Slings on Airplanes

[hmhopkins77]

...read that United does not allow any type of harness that hold the baby to the chest on board.

What the heck?! Has anyone had experience either wearing their child in a sling on a plane or having a stewardess tell them that they are not allowed.

Also, any idea why this is a rule? We've purchased a seat for DD and plan to strap her in during takeoff and landing.

Heather

[saritasmile]

i've taken ds on an airplane lots of times. i wear the sling on and wait and see. some stewardess make me take it off and some don't. it's only for take off and landing. once the taxi on the runway begins i put him back in (well did anyway, now he gets his own seat). kinda sneaky but i didn't care.
i don't know why it's a rule. i think it should be up to the parent, imo.

[meco]

I always have used mine On many a United flights...

I have to hold him across my chest on take off and landing if I do not use a sling..which is essentially what a sling does.

Weird.

[lillaurensmomma]

I've been told a few times to take dd out of the sling. I dont remember which airlines though.

j

[kavamamakava]

It's been over a year for me and I didn't fly United, but I couldn't live without my sling when traveling by plane. Those bathrooms are so tiny that it's easier to sling the baby and pee with the baby strapped to me. Also, it's easier when eating to sling the baby so I didn't have to juggle my tray table and food AND baby. We also purchased a seat and brought our car seat on board. But they don't like to sit in the car seat the whole time. Another use I found for it was that I could hold a sleeping baby and doze off myself and not worry about dropping the baby.

[meco]

Kava, the baby came?!?!!?

[AnnR33]

I just traveled on Northwest last week and on one flight they said I had to take him out and hold him and on the other they didn't say anything but I think it was because I was nursing and I didn't make eye contact -he he
Ann

[zeldabee]

I've flown with my son many times. Before he was about 10 months old, I didn't own a stroller, and he'd been in a car seat only a few times.

I was once told to take him out of his sling during takeoff and landing. The idea being, if there's a crash during takeoff or landing, you at least won't crush the child when your body is violently thrown forward, bending at the waist. Instead, the child will fly out of your arms. I guess that's more survivable...

Once my son was past infancy, and no longer sling-able (with my back, anyway), it was far easier to get him his own seat, and strap him in to a car seat. I still sometimes took him out of it during the flight, but once my son got to be a certain age, if I held him in my lap (with or without a sling) I'd just get beat up.

FWIW, travelling by yourself with a toddler isn't a whole lot of fun. With an infant in a sling, it's pretty easy...with both, I can't imagine, even with a partner : ...

[AnnR33]

Originally Posted by zeldabee

FWIW, travelling by yourself with a toddler isn't a whole lot of fun. With an infant in a sling, it's pretty easy...with both, I can't imagine, even with a partner : ...

We just went from Seattle to Iowa last week with a 3 mos old, 3 yr old and 6 yr old and it was a breeze. I had snacks and books and diversions for the older ones and the baby either slept in the pouch or nursed so we had no troubles.

Now I'm not so sure about when the baby is 1 yr...LOL
Ann

[Raynbow]

I took Trystan on a flight when he was about 6 months old and had him in my sling (couldn't afford a seat for him). I was told that I needed to remove him from the sling for take-off and landing, but that was all. I was able to have him in it for the rest of the flight without any issue.

[guerrillamama]

I've flown 8 times w/ ds, always in the sling, never bought a seat for him. This is the first I've heard of that policy. But I haven't flown United.

[Britishmum]

I've used the sling on many many flights and never had a problem. I didnt know there was any rule about them, but I'll see what happens when we fly later this month.

Originally Posted by AnnR33

We just went from Seattle to Iowa last week with a 3 mos old, 3 yr old and 6 yr old and it was a breeze. I had snacks and books and diversions for the older ones and the baby either slept in the pouch or nursed so we had no troubles.

Wow, I hope our next flight goes as easily, although I doubt it! We're flying to London with a 4 yo, a 2 yo and a 3 month old. The baby rarely sleeps, so I cant count on him being easy. What's more, we have to connect through Frankfurt with a 3 hr layover. Ugh.

I"m now shopping for a bag full of stuff to keep them entertained. Maybe I should jsut get myself a bottle of gin instead.

[meco]

I have to admit I love flying with my toddler, and I am always solo. I just flew from NY to Vancouver to Missouri and back to NY, and then to NY to Missouri to Florida and back to NY this year....and we had a ball!!

Such a fun learning and exploring opportunity for my 2 year old plane enthusiast!!! He is a charm. Of course we sit over the wing so I can count on a nap of some sort.

[kunama]

I've heard that it's cause they can't trust the slings to keep baby attached to you and in the event of a crash the body is easier to identify cause its strapped on to a fare paying adult body with a lap belt and that they can identify through tickets and seats and stuff.

Can't remember where I heard that though and I think it's a bit sick myself.

[kavamamakava]

Oh yeah. lol Feb 17th. I still haven't written down a detailed birth story. Life with 3 kids is very time consuming. Her name is Amelie but we haven't even done the birth certificate yet. Here she is with Skanda http://people.delphiforums.com/MIAUX.../skandamei.jpg

[adigennaro]

Flying with slings and other carriers

I just thought I would shed some more light on the "no sling during takeoff & landing". As a former flight attendant, I learned that take-off and landing are the most likely times for an incident to occur. In the event that you had to make a speedy exit, keeping in mind the different degrees of circumstances, a sling, snuggli, purse, or anything really that is strapped to your body could catch you up on a seat or another part of the aircraft slowing down your "getaway".
This is not supposed to be a scary posting, just informative.

[crunchycatholic]

last summer we took our then 15 mo on a trip and never heard a word about flying with the sling.. this was thru several plane changes and different size aircraft... but it was on southwest

[rzberrymom]

8 month old DD has been on 12 flights, all of them in a sling or ergo. We've never been asked to take the carriers off once we're on the plane (we have had to take the ergo off at security).

[mollyeilis]

Originally Posted by kunama

in the event of a crash the body is easier to identify cause its strapped on to a fare paying adult body with a lap belt

But they don't have you use the seatbelt with a lapbaby. Takeoff, landing, and in between they are just sitting (and standing and dancing) on your lap.

My guy has always refused the sling or wrap or whatever when sitting down, so that wasn't an option. And my arms are stronger than my back, oddly, so even carrying him through the airport I just carried him.

[expat]

breastfeeding & takeoff

Seems inconvenient to have to remove the sling at takeoff and landing--exactly the times you're supposed to be breastfeeding to help with baby's pressure adjustment, right?