does my 10 month old need a car seat on an airplane?

Answer 1

No! don't listen to the silly people who say you are a bad parent either. you are free to have a lap-child until 2 years of age on any airline. you are ALSO welcome to have a car seat as a carry-on (a useful feature if you won't have one once you get off the plane). you can ALSO use the carseat while on the plane, but only if you have purchased a seperate ticket.

i chose not to do this when i traveled with my 3 -year old and my 1-year old since i was already buying a ticket for my oldest and another for myself. the airline obviously feels safe not having young toddlers with their own seats of "lap children" are permitted up to 2 years.

keep that in mind, but rely on how comfortable you feel. you're the momma! :)

Answer 2

If you are carrying your child as a lap child or "Infant in Arms" you have 2 options. You can check the seat at the ticket counter with the rest of your luggage and carry the child on as normal. However, your other option is to ask the ticket agent if it looks like there will be 2 empty seats together. If no one occupies those seats, you are welcome to bring the car seat onboard and have your child restrained...should be no questions asked, free of charge. That again, it is space available. So you can take the car seat with you, and check in at the gate, if the flight fills up, gate check the item and it will be returned in the jetway along with your stroller. Since the Gate Agent is the one who clears stand-by's you can request that if 2 seats remain together to let you know so that you can have your child in their car seat rather than your lap. This is always much safer. You can not predict turbulance or if the captain has to stop short or land hard. You can hold the child on landing and take off, but you may want to have them seated for the duration of the flight to give your arms a rest for one, and so that they can be safe like in a car.

If you purchased a seat for your child, while it is not an FAA requirement, "The FAA strongly urges parents and guardians to secure children in an appropriate restraint based on weight and size. Keeping a child in a CRS during the flight is the smart and right thing to do".

When you check in with the gate agent, also have your stoller tagged for gate claim at that time. Ask for pre-boarding so that you can get on the plane with out 200 other peopl behind you. Have the stoller folded up when you reach the end of the jetway and leave it at the door.

Ive never heard of an aircraft that has a built in child safety seat. The armrests in the first row or bulk head are fused, but thats it. Depending on the aircraft, those could be an Emergency Exit Row, which you can not sit in with a child. The bulk head seats are first given to handicapped passengers then offered to others at the gate.

Also have the baby drink a bottle or sippy cup during take off and landing. This will help equalize their ears since they can not voluntarily do this themselves yet. Don't be surprised if they end up with an ear infection during or after the trip, that is common due to the trapped pressure in the ear.

I kow this is more than you asked, but Im a former airline employee and these are tips for flying with a child from an airline's stand point. You are always welcome to call the airline's reservations department, but most of them are just going to read you a script from the computer and not tell you from experience. Plus you'll be on hold and most likely get the India Call Center.

Good luck, enjoy your flight and have a safe trip!

Answer 3

To be the safest, yes! The FAA does not require child restraints for kids under 2 years, they allow them to be lap children(held for the flight length) Unfortunately, being held by a parent is not safe in a plane, just like it's not in a car. A child restraint in a plane is to protect your baby from turbulence, not from crashing! Turbulence can cause the plane to shift unexpectedly and there has been case after case of kids who were thrown from their parents arms into the bulkhead, some who died, needlessly, as a child restraint would have prevented it. After 2 years old, a seperate seat for the child is required by the FAA, but it is up to you to use a child restraint. Children should use a child restraint in a plane until they are at least 40 pounds, after 40 pounds, they can sit with the plane's lap belt. You can, as the former airline employee suggested, request an extra seat for your child's car seat and risk the chance of there not being a full plane, but there is no gurantees. To be safest, you should purchase a seat for your child and bring his car seat.
Also, those straps that tether the child to your lap are unsafe and not approved for airline use and there are no built in child seats on airplanes.
Good luck, have a safe flight!

Answer 4

Depends on the airline, but most of the big ones say no until age 2. This is if they sit on your lap. If you have them in their own seat though then they do need some additional type of car seat or booster to keep them in place.

Answer 5

No, the airplane provides one, they seat you behind a "wall" that has a fold out car seat, or they might let you hold your baby.

Answer 6

No. the child sits on your lap and you are given an extension for your seal belt. You will not be allowed to bring a child seat on the plane for various reasons.

Answer 7

we always bought seats for our children even when they could fly free in our laps. makes it more comfortable for you not holding a squirming baby the whole way. if you do buy a seat, a carseat is NOT required by most airlines, but check first. we always put ours in their seats only because the seats are big and when they fell asleep they were more comfortable in them and didn't flop around.

Answer 8

No you can hold her and save your money. Plus if the plane goes down you really think that a car seat will save him/her.

Answer 9

Airline says yes you do. Plus I think you should so you would know where your child is at all times, Since there happens to be a lot of people around.

Answer 10

If it is still a little baby I would but if can hold it's self up and stuff I would just set him/her on your lap to save space and money (thats a big deal these days)