Why no babywearing while flying? - Page 2

[chickabiddy]

Originally Posted by TheGirls

I don't believe this has been true for several decades now, at least not on any airlines I've flown on or according to any (current) flight attendants I've spoken to.

You may be right. It's what was taught in my CPST class, but I don't have personal experience.

Still, I don't believe that a carrier is necessarily more unsafe than a baby in arms. I just don't think either is safe.

[kay4]

I flew once with a 6 month old and had her in a front carrier. The FA told me that I couldn't wear her during take off or landing but the in between time I could.

[SparklingGemini]

Originally Posted by Fujiko

I've only ever heard of not being able to babywear during takeoff and landing, but not actually during the flight. I was always told to keep my dd out of the wrap during TO/L, but when we were in the air the flight attendants didn't care.

Me too.

I had DD in a ringsling on a flight when she was 15 months old. She had her own seat which she was buckled in for take-off and landing but ended up with a stomach bug on the way home and wouldn't sleep unless she was against mama, so I snuggled her in there and we both slept for an hour. The FA checked on us a few times and never mentioned anything about DD being in a carrier.

I cannot see how having a baby in a sling or unstructured carrier is that different than having a baby in your arms with a blanket wrapped around you.

[not now]

Meh, I wouldn't even question it. I'm not gonna mess with anyone willing able to throw me off my flight. Sometimes you just gotta follow the rules regardless of how stupid they may sound.

[Twinklefae]

Originally Posted by SparklingGemini

I cannot see how having a baby in a sling or unstructured carrier is that different than having a baby in your arms with a blanket wrapped around you.

I asked my former FA friend about this too, and she said that they can't make different rules for people using more structured carriers. So the rules apply to everyone, from Baby Bjorns to wraps.

[aprons_and_acorns]

What about if they have to make an evacuation of the plane? A baby in a structured carrier would be strapped to one person whereas a babe in arms could be passed to anyone who was able to exit safely. Just a thought, I'm not sure if it has any bearing on why the rule is there.

[SparklingGemini]

I guess MY point is that I think its up to the discretion of the FA. I'm not sure there really is a rule.

Because while it may have affected some, others have never been bothered; myself included.

[mija y mijo]

Originally Posted by Fujiko

I've only ever heard of not being able to babywear during takeoff and landing, but not actually during the flight. I was always told to keep my dd out of the wrap during TO/L, but when we were in the air the flight attendants didn't care.

Same here.

[Ironica]

I've always only heard it for takeoff/landing (or if the fasten seatbelt sign is on, maybe) also.

I think there's a few reasons for this rule:

1) They've simulated crashes with babies in carseats and with babies in arms, but not with babies in every random carrier type on the market. They have NO IDEA what might happen, and while it might be better than in-arms, it also might be worse. It's a risk they can't take.

2) US tests of the belly belts that are popular on some European carriers show that lap children secured with them are more likely to be injured than those in-arms. It's not the same as a carrier, but it's the most similar circumstance that's actually been tested.

3) It's entirely possible that the carrier would dramatically worsen the nature of injuries. Your arms will give a LOT more in a crash; in an Ergo, for example, baby's head is free to flop about, but the body of the carrier will keep their torso with yours. That may result in much greater head excursion than the situation where their body *and* head will move a bit more naturally along with your arms.

4) FAA regulations prohibit it; they MAY NOT allow you to use a carrier during takeoff/landing, or risk their licensure. So if you don't like it, you have to take it up with the FAA... the flight attendant is in no position to negotiate it.

[asoulunbound]

never been questioned about using a carrier except had to take her out at the metal detector. only flown twice w dd though.

[Quinalla]

Originally Posted by Ironica

1) They've simulated crashes with babies in carseats and with babies in arms, but not with babies in every random carrier type on the market. They have NO IDEA what might happen, and while it might be better than in-arms, it also might be worse. It's a risk they can't take.

4) FAA regulations prohibit it; they MAY NOT allow you to use a carrier during takeoff/landing, or risk their licensure. So if you don't like it, you have to take it up with the FAA... the flight attendant is in no position to negotiate it.

I'm guessing #1 is the reason for the #4 rule. If they haven't simulated it, then they don't feel comfortable allowing it. Good to know that is the FAA regulation for takeoff & landing and not just an imaginary rule made up on the spot, no amount of arguing will do you any good that's for sure.

[NicoleCS]

From past experience - never argue with flight attendant's - It doesn't matter how irrational they are being - you'll simply never win.: Don't even get me started...they thing that makes me so mad is that the airlines allow children under 2 to ride in the lap...if it's really that unsafe then my question is why????? It seems to me that they are sending mixed messages all the time...I am being told something different every time I fly with my girls.

[charleysmama23]

Oh my, I've flow with dd 3 times in her first year of life (so that's actually 10 separate flights on 3 separate airlines) and always had her in the Ergo on my front and never heard one word about it. I felt safest with her attached to me, for example if we made an emergency landing I'd be much better able to get us both off the plane with both of my hands free than if I was trying to keep hold of a squirmy babe. But since those flights I've decided it's best for everyone to have a seat and plan all future flights to include a separate seat for her (even if she's still under 2) and her baby brother, due Nov. Though these flying rules are incredibly aggravating because I've had family members/friends be told a lot of different stuff about car seats, boosters, carriers, etc. The FA/airlines are REALLY inconsistent.

[coloradomama1]

probably not the most popular idea on here but i ALWAYS wear my babies in a ring sling and just kind of hide the ring so it looks like they;re under a blanket during TO, landing and most of the flight actually. i haven't read the other posts but i personally am of the opinion that i'm much more worried about random turbulence than crashing in terms of my child's safety.

[loraxc]

This just happened to me for the first time on our last flight. I'd been told no carriers during takeoff and landing before, but this was during flight. She didn't MAKE me take him out but she said something like, "I need to tell you that technically that's not allowed, but it's up to you." (I left him in.)

I have to say, I have been on planes with turbulence, and I think a baby would be much safer in a carrier--a big jolt could so easily make you open your arms/jump with surprise.

[aja-belly]

the only time we've flown with lap babies was on our middle of the night flight home with marvel when she was a newborn. i had her in a pouch and nobody said anything. when we hit some turbulence they put on the seat belt sign and the fa asked me to put my bag under the seat. then she saw there was a baby in there and woke up the man in front of me and made us switch seats (peter and i were next to each other - both with lap babies) and i got a way too long lecture on how unsafe it was to have her in a pouch and to have two babies in one row (which they NEVER explained - i found out later that it is because they only have one extra oxygen mask per row).

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

Adults are in lap belts only, which keeps them in the seat, but does not prevent their upper bodies from impacting the seat in front.

So people are smacking their faces against the seat in front of them on a regular basis? Because of turbulence?

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

The preventable danger is not from crashes, but from turbulence. There is not always enough warning to advise passengers to brace. A sling or wrap is not adequate protection against severe turbulence.

Really? A wrap, at least, holds a baby more securely than mama's arms and babies aren't thrown out of people's arms everytime there's turbulence.

And please don't link to the article about the woman who got injured by turbulence recently, she was walking around and that has nothing to do with what would happen to a firmly held infant.

[sapphire_chan]

Originally Posted by chickabiddy

Also, if there is any warning of turbulence, parents are advised to put the baby under the seat in front of them: presumably, that could be done more quickly if baby is not in a sling/wrap (as I wrote above, I'm kind of skeptical about this).

As you should be, since that happened once on one flight in '89.

[DahliaRW]

Actually, they no longer tell you to put the baby on the floor. That is old protocol. Now they tell you how to hold them.

[chickabiddy]

I know. I already acknowledged that. Sorry.

And no, people are not injured due to turbulence "on a regular basis" -- just like some of us go our whole lives without being in a car crash but we still wear our seatbelts and restrain our kids.

It's not safe for kids not to be in their own seats on planes. Sometimes parents make that choice for their own reasons, and sometimes those reasons are pretty compelling, but that doesn't make it a safe choice.