Some parents were indignant when a father was tossed off an Alaska Airlines flight in Seattle after his unruly 3-year-old refused to be buckled in and sit upright for takeoff. But the incident highlighted an even bigger safety issue about bringing very young kids on planes, which is, Why are children under the age of 2 even allowed to sit on an adult’s lap with no seatbelt?
Regarding this question, there are no debates on the evidence: the laws of physics have been accepted by experts in the field, and they conclude that unrestrained children face additional risks during turbulence and emergency situations. But untold numbers of parents and caregivers have no idea of the risks — and no matter how much you love your kid and think the safest place for that little one is in your arms, unless your name is Clark Kent, you can’t argue with g-forces. Period.
