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Original poster

Should we book a seat for 13 month old?

29 replies

Belfast1985 · 30/06/2021 10:25

Flying short haul in August. DD will be 13 months. She is a v. large baby. She is crawling and increasingly independent. If she doesn't want to sit on your lap she won't. When you fly with babies do they literally sit on your lap with no seat belt? If so she might wriggle off?

Just wondering whether to book a seat for her. If we booked her own seat would we need anything extra or does she literally sit in the adult seat strapped in like an adult?

Sorry about all the questions! BlushBlush We are clueless having been in lockdown her whole life!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 30/06/2021 10:36

You get an extension seatbelt for an under 2 on your lap so they are attached to your belt. I'm not sure whether they'd still need to be on your lap during take off/landing even if you pay for a seat

HappyGoLuckyGo · 30/06/2021 10:39

I believe they still need to be on your lap for take off and landing, but her own seat would give her a proper space to play. We got our little one his own seat when we flew Transatlantic, for that reason.

Tbh if you can afford it then I would- why start the holiday all squished and stressed?

MrsPear · 30/06/2021 11:06

Anytime the seatbelt sign is on they have to strapped to an adults lap. Other than that if you can afford it get the extra seat - that way you won’t have the stress of trying to keep the baby away from the single person in your row. Just make sure you can block out all three.

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MrsPear · 30/06/2021 11:08

Oh and she won’t be allowed to be stroppy - I’ve been on flight where the steward was quite clear if the parents didn’t contain the child then they would be removed and the flight delayed. As a parent I was a little stunned at the tone but it is for safety reasons. My youngest was difficult too but I just had to be very firm.

mynameiscalypso · 30/06/2021 11:09

We flew with DS last summer at a similar age - having an extra seat was definitely worth it for us. He is very wriggly and never would have sat on our laps for the flight. It also meant we had a row of three with him in the middle which meant we minimised annoyance to other people.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 30/06/2021 11:11

How long? 1hr and 5hrs are both short haul!

90mins, maybe 2hrs... not worth it. Longer definitely.

Shmithecat2 · 30/06/2021 11:11

Depending on the airline, I'd book a seat and take a flight approved car seat on board for her.

CupOfTPlease · 30/06/2021 11:12

My DN who was 2 when we went to Majorca had his own seat. He was only just 2 but I'd say if you could afford it to get the extra seat.

uhtredsonofuhtred1 · 30/06/2021 11:13

If you can afford it then definitely book an extra seat. Sometimes we have done the same and it just gives everyone a bit extra room for playing, sleeping or eating. My youngest 2 are very head strong but we have always been firm with them on a plane etc "no, you must sit on mummy's knee for a bit longer" kind of thing.

Toolateplanting · 30/06/2021 11:14

Screens are your friend.. and lots of new toys/books
My wriggly child actually loved it - she had both mum and dad trapped right by her and all the attention she wanted. The queing and hanging about was much tougher.
How long is the flight?

dementedpixie · 30/06/2021 11:24

@CupOfTPlease

My DN who was 2 when we went to Majorca had his own seat. He was only just 2 but I'd say if you could afford it to get the extra seat.
They have to have their own seat if age 2+ Under 2s wouldn't normally have their own seat but you can pay for one
HappyGoLuckyGo · 30/06/2021 11:35

Also I always get on last! I know they try to board families first but I prefer to let DC to run around by the gate for as long as possible...

Original poster
Belfast1985 · 30/06/2021 15:28

@dementedpixie what is the situation for booster seats for my 1 year old please? Can she just sit in adult seat using adult belt? I'm confused.

OP posts:
Lupinspotato · 30/06/2021 15:39

Bumping as also interested! Especially do they need a booster if you buy them their own seat?

Bluntness100 · 30/06/2021 15:42

God buy a seat, lap baby is really dangerous and only suitable when thy are tiny . Unexpected turbulence and your kid is going flying. Honestly the airlines shouldn’t allow this past thr age of six months.

BuffySummersReportingforSanity · 30/06/2021 15:46

[quote Belfast1985]@dementedpixie what is the situation for booster seats for my 1 year old please? Can she just sit in adult seat using adult belt? I'm confused. [/quote]
An under 2 must 1) either be in your lap, strapped in with an extension belt to your seatbelt, or 2) in a flight approved car seat that can safely be fitted with an airline belt, during takeoff, landing, and any time the seatbelt sign is on. Very few car seats are approved for airplane usage, and flight staff often don't know of this option and won't let you use it in any case unless you bring documentation from the airline specifically approving it.

RainbowCrayons · 30/06/2021 15:46

A 1 year old would need to be on your lap with a seat belt extension for takeoff landing and any other time the seat belt sign is on. Or in an approved carseat on certain flights/with certain airlines but it's worth checking this because not all flights and airlines accept the same thing. You would need to book the extra seat for this though obviously.

I booked a seat for 18month old DS last time we flew as it was just me and him and it was an 8 hour flight. He was happy watching Peppa pig and we showed him how to use headphones in the weeks leading up to the flight. Luckily there wasn't much turbulence so he only needed to be on my lap a short time.

Some airlines will let children up to 2 use the bassinets in the bulk head rows. At just over 1 we used one with DS and he slept the whole flight but they had a maximum weight limit of 10 or 12kg (can't remember which) and by 18 months he was both far too long and heavy for it. And I'm not sure how practical they would be for a mobile child even if they say up to 2 years old.

Susannahmoody · 30/06/2021 15:47

Tough call

eurochick · 30/06/2021 15:48

There usually aren't any bassinet seats on short haul flights in my experience.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 30/06/2021 15:49

If you are taking a carseat with you (for taxis or hire cars), I'd book a seat. I'd rather the carseat was where I could see it than tumbling around the hold of the plane.

Triffid1 · 30/06/2021 15:51

We travelled long haul with DD at that age and it was a nightmare!! She was a large, tall baby and even though she was super well behaved, we were exhausted from having her on our lap the entire time. I think for anything less than a couple of hours, it's fine. But more than 4 hours I'd be getting the baby a seat.

Lalanbaba · 30/06/2021 15:55

For under 2 they give you an extension loop that you attach to your own seat belt.
So like a little seat belt that is attached to your own seat belt.
We were always told that she needed to be on one of parents lap when the seat belt light was on. But booking her own seat gave us room, like for her to sit an have a snack.
Tip! Give them a drink when ascending /descending so their ears pop and don't hurt and avoid the subsequent cry

Lalanbaba · 30/06/2021 16:01

Also for long haul you can get something like this
www.stokke.com/GBR/en-gb/534502.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwrPCGBhALEiwAUl9X05CaH3jg-u2nsCFS6AFBMnLPSVmFDVIJVqIJuLIq7PwHGaGsV0rOzRoCBpEQAvD_BwE
So they can sleep confortable

idontlikealdi · 30/06/2021 16:04

Oh god yes.

JingsMahBucket · 30/06/2021 16:46

Do toddler airline places cost less than adult places? I’ve always wondered this.

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