[ourdreamcametru]

I will be traveling on an airplane with Castle for the first time in March and need some help. I know I need to take some entertainment, coloring books, storybooks, brother's game "thingamajiggy" that plays movies and some snacks. As far as carry ons, do they count her booster seat and can I take a stroller onboard? I guess I need to call the airline......It's only about a 2 1/2 hour flight so not too long and I know she will be excited. We'll be leaving on a Fri and returning on Sun so I don't forsee the amount of carry on's being a problem, I can do it with only one carry on for the two of us. Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated. Also, what about ID for her, we are flying from Nashille to Houston TX. on Southwest airlines.

[Stormster]

Just published this in my newsletter, even though it's for slightly young children than Castle it may help!

Lots of people ask us about flying with our son who has flown 9 times including 4 times overseas! I thought I'd do a list of the top things we've learned that have made our trips easier. Here it goes!

1. Bring at least twice as many diapers and formula/food as you think you'll need. Unforeseen delays can literally double your travel time and you don't want to be caught with a hungry child or one who has pooped in his last diaper!
2. In order to accommodate #1, leave your personal items to the minimum (wallet, passport, keys) and carry two diaper bags (we fill one with only diapers and clean bottles)
3. Bring a bunch of plastic bags (with handles). Hang one on each the seat backs in front of you and use for garbage and things you need to wash when you reach your destination. When the flight attendant walks by with trash, just hand him the bag and start a fresh one. At the end of the journey, take the bag of used bottles, cups, bibs and burp clothes and stuff in your now mostly empty diaper bag. (You will thank me for this technique!)
4. Bring a VERY small breakaway bag with a couple of diapers, wipes, cream ONLY if necessary and some disposable changing pads. It is very hard schlepping a baby and a bulky diaper bag down the narrow aisle and the lavatory is crowded enough!
5. HAND WIPES. Use frequently, and wipe down that changing table even before putting a pad down. We recently got a nasty virus on the plane and I blame myself for not following this important rule.
6. If your baby doesn't use a pacifier and still takes bottles, save a bottle for landing, The sucking will help equalize her ears. If you have a toddler who no longer drinks from a bottle, try two dixie cups over his ears upon landing. It works!
7. If you have a very active toddler, don't underestimate the use of the floor space between you (especially if you have a seat for child which gives you even more floor space). Our son is pretty much as fidgety and active as you can get and he was very happy just puttering around in that small space.
8. Bring small, new toys he's never seen that will catch his attention. Don't go too crazy though, there are many things on the plane that will fascinate them. Our son once played with a barf bag for 20 minutes!
9. Let them run it out in the terminal before boarding. You'll be glad you did.
10. If you can afford an extra seat DO IT! And if you can't, bring your car seat up to the gate and ask if there is an extra seat on the plane. There usually is and if there isn't they will stow your car seat with the strollers. Believe me, they want the children to be comfortable and will help you.
11. If you are flying overseas, there are often special baby/toddler beds that fit onto the wall in the bulkhead. Try and get the bulkhead in whatever class you are traveling in and ask if they have this feature so you can check your car seat.
12. Take overnight flights whenever possible or time short flights to coincide with naps.
13. Get the name of a good pediatrician wherever you go in advance. Also, the name and number of the best children's hospital in the city. Tuck it away JUST IN CASE.
14. Ask if the plane has seatback video monitors. If not, consider bringing a small one to show movies. This doesn't work for our son, but I know it does for others and they are thin and small enough to slip into the diaper bag.
15. Pack that diaper bag SMART. Don't bring a load of things you've never used before.

It's all about being streamlined so you have your arms free for baby and your personal space as clean as possible. We have it down to a science. Check out One Step Ahead: the best baby gifts, baby products & baby care essentials! for some great travel accessories as well. Anything that can get your hands free like back pack diaper bags or the thing we have that allows us to carry the car seat on your back will make your life much easier! Happy travels!

[ourdreamcametru]

Wow Storm, you've really got it down and this is great information. Our stroller has a zip off "diaper bag" so I'll just zip it off to carry on for all of the onboard entertainment and then zip it right back on so I don't have to carry it through the airport! Great information.

[HappyTwinsMom]

Last time we flew with our girls, we were told we couldn't use their booster seats on the plane. A 5-point type car seat would have been fine, but they were in plain old boosters by then. No go - and we had to check them.

[karla-k]

We just flew over Thanksgiving from Dallas to Atlanta, around a 2 hour flight. Our 4 year old was so excited about seeing everything, the snacks, etc. we really didn't need that much extra entertainment. I would just stick some colors and coloring book in and maybe some snacks. We have a 2 year old, 4 year old, and 9 year old. The airplane itself was really enough entertainment for them

You can check the stroller at the gate, it won't count as luggage per say. They won't let you bring it on board, but you can take it all the way to the gate and then it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane.

Only 12 (or it might be 16) and over is required to have picture ID. I have flown with my kids several times and no one has ever asked for ID or verification. We fly Southwest usually.

You will have to check her booster unless it is 5 point, like PP said. It is a hassle to deal with buckling a car seat into the plane, especially if you are alone with her. We took the 2 year olds car seat on the plane, I could not have done that alone. DH had to keep the kids in hand while I buckled the seat, etc. And Southwest does not do absolute pre-boarding for families with kids. You have to wait for the first group to board and then you get to go on. I would not take her carseat/booster on board if I were in your shoes. Just check it at the ticket counter if you have to take it with you.

Hope that helps! And Have Fun!

[karla-k]

One thing to keep in mind if you take a bunch of stuff for her to entertain herself with...you cannot take it out until after the airplane is up. And then they serve drinks. And you have to start gathering all the toys and stuff up and put it away before they plane starts descending. I wouldn't want to be trying to do all that with no help! I know my kids would have stuff all over and I would be crawling under seats retrieving stuff.

We took the 2 year old's magna doodle and that was enough for him, he loves that thing!

[ourdreamcametru]

Thanks for all the great tips. One thing I might add is that my Mother is traveling with us so I will have help. Also, several have said I will need to check her booster and can't take it onboard, does this mean we do not have to have a carseat for her on the plane? This would make things much easier, I can have my family have one avalible when we arrive if this is the case.

[mommieof2cuties]

We FLY ALL THE TIME! JETBLUE is my favorite! My DH loves SOUTHWEST! On flight we don't take carseats for 3 or 4 year olds. We do for the the 1-2 year olds and I have always worn my newborns. Mini DVD play for a flight is great (I always buy a new dvd for the kids, my oldest ones each have own one, we paid about 60.00 each and I think you can find them for less. I always bring small bottled watered sealed not open and snacks JETBLUE is great about giving you extras and they have the little TVS etc! Southwest unless you buy the more expensive tickets you board in number order (that I have a huge time dealing with, alone and with kids) But your flight is short so you should be fine! I am sure she will have fun, some kids sleep etc.

[JGarrick]

On most flights they'll collect your stroller either at the gate or at the end of the jetway. For a two and a half hour flight, you won't need much to keep her entertained. A few snacks and a window seat should do most of the job. Lots of other good ideas have already been posted. Check the car seat, or just rent one from your rental car company. AAA members can get one free from Hertz.