TTMA traveling with LO

[nannygoat]

More specifically flying. I'm thinking about taking a trip to see my sister next month and will involve a lengthy plane ride (or two depending on layovers). I know a few of you have taken your LOs on airplanes before. So just looking for any advice anyone has because I'm super anxious about doing it alone! Just not sure about the logistics of getting through security and all of that alone with LO in tow.

[nannygoat]

bunattack did you have to take LO off to go through metal detectors or anything? Also, did you just take him as a lap child? When you bought your tickets how did you let them know you had a baby? Maybe I'm just over thinking this but I'm having major anxiety about the whole situation.

Edit: stupid fingers

[jesster88]

We are flying in a few weeks, so I am interested in info too.

When we bought tickets through Delta, I was able to add DS by access in our reservation online. We purchased American Airlines ticket for later in the year and could not find a way to add him ourselves so I will call the airline to add Ds.

We also plan to check the carseat and wear Ds in the Bjorn through the airport. We are renting a house at the beach and a local rental company will deliver a Bob stroller, crib, high chair, and jumaroo for the week.

I was thinking about checking the carseat and base for the easiest install in the rental car. So I would put them in one of those carseat bags to check in, right?

[apsalartoll]

If you know which airline you'll be flying on, go to the website and see their details about how to book a flight when you'll have a lap infant with you. I think they can all be a little different. For example, with Southwest: www.southwest.com/html/customer-service/family/baby-on-board-pol.html

You don't have to take LO out of the carrier when you go through the metal detector. Anything else you bring has to go through the conveyor belt metal detector, though. If you check a carseat you should use a bag. Whether you bring the base is up to you. If you're not going to need to take out the carseat constantly, you can just buckle it in and leave it, but putting it in with the seat belt over and over again does get old.

We flew with LO when she was 2 months old. It was a longish flight, so we bought a seat for her and had her car seat on the plane and checked the caddy stroller at the gate. Mostly we carried her around and piled up some carry on bags in her car seat when we pushed it around the airport. You can bring expressed milk or formula and baby food, just show it to the agents when you go through security and they might do an extra screening of it where they wipe the outside of the bottle and then scan the wipe, but they won't open it or make you taste it or anything like that.

[nannygoat]

I don't have a carrier and I don't know if LO will like to be in one. So I'm kinda worried about that, too. I could always use the stroller I guess. The less junk the better. So maybe I should break down and get a carrier soon to see if LO likes it and if I can even figure it out.

[nannygoat]

Good to know about the birth certificate, bdblz. I would never have even thought to bring that.

[apsalartoll]

Oh yeah, one more thing. Bring more extra diapers than you think you'll need. We were stuck at DFW airport for a while longer than anticipated and the only size diapers they sell are size 4, which was a lot too big for a 2 month old (but better than nothing).

[nannygoat]

So far cheapest tickets mean a 4 hour lay over in DFW which probably makes me most nervous. This whole trip will take about 9-10 hours.

[pdxlaurens]

We went from Portland OR to DC recently and I found security was super nice even when we were slow at both airports. Alaska Airlines did not require the birth certificate since he was clearly under 2 just looking at him but we brought it just in case. We didn't add him till we were checking in and they didn't mind at all. You can't sit in an exit row though so keep that in mind. We had one early flight and one late afternoon flight and he did much better in the morning but that's typical anyway for him. We also got seats in the back row for one flight and it was great. Easy access to the bathroom for diapers, never in the way of the beverage cart etc. Plus the engines were loud and the white nose helped him sleep. We gate checked the stroller and car seat. Is recommend that if you are going to have a long layover so you have them between flights at the other airport to walk around. Good luck! It's intimidating logistically but not as scary as you think when you ate actually doing it.

[nannygoat]

Here kboyet

[kboyet]

Jun 28, 2015 17:43:37 GMT -5 nannygoat said:

Here kboyet

Thank you! Great advice for flying

[jesster88]

Since we just survived our first set of flights with DS I will share some things we learned.

We sat at the back of the plne and loved it. The engine noise helped drown out DS screaming when we tried to get him to nap. Also the other families tended to sit in the back too. I preferred the window seat and DS loved looking out the window.

The other thing we leaned was to be really flexible. We had a lot of weather delays and were stuck on the plane for hours and it was no fun, but we felt like DS was doing so well that we couldn't be crabby.

On our first flight we grabbed Starbucks right before boarding - that was terrible idea. It was so hard to balance coffee and get settled on the plane.

We flew delta and the announcement to board with infants was inconsistent. Sometimes they would make sepatate announcents for people who need extra time and people with infants. The tricky part was one employee got really mad at us for jumping in line to board when she called for people needing more time because she planned to announce infants next.

[pippiann]

pdxlaurens does Alaskan provide bags for the car seat?

[pdxlaurens]

Jun 28, 2015 21:32:40 GMT -5 pippiann said:

pdxlaurens does Alaskan provide bags for the car seat?

Our flights didn't provide anything. Everything did come out clean and undamaged though! We gate checked the seat and stroller, not sure what would happen if you checked it with the initial baggage check.

[nolanova85]

I haven't read the other responses, so apologize if this is repetitive.

We have done 3 round-trip flights with LO. The first are when he was under 2 months, so that's basically like a whole different baby and the tips are different. But LO and I just flew to FL and back this weekend and here's my advice from that trip:

• LO has never taken the the carrier, so that just wasn't an option for us. He's mostly in his big boy car seat, but can still technically fit in the bucket infant seat, so we us that for travel. We had it hooked in his stroller. Security made us take everything apart and send it through separately, and then walk through holding LO. They will likely want to test your hands.
  
• You can gate check your stroller and car seat for free. We've done this on 3 different airlines, so I'm pretty sure it's all the same. When we flew when LO was only 7 weeks, DH was super paranoid about our stuff getting banged up so he bagged it at the gate. Several months later, we care less, so we don't mess with any of that. Hint to anyone reading - if you're on Southwest and the flight isn't full, ask the flight attendant to bring the car seat on even if you didn't purchase a seat. They'll allow it since SW doesn't have assigned seating (again, only if flight isn't full). 
  
• Organize your diaper bag smartly for easy access - really put thought into this (easy access to toys, pacifiers, bottles if you use them, etc.)
• Since you're alone, don't have a lot to drink before the flight. Not sure what you would do with LO if you had to pee (I suppose you could keep LO in a carrier if you're baby wearing)
• Book an aisle seat. Easy access to get out to change LO (airplane bathroom changing tables suck, be forewarned) or to just get out and walk LO up and down the aisles. I sometimes have to do that for a change of scenery for our little guy. Obviously change LO as close to boarding as possible.
• Our LO has never acted like his ears bother him during take-off our landing, but encourage sucking just in case. We always attached a pacifier to him and then we FF, so I always have one of those 2oz travel snackers ready for landing. 
• We have been asked for birth certif some of the time, other times we haven't. I recommend having it with you, just in case.
• Obviously just plan extra time. When I fly by myself, I try to time it perfectly so that I can walk through security and walk right onto the plane (rather than be early and sit at the gate). With LO, I try to get to gate at least 45 minutes before boarding. This gives me time to feed him, change him and, most importantly, breathe. The worst is feeling rushed when you've got LO and all of the baby equipment to manage. 
• Obviously if you normally take a carry-on roller or duffle bag, I recommend checking it. I know it's more money depending on the airline, but worth it to have one less thing to worry about. 
• I say spend the extra money to fly direct. If your LO does have particularly tough times during take-off or landing, you'll sure regret having to do it twice.

Ha...I know it sounds like my tips are basically "throw money at the problem"...but honestly, I think it's worth it in this case. All that said, we've never had a bad experience. On the way down to FL this weekend, LO cried for the first time ever on a flight. I tried different things for about 5 minutes and when nothing was working, I just bounced him up and down the aisle and that helped. No one said a thing and I think it helps that they saw I was at least trying. Most people aren't annoyed with crying babies, they're annoyed with parents who do nothing.

[kboyet]

nolanova85 awesome tips! We are flying sw so I'm going to try to take seat on

[jesster88]

nolanova85 Yes to your last bit about people are annoyed with parents who do nothing!!!