Travelling/flights with Baby

[pinktartan9]

Hey all!

So, I have some awesome yet terrifying news! H and I are going on a trip to Hawaii and we are bringing our fabulous little DD. I am so excited and so scared at the same time.

We are leaving in about a month so DD will be about 6 and a half months. We will be there for 10 days. For those of you who don't remember, I am Canadian and live in east/central Canada sooooo it's gunna be a loooooooong flight!

This is our first trip and flight with DD so writing to you ladies in hopes that you may have some tips/tricks/reminders for traveling with baby for long flights and while away in a tropical destination. I am all ears!!

Thank you in advance!

[dizzycooks]

No advice. Our last trip was when dd1 was 18 months and it was fine. We also flew when she was 9mo and I just brought pouches and nursed and take off and landing. FYI they won't let you clip baby into an ergo or Tula during takeoff or landing, but it's great for the trip through the airport. We bright snacks like cherrios and puffs to keep her busy, but honestly she slept a ton.

[dizzycooks]

Eta I guess I had advice??

[scorpioscuba]

First of all...YAY!!!! So exciting! Which island?

We took DD to Maui in May and it was awesome. She did SO well! I live in Phoenix and it's a 7 hour direct flight from there so that's still long. You will have at least 2 flights I'm guessing? If you can afford it, I highly recommend you getting DD her own seat. That is what we did and it was invaluable I tell you. So worth the money paid. When she would fall asleep I could just put her in her carrier and relax instead of holding her because that's a long time, even between the two of you. Also the flights home are usually overnight. It would have been awful to try to hold her and sleep on that flight. Bring extra clothes and diapers on the plane and just a few little toys.

I got this cheap pop up tent for the beach and it was great! DD slept under it and I could nurse her with some relative privacy. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OLNENN2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'll post a pic of her in it via mobile in a bit.

The time change is a killer but just roll with it. You'll be able to watch the sunrise the first few mornings until you adjust! I'm sure I'll think of more to share with you soon...

[scorpioscuba]

Poof X 2

[pinktartan9]

Jun 30, 2016 10:01:21 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

No advice. Our last trip was when dd1 was 18 months and it was fine. We also flew when she was 9mo and I just brought pouches and nursed and take off and landing. FYI they won't let you clip baby into an ergo or Tula during takeoff or landing, but it's great for the trip through the airport. We bright snacks like cherrios and puffs to keep her busy, but honestly she slept a ton.

Nursing during take off and landing - great idea for the ear popping situation. Brilliant! We currently have a k'tan but will be getting an ergo 360 for the trip. Also I got a few organic fruit pouches and some brown rice cereal so that should be fine. Wondering how early she can have those puffs.. I have seen them before and all the mama's I have talked to said their kids loved them. Thanks so much dizzycooks

[pinktartan9]

Jun 30, 2016 10:08:00 GMT -5 scorpioscuba said:

First of all...YAY!!!! So exciting! Which island?

We took DD to Maui in May and it was awesome. She did SO well! I live in Phoenix and it's a 7 hour direct flight from there so that's still long. You will have at least 2 flights I'm guessing? If you can afford it, I highly recommend you getting DD her own seat. That is what we did and it was invaluable I tell you. So worth the money paid. When she would fall asleep I could just put her in her carrier and relax instead of holding her because that's a long time, even between the two of you. Also the flights home are usually overnight. It would have been awful to try to hold her and sleep on that flight. Bring extra clothes and diapers on the plane and just a few little toys.

I got this cheap pop up tent for the beach and it was great! DD slept under it and I could nurse her with some relative privacy. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OLNENN2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'll post a pic of her in it via mobile in a bit.

The time change is a killer but just roll with it. You'll be able to watch the sunrise the first few mornings until you adjust! I'm sure I'll think of more to share with you soon...

We're headed to Maui first, then the big island we have a stop in Chicago and then direct from there (8.5 hours from there I believe) as for affording a seat, tickets are over 1000 so it's not in the cards for us.. That said, I'm PRAYING the airlines will have mercy on us and if the plane isn't full they can give us a seat between us.

The tent idea is amazing! I checked it out and the green is only 44 dollars! I shall order this tonight! Thank you so much scorpioscuba !

[scorpioscuba]

OMG, totally get that at that price, it's not doable! We used miles for one of the flights so it made the other flight much more affordable. Definitely get to the airport early if you can and ask the gate agent. Let them know you are traveling with an infant and have your carseat if you can.

I think they have those yogurt melts too that might be good for her to eat on the plane and keep her busy. It says they are for "crawling" babies but my friends daughter is 6 months and she is already eating them.

thrivemarket.com/happy-baby-happy-yogis-organic-yogurt-snacks-for-babies-and-toddlers-mixed-berry?utm_source=google&utm_medium=pla&utm_campaign=Default%20Category%2CBabies%20%26%20Kids%20%3E%20Food%20%3E%20Bars%20%26%20Snacks&utm_content=852697001484-Happy%20Yogis%20Organic%20Yogurt%20Snacks%2C%20Mixed%20Berry&gclid=Cj0KEQjwhtO7BRCtwuO9gfTH-fQBEiQAdJ8FY3Rhy3tgG3DfLH-DFWhHck4JQ9tfArQrgdst3srcdRMaAtef8P8HAQ#Reviews

Also, I've found that the people on the flights to Hawaii are so happy that crying babies don't bother anyone. She'll be fine though!

Warning, DD slept SO good in Hawaii that after we got back I needed to use ocean sounds to lull her to sleep to take her naps. I think she just go so used to it there and needed it at home too!

[14joa31]

tiny babies usually travel well ...toddlers are another story altogether! I pushed my LOs through the airport in their car seat/stroller travel system, and then would always just gate check it. You need to go to the desk at the gate before you board and have them tag it for you.

Have a blast in Hawaii - it should be so lovely!

I am flying alone with both LOs in August. Will let everyone know how it goes - and I am bringing ALL of my Southwest drink tickets! LOL!

[crimsonandclover]

I've gathered quite a bit of experience with long flights and kids of different ages (up to 5yrs so far ). 6.5 months is a great time to fly. After they get mobile and before they have an attention span long enough for a movie/game is when it's really, really awful.
Ergo for the airport or getting her to fall asleep on the flight (not during take off and landing since as someone already mentioned you can't wear them then), snacks if she's eating and a couple of new interesting toys (tactile things she'll investigate for a while) are good things to have on the flight.
Since you can't get her own seat, call and ask if they have a bassinet on board. Long-haul flights have bassinets that attach to the front of the economy cabin, so you get a bulkhead seat and the bassinet goes in front of you. It's great for being able to just put the LO down for a while, and even better if they sleep there! I don't know if Hawaii is a long enough flight for them, but it doesn't hurt to call and ask.

[tinydancer]

I've flown twice with my LO (once with H and once alone), and it hasn't been too bad. Like others have said, feed baby at takeoff and landing. This usually makes my LO fall asleep so that's a plus.

Bring many changes of clothes in the diaper bag. My LO almost always has a blowout at takeoff. I think the pressure messes with his tummy. He also has a little spit up for a day or so after flying (unusual for him), so be preparedfor that. Sometimes only one bathroom has a changing table (or sometimes none at all) so be sure to ask the flight attendant.

I have a soft bag for the carseat that rolls and you can leave the seat in there to gate check it. It was super helpful when travelling alone. If H were with me I think I'd use the backpack kind of carseat bag. I haven't travelled with a stroller, but you could use that to push the carseat too.

Lastly, depending on where you're sitting, it can be kinda loud. On my last flight I was in the back right next to the engine and it was really loud. I usually bring baby earmuffs to block out she noise just in case. If your LO will tolerate them it can help with sleeping in loud places in general (e.g. I'm bringing them with me to a wedding in a few weeks).

If you borrow a crib or pack n play from the hotel remember to bring your own sheets.

I'm so jealous of your trip, it sounds so fun. Enjoy!

Have a ton of fun!

[crimsonandclover]

Oh yeah, like tinydancer said, don't forget at least one change of clothes. I also always bring about double the amount of diapers I think I'll need and also way more formula. Just in case we miss a flight, one gets delayed or cancelled for whatever reason, or something else happens to make us get stuck somewhere for way longer than we are anticipating, I don't want to have a diaper or formula crisis. It just makes me less stressed to know that even if we do have to end up sleeping in an airport, we're not going to run out of formula or diapers.
Oh, and if you can fit them in your carry-in, bring a change of clothes for yourself, too. DD1 was really squirmy on a flight when was 17m old and ended up pushing her diaper to the side and peed on me. She also had massive spit-up issues and definitely could have soaked me at any time (that had nothing to do with flying, she just spit up a ton all the time). When we flew when she was 3.5 she threw up twice - thankfully not on us, but on herself and it could have been on us. If you can bring an extra pair of shorts and a shirt, I would.

[pinktartan9]

Wow guys, tinydancer crimsonandclover thank you soo much!!

14joa31 thanks!! And good luck to you too! I'm sure your hands will be full!

[crimsonandclover]

Oh, and we'll be flying to the US on July 31 - when is your flight? We could end up as packing buddies.

[pinktartan9]

Jul 2, 2016 1:57:22 GMT -5 crimsonandclover said:

Oh, and we'll be flying to the US on July 31 - when is your flight? We could end up as packing buddies.

Haha yes! Flying July 30
Let's do it!
How long are you returning to the US for?

[crimsonandclover]

pinktartan9, 3 weeks. We're flying back Aug 20/21.