Lap babies: We get why it happens, but now what?

Well, we're in Las Vegas again for the All Baby & Child Expo, but of course we had to fly here first. Steve was sitting next to a perfectly quiet and cute "lap baby".  The lap baby issue has always made us concerned, so while the flight attendants were telling what we already know about safety while flying, I decided to read in the seat back booklet what the airlines recommend for parents in emergencies with lap babies.

Most of the children we and you see on planes are not in car seats. Generally, the airlines don't care much if you bring a car seat or not, but if they are going to condone travel for babies without restraints, you'd think they give parents some guidance on how to prepare for a crash or turbulence with a human being in their lap.  So did we.

In the last few days, I've flown Southwest and United. In the safety booklet in the seat back, Southwest was kind enough to tell you how adults and older children should position themselves in a crash. They show infant seats (in the booklet the car seat is in the middle seat... it should be against the window), but the one thing they missed... the lap baby. No mention, no picture. Way to go.

The United flight booklet was equally disappointing, but they left out any mention of a car seat too. Both airlines had no reference to oxygen for lap baby either. Why oxygen?  They should tell you if there is an extra oxygen mask or not for your lap child and if the row has an extra life vest or flotation device.  Have you ever heard about extra masks or vests in those announcements?

Few parents buy a dedicated seat for baby: We understand that the economy has restricted parents availability to buy an additional seat for the car seat. Furthermore, the airlines have removed many discounts previously available, but if making that decision parents should ask some questions about lap-baby's safety. This is an issue that needs some attention.

Avoiding the subject: If the airlines and the FAA are going to let unrestrained travel occur, they need to acknowledge the issue. At the very least, give parents some direction on how to hold a baby in an emergency.  We want feedback on this issue. Tell us your stories.

Comments

[Indie]

There are actually four oxygen masks per row. They won't allow two lap babies in the same row for that reason. I usually buy a seat for my little ones, but I checked into it because I had the same concern you had.

My biggest concern about lap babies is turbulence. A baby could be killed or injure another passenger by becoming a projectile and its much more common and survivable than a crash.

[Brooks Watson]

Indie, Thanks for the info. It highlights the point that airlines do a terrible job describing what is in place. If you can't read it or hear it readily, then it's not being communicated to all passengers effectively. We edited the post to account for your comment.

[Jean]

In Jan 09 we flew on Mexicana air with friends that had a 11 mo old baby with them. He was a lap baby and they did mention that certain row seats had a 4th oxygen mask for that reason. THey did say he and his Mom HAD to be in a window seat.Mexicana had way more foot room and hot food served just like the old days on the other airlines. If given the chance, I would fly Mexicana if it went where I was going

[Hannne]

I always fly with a Baby b'air on my kids whether they are in my lap or their own seat. It tethers to the lap belt so they will at least stay in the seat area in turbulence or worse. While not approved for take off and landing by the FAA, no flight attendant has ever questioned my using it as soon as we taxi until we pull up to our destination gate. In fact most have commended me for being aware of the dangers of an unsecured infant in lap. I recommend it to everyone yet rarely see others using it, I would think that they would just offer something like this when you board much like they offer infant life vests on oversea flights.