Thanks for the link Mvic regarding the child carrier that links onto a parent's seatbelt. I have never seen or heard of it before and I can guess that many other flight crew members haven't either. Do you know if these carriers have a tag sewn onto them identifying the pouch as FAA approved for airline travel (outside of the times in bold print)? I ask because without this identification, coupled with the lack of knowledge regarding the safety testing and or company approval of these pouches, flight crews might take the "safe" stance of denying a parent the use of them onboard.

Many child products are on the market that use "safe for airline" travel as an advertising platform without clarifying that they are not acceptable during takeoff, landing or when the seat belt sign is illuminated. Parents are then surprised or upset when advised that their child has to be removed from the restraint devices during these phases of flight. Examples of these products are belly loops, snuggies or booster seats.

Airlines caution their employees to only accept car seats that are stickered or tagged as certified for on board aircraft use. In North America this would be endorsed by the FAA under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard-213 or CARs under Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard-213 or 213.1. When shopping for one, parents should ensure that the brand of car seat they purchase displays this approval.

These pouches appear to be an excellent solution for situations such as you described when a parent's attention cannot be focused solely on their child's safety. Thank you for bringing this invention to the attention of all of us and lets hope that the airline companies endorse their use and convey this endorement to their front line staff in short order.

BTW ffhound, the reason it is suggested that babies be nursed or fed a bottle on takeoff (and more importantly) descent is it allows the infant to equalized the pressure in their adorable little ears when transcending through the varied altitudes levels. It is the swallowing action that helps them "clear their ears".

Many parents surprisingly do not know this which is why you often hear a baby crying (screaming) in the cabin at these times. Crying will fortunately also aid in clearing their ears but it is an awfully painful way for them to do it.

I have never used the pouches so I don't know if they have a tag. I just ordered one to use when I have my child out of her car seat and on my lap as I do at various times during the flight. Should be here in a week and I will report back then. It does say FAA approved in the product description though.

Do the ear plug type things work?

Hey I just made FT Evangelist with this post, cool http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000950.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/000209.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum94/HTML/001770.html

Thanks for the links doc but those threads seem to focus more on the question of whether children should even be allowed to fly at all. God forbid the parent has the affrontery to actually pay for their infant/child to sit in Business or First.

God forbid. (Hope he did it in WRITING!) http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

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~ Glen ~

Some Scandinavian carriers provide an extra seat belt that loops into the parent's belt. It's probably ideal for linking your baby to you in case of turbulence, but your average toddler is sure to find himself confined and restrained. (E.g: Level of unhappiness is directly proportional to decibel level)..

I understand that we have at least one reader who writes for the Wall Street Journal. May I suggest in the interests of safety promotion and newsworthiness that consideration be given to an article about the issues canvassed on this forum?

With ever increasing passenger volumes I think it is a good idea to publicise the ways that parents with young children can fly safely and comfortably. Many passengers like myself may have flown before but upon having a newborn do not know where to start as far as safely carrying an infant onboard and what options are available.

With a little research such an article could also examine each of the major American airlines with a comparison as to how each airline promotes child safety aboard aircraft. Mention of the pouches and/or alternatives could be made also. You never know - it might just save a child's life one day.

cheers Peter

This is a matter of opinion, however I feel that the best place for a child on a plane is in a child's car seat. Whenever we took our children, under 4 yrs old, on a plane we always paid for a seat for them and had them strapped in during the entire trip. The tether that has been shown has not been FAA approved, and more than likely never will be as the child would be crushed when the parent has to put their head down during an emergency landing.

The worst thing about having a "lap baby" and not buying a ticket was exemplified to me when the UAL plane crashed in Sioux City, Iowa. The head flight attendant had to tell a mother, FAA rules I believe, that had a lap baby to place her on the ground at her feet surrounded by blankets. The mother survived, the baby did not. This flight attendant has since become extremely vocal about requiring children to be strapped into a child's car seat.
As for my wife and I, we would have never considered not placing our most precious cargo, our children, in a safety seat.

Great idea ffhound.

I'm with you 100% on this one zipual as far as the car seat goes (that car seat/flight seat/stroller combo is great). Buying the extra seat is an additional financial burden but it is by far the safest way to go and as you say the cargo is the most precious. However, I don't think you are right about the pouch not being FAA approved for flight (not for take off, landing, and taxiing though). I always use the car seat but sometimes on long haul flights I take my child out and let her play around on my lap and let her look out the window. In case of turbulence at those times (and diaper changing) I will be using the pouch, then it's right back in the car seat.

ROTF and LMAO at QuietLion and ffhound's response on Saturday!

If the FAA requires infants to be in a seat during flight, there will be some families who drive instead of fly, due to the resulting higher cost of flying. Since driving is far more risky than flying, an infant seat requirement will result in more infant deaths, not fewer (not to mention adults who will also be killed/maimed along with the infant in auto crashes).

Choosing the lesser of two evils means one lap child dies every so often rather than a hundred more deaths in cars.

That's great, assuming that somebody passes a law protecting airlines and the FAA from lawsuits if the non-seated child dies from being thrown about the cabin in sudden turbulence.

Ultimately, it should be a matter of personal responsibility, but with people able to sue (and win staggering judgements) based on their own decisions, I should think that every passenger carrier would insist on a seat for each infant, no matter what.

People already sue when a plane crashes. So why don't airlines require seats for infants? Because the net revenue loss from the entire family flying another airline (or not at all) is much greater.

You make a good point JSRom.

I just got the lap child pouch. The straps are made of the same material as my rock climbing slings FWIW. I would say that it is pretty good quality and sturdy yet made of a comfortable cotton (filled with polyester padding). It has a loop in the back that one would put the adulkt seat belt through and it is long enough that you could turn the infant around (about 4 inches).

As far as FAA approval, it says the following on the vest itself:

"The Baby B'Air garmet is designed and approved for lap children under the age of two years DURING FLIGHT ONLY. The FAA does not approve use during take-off, taxi and landing. The Baby B'Air is tested to meet or exceed FAA stress lest levels for aircraft seats. Not for use in Automobiles."

So I guess what they are really saying is that it is not FAA approved at all but you can use it when airlines would let you use it anyway during flight. I am glad that I bought it (though after shipping it was $45.95, a little steep) and it will complement the use of a flight seat nicely for when my daughter is on my lap on those transat flights. Bottom line:if turbulence hit hard your little one would not go flying using this product.