cv2004

Any tips for flying internationally with a 17 month old on your lap? We'd originally purchased our daughter a seat for our trip to Italy from SFO, but as of Sept. 1, Lufthansa will no longer allow children under 2 to occupy their own seats (so they have refunded us for her ticket).

They've put us in bulkhead seats, but I still worry about turbulence, comfort and how our daughter will stay contained and be able to fall sleep.

Very grateful for any advice!

thanks!

Vimsen

I have travelled with my son on my lap until he was two. He has usually fallen asleep on my lap - no problems. However, I have tried to make sure that he is tired prior to the flight - lots of activity at the gate highly recommended! During the flight, we usually lift the armrest between the seats to get the most room. It can be a bit crowded, but with an extra pillow and blanket, the little one will ususally be quite comfortable. On some longer hauls, we have been fortunate enough to get an empty seat beside our own so we only have had to have him on the lap for take-off and landing. When you check in, see if this is a possibility. Even on the plane itself, I have experienced the crew moving other passengers to other seats to create more room for families travelling with small children (Both Scandinavian airlines and KLM). Many are grateful to be moved as they believe that the small ones may turn out to be a nuisance during the flight. Remember to bring toys that will keep your daughter preoccupied. Good luck and safe travel!

scdreamer

I don't have a solution for you, but I am just curious as to the reasoning behind Lufthansa not allowing children under two to have a (purchased) separate seat. It seems that the airlines that fly domestically in the USA are just the opposite - they encourage parents to purchase a seat for their babies and to use a car seat - for safety reasons in the event of turbulance.

mr_compass

They put you in the bulk head seat for use of the basinett that mounts on the bulkhead in front of you. I believe that there is a buckel in the basinett to keep them secure. This setup makes the trip much easier for all involved. We took a four month old on Lufthansa and there was no ptoblem with this setup.

LoveItaly

Hi cv, I am sure your 17 month old will not fit into a bassinet.

I am wondering, did Lufthansa give you a discount for the original ticket for your little one? If so they probably cancelled the ticket and refunded your money because they were able to sell the seat to a passenger for a high fare.

I would be furious!! I don't have any advice but hopefully this post of yours will be seen by other parents who have a little one under the age of 2 and consequently they will not book their flight with Lufthansa.

When will you be departing? If far enough in the future could you check fares for other airlines and if you find something that works for you could you see if under the circumstances Lufthansa would cancel and refund the two adult tickets? They probably wouldn't but just a thought.

alise007

I fly with my then 16 month old lap child Sept 20th to Germany so I can let you know then....hopefully it isn't too late!

or if you have already done it before then-you can tell me! Unfortunately I fly out alone and return with DH where we have the 2 seats by the window. I booked an aisle seat near the back and just keep my fingers crossed 1 seat remains empty on the flight. We will be flying to Wyoming from Charlotte for Labor Day weekend -which is our first trip since he has become a walker. We took him at 12 months to Montreal with a connection both ways.

My dr (at his 15 month check up today) suggested 1 tsp of benadryl for his 24 lbs. However she said to try it first because some children have the opposite reaction --hyper instead of drowsy!

My biggest problem has been finding quiet, lightweight, age appropriate toys for when he is awake so I don't disturb my neighbors.

I plan to also have a "spill proof" cup for myself since he has become fidgety and grabby! Not sure how I am going to do meal times if he is stuck on my lap. Get whatever meal is the least messy and taking snacks that don't require heating/refrig or utensils! I am a big fan of bibsters. I figure nutrition can suffer for a day!

I scoped out the plane on seat guru to see where I could move around more freely.

good luck...we'll be needing it!

StCirq

I assume Lufthansa (an airline I really, really love) has your best interests at heart by putting you in a bulkhead and will provide you with one of those hang-down hammock-like baby beds. If not, I'd squawk big time.

It's very weird to me that they would no longer allow children under 2 to occupy a seat, as that is clearly the safest option for the child. You would, of course, have to pay for the seat. I paid for seats for my kids starting when they were 3 months old and up until they were over 2 and needed to have a paid set. The possibility of turbulence (and God knows, I've had HORRIBLE turbulence over the Atlantic on the way to Europe, though never with one of my children on board, thank goodness!)is real.

If I were you, I'd purchase a seat for my child. Yes, it's expensive. But have you ever been in really bad turbulence? The kind where the flight attendants are all strapped down and cant come help you and the plane is diving and bucking and you are about to think you're dead in the next 20 minutes? Believe me, it happens, and the price of an extra ticket will seem pretty small compared to your relative piece of mind if you encounter major turbulence with a baby.

cv2004

We did purchase a seat for our daughter, but Lufthansa is no longer allowing us to keep her ticket (they basically forced a refund as they said they will do for all children under the age of 2 who are holding tickets to fly after September 1). They have put us in bulkhead with 2 seats (one for my husband and 1 for me) and a bassinet for our daughter.

At 17 months old, though, I have serious doubts that our daughter will actually stay in the bassinet, and I don't feel comfortable with the idea of holding her (it just doesn't seem safe to me) so, I am still trying to figure out whether we should keep our 2 tix or rebook with a domestic carrier (who will allow customers to purchase seats for the under 2 crowd...).

Thanks for all the feedback and advice- it's very helpful!

canyonjane

In case the plane is delayed after you have boarded and before the plane takes off, you should take extra water or juice. Your child could become thirsty in the dry environment of the plane if you have to wait for longer than expected for the food service to begin.

You should also acquire as many new "props" as you can carry, i.e. new books with pop ups and textures your child can touch, a small book or two with poetry that you yourself like and will enjoy reading to your child, small toys your child can hold, small knit finger puppets so you can make a game of the puppets talking to one another, small wooden letters or numbers you can use to teach your child on the flight, etc. If you pretend that you are going to have to entertain your child the entire flight, you will be fully prepared.

When I took an 8-hour flight with my 18-month-old son, he did not sleep for one minute. I could NOT believe it, but I talked to him softly the entire trip and read to him and produced first one new small item and then another, all the while worrying that we were bothering other people. At the end of the flight, the woman next to me said, "I have been teaching for 28 years and I have to tell you that you have done an amazing job on this flight. Congratulations on being such a great mother." I do not think I ever had a compliment that meant more to me. Her words carried me through many years of exhausted moments! But, I hasten to add, I could NEVER have done this without those props. It was all about the toys and books.

LoveItaly

Hello cv, you posted exactly what I was thinking when I posted to you earlier.

Personally I would rebook with an airline that allowed me to buy a seat for my little one. And from your comments it appears to me that is what you should do. Best wishes and do enjoy your time in Europe!

KTtravel

Hmm, what a strange policy Lufthansa has. I can't imagine what they are thinking. What do they do for all those families traveling when the bulkhead seats are already full?

Anyway, I like your thoughts of rebooking. Italy from SFO would be a very long trip with a lap child.

Frances

I was provided with a bassinet for my daughter at 16 months and it was too small her feet were hanging over the edge and she didn't stay in it.
The biggest problem I encountered on another flight when there was no seat for my daughter (at 23 months), and she slept for a long time ,was the sheer discomfort of a hefty child on your lap. She was heavy to the extent that I was uncomfortable but I didn't want to move in case she woke up. That was a 10 hour flight.

marigo13

My sympathies to you. Maybe you have an angel who will sit still and not run around or scream and jump and explore every nook and corner of the plane, including all the toilets.

The basinett is a joke. At 10 months my son's legs were dangling off the edge! And during turbulance you are required to remove the child from the basinett.

I had my 16 month on my lap from Cinncinatti(?) to SFO. He slept all the way, having walked or ran from London across the Atlantic, on my lap and I lost all feelings in my legs when we landed.

A good tip is DO NOT give your child any sugar before or during the trip. Mine used to go wild after a sweet and the crew will offer more to keep him quiet with disastrous results.

4totravel

The bassinets are really for infants and don't hold that much weight or length. The thought of having a sleeping 17 month old on your lap the entire time seems cruel (to you!). I think I would rebook on another flight...maybe that is Lufthansa's intention, to not have wee ones on their flights??

J62

On a recent AA flight across the Atlantic I watched a child, my guess is about 18mo old, try to use the bassinet.

To him/her it was more of a lookout/diving/jumping platform than a quiet resting place. For literally the 1st hr after it was installed the kid had lots of energy, and the parents tried in vain to have him sit or lie down. They gave up and held the kid in their arms and read and played games till he settled down.

Once asleep the bassinet was a good place for him to rest and give the parents some space.

My opinion was that it would be great for a child up to the age where they could stand on their own. Older than that they can freely climb over the side (no more than 8" high), and about 3' off the ground, so parents need to be very vigilant.

JN

"Any tips for flying internationally with a 17 month old on your lap?"

Why, yes. Perhaps you could leave the child home with your parents or inlaws. Having sat in front of screaming infants and toddlers, I'd vote for that option.

Grcxx3

At one time I had a newborn and an 18-month old. I wasn't living overseas at the time.....but I know a lot of families (military, embassy, corporate) who have had 2 kids under 2. Wonder what Lufthansa would do in that situation, especially (as is very often the case) the mom is flying solo with the kids. Same situation is you had twins under 2.

I like Lufthansa and use them every time we head back to the US, but I would seriously look at other options. I just think it's a stupid (and potentially dangerous) policy.

cv2004

If we look into tickets on other airlines, which carriers would you most recommend (flying into Florence, Milan, or Rome from SFO...)?

Thanks!

scdreamer

I think United code-shares on those routes (Italy - SFO) with Lufthansa. Maybe by purchasing the tix through United, you would be able to get the extra seat, even if the flight ends up being on Lufthansa. Good luck to you ... and by the way, I think the earlier poster who suggested leaving the baby behind was a bit out of line. I am not crazy about being seated near crying babies, myself, but ("been there, done that&quot most people have been or will be parents at some time in their lives, and leaving the baby behind isn't always an option or desire. If you can't stand being around infants, buy a First Class ticket ...

JN

"If you can't stand being around infants, buy a First Class ticket ..."

What a clever suggestion. Sign me up! I didn't know they don't let babies in first class. I'll send you the bill for the extra cost.