« Kindermusik in Arlington | DC BABY: Home | DC BABY: The Book | Enter This Month's BD Raffle »
February 27, 2006
Buckle Up, Baby
This recent report from the Post is making its way through the child health and safety community, as a reminder to parents abou the safest and best way to fly with children (regardless of what the flight attendant says!):
"Child safety seat best way to protect infants on flight"
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Although children age 2 or younger can fly free, Cindy and Todd Lowman of Centreville, Va., wanted their 4-month-old daughter to be as safe as possible. So the couple paid more than $400 for a ticket to guarantee a seat for the baby's Federal Aviation Administration approved carrier.
All was fine on the JetBlue flight to Long Beach, Calif. But on the way home, crew members insisted that the baby be held on a parent's lap during takeoff and landing - the least safe times to hold a child.
"The problem comes up from time to time" on various airlines, said FAA spokeswoman Alison Duquette.
But clearly, the flight attendants were wrong. A child safety seat with a sticker saying it is approved for aircraft use is recommended during all stages of the flight. In fact, if the child has a ticket, "No [airline] may prohibit a child from occupying a child restraint system," according to Section 121.31 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
To convince misinformed attendants, consider carrying a copy of the regulations, available at www.faa.gov.
Posted by Sarah at February 27, 2006 5:10 PM.
