Flying with 1 year old?

[LifesaBotchh]

Hi,
I've got a 13 month old and we are flying next week (2hr flight). Do I need a car seat? She is very large and heavy - top percentile. The flight is virtually empty so we haven't booked a seat for her but are sure there will be a free one next to us.

If she sits on my lap for take off can I then just sit her on the spare seat during the flight or do they ask for a car seat?

Confused as different websites say different advice.

Unless the specific airline says otherwise, she can just sit in the spare seat, I have never taken car seats on any flights.

You'll get a child's belt to attach to yours, she'll sit on your lap for take off and landing. Get her to drink water or milk/breastfeed to help her ears pop. I've taken my on flights since newborn and never used a car seat.

Sorry I obviously didn't read properly, she can go on the next seat if free without a car seat, we've never had an issue doing that.

She’ll be able to sit in the spare seat apart from take off and landing, as she’ll need to be on your lap. Bear in mind that the flight might fill up (although 2 hours is ok for on a knee if the worst came to the worst).

If you are going to give a bottle for take off don’t start it until the aircraft has actually started it’s take off run. Most parents start too early and the child has finished by the time they need to pressurise their ears. Sometimes you can be shunting up the taxi queue for 20 minutes, so don’t give it at first movement of the aircraft (I was cabin crew for 23 years!).