Do babies have to face forward on planes?

[Geneve]

I flew home for Christmas today with my 14-month-old. I was in the middle seat of three with her on my lap. I've always breastfed her on take-off and landing to help with the popping ears and also it keeps her quiet for a bit

Today she was also due a nap when we got on the plane so I got her feeding, sitting on my lap facing me with her head in the crook of my arm. I've done this before on flights and had no issues. Today, however, the air stewardess told me she had to be facing forward. As DD was half-asleep by this point she was not very impressed. I had no idea this was a rule. Like I said, I've never heard it before, and I'm assuming it doesn't apply to all babies as it would be quite hard to hold a tiny wee one with no neck control facing forward.

Has anyone else been told this?

Although the majority of accidents are actually the smaller type, so maybe the numbers are on side...?

I’ve only flow once with DS but on the way out and back he sat facing me, legs either side, feeding or sleeping. No one complained.

I've flown with both my DC (20 years apart in age) and when they were babies on lap belts always told face forwards. I never questioned it tbh.

Cabin crew for 23 years here. It used to be a rule that the baby had to be forward facing. Now, as long as brace position can be adopted then it’s fine for the baby to be across the lap

I found out recently that the brace position, which I always thought was to help save you, is actually there to preserve your head so that they can identify your corpse

It's largely to protect your face and head from falling and projectile debris. Ever seen baggage fall from overhead lockers? It flies downwards, sidewards, unstoppable, hard. Ever seen what high speed projectile aircraft debris does to the human body? It inserts. I would recommend you brace.

The authorities usually need to identify remains from dental records and dna. Not faces.

Maybe as she's a bit older now they're treating her as a child now rather than a baby?

Sitting forward does make sense though as it means they're held securely against you and less likely to fall over or bump off anything if the plane jolts or whatever.