https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 02:35:20 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293940 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 16:06:56 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2293940@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom flew with DD on her lap last week (3.5 months). It went great!</p> <p>And we'll be flying to the Dominican Republic next May at 12 months and also didn't get an extra seat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293933 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:58:54 +0000 daniellemybelle 2293933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's safer to buy an extra seat and use the car seat. We don't, but that's a consideration besides space.</p> <p>Recently flying with LO (23 months) I have really wished for that extra seat but I suffered to save the $. It will suck to buy her a seat when she turns 2 but by then it will be really useful.</p> <p>At 6 months though, she literally nursed and slept the whole time. I would always time it with naptime, pop her on at lift off and she'd be out for most of the flight if not all. The extra seat would have been a waste unless we used the car seat.</p> <p>@MamaG: We actually have had good luck getting flights with Southwest that aren't totally full. Recently I was able to actually bring my carseat on with LO even though we had not bought a seat for her because the flight wasn't full. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293906 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:28:42 +0000 Mrs D 2293906@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not buy a seat for LO when we traveled at 8mos but the plane was half empty so we ended up having one for her. It was great - we put her infant carrier in it and she napped most of the flight. Much easier than the way home where we had no extra seat bc she got really sick of us holding her... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293887 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:09:32 +0000 lamariniere 2293887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I feel the same way. We have never bought tickets for our LOs until we had to. We have 3 more months for DD before she turns 2, and we may try to squeeze in one more trip. In any case, my two are not used to car seats and would HATE being strapped into a seat on a plane. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293881 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 15:00:36 +0000 PawPrints 2293881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO has flown on two trips (a total of 6 flight-legs) and we never bought an extra seat. We just got back from a trip that had 4 flight-legs and she is 5 months old and it was really no big deal at all keeping her on our laps. Southwest is different with their free boarding style but for future reference many airlines (Alaska is one) will give parents an entire row to themselves whenever possible. We had a whole row both coming and going on our trip to Hawaii, which was great.</p> <p>Some airplanes don't have a changing table in the bathroom so be sure to check. On our trips, LO has pooped A LOT in the air, like every time I nursed her and then some. I guess she likes to poop on planes. So we made a lot of trips to the bathroom. When we wanted to change a diaper that was just pee, we just did it quickly in the seat. </p> <p>Definitely bring a carrier so you have somewhere she can go to sleep, with the hood up. Six months is old enough she might resist napping on the plane which is not good. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293846 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 14:19:49 +0000 KayKay 2293846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think if money is no object and you have a baby that would likely be content to sit in/sleep in the carseat, it would be worth it. If money is tight and/or the kiddo is going to be on your lap anyways, then it's probably not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293743 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 13:03:25 +0000 Raindrop 2293743@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always buy the extra seat. </p> <p>Our LOs are kind of squirmy kids so it's easy for us to just strap them into their car seat, stick a bottle in their mouth during take off and bam have them fall asleep. DH and I talked about this in length the first time we traveled by plane with our LO.</p> <p>All in all you and your DH know what's best for your baby. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293719 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:40:01 +0000 WinterBee 2293719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: If you're going to pay for 2 econ tickets, I would put the money towards 1 first class ticket. More space, less people, comfy and lots of snacks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293701 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:21:52 +0000 Mrs. Cheesecake 2293701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've taken our LOs on Southwest flights from San Diego to DC and San Diego to Chicago. We didn't buy them a seat until we had to (I think the maximum lap baby age for SW is 2yo). For the most part they just stayed in our laps or the ergo to sleep. I made sure to schedule the flights during their nap times or a red eye so they would sleep most of the way. Last time we went to Chicago with both of them we took a red eye and lucked out on having a partially empty plane. So DS had his own seat between us and I wore DD in the ergo the whole flight. When I flew to Chicago with DD by myself I wore her in the ergo and sat in a window seat that gave me a little more elbow room on one side. That time the plane was full since it was a daytime flight. It's up to you if you feel you need the extra room and if your baby is pretty mobile. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293687 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:14:36 +0000 Alivoo01 2293687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never bought a seat for DS, but he didn't mind being a lap infant. I did get a bulkhead seat when DS was older and that helped a lot. I put him on the ground when it was safe to do so and he played there for a good while, like 20 minutes by putting pieces of paper in and out the air sickness bag - lol!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293683 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:11:39 +0000 MamaG 2293683@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Southwest doesn't give great priority boarding to families. They board families between A and B. You can get in the A group by either paying more or being really fast at the 24 hour check in. It's approximately 60 people in the A group. You will still have a decent selection of seats available.</p> <p>Also, it will be a full plane. Southwest has a way of selling out their planes - as does pretty much every domestic flight with how much they have cut flights. I would not bank on a extra seat for free.</p> <p>Our flight was short, but we just changed LO before and after flight and didn't have any poo we needed to deal with mid flight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293680 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:09:25 +0000 Foodnerd81 2293680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: the planes we were on had a tiny changing table that flipped down above the toilet. Like half the size of one you would see in a regular public bathroom. I only ever used it once, I made DH do it usually but she pooped twice on our last flight so it had to be my turn. But we still managed then even with a 19 month old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293679 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:09:12 +0000 catlady 2293679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always buy an extra seat for our LO. It is not worth it to me to save some money to potentially put my baby in a dangerous situation. The way I see it is, during turbulence, literally everyone on a plane gets strapped down except lap infants. The other reason I do it is that my LO is used to sleeping in a carseat, so on flights she can take a nap (we have done MA to FL and back, and that is a nice length for a nap). However, many people fly with lap infants and have a good experience. It is really up to you and what you are comfortable with. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293675 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:07:21 +0000 Eko 2293675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: there's room to change them in the bathroom? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293674 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:06:19 +0000 Foodnerd81 2293674@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: we changed diaper before boarding but she pooped during the flight so we had to change then too. DH changed her in the plane bathroom- I held her the whole flight (she nursed a lot) so it was the least he could do. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293670 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:02:15 +0000 Eko 2293670@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When do you change their diapers? On the layover? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293667 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 12:00:48 +0000 Eko 2293667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: yeah we are flying southwest. I know we are going to be the last people anyone wants to sit next to, but being thanksgiving I figured all seats would be booked. I thought perhaps the extra elbow room would've been worth it, but perhaps not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293650 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:47:09 +0000 winniebee 2293650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: Can you fly southwest? We always could pre board and would go to the back of the plane and take a whole row. It was the last seat anyone wanted to sit in (next to a couple with a baby) so we often got a seat for him anyways even though we didn't buy it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293646 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:46:14 +0000 winniebee 2293646@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we traveled a lot and never bought a 3rd seat until we had to! he mostly will want to be on your lap anyhow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293639 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:42:39 +0000 Foodnerd81 2293639@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: I have tried this for every flight for the past I don't know how many years. I guess I'm always flying during peak times because it NEVER works. But that middle person is never upset to take the window or aisle at least! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293627 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:37:52 +0000 snowjewelz 2293627@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not for us. DD will be 1 when we fly and I don't even plan on getting her a seat b/c she will most likely not sleep in the carseat anyway. I'd be so mad if I paid so much for a seat just to hold stuff! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293609 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:27:09 +0000 Eko 2293609@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: looks like southwest doesn't offer this, and we have to use them </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293606 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:24:56 +0000 HabesBabe 2293606@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wasn't worth it for us when we flew with infants. Tip: if there's assigned seating (aka NOT Southwest), reserve an aisle seat and a window seat, leaving the middle seat open. Most single travelers would rather select an open aisle or window seat for themselves rather than a middle. So hopefully, you would end up with an empty middle seat for your LO, and if someone does choose it, ask them to swap seats. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293603 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:21:58 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2293603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I recently sat next to a mom traveling alone with her lap baby and I think an extra seat would not have been worth it. Sure when the little one napped his feet took up some of my space, but for the most part he breastfed or snacked assisted by his mom. The mom packed light on the plane. She wore her son and just had a back pack full of supplies. This baby was walking, not talking and before we boarded the plane the mom let him stretch his legs quite a bit. In fact she didn't even pre-board, which allowed him lots of time to move freely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293596 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:15:33 +0000 Foodnerd81 2293596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>There is no question that the extra seat is safer, and the extra space I'm sure would be nice. But we never have. I'm sure at thanksgiving the prices are already going to be really high, so unless your LO hates being held and loves his car seat, probably not worth it. At least not to me. Car seat safety experts would disagree... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293593 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:15:09 +0000 Eko 2293593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: oh that's really helpful! I will have to look into that. I guess I'm more concerned about elbow room. I figured LO would be on my lap no matter what. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293591 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:12:47 +0000 Madison43 2293591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it is. We flew to NC (2 hr flight) when LO was 8 months old and I was cursing not having an extra seat. We went to SC in August and bought the extra seat even though we didn't need it (LO was 22 months) and I was so glad to have it. She still sat in her dad's lap most of the time watching Daniel Tiger on the iPad, but having the extra space was so nice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293590 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:12:05 +0000 MamaG 2293590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not at that age. We flew this summer when LO was about 8 months old and I wore her getting on and off the plane. I would have just wore her the whole time and hoped she fell asleep but our plane was ridiculously warm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293587 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 11:07:16 +0000 Corduroy 2293587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never bought a third seat because my LOs hate the car seat. I'm sure that if we bought a seat it would go unused. The times we've gotten an extra seat by luck LO has been right on top of me anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/buying-a-third-seat-on-plane-for-6-month-old#post-2293567 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 10:58:57 +0000 mrbee 2293567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Eko: Oh also, you can try to get the bulkhead seats - some airlines will offer a baby bassinet to kids under a year old!</p> <p><a href="http://www.gypsymomma.com/2012/07/19/bassinet-weight-height-restrictions-on-airlines/" rel="nofollow">http://www.gypsymomma.com/2012/07/19/bassinet-weight-height-restrictions-on-airlines/</a> </p>