Infants on Flights with Severe Turbulence

Question - Research required

Hello, I am a first time mum to a newborn, and I was always planning to bring him home to visit family when he’s about 6 months old. However, in light of the recent incidences of severe turbulence, I have been riddled with anxiety and indecision. Hopefully this sub can help me. The flight I am planning to take is long, up to 18.5 hours.

A few questions:

(a) with the recent incidences of severe turbulence, what do you think the risk of facing severe turbulence is per flight?

(b) what are the odds that my 6 month old does not survive an incident of severe turbulence if he’s (i) placed in a bassinet throughout the flight or (ii) placed in a car seat throughout the flight?

(c) if we were to place the baby in a car seat, should we, and how long do we, take the baby out of the car seat every 2 hours (presumably carrying the baby during that break from the car seat and exposing him to risks from a severe turbulence event)?

Thank you in advance!

in ScienceBasedParentingby fruitnut89

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vanillacoldbrew202

A similar question was asked a year ago and this study was linked in the top comment- “Pediatric in-flight fatalities are rare, but death occurs most commonly in infants and in subjects with a preexisting medical condition.,” and the FAA’s website goes as far as to state “the safest place for your child under the age of two on a U.S. airplane is in approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not in your lap”

Unfortunately, I don’t think you’re going to be able to find credible research regarding risk of experiencing severe turbulence for the ~40 million flights occurring worldwide each year. Turbli has lists of the most turbulent flights/routes based on their own data. A CPST or your pediatrician may be a better place to ask for specifics about the safest way to provide breaks from a car seat during a long flight.

myseptemberchild

Anecdotally, I’m a pilot and have been flying for 18 years and internationally for 8. I’ve never experienced one of these events. Keep your seatbelts on, including the infant lap extension belt while you are seated, and your risk is low. Far lower than many other day to day activities you undertake with your baby.

notwho_shesays_sheis

What is an infant lap extension belt, do you need to bring one yourself? Just flew west jet with an 18 Month old, they just said to hold them tight.

myseptemberchild

Really?!?!? I’m Australian so not privy to US regulations here, but it’s essentially an extra seatbelt with a loop on it that you slide through your own seatbelt then clip the extra length around your baby securing them to you. Not a perfect system but better than nothing. Blows my mind they don’t use them!

boragigas

It’s not used in some countries because the argument is that the infant can get injured by the belt itself (injuries across the stomach, etc), and in the case of a crash the belt doesn’t prevent the infant from hitting the seat in front and doesn’t prevent the adult from impacting the infant. In a particularly colorful piece I read once, it described the lap belt as allowing the infant to become an airbag for the adult.