Flying with 14 Month-old

Buy her a seat - I just traveled with my son internationally and he was 16 months at the time. We were lucky enough to have empty seats around us, which we completely took advantage of. He loved the feeling of independence and being in his own seat. We are actually traveling again in June (he'll be 22 months) and we bought him a seat.

Good luck!

OWN SEAT!!! My daughter has flown about 6 times (she is also 14 months) and as she has gotten older and more mobile, flying has become much tougher with her on my lap. She constantly wants to get down and walk, grab the other passengers, climb on the seat, etc. In her own car seat, she will sit quietly and play. Plus, if she is in her own seat, your hand are free to feed her and have a snack or drink yourself. If she's on your lap, your hands are tied up and you can't do much including getting anything out of the diaper bag easily. It may be expensive but in my opinion its soooooooooo worth it to get her her own seat! Happy travels!

if you can afford it, get her her own seat! (i think under 2 they may be cheaper) We never did it and always prayed that there would be an empty seat next to us, or asked the check in people to block the seat till the last minute. But it never failed that there was rarely an empty one and we were wishing we had it!!

I think its nice to have a place to actually put the baby down!!

Can she sit still in your lap for 3+ hours? Take into account the time you might be sitting on the runway. I travel a lot with my 17mo and I always get her a seat. She knows that her carseat is the place to be. Once she's strapped in she doesn't get out unless it's for a diaper change.

Well, it's a gamble. Because if the flight isn't full, she can ride in her own seat for free. Just bring her car seat right onto the plane and buckle her in like it's the back seat of your vehicle. If your airline has assigned seating, ask the person working at the counter just before you board if it's full. If it isn't, make sure to request that the window seat next to you remains empty (they'll insist on putting the car seat next to the window for safety reasons).

If there is NOT assigned seating and you find that the flight isn't full, simply bring the car seat on board and buckle it in next to you. Everyone else will settle elsewhere.

If the plane IS full, you'll be able to check the car seat at the gate and keep her on your lap.

I've flown with my kids several times and I'll tell you that having their own seat is GREATLY preferred. Three hours is a long time to keep a 14 month old in your lap, even with your sis there to help. But it all depends on her temperament. My kids both slept much easier in their car seat during the flight. It's familiar and they're used to sleeping there while traveling. And being buckled in kept them from wanting to squirm out of my lap constantly.

Of course, I'm ignoring the whole safety aspect, but I'm sure others will address that. I wasn't too concerned myself. Really it was about ease of travel and for me, the car seat was the way to go. Financially, however, we were a little restricted so we ended up gambling on open seats and we almost always got one.

Best of luck to you!

-S.

P.S. Be sure to fill a bottle/sippy with something tempting for her to slurp down while ascending and descending. It will help keep the pressure from building in her ears which can be excruciating.

buy a seat for her, bring her car seat and strap her in just like in the car. She will be more comfortable in her familiar car seat, you will be more comfortable being able to move without having to shift a toddler, and she will probably sleep the whole way, giving you a chance to rest too. My boys konk out as soon as the plane takes off, and its a silent flight for most of the flight. :)

Before you go on your trip, make sure to check out TSA.gov for the latest policies on traveling with children.

I'd personally not purchase a child that young their own seat.....for no other reason than finances if that's a concern. Even when we paid for a seat for our son at 2 years old, he still wanted to be held on our laps almost the entire trip.

You'll be able to travel with sippy cups because you have a child.
I'd also recommend snacks as they're so limited on flights these days.
Your diaper bag will be essential along with toys, books, etc.
If you bring a DVD player, I'd really suggest making sure you have head phones. Most casual travelers forget how sound travels through an airplane, and as a business traveler, it can be really distracting to listen to a kid's Disney movie 4 rows back.

You can gate check the stroller - you'll just need the gate check tag from the gate agent.

Good luck. I never found traveling with our kids to be bothersome, so I hope it's an enjoyable experience for you as well.

I wouldn't buy a seat. In my case my baby would end up in my lap even if I did buy a seat so it didn't make sense. I can tell you that it is not hard to travel with a baby that young in your lap. Especially if its only 3 hours.

I have flown many many times by myself with my two little girls. I highly suggest getting her a seat and taking her carseat. They understand why they are in the carseat. It also makes it so much easier on you to be able to hand her snacks, toys...

Call the airline you are flying with. I know some airlines have infant fares. The seats are discounted.

Oh and you can get (srry I don't know what they're called) one of those things that attatches to your carseat that makes it a stroller so you don't have to take both with you through the airport. You can either check a stroller or grab a cheap umbrella one when you get there.

You didn't ask, but... I would have you and her both wear easy on/off shoes, wait to feel her sippy cup until after security, don't overpack for the plane. You don't need 15 snacks, 10 toys... Just a snack, her fav toy, some wipes and her cup. Overpacking just makes it so hard to get around. Whatever you do pack, put it in a back pack so it is easier to handle as you get on and off the plane.

Have fun!