Good post Flygirl, thanks, and I couldn't agree with your last sentence more

Trouble with simply holding a lap child is that in certain instances the forces involved are too great, additionally if turbulence should hit whilst you are reaching for the diaper bag and do not have a firm grasp on your child your reaction may not be quick enough.

Here is the vest I was talking about earlier for lap child use.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/perfectl...-turbvest.html

Steffo, I too am a big fellow (6'4" 200lbs+) who cherished the exit row seats (except the ones that don't recline ) but I have found that when my wife and I travel we do great just buying 3 coach seats (window-center-aisle). With our child in the seat between us in her car seat it is almost like having an empty seat next to you and your legs have plenty of room. It is a cheaper alternative than sitting up front and as an extra bonus you will not have to endure the foul looks of the ignorant pax who think that children have no place up front (also if you enroll in the BA household account you child will travel for 50% off in AA and 25% off in BA but your child will earn 100% miles which can be pooled with those of the parents or older household members).

For an older child (toddler), the following might be an option especially if their car seat is getting too heavy (this only weights 4 lbs and having carried a 25lb car seat, a 30lb infant, and a full diaper bag for what seemed like miles in London before getting through immigration and in to the baggage claim area where there are baggage carts I can tell you that LIGHTER is BETTER )though I should caution that this product is not approved for aircraft use though it looks like it would work well for the purposes of turbulence and emergency landing. It is approved for use in a passenger vehicle afterall.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/dmart/costravves5p.html

Travel with small children is a bit of a challenge but if done with preparation, planning (for example I usually fly LGW-ATL and I do a stop over in ATL before flying ATL-ORD-STL the next day to give my daughter a chance to recover from the trasat flight, outbound it is all in one shot though), and a bit of effort on the parents part in-flight, it can actually be fun for the child and the parent/s (barring ear or sinus problems which obviously are going to cause a child to cry, and some adults too I might add, the following link may be of help).
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/familyon...aneschild.html

This is a good product that can help avoid the difficulties that I have experienced in London. It is a car seat/flight seat. It weights 14lbs but quickly converts to a stroller once off the plane and diaper bag/carry on can be attached to hook on handel (or could get the optional mesh bag, a bit steep at $20 though). http://store.yahoo.com/perfectlysafe/sitnstroll.html


Hope you have a good experience



[This message has been edited by Mvic (edited 08-20-2000).]