babywearing in airport and on airplanes - Page 2

[brightonwoman]

IT totally depends on which airports/airlines you are dealing with.
When DS was 7m, and again when he was 11m, I flew with him in a ring sling (I figured a sling was easier for on/off if I needed to--in my case I did not). He was a 'lap baby' as per the ticket, so he was not in a separate carseat, he was in my lap the whole time on the flight. Yes, I did keep him in the sling because I couldn't really belt him, and I felt a little safer knowing that he was somewhat attached to me. Again, this would be a lot harder in a wrap imo...

ETA, I also nursed during takeoff/landing. It's easier on baby's ears. The flight attendant had her little drop seat literally next to me (we were on the last row) and she commented that LOTS of moms nurse during assent/decent. She didn't have anything negative to say about the nursing or the sling. So long as I was buckled and the baby was in my arms, she didn't care if I had a blanket or a sling or whatever wrapped around him.

[zomigi]

I totally hear all of you about the sling being easier for in and out. And I do have a ring sling, as well as a Snugli front carrier. But I don't like either of those as much as the Moby. I really don't like my ring sling -- if I took it, I would only wear it at the airport, and wear the Moby the rest of the trip, and I would hate to have the extra bulk of the ring sling for such limited use. I think I'd rather take the Snugli -- at least my dad could also wear that if he wanted to.

Hmm, choices... do I risk doing the Moby, and hope they don't give me a hard time, and not have to deal with the extra bulk of extra carriers, or do I play it safe but have to use a more uncomfortable carrier during a time when comfort is one of my top priorities? This is so annoying to have to choose. Travel restrictions are always so up to the whim of the person you get at security. I actually wish they were more strict just so I would know what to expect!

Ok, venting over. :-)

[hollytheteacher]

We went to Florida (from VT) with my ds when he was 17 months. I wore him in the Ergo all through the airport, including security. If you don't beep when you walk through they dont' care. They said if i beeped I'd have to take him out.

Also, I could wear him on the plane (take off and landing included). And I also just held him on my lap for some of it as well.

Ironically enough, even during the turbulence and "seatbelt on" times, they said it doesn't apply to lap babies...You can just hold them, wear them, or whatever.

[hollytheteacher]

I am really surprised by the amount of people who stated you cannot wear your baby during the plane ride. I wore my ds in the ergo most of the time on the flight (including take off and landing).

We went with JetBlue.

[maymorales]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

I am really surprised by the amount of people who stated you cannot wear your baby during the plane ride. I wore my ds in the ergo most of the time on the flight (including take off and landing).

We went with JetBlue.

I have flown with JetBlue several times. Sometimes it's okay. Sometimes it's not. Most of the time, though, the flight attendants are very understanding.

[maymorales]

Originally Posted by joshs_girl

For some reason, they seem to view being in your arms as being safer than in a carrier.

total insanity. I agree.
Wouldn't the baby fly out of your moms in the event of a crash or severe turbulence? Our arms are not seat belts.

[kayabrink]

I always flew with ds in the carrier (8 times across the frikin atlantic ocean over two years!), and he always nursed during takeoff/landing. When we flew, I was never asked to take ds out of the ring sling until he was 9 months. They even let me go through w/ the machine beeping. Good thing I didn't have any evil plans afoot!
But the only airports I delt with were London, Paris, Toronto and Montreal; airlines air canada, british, france and KLM. Ds had to wear a "seatbelt" (seriously, a lapbelt on a two month old?) but I just strapped it around the sling.

[alegna]

Originally Posted by hollytheteacher

I am really surprised by the amount of people who stated you cannot wear your baby during the plane ride. I wore my ds in the ergo most of the time on the flight (including take off and landing).

We went with JetBlue.

It's an FAA regulation.

If you were allowed to wear a baby during take off or landing, it's against FAA rules.

-Angela

[PoppyMama]

Originally Posted by joshs_girl

About during the flight ... I believe you are allowed to keep the baby in the wrap/sling/carrier when you are in the air. However, they have to be sitting in your lap or held in your arms during take off and landing. For some reason, they seem to view being in your arms as being safer than in a carrier.

From what I understand...they don't believe it is safer for the baby they believe it is safer for you. They are probably right. If there are severe turbulents or an impending crash people were generally told to put their child on the floor in front of them and lean over them. Your child becomes a projectile of a weight many Xs greater than their actual weight during an emergency and in a crash would not be expected to live. I remember signing a release form to take my dd on "in arms" and basically you are accepting the risk. If you were hurt in the crash while wearing your child you could sue them for not keeping you safe. I only flew that once with her and haven't gotten onto a plane with a child since. I'm not a safety nut but if freaks me out a bit.

[kalisis]

No, it's actually b/c there was a study done that said your child was at less risk for injury by being thrown about the cabin than being body slammed by you into the seat in front of you. I will go find that link, maybe we can sticky it b/c this is a constant source of concern and confusion.

[maymorales]

thanks for clarifying.
I watch too many movies.

[Leilamus]

Depending on what your wrap is like (it's a Moby right?) you could do a ring sling carry with it. There are vids of it on Youtube and so you'd be able to get your LO in and out easy without having to do a major re-tie. just a thought.

[zomigi]

Originally Posted by Leilamus

Depending on what your wrap is like (it's a Moby right?) you could do a ring sling carry with it. There are vids of it on Youtube and so you'd be able to get your LO in and out easy without having to do a major re-tie. just a thought.

Ah, didn't know that. I'll check it out. Thanks!

Another point against the Moby is that I don't think I will be able to nurse in it. Honestly, I've never tried, but my boobs are so big I don't see how it would work. :-) So if I had to take it off to nurse, I might as well just wear something that's easy to take on and off in the first place. ... Or, wear a shirt that I can nurse in without unwrapping the Moby, just with DD out of it. Hmm...

[EviesMom]

I've always had to take the baby out of the carrier--moby, ring, mei tei-- for security, but I've not had any problem with the take-off and landings with the carrier when I've done lap babies.

As I understand, the flight attendants are not supposed to let you use the carrier at take off and landing. And they're supposed to let you use any FAA-stamped car seat in a set you've paid for, forward or rear facing. What actually happens though, is often very different. I've done probably 25 flights or so with kids under 2. Some as lap infants, some as car seated. Whether you get hassled with the car seat or hassled with the carrier is totally toss up, seems like it depends on if the flight attendants like babies/kids, are cranky and looking for someone to take it out on, favor the flirty businessman who wants his seat to recline when the RF car seat behind him would prevent that...

I liked the Moby for airports because it had so much extra fabric that it acted a little like a nursing cover. I nurse, even my older child who just weaned at nearly 5 yo, in public, but on a plane with someone in the very next seat, it was nice to be able to easily cover as much as I wanted while DS was nuring.