Flying with a 2 Year Old - Lexington Park,MD

How long is the flight? We flew with my oldest daughter right before she turned 2 and she was a lap child. I think our flights were 3 hours than 1 hour and she did fine. As it turned out, the flight we were on wasn't booked so she ended up having extra space; however, I think we would have been fine with her just moving from my husband's lap to mine.

As a side note, we got delayed (for hours and hours) coming home and I was so worried about how she would be. In the end I was CRANKY and she was a perfect angel. Sometimes I think we worry about the kids too much. They tend to think the experience is fun so go with it!

We also flew with my youngest when she was 1 1/2 and she did fine on my lap too!

Wikki sticks are a fun thing to bring on the plane. They are very small so fit well in a carry on and are easy to pick up. My daughters both liked making things with them.

We've traveled with many lap children over the years :). Actually one of the best flights I've ever taken with my kids, I was pregnant, alone (as far as adults) - on a flight from hawaii to california with a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 1/2 year old. I knew it was going to be crazy - so I totally went overboard in my planning :p. It has always worked out fine for us. When picking seats, sometimes we would purposely leave an empty seat between us - if the flight isn't very full, many times it didn't get filled and our child ended up with a seat - and if it does get filled...I can't think of anybody that would want to sit between two adults and a lapchild - it was pretty easy to trade :). You could possibly request the bulkhead seats - some flights won't let you request them until boarding because they reserve them for people that are physically handicapped or physically need the room...etc. Only problem with that - is that you have to put your carry-ons above you (as there is no seat in front of you). There is some website - I forget what it is...that you can type in the type of plan you're flying on...and they show a whole diagram and analyze all the seats so you know which ones don't recline as far, which ones have more room...etc. Another thing we have done with lap kids is sat in the second to the last row. Last row doesn't recline as much, if at all. It's nice being close to the bathroom - and easily being able to stand and hold a child without having to walk up or down the aisles :). Sorry to hear about your grandfather - good luck with your travels!

You MUST have her strapped down for takeoff and landing (and I strongly advise having her belted whenever possible; having been through intense turbulence many times in many years of flying, believe me, it is enough to throw a child out of an adult's arms. It really is.) It's the law -- she has to be strapped down for takeoff and landing and if the "seat belts on" sign is lighted, not just held in someone's arms.

So you will have to get a seat belt extender and it must be one that's approved for airline use. This would enable her to sit with an adult and be strapped onto that adult's lap. They also may or may not not allow you to strap her to your lap using the one regular seat belt available -- ask now so there are no surprises when you board the plane.

Add in the fact that the adults will arrive exhausted for what already sounds like an emotionally draining trip, if they spend the entire flight with a toddler crawling over them.

Did you ask the airline and/or the car seat manufacturer if the seat is definitely too large for the airline seat? Inquire about your specific make and model of car seat if you haven't already. I've seen car seats used in airline seats many, many times and have done it myself many times -- you may not have seen it done, but it is done a lot. It really is the safest way to go and also it means the adults are less exhausted.

We have flown lots with our 2.5 year old and find that it is certainly easier to have the carseat, as he is used to it and can sometimes sleep in it. I would definitely want it for international flights,at 1.5 years he was too big to sleep on me anymore. I also agree with a previous post that it likely is safer. However since yours doesn't fit I probably wouldn't buy a new one for one flight. My boy gets pretty wiggly and cannot understand why he can't run in the aisle. Helps a lot also to take a bag of new toys and books to occupy, or a dvd player. Also make sure you have snacks enough to keep him doing well. Sometimes you just don't get time between flights and many flights only serve a drinkt these days. Oh, and the ONE flight I didn't have a change of clothes for him he had diarrhea all over. So not pretty in a plane! Hope this helps.

We took our kids on their first flight when they are 6, 4, and 2. We got seats for all of them. It was well worth the $. I can't imagine my 2 year old wanting to sit in anyone's lap the entire trip.

I'm sorry to hear about your grandfater :(.

I'm so sorry to hear about your grandfather. We never bought a seat for my son when he was under age 2. We typically fly Southwest where there are no assigned seats, and they let families with small children board early. What I did was let my son sit in his own seat while the plane was boarding -- sometimes you get lucky if the flight isn't full!

Here's what to do: Put your daughter in the center seat between you and another adult in your group. Seat the third adult in your group on the aisle seat across from your row. If the flight is full, the stewardess will come over the intercom and announce that, and ask people to fill in the center seats, etc. If that happens, just pull your daughter onto your lap and have your third adult scoot across the aisle to your row. If the flight *isn't* full, you're in luck! Your daughter gets her own seat if she wants it and you'll have more wiggle room. You will have to put her on your lap for takeoff and landing, but by that point everyone else is seated and you won't risk losing her open seat.

ETA after reading Leigh's response: When my son rode as a "lap child" I was never told he had to be restrained during take off or landing -- they only told me I had to hold him on my lap. Actually one time when he was very small, I had him sleeping peacefully in the Baby Bjorn which I was wearing while I was sitting in my seat and they made me take him OUT for take off -- how dumb is that?! You might want to check with your airline to see what their policy is.

If you have three adults, I think you will be just fine. I've flown with my son at that age and it was fine. If she gets antsy, take her for walks up the aisles. Let her run around during any layovers you may have. Bring a mix of new and old toys and plenty of snacks. Hopefully she will sleep some for you. Have a safe trip!

ETA: I don't know where Leigh is getting her information, but it is absolutely NOT required for a child under two to be restrained if they are flying as a lap child/infant in arms. You only have to hold them in your lap. You are not allowed to have them in a carrier, but I had flight attendants that looked the other way at take off and landing and my son stayed in the carrier.

Sorry to hear about your Grandfather.

I have no experience with this-but I do know that people survive crashes and horrible landings when properly secured; while there is no law that requires a car seat, I would still use one for safety. If car seats aren't available for rental and already installed in the seat when you board-then there's a business for you! Travel safely and God bless!

We always bought a seat for our son when he was under 2 because he was way too wiggly to sit on laps. He was much more comfortable being strapped into his familiar car seat. Gate check the car seat so that you have an opportunity at the gate to ask if there are any empty seats that they would let you use for her. Check your car seat label to see if it says FAA approved, then it is allowed on an airplane. Check with the airline about their rules if she does sit on your lap. There is a lot of debate about whether it is safe to buckle a child into the lap of an adult or better to just hold them (arguments exist both ways).