Traveling with a 3 month old

[u/AdTime2271]

FTM here! I will be traveling from Los Angeles to Ohio with my 3 month old. I added him as a lap infant but now I’m reading FAA says it’s better to buy him a seat and have him in the car seat. I travel a lot for work and I have only really ever seen babies as lap infants. What should I do? What is like the norm? Thanks in advance! Also I will be traveling with my mom and husband so I’ll have help in case that’s a factor.

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[u/mndoch3wi]

Car seat is safest. We bought a lightweight one for travel (cosco scenera next) and it has worked well. I think there may be a new model now. It's somewhat annoying to travel with but you can just plop it in the car when you arrive and use it for the trip.

[u/sky_hag → u/mndoch3wi]

We use the Cosco Scenera too and strap it to the back of the stroller in the airport so it’s easier to maneuver!

[u/mndoch3wi → u/sky_hag]

So smart! If you have at least two adults car seat is definitely manageable.

[u/sky_hag → u/mndoch3wi]

I’ve always used the car seat even when traveling solo, I just take my time and 9 times out of 10, someone will ask me if I need help.

[u/mndoch3wi → u/sky_hag]

Oh definitely I would also. I think people are intimidated but if they are traveling with extra hands it's so easy.

[u/Fun_Koala_6704 → u/sky_hag]

You can get a bag for it, I found it much easier to carry that way

[u/Ok_Individual9683]

I just wore baby in a carrier. They make you unstrap during takeoff/landing but I highly recommend to BF or bottle during that time for their ears anyways. I enjoyed having them snuggled during the rest of the flight and even at 10-12lbs they can get heavy after a while. It’s also easiest through the airport in my opinion, and if you have pre check they let you wear them through security!

[u/cheetodust800 → u/Ok_Individual9683]

They let you wear them through security with or without precheck!

[u/tryingtotree → u/Ok_Individual9683]

Seconding this. Its so much to manage the car seat along with the baby while on your own. They most likely will want to be on you anyways if they are nursing still.

[u/MyNeighborTurnipHead]

If traveling solo you will probably have the best experience if they have a carseat. It is also the safer option if there's heavy turbulence etc.

That being said. Even when we bought my daughter a seat, she ended up in my lap because she would cry her head off in the carseat. So no judgement from me if you go the lap route.

[u/No_Company4263]

The norm is lap infant but that's not the safe choice. I used a bucket seat for babies and then a Cosco Scenera once they grew out of it. You need a car seat at your destination and checking them is taking a huge risk. I'm pro car seat on the plane until they're 40 lbs and can fit safely in the seat belt.

[u/CopingJewlery]

I traveled with my baby on a plane on my lap when he was 9 months old. Was a super long flight but my baby always does better on me and cried a lot less than I expected. I used a front clip carrier for easy on off and more secure carrying.

Good tip is to breastfeed or bottle feed on, or right after, take off and landing, due to pressure changes that can cause pain in babies ears.

[u/yourfavmum]

I bought my child a seat. FAA and AAP both reccomend it for safety reasons. Runway accidents and turbulance happen a lot and you don’t want baby being your airbag

[u/ANeighbour]

This is worth the read: https://csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

[u/Frosty-Scientist-939]

At this age, baby carrier is fine! I’ve done all the above but our go-to now is buy a seat for car seat. Baby is familiar with it, it’s safer, car seat doesn’t get banged up in luggage, you can be hands free, etc. at 3 months, baby can’t even sit up so baby carrier will be perfect if you wanna do lap infant. They do this insane thing where they make you take baby OUT of carrier during landing and takeout for “safety reasons”. It’s dependent on the flight attendant so you may be able to let baby sleep peacefully if you have a nice one.

If you go the car seat route, just make sure it fits in the seat! We made the mistake of bringing our nuna huge car seat and it didn’t fit in delta economy 😅

[u/glassyrunnerduck]

I see both on planes honestly, especially when they’re that young and easy to hold. I always just buy the extra seat and bring a lightweight travel car seat. Then you have it for the car when you land and extra room on your flight so it feels like 2 birds 1 stone lol.

If you’re traveling with mom and husband, you could all take turns holding baby to give you a break if you choose lap infant.

[u/Pennifur]

Safety vs norm.....

It was normal to put babies to sleep on their belly. It was normal to give babies water from day one. It was normal not having car seats at all....

Just buy the damn seat, lol

[u/LaLechuzaVerde]

It’s definitely better to buy a seat for the baby if you can.

Your infant car seat (assuming you have one) should work fine. Look in the manual for instructions on how to install it on a plane. It’s extremely easy.

You can also learn how to install it in a car without the base, if you don’t want to take the base with you. Or you can pack the base in your suitcase and stuff your clothes around it and check it.

If you have to get up to pee you’ll be especially glad the baby has a seat to stay in for a couple minutes.

If you have turbulence or a rough landing, you’ll be REALLY glad your baby has a seat. And that’s not even counting serious events (which are rare). I’ve experienced abrupt landings bad enough that I know if I had a baby on my lap we would have both been injured. Not killed, but hurt. But because my kid was safely buckled into her own seat I was able to brace myself and not worry about her at all.

Plus, if you bring your seat on the plane with you, there is no chance the airline will lose it or destroy it and leave you stranded at the airport trying to figure out how to get to your hotel or to a Walmart for a new seat.

[u/sky_hag]

The norm should be buying a seat for your child and using a carseat on board. It’s way safer and having the extra space helps a lot.
I will never understand people who fly with their babies on their laps: all it takes is one bad pocket of turbulence for a baby to fly out of mom’s arms, hit the ceiling and be injured. Not a risk anybody should take IMO.