After booking tickets to Europe on Lufthansa, I was just informed that they won't be allowing carseats on board after September 1 (we will be traveling in October.

Our daughter will be 16/17 months when we travel. We booked her a seat. Does anyone have any experience flying with a one year old internationally in a seat without a carseat? It seems really unsafe to me....

Any insight appreciated!

Believe it or not, uncounted numbers of children have travelled (and still travel) by air without car seats and survived. Some (like me) even before car seats were invented!

A car seat might or might not be safer than no car seat, but it would depend on the design of the car seat and how it could be secured in the airline seat.

I assume you get a belt for her that attaches to your own which you use during take off and landing??? We travel a lot with our children and have never thought of bringing a car seat onboard the plane.

When you've traveled with you little ones without carseats, were they able to stay in their seats? At 15 months, our daughter is pretty petite (she's on the smaller side) and is at such a wiggly stage, I worry about her sliding about....

Thanks!

My parents used phenobarbital. Calmed me down real good! It might also explain some other things about my personality.

Wyostiv - Benedryl works nicely, too!

CV2004 - I never flew internationally with my kids when they were that age, but I wonder if you could take along a favorite blanket (in addition to the one provided) and use it to help "pad" your daughter so she is less likely to slip around. An extra blanket would also add some extra cushioning for when she falls asleep.

Just a thought.........

For take off and landing forego her seat and have her on your lap with a special seat belt. I used to do that with my son flying between UK and the Netherlands way back in the 70's and I see they still do it now.
Then give her her seat once it is safe to do so.