lap child

American  

noun

South Midland and Southern U.S.

1. a child who has not yet begun or has just begun to walk.

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Example Sentences

They also notify anyone on the plane with a lap child, on the premise that they are more likely to wander around the aircraft, the C.D.C. said.

From New York Times

Whoever said, “It’s the journey, not the destination,” probably wasn’t traveling with a lap child.

From Salon

Even though you can theoretically lean your seat back, most airlines have removed so much room between the seats that you’re almost certain to collide with a passenger’s knee, laptop computer or lap child.

From Washington Post

In this case, because of the child’s age, she could not be forced to fly as a lap child. 

From Forbes

In a troubling incident I wrote about last month, a parent was forced to take off with his 14-month old son as a lap child, even after he had bought a seat for the child and brought an FAA-approved car seat for use on the flight. 

From Forbes