Travel with Children - travel crib for toddler in UA/TG F?

Hi there -- did a quick search but couldn't find an answer. My wife (and hero!) is flying solo with baby burmaflyer from IAD via FRA and BKK to RGN. She's in F, baby in lap. But baby is 14 months and tall (32 inches). I was thinking about getting a travel bed big enough for her, but small enough to fit in front of seat. Any experiences? Is this totally unrealistic? (And no, carseat won't work for us...).

Thanks for any advice.

Not safe and they probably wont let you use it. Even so, every time the seat belt sign goes on, per FAA regs, the baby will have to be removed. Better for her to keep the baby in the seat with her.

The smartest solution is to get two business seats and use a car seat. More comfortable for her. Safer for the baby. Both of them would sleep much better. 14 month olds love to move and don't do well being confined.

The travel bed will not be allowed and is a waste of money and effort. 2 business class seats as suggested above really is the best solution.

I have seen parents put their young children on the floor on a blanket, but the FA's will discourage that. That much flying with a large child in lap is more than a woman whould have to deal with. It is not only hard on her and the child but is a problem for seat mates.

I agree; you won't be able to use a travel bed.

This is going to be a rough trip with only one seat. 14 months is a hard age; they are constantly moving. I don't know if these are award or purchased seats, but I'd recommend two seats, not one.

I've used a moses basket on several carriers in C and F without a problem. My guess would be it would be fine on TG if in F because they tend not to say no to most request. Best would be first row. This route sometimes has seats open in F so it is somewhat likely you'd get the second seat anyway.

I've used a moses basket on several carriers in C and F without a problem. My guess would be it would be fine on TG if in F because they tend not to say no to most request. Best would be first row. This route sometimes has seats open in F so it is somewhat likely you'd get the second seat anyway.

Thanks everybody for the inputs, much appreciated. Didn't think it would work, but was hoping for some magical solution anyway :)

It's an award seat, and because of short notice we couldn't get 2 C (or F) seats. And in the end we decided against 2 Ys, since Baby B'Flyer doesn't like her car seat but loves playing on the floor... so we figured this was the least painful solution for all.

I should say that my wife *volunteered* to fly alone with Baby B as we couldn't make our dates work to go as a family. I am eternally grateful and if I encounter any kids in my (C) cabin on the way there, will happily entertain them in hopes of good karma.:cool:

I don't see car seat as best solution - we are not talking about one 12 hr flight here but at least a day of travel - no kid will stay in carseat for that long.

I would certainly look into bassinets - at 14 month this may or may not be a possibility but can't hurt to try. Not sure what exactly "travel bed" is - I picture smth bassinet-like and see no reason why you wouldn't be able to put it on the floor of your F space. As noted in turbulence you would have to pick kid up.

Strongly recommend some children benadryl to cover at least one flight - it helped us on a couple long hauls recently at 16 months (do try it at home first apparently it may have the opposite effect on some kids)

It's a myth that if you bring a car seat, you have to keep your children in it the whole time. My kids hated their car seats but it really made flying easier. The big issue is when the fall asleep. You have somewhere safe to put them down. You can get a drink or go to the lav without worry.

Also, holding a toddler for take-off and landing can be a challenge when alone. Parents have been "off loaded" because they couldn't control their child who wouldn't stay in their laps for take-off. Being in their car seats meant that even if they weren't happy, I could spend my energies comforting them while we were both strapped in, not just keeping her in place.

So a car seat is the best solution and claiming that the child doesn't like sitting in it for 12 hours is isn't a valid reason for not using one. NO child on the planet will sit in a car seat nonstop for 12 hours. That's not reasonable and not required.

The reason the bed on the floor doesn't work is that if there is unexpected turbulence, your baby's head is going to slam down on the floor. The poster who used a Moses basket was very, very lucky.

The only airline I know of whose bassinets will fit a 14 month old is Lufthansa.

Your wife already has seat booked, so other options are out of the question at this point. I think she will do fine. It is first class - baby will be on lap during take off, landing and other seat belt required times. I agree with others about trying benadrl at home first. Otherwise biggest issue will be wife having to get up, but FA should hopefully help. I have always found people very helpful, and my kids much better behaved than I imagined. Good luck!

[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Eclipsepearl;
The reason the bed on the floor doesn't work is that if there is unexpected turbulence, your baby's head is going to slam down on the floor. The poster who used a Moses basket was very, very lucky.
[/QUOTE]

Sorry but luck has little to do with it (statistics will bear this our).

Most US airlines will provide a cardbox box (some have stopped offering them) for infants that you are to hold on your lap or place on the floor and have done/did so for decades.

Sorry but luck has little to do with it (statistics will bear this our).

Most US airlines will provide a cardbox box (some have stopped offering them) for infants that you are to hold on your lap or place on the floor and have done/did so for decades.[/QUOTE]

+1.
A foldable box/bassinet on the floor with blankets etc should work fine. I think i saw smth of this nature at babies r us the other day.
If you neet to go to lav or stretch you can pick the whole thing up put on your bed and run a seatbelt over if turbulence is a concern.

Most US airlines will provide a cardbox box (some have stopped offering them) for infants that you are to hold on your lap or place on the floor and have done/did so for decades.

Yes, but you're supposed to pick them up if it gets turbulent! You can't just leave them in there. Putting a strap over it wont do squat if it's really rough. It's not secure.

Also, in FC, she would be a long way away from the contraption to get to the baby (plus the fact that technically, she's supposed to be strapped in herself). Those were mostly used in economy, where they were right against the passengers' feet.

Please don't leave your baby alone in anything on the floor! Either pick up the baby or ask a neighbor to watch (and make it clear that they are to pick the baby up in turbulence).

I can't imagine leaving a 14-month-old on the floor, not because of safety concerns, but because my 14-month-old would have toddled away every chance he had!

I don't know what will happen on United, but I bet the TG flight attendants will play with and watch your child while you eat and use the bathroom. I've had flight attendants do this on LH, OZ, CX and TG. In all cases, the flight attendants volunteered.

Yes, but you're supposed [I]to pick them up if it gets turbulent! You can't just leave them in there. Putting a strap over it wont do squat if it's really rough. It's not secure.


Agreed - You are required to do this.

I don't know what will happen on United, but I bet the TG flight attendants will play with and watch your child while you eat and use the bathroom. I've had flight attendants do this on LH, OZ, CX and TG. In all cases, the flight attendants volunteered.

I did this on both airlines I worked for. Sometimes we'd take the baby just to give the parents a break (and the kid was willing and cute ;) ) But not during a meal service when all hands had to be on deck so time your rest stops accordingly.

On the Asian airlines, they have really really big crews (like an army!) so they might have someone available to do this even during a service. Not sure but more likely.