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Original poster

Would you book a seat on a plane for a... er... 'lively' toddler?

17 replies

chabbychic · 03/03/2011 12:17

Some friends have suggested I need to and also bring car seat to strap her into? She'll be 20 months and flight time is 2.5 hrs...

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 03/03/2011 12:26

I would book this child a seat.

Would not bother with the car seat as it may well not fit the dimensions of the aircraft seat. I would check with the airline as to their policy re car seats on board aircraft.

CameronCook · 03/03/2011 12:27

I would - if only to give you extra room to spread out and put toys out to play with etc

SnackTime · 03/03/2011 12:34

Book her a seat. It's not reasonable to expect a 20-month-old to sit quietly on your lap for 2.5 hours!

chinateacup · 03/03/2011 12:37

I wouldn't pay whilst you don't have to ...She can "sit" on your lap. Or wriggle. Or run around after takeoff. We flew with our son (he's a big lad) at 22 months for 4 hrs on budgetair. On the way out the crew offred us a seat that was unoccupied for him and we all moved. (On the way back, they were thoroughly miserable and unhelpful, but then hey, that's life! We got home ok I just had a bit of a numb leg/ spine!
2.5 hrs isn't that long. Just get loads of things to distract her with. Portable dvd player? (Please don't strike me down for that suggestion!) Someone also recommended buying presents/ wrapping existing toys and pulling a new one out every, say, hour ...

MikeHock · 03/03/2011 12:42

Agree with Attila - car seat will most likely not fit.

I started booking a seat for my ds once he was over the age of 2, but not before as he was quite happy to sit on my knee.

Are you travelling alone?

IME if you have someone with you it's much easier as you can "pass the parcel" .

Original poster

chabbychic · 03/03/2011 12:49

Well it turns out I can't buy a seat for her anyway - going with Ryan Air. She said as it's free seating there's no guarantee we'll all be together. GREAT.

Thanks for advice anyway.

OP posts:

MikeHock · 03/03/2011 12:53

I am sure that if you explain at the gate that you need to sit together they will let you board the plane first.

I have no experience with budget airlines, but according to my friend, they always let parents with small children board first on EasyJet.

Original poster

chabbychic · 03/03/2011 12:57

Well I did get priority boarding but probably everyone has ! I will make it known that with have to sit together.... with tears if necessary!

OP posts:

MikeHock · 03/03/2011 12:59

Good luck! I'm sure it will be fine

CaurnieBred · 03/03/2011 13:01

When I used to fly with Easyjet with DD I used to ask the steward/ess if the flight was full. They never were so I always sat DD on her own seat by the window and I would sit in the middle seat. I wouldn't put her onto my lap until the plane door was shut and we were getting ready to move off and as soon as the seatbelt light went off, she was back on her own seat. That way she got her own seat and I didn't have to pay for it.

The one time we flew Ryan Air I asked if the flight was full and was told it was, but was travelling with DH so we just put her in the middle of the three of us. However, the flight was nowhere near full anyway so there were no issues.

As you pre-board with small children (well, you do with Easyjet, not so sure with Ryan Air) you can usually make sure that the wee one has a window seat and you have the middle one.

The only time we had to have DD on our laps once she was a todler was when we went on holiday with Thomsons and then that flight was full.

amalur · 03/03/2011 13:07

I know you haven't booked it but if your child is lively I would advise not wasting money on a seat that will be unused. If your child is like mine s/he will want to run up and down the aisle.

A tip, if you are travelling with someone else and it is just the three of you, get in the plane as early as you can and take three seats putting your child in the middle. If the plane is full someone will ask you to sit your child on your lap but if it is not you will have an extra seat to use if you need it. You will still need to have your child on your lap for take off and landing though but s/he can sit in the middle the rest of the time.

mindermummy · 03/03/2011 14:41

I would DEF try and get a seat for your child.

When my DD was 20 months old we flew with her and my older DS.
It was THE worse time of my life.

We didnt get her a seat thinking, save money while we can...and she prob will be up and down anyway...and she will prob wanna sit on our laps.....couldnt of been the worse choice.....

She hated being trapped on our laps in such a small space.

There were many more problems that day, but this experience scared me from flying till se is at least at school.

Getting her own seat would of been def the solution.
I would.
xxxxx

MikeHock · 03/03/2011 17:28

The thing is mindermummy, I don't think airlines will sell seats for a child under 24 months as they need to be strapped onto your lap. Must be a safety thing.

nappyaddict · 03/03/2011 17:34

mindermummy don't they only have to be strapped to your lap for landing and take off? If they do hate it it's not too long to put up with it for.

MikeHock · 03/03/2011 17:35

Yeah you're right nappyaddict - it is only for take off and landing.

MisSalLaneous · 03/03/2011 20:27

We started buying ds a seat from around 18 months, I think. Our car seat is suitable for a plane seat (check beforehand), and makes such a difference as ds would never sit still or sleep on our laps, whereas he is fine that.

Now that he's older, we still take his car seat for the same reason.

TheSugarPlumFairy · 04/03/2011 09:04

am in the process of booking tickets to oz for me and 12 month old dd. The airline have advised me that i could purchase her her own seat but i would need to provide a car seat to specific dimensions to strap her into, otherwise she would have to be on my lap for take off and landing.

the good news is that the car seat doesnt count in the luggage limit, nor does her buggy.

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