Air Travel with Lap Infant at 18 weeks

[UK2NO23]

I am looking to travel to visit family with my child who usually travels as a lap infant. She will be 1 years old when we fly but I will also be 18 weeks pregnant and was wondering if this could be considered dangerous.

Flight is around 4 hours there and back (will be around 20 weeks on return flight). DD is usually pretty well behaved but obviously likes to move around a fair bit.. I’m not sure what to do for the best.

I travelled long haul (10 hours) at this stage and it was fine. Dc have to sit still on planes so I brought lots of distractions, no iPads back then either

I think you should be ok. Let's be honest if you paid for a seat for her shes going to spend a lot of time clambering on you anyway so not really many alternatives.

I think the advice is just to keep moving (every 30 minutes) which I imahine you'd be doing anyway 😊

I would honestly consider purchasing an extra seat. Mine was a lap infant until he turned 2, but I wasn't pregnant. I cherished the flights where the seat next to us was coincidentally free, just to be able to pop him down for a bit, or store our bag/toys/snacks.
I'm about 20 weeks now and wouldn't want a squirmy little one on my lap the whole flight.

Personally I would buy her own seat at 1 years, especially for a 4 hour flight. She'll have to be on your lap for take off and landing, but the seat will give you all more room during the flight. You'll have trouble putting the tray down, and there won't be lots of room with her on your lap too.

Im plus sized and popped really quickly with my second so wouldn’t have been able to physically fit at that point with a toddler on my lap. Even if you can, it won’t be a comfortable or easy 8 hours. Is a second ticket an option at all?

These are all really good points! We fly together alone quite frequently so I know the feeling of crossing my fingers hoping no one will take the seat next to us!

I think I might contact the airline and see how much it would be, it doesn’t seem to be possible to book a seat for under 2 on their site directly.

I would definitely be considered a bit plus size also so it’s always a little squeeze when we fly anyway but with my firstborn I didn’t show until 37 weeks ish or put on weight the whole time so I think I’m living in denial hoping this time may be the same 🤣

Thank you so much all for your replies!

Yes I would book a seat

contact them, but I remember with Ryanair you ah e to book a ‘comfort seat’ and then contact them for a name change. It’s a right pain. We did it when Ds was 23 months so he was massive and I didn’t fancy him on my lap the whole flight if possible.

It was only a 2 hr flight, but 1hr delay on runway and about 30 mins on arrival to get off was about 3 1/2 hrs. At least with own seat he could stand there at window whilst waiting, sit to eat and play. He still had to be on my lap for take off and landing but that was fine