Infant Traveling in a Baby Bjorn (Sling)
Jan 18, 2007, 2:29 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: NW Silver Elite
Posts: 247
Infant Traveling in a Baby Bjorn (Sling)
Hello all, as a soon to be first time dad I was wondering, and have not been able to locate on the NWA site, the policy for using a baby bjorn type device to carry an infant. I do not plan to hold in my arms my baby but would rather use a sling or purchase another seat for an FAA approved car seat.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Jan 18, 2007, 3:04 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: MSP
Programs: HH Diamond, Delta Diamond, Marriott Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 242
Buy the seat.
You can't use any type of restraint, other than FAA approved (car seat) during take-off and landing. You could use the sling during the flight. They also won't allow you to walk through security without taking the baby out and putting the sling through the xray.
In the rare chance that something happened in the air, you would not be able to hold onto your infant, thus they become a human projectile. Not to mention, having the car seat to have your arms free is priceless, and it provides a comfortable and familiar spot for your baby to be.
Good luck!
You can't use any type of restraint, other than FAA approved (car seat) during take-off and landing. You could use the sling during the flight. They also won't allow you to walk through security without taking the baby out and putting the sling through the xray.
In the rare chance that something happened in the air, you would not be able to hold onto your infant, thus they become a human projectile. Not to mention, having the car seat to have your arms free is priceless, and it provides a comfortable and familiar spot for your baby to be.
Good luck!
Jan 18, 2007, 3:42 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: DTW
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Posts: 7,511
Everything from the previous post. Infant-under-2 seats are usually 1/2 T-fare, and bookable on nwa.com (go to "more options" page). Start their frequent-flyer account early!
I can believe people do child-in-lap, but it amazes me... and when I hear about child-in-lap on TATL, I gasp. Last TATL MR, there was a family in WBC, across 4 seats... 2 adults, 2 kids, and a child-in-lap. Very well behaved, all went well, but... ouch!
Steve B.
I can believe people do child-in-lap, but it amazes me... and when I hear about child-in-lap on TATL, I gasp. Last TATL MR, there was a family in WBC, across 4 seats... 2 adults, 2 kids, and a child-in-lap. Very well behaved, all went well, but... ouch!
Steve B.
Jan 18, 2007, 3:45 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,955
Buy a seat if you can afford it or the trip over an hour and a half or so. Having a lap baby, especially a super young one, is not too bad even easier if both parents are traveling and you can share the work. I am not sure about the baby bjorn seems to me that having a child in a bay bjorn is actually safer then in your arms only. Don't know the rules.
Also, be sure not to put a seat belt around you and the baby. Put the seat belt around you only ( ytou can thread it on the inside of a bjorn between you na d baby) as you weight could crush a baby strapped together.
Don't forget strollers can be gate checked and used right up to the AC door and oicked up after the flight,
Also, be sure not to put a seat belt around you and the baby. Put the seat belt around you only ( ytou can thread it on the inside of a bjorn between you na d baby) as you weight could crush a baby strapped together.
Don't forget strollers can be gate checked and used right up to the AC door and oicked up after the flight,
Jan 18, 2007, 4:19 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Home
Posts: 2,707
Hello all, as a soon to be first time dad I was wondering, and have not been able to locate on the NWA site, the policy for using a baby bjorn type device to carry an infant. I do not plan to hold in my arms my baby but would rather use a sling or purchase another seat for an FAA approved car seat.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
We paid roughly ~$200 for his ticket. We were not required to have an infant seat. This was our first SFO-NRT trip with the baby so I can not state that this is the standard procedure for everyone. It was our experience. Yours may differ! We did not take a stroller on this flight as there was one waiting for us at Narita. I am not sure if domestic flights have differing requirements or not.
Jan 18, 2007, 4:30 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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The Baby B'Air vest is a great solution for comfortably securing your child during a flight, even though it inexplicably has not been approved for use by the FAA during taxi, takeoff, and landing. I personally recommend it.
Jan 18, 2007, 6:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 830
The Baby B'Air vest is a great solution for comfortably securing your child during a flight, even though it inexplicably has not been approved for use by the FAA during taxi, takeoff, and landing. I personally recommend it.
I think you'll get more grief using this vest as it is not allowed for taxi, takeoff or landing. Some F/As will not allow you to use during flight either. There is no restraint device (except care seats) that are allowed during taxi, takeoff and landing.
Jan 18, 2007, 8:02 pm
#8
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The CFR that permits its use is permitted on the back of the vest in case you need to educate a flight attendant. Moreover, the manufacturer will give you a $50 refund check if a flight attendant/airline refuses to permit its use. Finally, while it is not technically permitted for use during takeoff and landing, fat chance of that prohibition being enforced on most flights with the flight attendants generally not in the line of sight when they strap themselves into their jump seats.
Jan 18, 2007, 8:14 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,561
I'm going to be the contrarian and say use the baby Bjorn. Why would this be unacceptable for an under-2 child held in your lap? It's an additional layer of restraint; it's not replacing any FAA-approved restraint method. If the FA doesn't like it, then take it off, hold the baby for takeoff and landing, then use.
Jan 18, 2007, 8:45 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: NW Silver Elite
Posts: 247
Thanks everyone for your insight here. I agree, I always cringe when I see someone just holding their baby for the whole flight and my wife and I decided we would always have a seat for our baby.
Then I started thinking about the sling approach. I was not sure if it was banned or not so this was very informative.
This is why this board is so useful!
Thanks again.
Then I started thinking about the sling approach. I was not sure if it was banned or not so this was very informative.
This is why this board is so useful!
Thanks again.
Jan 21, 2007, 5:55 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: DTW/Ann Arbor
Posts: 230
The CFR that permits its use is permitted on the back of the vest in case you need to educate a flight attendant. Moreover, the manufacturer will give you a $50 refund check if a flight attendant/airline refuses to permit its use. Finally, while it is not technically permitted for use during takeoff and landing, fat chance of that prohibition being enforced on most flights with the flight attendants generally not in the line of sight when they strap themselves into their jump seats.
Jan 21, 2007, 6:07 pm
#12
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Inland Empire!
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My wife and I took our 6 month old son trans-pacific as a lap child. We requested bulkhead seating as it has the fittings to attach the NW provided bassinet. We had to hold the baby on takeoff and landing. Almost all other times (when he wasn't being fed) he was asleep in the bassinet. We also used the Bjorn sling.
We paid roughly ~$200 for his ticket. We were not required to have an infant seat. This was our first SFO-NRT trip with the baby so I can not state that this is the standard procedure for everyone. It was our experience. Yours may differ! We did not take a stroller on this flight as there was one waiting for us at Narita. I am not sure if domestic flights have differing requirements or not.
We paid roughly ~$200 for his ticket. We were not required to have an infant seat. This was our first SFO-NRT trip with the baby so I can not state that this is the standard procedure for everyone. It was our experience. Yours may differ! We did not take a stroller on this flight as there was one waiting for us at Narita. I am not sure if domestic flights have differing requirements or not.
There are no guarantees that a bulkhead seat with bassinet would be available on these flights, even with the prior requests.
I can not imagine holding a child in lap for even more than 1 1/2 hour flight. And as for safety, the child being restrained in a appropriate, approved car seat is the way to go! ^ Plus junior will love being in his car seat in the plane.
Jan 22, 2007, 8:21 am
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Minneapolis
Programs: NW Silver Elite
Posts: 247
There are no guarantees that a bulkhead seat with bassinet would be available on these flights, even with the prior requests.
I can not imagine holding a child in lap for even more than 1 1/2 hour flight. And as for safety, the child being restrained in a appropriate, approved car seat is the way to go! ^ Plus junior will love being in his car seat in the plane.
I can not imagine holding a child in lap for even more than 1 1/2 hour flight. And as for safety, the child being restrained in a appropriate, approved car seat is the way to go! ^ Plus junior will love being in his car seat in the plane.
Jan 22, 2007, 9:50 am
#14
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Home
Posts: 2,707
There are no guarantees that a bulkhead seat with bassinet would be available on these flights, even with the prior requests.
I can not imagine holding a child in lap for even more than 1 1/2 hour flight. And as for safety, the child being restrained in a appropriate, approved car seat is the way to go! ^ Plus junior will love being in his car seat in the plane.
I can not imagine holding a child in lap for even more than 1 1/2 hour flight. And as for safety, the child being restrained in a appropriate, approved car seat is the way to go! ^ Plus junior will love being in his car seat in the plane.
Jan 22, 2007, 7:23 pm
#15
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 8
You also can take the chance that there is an open seat next to you. Last december i went out west with my sister & her 3mo baby and they just tock the chance that there would be one open. And if there is you can bring your car seat on the plane and use it. if not they will do a gate check.