Air Travel with Infants and Children, helpful advice from a flight attendant
Posted by Camille Mülchi on Mon, June 16th 2008 in Travel
Camille Mülchi shares these helpful tips from an experienced flight attendant on making your next journey by plane much, much easier!
As a prenatal/postpartum yoga teacher and childbirth educator, one of my favorite aspects of my work is the opportunity to connect mamas to the wonderful wisdom and resources we have available to us. Recently I was fortunate enough to have one of my birthing workshop attendees create the following list, outlining several hints and tips with regard to traveling with little ones. (It has been slightly condensed from the original). Amy Jackson is an experienced flight attendant in addition to being a fantastic and creative mama—thanks Amy!
1. “Lap Child” or paid seat?
Most airlines will allow a parent to carry children under 24 months without having to purchase a separate seat. Please keep in mind that it is ALWAYS safer for your child to travel in an approved restraint device (car seat). However, cost is certainly a factor, so here is a tip: Bring your car seat with you to the airport. If there is space on the flight, airlines will almost always allow you to use one of the vacant seats for your infant seat free of charge. If it turns out the plane is full, you can always gate check your seat at the last minute. The Customer Service Agent at the boarding gate can help you with this.
Explaining your situation and asking politely will go a long way when dealing with airline employees. Especially since most of the customer interaction they get is from unhappy passengers. The best way to guarantee that you won’t get accommodated is to be rude and demanding – this goes for dealing with Flight Attendants as well. I can guarantee you there is not a Flight Attendant out there who wants to worry about an unsecured infant during an emergency landing – so if we can help you out, rest assured we will do so!
If it turns out that there is an available seat, chances are it is not next to you. There is something you can do about this if you are traveling on a larger aircraft. When you book your seats (most websites will allow you to do this, or you can request it at check-in) select an aisle and a window seat with an empty middle seat - of course, this only works if you are traveling with another person. Middle seats are the last to get booked, so odds are the middle seat will either be empty, or occupied by a solo traveler. Solo travelers are much more likely to move when asked than someone traveling with a larger party. Plus, who wants to be “stuck” between two parents with a small child? If you need to ask someone to move, get a Flight Attendant to help facilitate. That way, you don’t accidentally start a chain reaction of people seated in the wrong place, which may delay the flight.
One last thing, there is only one lap child permitted per adult, so you won’t be able to travel with two lap children (twins, close siblings) by yourself unless at least one of them is in a car seat.
Approved Child Restraint Devices
The CRS (Child Restraint System) must bear two labels, although typically the text for these two required labels is merged onto one label. The labeling must include the text “This child restraint system conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards” and “THIS RESTRAINT IS CERTIFIED FOR USE IN MOTOR VEHICLES AND AIRCRAFT”, in red lettering.
It is imperative that your infant/child seat is FAA approved for use in aircraft. If it is not, or the sticker (printed in red) is partially torn off or missing, you will not be able to use the seat on the aircraft. Nearly all infant seats are approved. It is helpful if you know where the sticker is on your seat so that you can direct the Flight Attendant right to it. He or she is required by law to check for the label before allowing the seat on board.
2. Installing your seat on the aircraft
Your infant seat should be positioned on the aircraft as it would be in your car - rear facing for smaller infants and forward facing for larger infants. Regulations require that the seat is secured next to a window. It is not allowed in the center seat or in an aisle (to prevent possible obstruction during an evacuation).
If you have a seat that can be used without a base, select that option when traveling by air. It can be difficult to remove the base once you have arrived at your destination because of the difference between airplane and automotive seatbelts – there often is not enough room to get your fingers under the base to release the seatbelt by pulling up on the metal flap if it has been tightened appropriately. If your seat requires the use of the base, by all means use it, but plan for a little hassle when you get ready to deplane.
If you are using an infant seat (even if you didn’t pay for the child’s ticket) it is required for the baby to be placed in the seat and buckled in for taxi, take-off, landing and whenever the seatbelt sign is illuminated. This means you cannot hold/nurse your baby during these phases of flight. The Flight Attendants may choose not to notice that you are holding your baby during cruise when the seatbelt sign is on, unless there is turbulence, but the take-off and landing rule should be strictly adhered to. Eighty-five percent of aircraft accidents happen during these phases of flight, often with no warning, so the rule is for your child’s safety.
3. Unapproved devices
Many booster seats are NOT approved for use on aircraft. Check for a label before you haul it through airport security. This will save you a lot of headache! There will usually be a label that states the seat is not approved for use on aircraft, so read carefully. Only seats with an independent harness system (not relying on the aircraft seatbelt to secure the child to the device) are approved.
You may not secure your child in a sling, front carrier, or any other type of device that binds your child to your body for taxi, take-off or landing. It is also NEVER safe to secure yourself and your child using the same seatbelt. In the event of a crash, or even a short stop or hard landing, your body weight would be thrown against your child, possibly causing severe internal injuries. Belly belts and vest harnesses are also prohibited.
4. Ear pain on take-off and/or landing
Hopefully, your baby will be in her car seat during take-off and landing. This is the safest spot, but it means you can’t nurse during these phases of flight. Keep a pacifier handy, or if you aren’t using pacifiers, make a paste with a little sugar and water (or spit J) and put it on your baby’s lower lip. This will encourage her to suck and hopefully allow her ears to equalize without pain. You can always ask a Flight Attendant for a sugar packet if you don’t have one. Any kind of sweet/sticky substance would have the same effect.
5. Airsickness
You won’t often know if your child will be airsick until you fly. Always assume that he will be and pack accordingly. Parents often forget to pack a change of clothes for themselves in their carry-on bag, but doing so (even just a spare shirt) can save you a lot of grief later. Having lots of wipes with you can also be a big asset in this situation.
Don’t hesitate to use your call button and ask for help – even if it is just to request a garbage bag to but soiled wipes and napkins in. Flight Attendants are trained to don gloves whenever they assist in cleaning up body fluids, so don’t be offended when he/she puts on a pair. At many carriers, it is the Flight Attendants who are responsible for cleaning the aircraft between flights, so however yucky and embarrassing it seems, you are doing them a favor by helping dispose of the mess properly instead of hiding the evidence in a seat pocket.
6. In-flight entertainment
Bring a few toys with you for the flight. It is extra helpful to mix old favorites with toys that are new to the child and more likely to grab their attention. For the sanity of yourself and your fellow passengers, please don’t bring toys that make loud or incessant noises. In a pinch, unused airsick bags make great hand puppets.
Above all, check your seating area carefully when you land. You don’t want to create a crisis later because a favorite toy or security blanket was left on board the aircraft.
7. Changing baby / using the lavatory
Very few aircraft lavatories have changing tables, but some do, so be sure and ask or check it out for yourself. Often Flight Attendants can direct you to the best spot on the aircraft to use for changing (there is almost always a better spot than at your seat). Don’t use the airplane blankets for a changing pad – they are used on many, many flights and rarely (if ever!) washed.
For older kids, don’t ever let them go to the lavatory without their shoes on. That nastiness on the floor is NOT all water, despite what we would like to believe.
8. Snacks and meals
Be sure to bring your own snacks on the plane. It is basically a given that anything you get on the flight (if anything) will be unhealthy. Don’t be shy about asking a Flight Attendant to cut your child’s apple juice with water or to ask for warm water to mix formula with. Depending on the Flight Attendant’s experience with children, you may have to be very specific about the water. Asking for a quarter cup of hot water for “tea” and then topping off with regular bottled water should do the trick. I would advise you to just get the water and mix the formula yourself – that way you don’t waste formula with water that is far too hot. Forget about getting food micro-waved, very few airplanes have this capability (airplane meals are loaded already hot into insulated carts). NEVER, EVER use water from a lavatory sink for a bottle, to mix cereal or even to brush your teeth with, it is not safe to drink and is meant for washing hands only.
Happy Travels!
Camille Mülchi RYT, CCE
http://www.motherwiseyoga.com/
