When I was a new mom (sleep-deprived and on baby-information-overload), I held my infant in my lap instead of purchasing a seat for him to be secured in on the airplane. The airline reservation agents had repeatedly assured me it was a safe option, that “everyone” does it, and he would sleep better in my arms. Plus – it was free!
As a safety conscious mom, my son sat in the safest car seat on the market when in the car, lived in a baby-proofed home, ate organic baby food, slept on his back and was protected from the sun. As a parent, I implemented these measures regardless of cost because those who were experts did a great job educating us on the dangers car accidents, home accidents, pesticides, SIDS, and sun damage. My primary focus as a parent was to keep him safe and healthy and if budget was an issue, I faced the challenge and became creative in making it happen (coupons, hand me downs, less coffee at Starbucks, etc.).
I held my child in flight instead of securing him in a seat because I trusted the airlines when I was told it was safe to do so. It didn’t occur to me I was risking injury or death by holding him in my “loving arms” on an airplane.
I was sure the airlines and FAA wouldn’t allow lap children as an option if it were unsafe!
So I held my precious, irreplaceable, unrestrained infant.
And then I did some research.
Here is what the FAA has to say about those “loving arms”:
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/media/Track01.mp3
What parent does NOT want to hold their child for a lifetime? Why are we not told we are risking our child’s life by not securing him into a seat on airplanes? Where is the informed consent form?
Unrestrained in flight = Unprotected
Airplanes barrel down runways at speeds around 200 mph.
Above image displayed at MSP Airport Kids Play Area
The NTSB recently released this safety alert regarding child safety on airplanes:
http://www.ntsb.gov/alerts/SA_015.pdf
The FAA and just about every other organization that specializes in aviation safety has stated the “right” and “safe” thing to do is to secure our child in a FAA approved restraint in flight. Yet, the airlines are not required to tell us this and in fact, tell parents the exact opposite in many cases.
FAA Brochure
Infants are not required to be secured in ANY way during take off or landing – the most dangerous times of flight. Why does the FAA not do its job and bring this information to the front for parents?
Everyone and everything else must be secured in flight. Yet the most vulnerable passengers are least protected.
Just because you don’t hear from the media about injured lap-held children doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen- just ask attorneys and flight attendants.
Safety is a basic need for our children. Unfortunately, the FAA does not want to get into this political decision. Consider their reasoning for not requiring restraint for children under 2: more people would drive and driving is more dangerous.
Why are we talking about driving? Aviation safety should be about aviation safety. Not about how many car accidents could occur (or how much money the airlines would lose if people drove instead of traveled by air).
PLUS – who has time to drive across the country or the ability to drive across “the pond” to Europe?
Parents deserve to hear the facts about safely flying with an infant before flying with an unrestrained child.
It is not safe to hold a child in flight.
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On my website www.JetWithKids.com, I have posted a full chapter on the dangers of the lap child from my book.
http://www.jetwithkids.com/book_freeChapter.html
As long as holding an infant in flight is an option, it is our decision whether we secure them in an approved restraint. But remember this, if something happens to our children, only we as parents will suffer. The airlines, FAA, and all safety organizations have warned us (on airplane seatbacks, and in fine print or buried in their websites…) and all the legal action in the world will not undo what happens to a family with an injured or dead child.
Now that I spent the afternoon writing this passionate post, I found that I wrote something very similar back in 2007… http://www.jetwithkids.com/blog/infant-air-travel-danger-of-the-lap-child
Help me spread the word – pass this post along to those who are pregnant or parents of young children.
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