Traveling (via plane)

[muskiefan]

I can't find ugaqueencity 's post about the pump and other necessities when flying and how to pack them.

I've flown before without a pump, but brought pumped milk onto the plane. We are planning a trip to FL and it's all very last minute. Read: we are leaving in 8 days for a 6 day trip.

I want to maximize the amount of "free" luggage/stuff we can bring onto the plane so we can hopefully only check 1 bag for our family of 5 (we will have access to all baby goods/beach stuff and laundry. Andplusalso I can dream!).

I was thinking the 2 LOs can carry little book bags with snacks and activities. I know a diaper bag is free in addition to a personal item.

Here are my questions:
where should I put the pump? Checked baggage? Seems like a space zapper.

What should I put in my kids' bags to keep them entertained (I tried Pinterest. Seems like a lot of the stuff is too old for my kids. 4&2)

What should I do about L's car seat/base? We have 2 car seat luggage bags and are planning on bringing the kids' convertibles in those. Do I need another bag since she'll be a lap child? I'd have to pay for a seat to put her car seat in. It's a 2 hr flight and I was planning on wearing her.

Thanks for any advice! This is unlike us to throw together a vacation, but my cousin is going OOT and offered her house to us... she has a 4 month old so crib/baby stuff galore.

[kristhegirl]

I don't know the answer to a lot of your questions because I haven't flown with a baby yet, but call your airline and ask if they have placement requirements for car seats. I seem to recall that they often have to be installed in the window seat - that might just be rear-facing, though. It never hurts to check, and then maybe ask if there is anything else you might need to know about kids and planes direct from them.

They'll usually only allow one lap child per row because there's only one extra air mask. (I know you only have one! Just throwing it out there.)

For a 2-hour flight I'd get some new toys (small, cheap) for novelty, and make sure tablets had plenty to watch and full batteries.

[caer]

muskiefan - I've never flown with a pump so I'm help with that. But when I fly with my toddler, I like to go to either the dollar store or Target's dollar Spot and buy a bunch of cheap toys. Stickers, coloring books, little toys (toy cars, stuffed animals, etc.). I find new things are the most distracting. I also pack a variety of snacks, like yogurt bites, goldfish, fruit snacks. Then I basically alternate between the toys, snacks and the tablet. Good luck!

[moutonrouge]

I'm pretty sure you can just gate check the carseat for free, along with a stroller (or by itself).

Technically you can carry on your pump as a medical device and not have it count as an item. But airlines and TSA don't always agree about that, so I probably wouldn't go that route. I'd put it in a checked bag and have one kid backpack hold some of the clothes it displaces.

For activities, would the 4 year old like one of those loop weaving things? The ones you use to make pot holders. That's been a hit for my cousins, especially when it is brand new just for the plane.

For the 2 year old, a new coloring book? Or stickers and a sticker album?

[moutonrouge]

Also, just FYI in case you don't know, they'll make you hold her in your arms, free of the carrier/wrap during take off and landing. But she can be in the carrier/wrap the rest of the flight.

[moutonrouge]

For the baby's safety and yours, you shouldn't babywear during take off and landing. Those are the high risk flight moments, when most accidents occur. If you were wearing the baby and were, say, knocked unconscious in the course of an accident, then those helping would have to unstrap the baby to help her/you. So it's safest for you and baby to just have her in your arms if she doesn't have a car seat. If you're ever told to assume a brace position, same thing - baby should come out of the carrier.

The FAA says you can't babywear in flight at all, as carriers/wraps are not vetted for safety in aircraft (or vehicles). Most flight attendants won't say anything about babywearing while in the air, but some may. So just be prepared in case you encounter one who enforces that rule.

[muskiefan]

Sorry I wasn't clear about the wearing piece -- I plan to wear her in the airport (except for through security) so I can help H with the other two. Your information is really helpful, especially the links.

I'll look into the looms moutonrouge! Sound like fun!

I will be gate checking the stroller and older 2 car seats. We have to use the Dionos so we can fit 3 across in the SUV we are using. I'm not sure what I'll do with L's seat as far as protecting it bc I'll plan on gate checking that too.
I'm starting to feel a bit better about it all! Just a lot to consider and do in the next week!

[seadragon2013]

I flew quite a bit with DS. We usually tried to check most of our baby gear, including both the pump and carseat base on a few extended cross-country trips. We packed them in a hard-sided suitcase surrounded by clothes to protect them.

I always wore DS through security in the moby or ergo so that I would have my hands free. They let you go through the metal detector and just take a hand swab if you are baby wearing. We used the stroller to carry our gear to the gate. Depending on the size of your stroller, be prepared to pop a wheel off to get it through the scanner in security.

We usually got a seat for DS, but regardless, I would plan to bring the infant seat to the gate along with the stroller. I know a few people who have had airlines lose their carseats - that's not going to happen if you gate check it.

Try to give a bottle or pacifier during takeoff and landing to help with ears. For your bigger kids, lollipops are great for this.

We bought carry on luggage for our 4 year old this year. He thinks pulling his own small suitcase through the airport is the.best.thing.ever. We are able to pack almost everything for him in it. He also carries a small backpack with his tablet, coloring books, a favorite toy, and snacks. We make sure to have the show du jour downloaded on his tablet for when we don't have internet access. Maybe your bigger kids can tote most of their own stuff?

[madameovary]

Apply for tsa precheck if you don't already have it. You don't have to take out liquids and can leave shoes and light jackets on. Major time saver with littles.

Melissa and Doug have water paint (water wow)things that are 5 dollars each. You fill the pen with the water and colors appear. It is reusable (Not forever) but my toddler enjoyed that on the plane. We've always purchased a seat for him and brought on his seat, but that's when there was only 1. Now we use the approved harness in air for him and had my mom buy a car seat for use there. It had to be installed in window seat so it didn't block anyone trying to get out.

[amacbaby]

You can use the seatbelt with a car seat. I would just review the installation with the seatbelt if you have only used the latch system.

Apr 17, 2017 12:32:28 GMT -5 ugaqueencity said:

I'm not much help with most of this since we haven't actually flown yet and I'm only taking one, but here's my general game plan

I'm packing my main pump and parts in a checked bag and throwing my manual pump in a carry on in case I need to pump for comfort at the airport or if they lose my checked bag.

I'm carrying on a cooler bag with 4 frozen bags of BM and 2 thawed bags for her to eat on the plane so I'm not trying to nurse in the tiny seats. Technically breast milk counts as a medical liquid and you can bring however much you want. I've printed out the TSA guidelines from their website in case I have trouble with security.

www.tsa.gov/travel/special-procedures/traveling-children

I got A her own seat since I didn't know how old she'd be when I was booking the trip so I'll bring the car seat on board and gate check the stroller. We have this bag to throw the stroller in, it definitely won't help protect it from being damaged but should help keep it clean

www.google.com/shopping/product/10511851815235814389?lsf=seller:7435005,store:8227885600301540258&prds=oid:5714280289292930596&q=stroller+gate+check+bag&hl=en-us&ei=w_r0WNTsBOOZ0wK4lJDwBA&lsft=gclid:CjwKEAjwz9HHBRDbopLGh-afzB4SJABY52oF-QkyIgkOJFmJiieOc0--D-rw4Puv6KlAtCfPHyCIsRoCWy3w_wcB

When I was reading up on flying with an infant I've heard a lot of different info on babywearing and I think it comes down to the flight attendant, some people said they had no problem babywearing and some people were told they couldn't babywear during take off/landing and had to actually hold the baby



ETA- since A has her own ticket we technically get 4 carry on bags so I'll have her diaper bag and then a bag with the manual pump, cooler bag, and spare clothes and blankets and such

ETA2- we're not bringing a car seat base, we'll just use the seatbelt to strap her in. Do you have to use the base?

[britab]

The experts say you should never check a car seat and everyone should have a seat.
csftl.org/leaving-on-a-jet-plane-the-csftl-guide-to-safe-air-travel-with-children/

They don't treat car seats well.

I wore DD1 in the ergo at the airport. My pump is small but if I wasn't planning on pumping, I'd just bring my single hand one, just in case.

GL!