On a long flight back to the US, a Minnesota mom found herself huddled on the floor of the plane’s cabin with her two children sleeping in the seats above. The photo she posted online quickly raised questions not only about the policy at the airline, but about the realities of traveling with a lap baby.
The passenger’s name is Mely Skoglund, and it seems she had bought a ticket for her older child when she purchased a lap child ticket for her infant. This is not an unusual practice, where children under the age of two years can fly for free or with a reduced fare, provided they stay on the lap of the accompanying adult for the entire flight duration. However, on a full plane, there would be nowhere for her to sit when her children fell asleep. Social media reaction to the incident has been rapid, with many people pointing out that without paying for a seat, there is no guarantee of space.
Though it is a common practice, aviation safety experts have long warned that it is not the most secure method. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, Turbulence is the leading cause of in-flight injuries to infants seated on an adult’s lap. In extreme cases, even a strong grip may not be sufficient to retain a child. ‘There’s no possible way that even the most loving arms could hold that baby,’ said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, citing climate change as a cause of more intense cases of turbulence.
According to the FAA and child safety experts, the best place for a baby to ride is in their own seat, preferably installed in an FAA-approved child safety seat. For most families, this means bringing the car seat along and using it in a window seat so as not to obstruct the aisle. Not only is this configuration safer in turbulence, but it also provides parents with the extra space needed to handle the baby gear required when traveling with a baby.
However, it can be expensive to pay for a separate ticket for the infant. As Dr. Ben Hoffman, a nationally known expert on child passenger safety, has pointed out, while the physics of a secured seat make it obvious that it is beneficial, it is expensive. Most parents would like to locate a vacant seat on the plane where they can place the car seat, but this is not usually possible because airplanes fly with a high passenger load.
However, for parents who opt for the lap infant option, some tips can be very helpful. Ex-flight attendants recommend taking flights when there are fewer people traveling and only carrying necessary items in carry-on luggage. They also recommend unloading strollers at the gate for easy access. Parents can be prepared for their babies’ needs when traveling in a confined space. For example, breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and giving a pacifier when taking off and landing can relieve ear discomfort that may cause irritability when traveling.
Airlines, such as Delta, also state that lap children must be contained within an adult’s seat with a seatbelt fastened unless the child needs to move about the cabin for a particular reason. Safety regulations do not permit the use of seats for the storage of large baggage or other objects in a way that would make them potential dangers in the event of turbulence.
Skoglund’s viral photo has brought up the question of whether the lap infant policy might need to be re-evaluated, given the realities of air travel today. For the time being, it is up to the parents to weigh the cost, convenience, and safety concerns. As experts have pointed out, the safest position for a child on an airplane is in their own seat, buckled up as they would be in a car.
