https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:31:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763750 Mon, 06 May 2013 14:13:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 763750@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I take my vote back. Normally I would say lap, but it sounds like that $300 will buy you peace of mind and an extra ticket, so I would do what it takes to keep you sane! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763654 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:38:52 +0000 Mrs D 763654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: Not that I think it will cure you - but recently I sat next to a pilot on a LONG flight (Dubai to NYC) with 8 straight hours of bumps. He took note of my anxiety and had a long discussion with me about commercial airplanes and basically told me if the plane has power (i.e. the lights are on and the no smoking sign is lit up) the plane is going to be just fine. </p> <p>I am not kidding when I say that I literally asked him "I mean at some point after all this bumpy-ness you'd think the wings could just snap off". He chuckled and informed me that the airplanes wings are built and tested to flex like 45 degrees - crazy.</p> <p>After flying nearly 80k miles last year for work I have gotten to the point where I 1) look for signs of power to the plane (lights etc) and 2) look at the flight attendants - they do this every day, if they are comfortable I should be too! :) Its totally neurotic but it works for me! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763588 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:13:58 +0000 knittylady 763588@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have bad airplane anxiety as well, and so I say buy the extra ticket! You can't put a price on feeling even a little bit better when you have flight anxiety. I know! I pretty much give myself no budget when it comes flying because just getting through it is a triumph! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763580 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:10:14 +0000 mrsjazz 763580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: I tried the Xanax and glass of wine on the plane and I still felt like I was going to die after every bump. I wish I could just turn my brain off for a little while. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763572 Mon, 06 May 2013 13:07:16 +0000 Mrs D 763572@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: @mrsjazz: ok makes tons more sense now - I was super confused and picturing a baby just chillin alone in an airplane seat.</p> <p>I still vote lap certainly for a LO under 22lbs! :)</p> <p>Good luck! I'm with you on being terrified of flying. When I travel alone its a xanax and glass of wine that does the trick- when I am around people and want to seem classier I stick to just the glass of wine! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763505 Mon, 06 May 2013 12:40:48 +0000 ainsworthe 763505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always bought for my son and brought his car seat. We have this one:<br /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Seat-Shadow/dp/B005MQRAAK" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Diono-Radian-Convertible-Seat-Shadow/dp/B005MQRAAK</a></p> <p>It always worked out perfectly. It was just like riding in the car AND we had the carseat when we got to our destination. He had a place of his own and we didn't have to worry about sharing a row with anyone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763486 Mon, 06 May 2013 12:32:07 +0000 mrsjazz 763486@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: You can use your car seat (if it fits) on the airplane for a child 20 lbs. and below. For 22 and above there's this CARES restraint system. </p> <p>The lap seat option seems to be winning in the poll. I've been reading more of the Google and I may end up buying another seat. I'm already freaking out and I have more than a month until the flight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763466 Mon, 06 May 2013 12:21:16 +0000 looch 763466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: You can use an approved car seat. You strap the car seat into the airplane seat using the lap belt and then you sit the child in the seat and use the car seat harness. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763447 Mon, 06 May 2013 12:13:41 +0000 Mrs D 763447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted lap ticket - no sense spending the $300 besides I think 1) DH should be told he has to stay awake and 2) I think cuddling may make you feel better.</p> <p>Also - as someone who will likely travel with DD around 6 mos I am trying to figure out in my mind how there is an option other than them sitting in your lap? How exactly do you strap a child in to their own seat at 6 mos old? 1) I would think the strap could cause severe damage if there was a collision and 2) I would think a LO would just wiggle right out. So you'd essentially be holding them anyways? I understand the desire for having the extra space completely - but aren't you basically going to be holding a LO under say 12-18 mos anyways for take off?</p> <p>Also - FYI on my last flight the attendant would not let the parents walk the aisle's with their baby b/c it was to be used for going to/from the restroom only - not for strolling. Not saying either party was right or wrong but some FA's are not so easy going! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763336 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:28:32 +0000 Freckles 763336@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: If the flight attendants are anal, they will not let you breastfeed unless she is sitting upright. They are really particular with how you're holding LO. When we took off, LO was in the Ergo, and they made a big deal about her not being in the Ergo...which i couldn't understand since she would be in the EXACT same position outside of it! </p> <p>I would just feed her snacks (puffs, yogurt melts, whatever) that she can eat/suck during take-off, and she'll be great. Really, the bets flights were the ones where she ate almost the entire time. Also, some of the flight attendants will be nice and move you to a row that has an empty seat in the middle.</p> <p>I would also tell DH to be awake the entire time. I would not be cool with him sleeping while i struggle with a squirmy LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763329 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:24:22 +0000 mrbee 763329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't buy another ticket! Especially for a shorter flight...</p> <p>Can you get bulkhead seating? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763317 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:19:14 +0000 yoursilverlining 763317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll add to that it's actually kind of stressful for me when people want to talk to her, play with her, etc. Because I don't want her to bother people and I'd rather just hold her and talk to her and read with her; but if some grandmother type wants to play a game for 5-10 min I also am thankful for the break! ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763299 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:12:56 +0000 yoursilverlining 763299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: we don't let her annoy them. We only let her interact with people who initiate the interaction (last 2 flights two women started playing peek-a-boo and we asked them to tell us if they did not want to play anymore so we wouldn't bug them. Both said they were visiting grandkids so this was a "perfect warmup"). I don't want to be *that parent*. </p> <p>If/when we walk up the aisle we don't interact with anyone, LO smiles and waves but she doesn't care if people wave back at her and she is quiet and doesn't touch anyone.</p> <p>She will also just sit in our lap and play with books/toys and babble to herself most of the flight. Her attention span for playing games with people is only about 10 minutes max and we ask them every few minutes if she is bothering them and to please be honest!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763297 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:12:26 +0000 hilsy85 763297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: this! Especially if he's the one pushing for not getting her a seat... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763275 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:02:52 +0000 mrsjazz 763275@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I've read some articles that talk about the safety--that a lap infant is still safer than putting her in a car, so logically it makes sense. But logic doesn't work well with anxiety! Believe me, I've tried to trick my brain with facts about flying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763271 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:01:56 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 763271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: what do you do when the people around you clearly do not want to play with your LO? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763265 Mon, 06 May 2013 11:00:29 +0000 mrsjazz 763265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TurtleDoves: Haha. Yeah I'm in NY, the flight to ATL is not that long. Well, I was going to use my boobie to help her during take off and landing in case her ears pop so I don't think I can be drugged up. I will be singing kumbaya. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763251 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:56:39 +0000 cascademom 763251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: As someone who flew recently with an 8 month old, it's not so bad. We didn't have his lovey for the flight out. On the flight back home, lovey was with us and he took the cue and slept for an hour. LO was high energy on the flight, but we had a few toys to keep him entertained. I was pleasantly surprised how we managed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763242 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:54:21 +0000 Foodnerd81 763242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It depends on your baby, but I think I would just save the money, but also do the booking a window and aisle near the back trick, if you can. That way there is a decent chance no one books the seat in between you anyway-- are there any open rows of 3 available now? </p> <p>This could be naive, but I'm not really that worried about the safety factor-- I won't get into the reasons why because it won't help, but I think you will be plenty safe holding her in your lap (or your DH, who should absolutely have to stay up with you guys!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763235 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:51:58 +0000 swurlygurl 763235@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted lap, but I'm suuuper cheap about stuff like that. I would tolerate an obnoxious child to save $300 any day. I have 2 roundtrip flights with DD this year... one at 6 months and one at 12 months... we'll see how those go! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763233 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:51:30 +0000 looch 763233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: yes, that's all there is to it. You are strapped in with your seat belt for take off and landing, but your child isn't strapped in at all. On some flights, they will give you a seat belt extender thing that you can use, but those are even worse IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763228 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:50:44 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 763228@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted coocoo for cocoa puffs and what I mean by that is:<br /> You get all kinds of drugged up and you sit there praying and meditating if you have to...and give B to your DH to worry about. $300 could totally be saved here! You do your thing and whatever you have to do to get through it....and just leave DH to worry about B since he isn't crazy..I mean afraid of flying. :)<br /> You're in NY right? The flight is extremely short. When we went from MI I think *it* was less than 90mins? It was our layover between MI and Miami. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763223 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:49:51 +0000 Beehive 763223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have always bought an extra seat for LO - for us the savings isn't worth the safety trade-off, and as a bonus it's nice not to have to hold him for the whole flight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763211 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:46:10 +0000 Mrsbells 763211@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am not sure how a lap seat works? Do you just carry her on your lap? If I had the extra $300 I would buy an extra seat just for peace of mind </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763205 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:44:17 +0000 yoursilverlining 763205@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't buy a ticket for such a short flight. We've flown 6 times already with LO, sometimes she sleeps (rare), most of the times she plays with toys and tries to engage the people around us in a game of peek-a-boo. If a grandmother type is sitting in the row behind you, you're golden!! Haha we also do a lot of walking up and down the aisle so LO can see and wave at everyone. </p> <p>On one flight there was an empty seat in our row so we sat window and aisle and tried to put LO in her own seat in the middle but she was having none of it and would only be good if she was being held.</p> <p>So, long story short haha, id save the $$. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763166 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:32:53 +0000 plantains 763166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you should make your DH stay awake and hold her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763158 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:31:33 +0000 mrsjazz 763158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Oh, I wouldn't let her walk up and down the aisles. That annoys me as well. She will probably want to do that and we won't let her and it won't be pretty! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763145 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:28:20 +0000 looch 763145@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: I think in these kinds of situations, you have to do what you are comfortable with. In our case, we knew that we would be flying frequently, and it was essential that we got our son used to the procedure because once he turns two, there's no debate, he's in his seat.</p> <p>I'd also caution you against using the "walk up and down the aisles" approach because it can be annoying to other passengers when the aisles aren't clear. It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people don't buy a seat for their active toddler and then the said toddler spends his or her time near the premium seat I paid extra for. Of course my son then wants to get out of his seat and play and chaos ensues. Just my 2 cents, but it's a situation that can get out of control! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763126 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:23:08 +0000 cascademom 763126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We flew our first flights with our LO (8 months old) as a lap baby on commuter planes. The first flight he bounced around between us and didn't want to sleep. We had a pacifier with him to handle the pressure. Those were the times he fussed a bit. On the way home, he bounced between us again, but we had the seat across the way free and the flight attendant was cool about DH sitting there and having two seats for LO and I. I found the lap baby experience enjoyable. LO handled it well.</p> <p>Also, I packed LO's birth certificate and was ready to present it at the ticket counter and TSA. Both times, it wasn't necessary. The TSA agents love babies and we're super nice to us during that process. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/wwyd-buy-an-extra-ticket-for-1-year-old#post-763122 Mon, 06 May 2013 10:21:41 +0000 purrpletulips 763122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've flown with DD twice and both times she was a lap infant (15m and 18m). We were fortunate enough that she slept on all legs of the trip. One thing to keep in mind, if your LO has a seat of their own some airlines will require that she be in her seat and buckled in during take off/landing so you/DH may not be able to hold her. </p>