Before You Make Reservations

Before making airline reservations for yourself and a child (or several) there are several important things that you should keep in mind.

• The age and size of your child will determine how many seats you may need to reserve as well as the price you will end up paying. It is highly recommended, but not yet required, that all children under the age of 2 sit in an approved restraint (usually your car seat.) See "This Thing is an Airplane Seat, Too?"
• When to fly? If you are flying with only yourself and the children or if you are at all worried about annoying other passengers, consider an off-peak time late in the evening. Your baby will probably sleep anyway, and you may have a lot more room to spread things out in the cabin.
• Will there be food? What kind? If you have toddlers, you already know the peanuts and pretzels that airlines usually provide as a snack may be a choking hazard. Always be prepared with your own snacks.
• Is there a non-stop flight available? If there is, that is going to be your best bet. The less moving around you have to do as a family, the better. If you have to change planes, plan some extra time for a meal or some fun airport sightseeing. You do not want to be dragging your car seat, the baby and your hyperactive five-year-old across Chicago O'Hare or DFW in a mad dash to make an ill-advised connection.

Choosing the Perfect Seat

There is a lot to be said for smart seat selection, and that also applies to travel with babies and older children. Get thee to a bulkhead seat, mom and dad! For the uninitiated, the much-coveted bulkhead seats are the ones in the first row of the economy class. Sit there with that hyperactive five-year-old, and you won't have to worry that little Timmy will kick the seat in front of him, because there is no seat in front of you. Another advantage to this seat is the close proximity to the restrooms and the front exits. Your children will not have the opportunity to whine and moan while waiting to get off the plane at the end of your flight.

If these seats have already been taken by another smart mom and dad or someone who wants more legroom, consider getting a seat at the back of the airplane. Especially on an uncrowded flight, your children may have a little more space in which to roam (within reason, of course.) Also, remember that if you are traveling with a child under 2, you can gamble a little with the price of his or her ticket. If you and your spouse reserve the window and aisle seats, there may be a chance the middle seat is not taken and you can put that car seat in the middle without buying a seat. On the other hand, if someone has purchased that seat, he will definitely switch with you. The downside to this is that if your child is left without a seat, you will have to contain him or her in your lap the entire time-not a good prospect for a long trip.
"This Thing is an Airplane Seat, Too?"

Ah, the dirty little secret of air travel with kids. It all seems so easy until you are faced with the prospect of taking your car seat out of your car, installing it on an unfamiliar airplane without preventing others from boarding, and let's not forget, reinstalling it in your car before you come home from the airport. Fun, huh? There are a couple of things that will make this ordeal seem a little easier.

Many airlines, including Continental Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines, have child-friendly policies that may allow you to board before other passengers to give you time to get that thing installed properly. Unfortunately, if you reserve a seat for your child, even if she is under 2, you will have to pay anywhere from half to full price for the ticket. A small price for your child's safety, I say.

If your child is big enough for a booster seat in your car at home, you will not need a car seat in the air. Booster seats have actually been shown to pose quite a danger in the event of a plane crash.

What are the rules for airborne safety restraints?

• Safety restraints are recommended but not required. Children under 2 are allowed to sit in the parent's lap during the flight.
• Your seat should specifically say "approved for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."
• If your child is under 20 pounds, he or she needs to ride rear-facing, the same as they do in your car.
• Children from 20 to 40 pounds must ride forward-facing.
• Children over 40 pounds should use the airplane seatbelt.

If you are a frequent air traveler, there are certain child safety seats you should consider. Some even come with a handle and wheels for easy airport rolling. Children's specialty stores such as One Step Ahead carry these kinds of seats.

Of Special Concern

When traveling with infants, there is always a concern about feeding, especially if you are nursing. For maximum discretion while breastfeeding in the cabin, choose a seat near the window. (I think the view's better anyway.) You may need to nurse frequently if the cabin pressure changes a lot. This will ease the discomfort on your baby's eardrums.