Seat selection toddler travel/Randoms

[wanderingback]

Random question, feel free to add your own

We’re traveling to London this summer and will buy a seat for our daughter even though she’ll still be under 2 (likely 20 months). She’s done a few flights so far as a lap infant (and several 2-3 hour train rides), she’s a pretty easy traveler so far.

I was just looking at flights and the airplane has the seat configurations of 2-4-2. Do you think it would be best to get 2 seats and then the aisle across. It’s an overnight flight so hopefully she’ll sleep (I can never sleep on planes), but I was thinking my partner and I could switch off sitting next to her and then the other person on the aisle across would have a bit of a break? Or would it be better to just get 3 seats in the 4 row, right now the flight looks pretty empty so maybe we’d have a full row but obviously can’t count on that.

We’ve done something similar when we’ve upgraded our train tickets to first class and they serve meals and drinks. It’s kind of impossible to eat with her since she wants to grab everything off the tray, so my partner and I would order our food and then sit in a different row to eat and switch off.

[erbear]

I’d do 2 and 1 across the aisle in your situation.

[hermione]

I’d definitely do 2 and the aisle seat across.

[rhian]

I think I'd do the 2-1 so that you can use the window + 1 parent to block your daughter in, rather than relying on both parents surrounding her to do so.

Having a window would also give you the option to bring a car seat on the plane, I think they need to be installed at the window so they don't block anyone's exit. We've never done that, but considered it when we flew with my son at 18 months, mostly for containment purposes. For an overnight flight, maybe being in a car seat would help her sleep?

[robot]

I would definitely do 2 and then the aisle seat, and switch off as needed. With her in the window seat, it will feel more like having your own space. I don't know if you are taking a car seat or not, but either way, the window is still best, because 1) the car seat likely has to be located in a window seat, or 2) if no car seat, she can lay down and have her head or feet on the window side, rather than splayed across both of you, such that neither is comfortable, or with a foot that keeps falling out into the aisle, lol. I've definitely experienced both of those scenarios:)

[redheadk]

We encountered this when my dd was newly 4. We opted for 2 and 1. It worked really well. The person across the aisle handled bathroom breaks and aisle walks. We actually ended up not switching, just didn’t need to.

[SusanBAnthony]

At first I was thinking 3 across but then carseat, you'd definitely want a window. I might put the 2nd parent in the row behind or in front (depending which way her carseat faces) so she can't see them.

We found that at the 1-2 age there was a good chance they would sleep in a carseat. No way would they sleep in a lap at that age. But we never tried that long of a flight!

[SusanBAnthony]

Here is another random question: has anyone brought teens to the city museum in st Louis?

We never took the kids when they were little. Would they like it as teens? Or is it really aimed at younger kids?

If we went it would be a long weekend trip from several states away so I only want to go if it would be engaging for a whole day.

[quesyrah]

I would do 2 and then the aisle across.

We are a family of 4 and that’s typically what we do when there isn’t a 4 seat row. We do 3 and then 1 aisle.

[basilosaurus]

Mar 25, 2024 0:36:27 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

Here is another random question: has anyone brought teens to the city museum in st Louis?

We never took the kids when they were little. Would they like it as teens? Or is it really aimed at younger kids?

If we went it would be a long weekend trip from several states away so I only want to go if it would be engaging for a whole day.

We went as 2 adults and zero children and had a great time on the recommendation of a friend who also went sans kids.

[wise_rita]

wanderingback check with your airline to see if an FAA-approved child restraint is required. Or if she'll have to be on your lap for take off and landing.

I've never bought a seat for an under 2 before, but I know airlines can be weird about own seats for "infants".

ETA: I mean a CARES harness.

[underwaterrhymes]

I’m so glad you’re buying her a seat. We did did the lap kid thing exactly one time before we realized the price of an extra ticket was worth it for everyone.

I would do the 2+1. Both grownups having easy access to the aisle is so important when they’re that little.

Have a great time!

[underwaterrhymes]

Mar 25, 2024 0:36:27 GMT -5 SusanBAnthony said:

Here is another random question: has anyone brought teens to the city museum in st Louis?

We never took the kids when they were little. Would they like it as teens? Or is it really aimed at younger kids?

If we went it would be a long weekend trip from several states away so I only want to go if it would be engaging for a whole day.

Oh yes! My husband went for the first time in his early 20s with a bunch of friends and loved it.

It’s a blast, but enormous. Be prepared to not know where they are for long periods of time. I brought knee pads when we took our kids because they’re young enough H and I followed them through the tunnels. It’s a lot of crawling and sliding.

[wanderingback]

Mar 25, 2024 5:17:10 GMT -5 underwaterrhymes said:

I’m so glad you’re buying her a seat. We did did the lap kid thing exactly one time before we realized the price of an extra ticket was worth it for everyone.

I would do the 2+1. Both grownups having easy access to the aisle is so important when they’re that little.

Have a great time!

Haha, yeah. We flew with her last month in lap at 15 months for 2.5 hours and it wasn’t so bad. She loved saying hi to everyone while they boarded and talking to the flight attendants as we were up front haha.

We’re flying to San Francisco next month cause I was asked to do a talk. Since I’m breastfeeding and didn’t feel like dealing with pumping they offered to pay for travel for a caretaker. So we’re taking her as a lap infant since they’re paying for everything. Hopefully it goes ok, crossing fingers! But yeah it’ll def be the last time she flies in lap.