For many parents, flying is expensive. One of the ways to travel for less if you have a child under the age of 2 is to fly with them in your lap, which saves you the cost of buying them a plane ticket. But after a door plug blew off of a since-grounded Alaska Airlines 737, safety experts are warning against the practice.
More from Mom.com: Mom on Alaska Airlines Flight Went Into ‘Go Mode’ When Door Blew off Next to Her Son
Having a child in your lap is a huge safety hazard
There are a lot of dangers to consider
While the Alaska Airlines incident is an extreme example of something that could go wrong on a flight, even something like turbulence can be a danger to a child sitting in your lap.
"Your arms aren't capable of holding your in-lap child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence, which is the number one cause of pediatric injuries on an airplane," the FAA website says.
The safest thing is getting kids their own seat
Making sure that you have an FAA-approved car seat for your kids is the best thing you can do to keep them safe on a plane. The FAA advises that you confirm that the words "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft" appear on your child's car seat for use on a plane.
