[potentialsinglemom]

I am taking my hyper, happy, teething, bouncing, high pitch screaming, loud babbling, sleep fighting 9 months old on an airplane ride. I felt a 2-3 hr plane ride was much better than a 10 hr drive and less exhausting. Well, we will see. Anyway, those of you who have flown in the past year, please tell me what I can take on the plane. Please share your infant flying stories.

[oceanica]

Just want to say you are a brave person... it's a heck of a job!
We took Athena and Keonte up north for Keonte's dedication when he was 3 months and Athena was 9 months. Yikes! The car seats and bases, 2 strollers, a lot of stuff to haul around.... we had a time. And they make you take the car seat out at security and you have to fold the stroller and find a way to get it on the belt to go through the machine. The car seats had to go through too and we had to carry babies with us. Not an easy task when you are trying to get everything else through and make sure you get your shoes and make sure you have everything!
I'm sure it wouldve been easier if we had brought a little less.
Anyway they looked at our bottles but didn't say anything. We had a day's worth of bottles premade and had them in a cooler.
We use the ready made formula.
Someone told me after to count all of your items so you make sure you take everything with you after security.
We had to check our car seat bases and put them in separate plastic bags and they counted them as bags so we had to pay.
I'm sure at security we were that family that nobody wanted to get behind.
The babies were great on the plane though... they didn't cry or anything.
So, I hope things go well... good luck... you need it!

[Heather5458]

I have found that loading early with a child is not a bonus 30 extra min to entertain an infant. I try to be the last one on.

[shycar]

We just came back from Florida (Disney was a blast) 2 weeks ago. We had two carseats and one booster seat. Depending on airlines, the one we used, car seats are not considered baggage. But they were put in big plastic bags. We left them at baggage claim. We did not take them on the plane, to be honest its too much of a hassle. Some carseats dont fit good on the seats anyways and then you need to have them taken off and down (happen to me on another trip).

At security they asked if we had liquids for the baby and toddler. Checked them and thats it. Stroller is huge, those sit and stand one, so they just took it to the other side, checked it out and had it ready for us. Just take what you need. Bottles and formula, diapers wipes extra clothes and a nice comfy blanket. Paci are great for the ears. Id be careful with diaper rash stuff, my friend was allowed to take hers, but I was not and had to throw it away. So this time I packed in the suitecase. Some toys, but not too much, if the bag is too big then you have to stuff it above and that can be a pain with a baby. Dont feel rushed, they have now security lines for only families with small children, so take your time. I know I did. So get there early. If peaple get mad couse your slow just smile at them I know I did. LOL. Dont get stressed over little things. I learned if you keep smiling your less stressed and baby is less stressed.

Once you get to the gate, go to the desk and check in the stroller. They will put a tag around it, dont wait till they are boarding couse by then there could be a big line and then your one of the last to board. They usually let first class in first, then families with small children next. Which is great becouse with my giant baby bag I did not have to bump other peoples heads, just the seat. At the entrance of the plane you will have to take the baby off the stroller and close it up and leave it there. It will be taken to the bottom of the plane. They will have it ready when you get off the plane, they even open it up for you.


Our baby loves to color so I took him crayons and coloring book and he was still for two hours and then slept for the other two (he looooves to color). My fs and dd usually fight sleep, but for some reason they both passed out fast. LOL maybe becouse they were up since 3am. Use bottles and paci when plane is taking off and landing, that way their little ears wont bother so much. And relax even if he is screaming just relax. Baby will feel you relax and usually relax after awhile. Good luck.


One thing that is very very important. If this is a fc you must bring a letter giving you permission to take them and also something showing his date of birth. I dont know why, but on the letter sw did not put his date of birth, luckily I already knew you would need it and took his imunization records that have his date of birth on it. That was accepted. If you dont have it you can not board on the plane. So if you have time have sw put his date of birth on the letter and take the imunization records too just incase.

[c.a]

I have two words for you . . . . . . . .Baby Benadryl!!!!!

The first two trips we took with our son, he developed ear infections within two days of the flight. Both times he had a little runny nose and the changes in air pressure pushed the fluid into his ears which then became infected. Our pediatrician recommended Benadryl on future flights to clear any fluid.

Then when we were flying with our second child I called the pediatrican and asked about giving him benadryll for the flight. He agreed that it is fine. Your child is not, typicaly, cooped up in a confined place for an extended period. Airplanes are confining, noisy and hyperstimulating. Fussy babies on planes aren't bad babies - just unhappy babies in an unusual, uncomfortable situation. There is no reason that you, the baby, and everyone else on the plane should suffer.

Traveling with kids is hard - and not the place that you need to prove that you are the super parents who can have perfectly behaved kids on a plane - without assistance.

We last traveled for Christmas. Our six month old was given a dose of benadryll right before we boarded the plane and our four year old had coloring books and a portable DVD player with his favorite movies. Both kids were happy.

I also had a great chat with the flight attendant about the joys of foster care (he gave me a complimentary bottle of wine from first class).

Good luck.

[c.a]

Oh . . I almost forgot to add . . . . .

Snacks, wipes and favorite books.

[dachshunds4you]

Don't take the car seat on the plane. Since I'm assuming he's flying on your lap, no reason to take car seat. Check it in with the baggage. They allow you to check in two items for free. We did car seat and play pen. And took the stroller with us. Even though it's a hassle to hold baby while trying to fold up the stroller, it's worth it to push rather than carry them through the airport.
Some people are nice and help you fold up the strollers. Others are rude, and that's when I say 'would you mind helping me fold up this stroller since my hands are full'. Put on the spot, they have no choice but to help you! LOL!

Also, try to limit the amount of stuff you take. It's really hard carrying a huge bag full of stuff, since you have to hold him on the plane too. Definitely take toys he likes to play with. I usually pick up some cheap new toys so it keeps them entertained longer. Bottles, formula, paci or sucker type of candy for his ears.

Enjoy! It's really not that bad!

[mamachell]

One thing is watch the formula situation. I brought empty bottles and powdered formula and I figured I would buy water once we were through security. That was fine but I also brought one can of "emergency" premade formula. I thought since it was sealed, eventhough it was over the 3 ounce limit, that they would let me bring it through security. Well, they didn't.

Also, there should be a line for passengers flying with children. Be sure to go through that line so you don't have people in a hurry to catch their flights breathing down your neck.

It is hard sometimes to travel by yourself with an infant but just give yourself a lot of time so you're not rushed. I was by myself with an 8 month old. I had to drive us to the airport parking lot, get us and our luggage, stroller etc. on the shuttle to the airport, ride with her on the shuttle, get through security, get through the flight, catch a shuttle from that airport to the car rental and get in the rental car and drive 2 hours to our destination. I can't believe I did it. Luckily my fd is very mellow and happy and just went with the flow. Plus, luckily some strong guys helped me a long the way.

Oh, they made me take off the baby's shoes going through security! That made me laugh to take off those soft little baby shoes, like a bomb could be in there!

Documents to travel with baby: immunization records and placement papers.

Try to book a window seat. Perhaps taking a red-eye would be good because there would be less passengers and the baby could sleep through the flight.

Oh, another mother gave me a good tip: feed the baby a bottle during take off and landing because the sucking helps keep their ears clear (like when we yawn to make our ears pop).

Lastly, I didn't take the carseat base because if you're renting a car where you're going you can rent one from them for just a few dollars. That really saved space and kept me from lugging the base through the airport. Call ahead to reserve one.

Lastly, you should be able to wheel your stroller up to the door right where they take your ticket. They'll take it, tag it and put it into the luggage compartment. They'll unload it first when you land and it should be right there waiting for you when you disembark.

Happy traveling.

[shycar]

A word of caution using Benadryl. Sometimes Benadryl can make a child more hyper and irritable then sleepy. If you decided to use it, I would try it out a few days before to see how the infant react to it. My dd becomes crazy when I give her Benadryl. My ds falls asleep.

I agree with ready made formula. They will not allow it. Only liquids in bottles and sippy cup. Powder formula is best.

mamachell-that was funny too, when I had to take my fs shoes off. He had soft sandels too. It was funny.

[catkendig]

I have survived a number of flights with infant twins. My recommendations:

1 - get the last row of the plane. It's the noisiest area. Much like a vacuum cleaner, it can lull them to sleep. And secondly, if they scream, fewer people will be able to hear it.

2 - If he's tired before you get on the flight, the more likely he'll fall asleep. So, we've tried to time it by skipping naps or scheduling flights right at nap time, etc.

3 - You will absolutely want to have two bottles ready. One for takeoff, the other for landing. This is when ear pressure is the worst and you'll need him to suck on something (bottles are best) to relieve the pressure.

4 - Brand new soft toys and books that he's never seen before are great. But, don't forget to bring the 'lovey' if he has one.

5 - Snacks. Those little toddler puffs are the best, or Cheerios, etc.

6 - Baby benedryl is a great idea too. However, you will want to find out ahead of time how he reacts to it. Sadly, for some kids it ramps them up instead of making them sleepy. I have one of those.

Although I am all for saving money and not getting a seat for an infant, sometimes it's the best investment ever. If they are used to sleeping in their carseat - where they are strapped in by a 5 point harness - then do it. We've flown with the kids both in our laps and in their own seats and were all much, much happier when we paid for the extra seats. When we were holding the twins in our laps the first flight, it became tricky to not wake them when food/snacks/beverages came, someone had to use the facilities, or you simply needed to shift positions to be comfortable. So for me, I highly recommend the extra seat.

The other thing we have done for every flight we've taken with young children is to buy a cheap bag of ear plugs. You can get a bag of like 50 of them at Home Depot for just a couple bucks. We offer them to every single person in the two or three rows around us. We let them know we had infants/young children and that the ear plugs were our gift to the passengers in case all our efforts at keeping our children quiet fail. No one ever takes the ear plugs. But what it does do is break the ice, add a little humor, and keeps people from getting all pi$$y later if/when the baby starts screaming. Have a great flight!!!

[Nevada Jen]

I have flown a bunch of times with my kids. I actually think flying with an infant is easier than flying with my DH! You got a bunch of good tips. If you are planning on getting babe a seat and he is still in the infant car seat, I would take that and your stroller. To get through security, take the seat and baby out of the strolller and set it on the ground. Fold down the stroller, without locking it if possible) and put it on the belt first. Then everything else and then take baby out of seat and put the seat through and then walk through the metal detector (make seriously sure you are not going to set it off with something you are wearing). Your stroller will be waiting for you. Put baby in the stroller while you get everything else settled and then your seat will be out and you can put baby in the seat and head to the gate. Get a gate check for the stroller right when you get to the gate. You will able to take the stroller all the way down to the end of the jet way. Fold it up yourself and get on plane.

I know I am in the minority of these forums but unless its an infant seat, I never fly with a carseat. Its just too much to lug through the airport in relation to the benefits of using it on a plane. Also, even if you don't buy him a seat, if there is an extra seat, they will let you have it if not, you can gate check your infant carrier right along with the stroller.

[oceanica]

I see your logic, but don't you need it when you get there?

[Nevada Jen]

We just rent a carseats with the car (about $5 a seat a day). When we travel to hawaii for a couple of weeks at a time, we usually rent the seats for one day and then drive to walmart and buy cheap seats and return the rentals. Both my kids are in boosters so I can usually find them for $20 bucks. I am not aware of any state that requires you to use carseats in cars for hire (taxis) or public transportation.

When I had one in a regular carseat I did have one of those carseats that turns into a stroller. I loved it as a carseat and it worked OK in the airport but it really couldn't handle being used as a stroller on anything other than smooth surfaces.

[JustAntotherThought]

You already have some GREAT suggestions. Only one I can think of adding right now is consider using a Mobi Wrap or something similar if you have one.

[potentialsinglemom]

Originally Posted by mamachell

One thing is watch the formula situation. I brought empty bottles and powdered formula and I figured I would buy water once we were through security. That was fine but I also brought one can of "emergency" premade formula. I thought since it was sealed, eventhough it was over the 3 ounce limit, that they would let me bring it through security. Well, they didn't.

Also, there should be a line for passengers flying with children. Be sure to go through that line so you don't have people in a hurry to catch their flights breathing down your neck.

It is hard sometimes to travel by yourself with an infant but just give yourself a lot of time so you're not rushed. I was by myself with an 8 month old. I had to drive us to the airport parking lot, get us and our luggage, stroller etc. on the shuttle to the airport, ride with her on the shuttle, get through security, get through the flight, catch a shuttle from that airport to the car rental and get in the rental car and drive 2 hours to our destination. I can't believe I did it. Luckily my fd is very mellow and happy and just went with the flow. Plus, luckily some strong guys helped me a long the way.

Oh, they made me take off the baby's shoes going through security! That made me laugh to take off those soft little baby shoes, like a bomb could be in there!

Documents to travel with baby: immunization records and placement papers.

Try to book a window seat. Perhaps taking a red-eye would be good because there would be less passengers and the baby could sleep through the flight.

Oh, another mother gave me a good tip: feed the baby a bottle during take off and landing because the sucking helps keep their ears clear (like when we yawn to make our ears pop).

Lastly, I didn't take the carseat base because if you're renting a car where you're going you can rent one from them for just a few dollars. That really saved space and kept me from lugging the base through the airport. Call ahead to reserve one.

Lastly, you should be able to wheel your stroller up to the door right where they take your ticket. They'll take it, tag it and put it into the luggage compartment. They'll unload it first when you land and it should be right there waiting for you when you disembark.

Happy traveling.

omg, this is going to be my trip in a nutshell!!! I even have to drive the two hrs to get home. lol!!!