We are taking our first trip with our almost two year old and can't decide if we should buy him his own ticket. Flight is non-stop coast to coast. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks to everyone that responded! I checked the flight and since it was nearly sold out - we decided to buy him his own seat. I can see both sides of car seat (take or check ) so we decided to try his car seat on the flight out for the containment factor and that should tell us what to do on the trip home. We had planned on bringing it with us anyway. So thanks again! I just love this web site and everyone's willingness to share and help.
My friend in CA started buying a ticket for her daughter at 18 months old. One of the biggest reasons was an extra area to change her since airplane bathrooms are so small. She also said she was able to use the seat as a little table, so her daughter could color, and it just was easier than passing her back & forth. When they booked the tickets they got 3 in a row by the window so her daughter was able to walk a bit. Good luck!
I took my one yr old to Nevada - buy a seat! I brought my car seat and locked him in - since he already knew the car seat I thought it would be easier for him.. he kicked and screamed most of the way anyway... but it's a long trip so I'd get any kid their own seat for that long
If you have the money to spare, buy a seat, that is a pretty long flight. If you would rather save the money, maybe you will get lucky and there will be extra seats. That has happened to us on several occasions....we didn't buy my daughter a seat but there were extra ones so they let us sit in an open row and we got the seats for free. My daughter prefers to sit on my lap during flight anyway, so this last time (she was 26 mos) I bought her a seat cause I had to, but she ended up in my lap most the way anyways!
Oh - and if you don't buy a ticket be sure you bring your child's birth certificate. We did not bring ours one time and they almost made us buy a ticket last minute...which can be very pricey!
buy her a seat!! i've traveled both ways - on lap and seat - it was WELL worth the money flying from Dulles to LAX.
What I found on my lap at 2 years old - he wouldn't fall asleep. on the way home we bought the ticket for him and it was a TOTALLY different flight! He liked it and I liked it!!
Make sure to have small toys and crackers (snacks) for him to munch on. It keeps them entertained.
Absolutely buy him his own seat -- and bring his car seat to strap him into it. Much, much safer. What if something were to happen mid-air? You can't protect him with him on your lap. Or, if you have a carseat waiting for you at the destination, consider purchasing the CARES children's seatbelt, made specifically for flying. We used one when traveling to Costa Rica w/ our then 2-year-old. It was awesome. Now you can rent them, if that is cheaper for you than purchasing (depending on the length of your trip, etc.)
http://travelswithbaby.blogspot.com/2008/11/rent-cares-fo...
I truly believe it is safer for your son to have his own seat.
I only once flew with my daughter on my lap. She was 8 months old. My mother in law bought tickets for us to go away on a family trip and, unbeknownst to me, she didn't get a ticket for my daughter. I was miserable. My daughter was moving around, crying, drooling, pulling my hair etc... I can only imagine how it would have been when she was almost 2 years old. When I flew with my twins at that age, we put them in car seats. It was so much more pleasant. They were comfortable, safe, and they could sleep comfortably in their car seat while I could actually sit without someone jumping all over me... On a six hour flight, that's important.
Sounds like a pretty long flight - are you up to having him sit in your lap for that long? My 2 year old wouldn't sit in my lap for several hours - will yours? If you can afford a childs seat then do it - even if he sits in your lap some of the time, it is nice to have the extra space and extra luggage allowance too!
blessings,
Stacy
Buy him the seat! It will be totally worthwhile. We went 2 hours with our 23 month old and it was the most traumatizing experience ever! He needs the room!
I flew with my now 3 1/2 year old many times starting at about 6 months old. I found that after about 18 months, having a seat (with a car seat) for him made for a MUCH better flight. When he was 22 months old we were on a short 2 hour flight I had him on my lap - it was very difficult. He understood needed to sit still when in a seat but when on my lap he thought he was free to roam. I also agree with other posters about having snacks available to keep him busy and a few new small toys to distract him.
It probably just depends on your son. I have flown with my son 4 times all at different ages, the most recent being 19 months. Each flight was roughly two and a half hours. He sat on my lap every time and he did really well. He is usually rambunctious so this surprised me, but he really had no place to go. We are flying to the East Coast in a few weeks, and have two stops to make. I am a little nervous about this trip, he'll be 23 months then and he'll be sitting on my lap again.
A few times we've gotten lucky and had empty seats next to us, but you can't count on it. If you can afford it, as others have suggested, go for it. You'll all be way more comfortable, especially if he falls asleep, as my son does almost every flight. Good luck!
I flew with my 2 year old to Europe for an 8 hour flight. Both times she had her own seat. There is no way for a long flight I would have a child on my lap, just for my own comfort. You are already going to be lugging so much, you need to be able to relax while on the plane. On the way there we brought the car seat onto the plane for her to sit in. On the way back we decided that having her in that confined seat for 8 hours was not a good idea, and checked it as luggage on the way back. She was SOOOOO much happier being able to move around. She still napped - we simply lifted that arm rest and she laid down with her head on my lap. I also went to iParty and the Paper Store and bought a few new party-favor type toys so I could pull out a new thing when she got extremely bored. Remember to save a few new items for the return flight. Enjoy!
BUY HIM A SEAT! I recently flew with my 15-month-old, and if he had had to sit on my lap the whole time, it would have been a very different experience! Bring your own car-seat (I highly recommend you look into a Gogo Kidz Travelmate) and make sure you tell the airlines this is a toddler so that you pay the lower rates.
I would buy him a seat! and bring his carseat! I really feel that once they are plugged into their carseat they realize they have to sit there and cant get up and run around. it just seems like a long car trip to them. Plus you will probably need your carseat when you get there, i am so glad I brought mine the last time we went on a trip because we got in a fender bender and i was SO thankful she was strapped in her own carseat.
PS got an iphone? i'm not a big fan of letting tv be a babysitter, or even cartoons in general, but in this case you gotta do what you gotta do. we loaded it up with pbs cartoons and the time flew by.
How much money is your sanity worth to you? Buy him a seat! And load your iPod with songs and a few of his favorite age appropriate TV shows. It made a huge difference when we flew with our 23 month old. A toddler can have even less patience in the security lines than we do! And remember, you will have to remove your son's shoes, too, so dress him for a fast on/off, and prepare him to put his toys, binky, etc. through the X-ray machine. It can come as a real surprise to a little one that he has to be separated from his favorite lovey for even a few moments! And bring some fruit chewies for the landing and take off, he is too young for gum, but his ears may give him some trouble at this age. Good luck!
It is SO MUCH easier to have a child in his own seat, in his carseat! We've traveled several times with DD and didn't buy a seat until we had to, right at 2 and I was wishing I had done that before. DD is used to being in it in the car, used to sleeping in it, etc. Just way easier. And in the event of turbulance of course, it is so much safer than a child in arms. We have a carrying bag for the carseat or you can get one of those things that turns it into a little stroller for the airport.
If he is 2 or over you have to buy a seat. I would anyway. It will be easier for him to sleep in his car seat.My husband and I are flying with our almost 4 month old to Korea in August. My husband is in the army so they pay for our tickets, but we weren't sure if they were gonna buy my son's. They did and we are greatful so we can bring his car seat. Good luck
I would buy him his own seat. They move around to much at this age to stay on your lap and both of you will be much more comfotable. Particularly since you have a long flight.
Good Luck!
Get a seat!! We did. 6 hours with a squirming almost 2 yr old who may or may not sleep? Not for me! Good luck!
yes yes yes!!!! Buy him a seat and do not bring his car seat on board the plane. You will have to hold him in your lap during take off and landing, but will be SOOOO happy for the extra space. In my opinion, it is 100% worth the money.
If you bring his car seat, he can't use the tray table in front of him, and he can't lie down to sleep. Plus, he's more likely to kick the seat in front of him. So, go without the car seat.
K.
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Buy him a seat. You'll be very glad to have the space. We found that the car seat made us a bit squished and got the person in front of us kicked a lot, but my son did have an easier time sleeping. It's just when he wanted to be out of the seat (which for a 3+ hour plane ride will certainly happen at some point) that things were really tight. But still better than if he were on your lap the whole time!!
If you do bring the car seat on, ask the flight attendent for a seat-belt extender. It makes getting the car seat properly buckled in much, much easier.
A clipboard with plenty of paper and crayons and stickers kept our kids entertained as toddlers, both on planes and car-trips, for a while anyway, and the clipboard gives something hard to write on but avoids the inevitable banging on the tray-table.
By the way, we found the GoGoKidz wheels that attach to the carseat to be a life-saver for traveling!
If you can afford that extra ticket, I would buy it for sure. It will free you up to read a book or just sit by yourself. Having a toddler climb all over you for hours on end gets old pretty quick! Plus your son is used to sitting in his car seat already and he won't mind it if he has fun stuff to do. I would purchase some new toys that you only get out once you are on the plane. Small doodle pads are great for this age.
Buy him a seat. I'm Australian, so our flight home is 21 hours flying time, plus layovers, totally 30 hours!!! The last time I flew home my daughter was 18 months, and I swore never to do it again with her on my lap. At least in his own seat, he can't really kick the person in front as much, so you'll be less stressed worrying about that as well. So worth the money. And you can take his car seat, strap him in safely, he'll be comfy and you'll have a seat for a car when you get there. I'm assuming this is holiday travel, so spend the money and maybe you can all get some rest before your fun vacation begins.
no you do not need to buy a seat unless you are flying at peak times such as holidays. Once aboard, the stewards will give you a location with an extra seat 9 times out of 10. He will want to get up a lot unless he is ready to sleep, So walk him to the back of the plane and look out of the windows and keep him interested in his surroundings, so he enjoys the experience and does not get bored.
