my social butterflies were more interested in their surroundings. I don't think buying a seat for the little one would have changed any of it.
This time, we simply can't afford the extra aifare. With your flight only being days away, I can't imagine what they'll charge! I don't think they sell infant seats at a discount, particularly not this late in the game.
My youngest is even more rambunctious than the first two, so we know this will be "interesting." Let us know what you decided and how it worked out for your family!
(Must clarify, my kids are active, not insane troublemakers)

Don't stress about it. If your son DOES happen to want to wander, let your husband go get him. It was his idea not to buy the extra seat! Good Luck.

H.,

You crack me up! I can't believe I'm gonna say this...but I agree with your husband...Only because chances are...there will be an empty seat on the plane! Just think of all the diapers you can buy with the money you saved on the seat! (Or better yet, how many cofees from Starbucks!)

I understand what you are saying regarding him staying in his seat. But, chances are, there will be an empty seat on the plane and you will be able to bring his seat on the plane. Most airlines will allow this. I did it all of the time when my daughter was younger. And, I've done it with my son a few times.

Southwest has open seating...so it's not an issue at all with them. No one wants to sit next to a baby! If you are flying another airline, I suggest calling them and asking them to place a "soft block" on the seat next to you. Then, that seat will be sold last. It's a way of getting a "free seat" I guess airlines are willing to do that because, well, no one wants to sit next to a baby!!!

Although you didn't specifically ask about this...I have some general airport advice which I've found useful. I hope it's helpful to you. When I travel, I always take my stroller. I put the car seat, diaper bag and whatever else I need to take on the plane in the stroller, and I carry the baby. With my daughter I had a snugli...which I had to remove to go through security (what a pain!)...Now, I have an several cloth carriers which the TSA does not require to be removed. I have a Hotsling and a Moby Wrap....I got both from handsfreebaby.com (Karen, another mamasource member, ROCKS!). Target has also recently started carrying hotslings. It makes it pretty easy!!! (Although I think you said that your little guy is walking...I think the rule is that if they can walk, they have to walk thru security....but....what they don't know won't hurt them!)

Make sure you bring lots of things for your little guy to do on the plane. Books, snacks, etc. Bringing a new toy for him to explore is probably also a good idea. Lollipops are great for take off and landing! Also, you can try teaching him how to open his mouth really wide so that his ears pop. Practice it with him. Tell him to roar like a silent dinosaur or some other silly story.

If you let the flight crew know it's his first flight, they often have wings and certificates for the kids. The whole flight crew signs it....It's a nice little keepsake.

Finally, if you aren't able to get him a seat at the gate...I'd ask them to move your seat. Let your husband deal with a screaming wiggling baby...while you sit back, relax and enjoy the flight! Maybe next time, he'll listen to mommy! ;-)

Good luck!

YES!!! Get the seat! Your husband has NO idea what he's in for without one!!

I would buy another seat. You will most likely be running after your son, NOT your husband. You have to make your husband see reason and fast! Good Luck!
N.

Flying is very hard with a child. I just flew to Idaho with my 20 month old son on my lap and my husband did not come. Stickers, bring lots of them and snacks, oh and books and cars. Good luck! Try to keep your child distracted when taking off and landing, because that is when flying is the most uncomfortable. I just made sure my son was eating something during take off and landing. It was M&M’s, I know chocolate is not the best for a kid but it worked.

i took my 2 1/2 year old to florida for the first time. i remember my husband insisting we not bring the car seat and that our son should just sit in the chair. Well, let me tell you, my son went ballistic without his carseat. he cried and screamed at take off. on the plane ride back, my husband didn't argue about the carseata again. men just dont want to carry the extra luggage.

We just got home from a 2 hour trip with our 14 month old. We didn't get the extra seat but we had already decided before the trip this will be his last without the seat. I think you should try to get another seat if you don't mind spending the money. Our flight was half as long as yours, and we pretty much had a wrestling match the whole time (trading from Daddy's lap to Mommy's) until a humongous temper tantrum when he finally fell asleep. I can't wait to stick him in a car seat! Then maybe I will be able to enjoy the in-flight refreshments without worrying about my table getting overturned!

I wouldn't count on there being unoccupied seats. I think with the airline industry the way it is, they are trying to send the planes out full (neither of our flights had an empty seat).

If there are no extra seats for purchase(and you don't want to make your husband hold him all day out of spite), what worked for us is a continuous supply of cheerios/vanilla wafers; turning the overhead light on and off; and walking/swaying up and down the aisle when the seatbelt sign was off. (we were on Jet Blue, where they don't use carts to serve drinks so the aisle wasn't blocked). Maybe you will have a bigger plane for a longer flight. GOOD LUCK!! And remember, it's an airplane not a spa so don't worry about those ugly looks you may get just because you have a kid!

H.,
don't despair! It's probably going to be better than you think.
If you can afford an extra seat, that’s great. It would be safer for your baby an easier on you. But if you can’t convince your husband, don’t worry, it is doable. I doubt your baby would stay in his seat for 4 hours anyway.
I’m the mother of 3 kids, ages 8 years to 12 months old and I have taken long flights with them (coast to coast in the US and to South America- 20 hours or more with 2 layovers and plane changes) since my oldest was 3 months old. Some of them without my husband and I have survived! I don’t have model kids. They are very active and energetic, especially my oldest who was already walking and exploring by 10 months.
Suggestions: take books he likes, some toys, walk him up and down the aisle, show him the airplane, take snacks. If you can, try to time the flight with his nap time. Kids usually sleep very well on the plane and that can be 2 hours less to worry about!!
Also, let him walk and explore before getting on the plane, so he is more tired. If everything fails you can resort to Benadryl (check with your pediatrician). I’ve never done it but I know people how have. And last but not least, give the baby to your husband so HE can do the entertaining!

Well there is always benadryl my pediatrician said to give that to my son when we flew to aruba (you should check with your doc before doing it though) I also went out and foud puzzles and small lego cars to put together they make little boxes with like 50 peices that turn into a car he is only 1 so I'm not sure if that will help him but to put it together with you might work also we have a video now player for my son that he watches movies on and they have dora and diego smaller kid shows. You'll need a lot since he doesn't have a very long attention span I'm sure. Somehow kids seem to know that they are on a plane and they need to sit and people usually understand if your up walking the isles a little. I hate to fly myself and usally have to take medication to get through it so I can understand your worries. If your husband doesn't think your son needs a seat let him take care of him :) Good Luck