B737-800
Flight Attendant Current
Distraction; Time Pressure; Workload
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Flight Deck / Cabin / Aircraft Event Other / Unknown
General None Reported / Taken
Human Factors; Procedure
C Flight Attendant positioned behind the exit row on Aircraft X. Family boarded with 2 small children; one of whom would occupy a car seat. I believe car seat may have had blankets over it during boarding so it was difficult to tell that it was a car seat. It was also difficult to see what was going on in front of the exit row when I was behind it due to multiple passengers; seats; and distance in the way. We also became distracted at the end of boarding by a high maintenance passenger traveling with 2 dogs that attempted to sit in the exit row that took some time to relocate. It was getting close to our departure time; so C needed to brief the exit row passengers and get to the front. Due to the above factors; it was missed that the family with the car seat was one row in front of the exit row. This was not noticed until A flight attendant did the final walkthrough shortly prior to being cleared for departure. At that point; the plane was in motion; the seatbelt sign was on; and every row was occupied. There was not somewhere we could realistically move a family of 4.We could have more specific instructions for the D Flight Attendant during boarding; to position on an opposing part of the exit rows from the C on the 800 to be able to see what is going on all around the exit row. The 737-800's exit row is 3 entire rows; and it is difficult to see what is going on all around it with just one person located there. Additionally; the D positioned in the exit row during boarding would keep the exit row monitored during potential distractions; like having to relocate a passenger from the exit row.
Flight Attendant reported a family with a car seat sat in an unapproved location.