Planning a trip- help

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

We are going to take a trip via plane , tips appreciated!

Specifically-- did you bring pack and play, stroller and car seat? How does that work with airlines? Check/ carry to gate/ carry on? Does each count as a "bag"?
Did you count diaper bag as carry on?
Did you hold baby the whole time to save extra seat fee?


Looks like we will be flying southwest so that will save some $$

[aggiebug]

How long will you be gone? Where are you going (family /friends or a fun trip)? And are you flying direct? Did you purchase lo a seat?

Southwest is great with 2 bags free. They also have a reusable stroller/ carseat bag for $15 that is awesome. It will fit both your stroller and your carseat (both of which fly free).

[lilyelayne]

Pack n play depends on where you're staying. Most hotels have cribs (usually portable crib or pack n play); call and ask. If you're staying with friends / relatives, maybe they can borrow one if it's a short trip.

I assume southwest like most major airlines allows each passenger a carry on & a personal item, so the diaper bag can count as your personal item (like a purse.)

[aggiebug]

I have taken two plane trips with DD one with H and one solo. What I did was check the stroller and carseat before security and wear DD through. We each packed a big suitcase to check for ourselves. I packed DD in a small rolling carry on sizes bag and took a back pack diaper bag.

In the diaper bag I packed essentials 2 diapers, wipes, a spare onsie for her and toys along with my plane essentials (don't forget to take a copy of her birth certificate or a vaccination record with you to the airport). I packed extra diapers in her suitcase along with a spare shirt for me! The suitcase is above stowed above but still accessible if needed that way my diaper bag wasn't stuffed.

[seamonster]

I do lots of flying and traveling with a baby. I'd rather fly than drive because you can feed, change, and play with them without having to stop. Also less screaming at least from my kid.

Most hotels will provide you with a travel crib if you request it. Request it on your reservation so someone else doesn't take the last one. If you already reserved your room call the hotel to reserve. You can check it as baby equipment usually for free but they are heavy and a pain. We just bought a pop up travel crib that looks like a tent (koo di is the brand we got) because some of the places we're staying on this trip didn't have cribs. It's a lot lighter and more compact. If you need to take a crib I can't recommend this enough. Some brands call them a mini travel crib.

Carseat and stroller travel free. Gate check them. Is LO going as a lap infant or own seat? Own seat use the carseat on the plane if it is FAA approved. If you are flying Southwest and it's not a full flight you can use the carseat on the flight without paying additional money for the seat. Some airlines or planes will let you put the seat as carry-on but I've only been able to do this on a international flight and have gate checked the rest of the time. Clip all straps together; we lost a strap pad because I forgot to clip the straps.

Take snacks and toys for LO. Feed a bottle or boob during take off and landing. If LO is passed out on you during these times, don't wake them. I take my boppy for breastfeeding. I had two inflatable my breastfriend travel pillows and both got holes in them, one on first use. My breastfriend has a 45 day warranty and I will never buy anything from them again.

All planes have a changing table. Ask the flight attendant which one has it. Sometimes it's all of them and sometimes it's only the rear lavatory that has it. Take two diapers and wipes with you and leave the diaper bag at your seat.

Baby food and medications can be larger than 3oz and more than a quart size bag with. Put them in a separate plastic bag and take out for inspection. If milk is in a bottle they'll test a drop. Premade formula is pricey but makes it so much easier to feed on a plane.

If you are holding the baby when you go through the metal detector, you may or may not get your hands swabbed.

Stroller may need to go through xray machine so know how to take off wheels or other things so it fits.

Depending on the length of trip you can do all carry on. Buy diapers at your destination instead of packing them beyond what ypu need to get settled. Disposable bibs are great and hopefully your baby is not the Hulk and likes to rip them off. Forgot trying to use headphones because cables are fun to play with.

If there is a play place at the airport take advantage of it. We have a chair harness from Gro that fits in the diaper bag because a lot of places don't have high chairs. Pacifier wipes are great for cleaning toys on the run and sanitizing tables and high chairs.

If you're changing timezones and it's three hours or less just stay aligned to your home timezone. Switching is a pain and hard to recover from.

I can't think of anything else at the moment.

[seamonster]

Dec 17, 2015 17:04:40 GMT -5 2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) said:

We are going to take a trip via plane , tips appreciated!

Specifically-- did you bring pack and play, stroller and car seat? How does that work with airlines? Check/ carry to gate/ carry on? Does each count as a "bag"?
Did you count diaper bag as carry on?
Did you hold baby the whole time to save extra seat fee?


Looks like we will be flying southwest so that will save some $$

Missed some of these questions.

Baby equipment -- stroller, carseat, maybe travel crib don't count against you for checked or carry-on. I would take the stroller so it's easier to take the carseat. DS barely fits in his infant seat, but we are using it with the travel system so we can use less things. We are just buckling in the carseat in the car.

Since you are flying Southwest take the carseat to the gate. If it's not a full flight you can use it and give LO his own seat without paying for the seat. He needs a ticket as a lap infant, but this is only about 10% of the adult ticket price. I have had DS as a lap infant on all flights and one of us has held him the whole time.

Diaper bag is carry on and counts to that.

I don't carry a copy of his shot record. Take photos or have a scanned copy of his birth certificate and shot record if you want, but I have not done this. The only reason I take his passport is we are flying international. Babies don't need ID.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

5 days including travel days. To visit my sister. 3 hr flight- direct. No seat purchased. Do you get to keep the $15 bag? aggiebug

[aggiebug]

Dec 18, 2015 6:20:45 GMT -5 2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) said:

5 days including travel days. To visit my sister. 3 hr flight- direct. No seat purchased. Do you get to keep the $15 bag? aggiebug

Oh fun! I bet it will be good to see your sister. I would see if your sister could find a pnp to use when there. Does she have any friends or coworkers with kiddos she could borrow from? Sometimes you can rent them from a consignment shop. It will be a pita to lug and will count as one of your checked bags.

Without a seat purchased for LO the car seat will have to go underneath. You can gate check, but I recommend going ahead and checking before security. Yep the bag is yours it's huge (could hold H and I no joke) but folds down into a nice zipper pocket.

[aggiebug]

seamonster we were specifically asked for a birth certificate or shot records when checking in for swa. I actually didn't bring it since my previous experience was the same thankfully my pedi has a digital records and I could pull up her shot records as a pdf and that they accepted it. Take a shot record.

[pitdigger]

Check and see the amount of baby-related thimgs you can check for free. I don't know SW, but some airlines restrict you to 2 items for free.

We check everything (luggage, stroller, carseat, pack and play). If there's an overage charge, we pay. We'll wear him through, hold him on lap, and do back packs as carry on. The carry ons have diaper stuff, extra clothes for everyone, and travel documents in at least one of them (if both of us are travelling, then it gets distributed between two and food, snacks, and toys are also in one).

[seamonster]

Dec 18, 2015 7:00:50 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

seamonster we were specifically asked for a birth certificate or shot records when checking in for swa. I actually didn't bring it since my previous experience was the same thankfully my pedi has a digital records and I could pull up her shot records as a pdf and that they accepted it. Take a shot record.

Maybe to check that your lap infant is actually under 2? That's the only reason I can think of that they'd ask to see it.

[aggiebug]

Dec 18, 2015 7:25:51 GMT -5 seamonster said:

Dec 18, 2015 7:00:50 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

seamonster we were specifically asked for a birth certificate or shot records when checking in for swa. I actually didn't bring it since my previous experience was the same thankfully my pedi has a digital records and I could pull up her shot records as a pdf and that they accepted it. Take a shot record.

Maybe to check that your lap infant is actually under 2? That's the only reason I can think of that they'd ask to see it.

Yeah I am not sure DD was 6 months so she was clearly under 2.

[dreemkin]

If you are bringing formula through security either have it made in a bottle already (they will do some kind of test on it and need access to the liquid) or just bring powder and fill up the bottles once you get through (easiest IMO NC you don't have to bother with it). They are still pretty lenient when it comes to babies.

Our stroller wouldn't fit through the x-ray so they had to inspect it, so be prepared for that possibility. Don't forget to get it tagged at the gate so they can have it out for you to use coming off the plane instead of having to get to baggage claim.

We always sit in the way back of the plane. The bathrooms are more accessible and they let you walk around of needed. You will notice most people with kids do this.

Pacific or bottle on take off/descent just in case ears are bothered. And bring lots of new, distracting (but quiet) toys.

My experiences have been good regarding employees and fellow passangers. I hope the same for you. Good luck! Have fun.

PS: my ILs bought a car seat for DD1 and then we got another one shipped to their house for DD2 so we didn't have to worry about it but I see people checking them.

[dreemkin]

Dec 18, 2015 7:25:51 GMT -5 seamonster said:

Dec 18, 2015 7:00:50 GMT -5 aggiebug said:

seamonster we were specifically asked for a birth certificate or shot records when checking in for swa. I actually didn't bring it since my previous experience was the same thankfully my pedi has a digital records and I could pull up her shot records as a pdf and that they accepted it. Take a shot record.

Maybe to check that your lap infant is actually under 2? That's the only reason I can think of that they'd ask to see it.

Yes, to verify age and as legal ID for being on record as a passenger. They link the child to an adult ticket.

[kartish]

I flew southwest in October with DH and V.

Bring a copy of his birth certificate, they will ask for it when you get his lap rider paperwork, if you don't buy him a seat. If he is lap riding, gate check the seat because like pp said if the flight isn't full they will let you bring it on and it is nice. That happened on our flight home, and it was so nice that he could be in his own seat, especially when he was napping.

We brought his pnp, in a large duffle bag and packed his toys and stuff in there too.

We didn't bring a stroller, just the wrap carrier and the ergo, since we were visiting family and not sight seeing. I wore V in the airport and DH carried the infant seat with the diaper bag stuffed in it. That was a little easier for us.

We changed him right before the flight and so didn't have to worry about mid flight butt changes, but ours was a shorter flight.

I was super nervous about flying with a baby, but it was fine. No one cared or side eyed us when he fussed. Good luck!

[MapleMomma]

I'm following this and appreciate the advice. I'll be flying solo with J in 5 weeks. It's a two week trip and we will have 3 flights and one 4 hour lay over.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

www.travelzoo.com/blog/23-tips-from-a-mom-for-flying-with-kids/?utm_source=_tzblog&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=FlyingwithKids&source=_TZb

[lilyelayne]

A few more tips from our travels-

If you're worried about germs, bring some Clorox wipes, because LO will want to be all over the seat in front of you, window, tray, etc.

I kept a few toys in a plastic bag in the seat back pocket so I didn't have to dig in the bag to trade out toys every single time. Also good for pacifiers if LO is still taking one. Paci leash or toy leash may be helpful.

I kept the window shade closed. Then I could open it if he started getting fussed or restless and he would be enthralled. Walking the aisle with him helps too.

For a layover, finding a space where LO can crawl and move and stretch is helpful.

I would only bring a stroller if I needed it wherever we were going. I much preferred wearing him in the airport so we could easily navigate escalators & trams & such.

If you are doing the baby wearing thing, full buckle carriers are nice because it's easy for anyone to wear him. I brought our ergo to California since we walked wherever we went. My mom, my sister, and DH all wore him for the first time!

Even if for some reason LO doesn't like flying, remember he's just a baby! It'll be okay! And it's a time limited experience

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

do you front or rear face the seat on the plane? are there latches? i dont know much about the car seats, DW always does them LOL

[kartish]

Jan 20, 2016 13:53:17 GMT -5 2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) said:

do you front or rear face the seat on the plane? are there latches? i dont know much about the car seats, DW always does them LOL

If it's an infant seat, has to rear face to be buckled, and like dreemkin said, was pretty easy to buckle.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

Jan 20, 2016 16:08:26 GMT -5 kartish said:

Jan 20, 2016 13:53:17 GMT -5 2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) said:

do you front or rear face the seat on the plane? are there latches? i dont know much about the car seats, DW always does them LOL

If it's an infant seat, has to rear face to be buckled, and like dreemkin said, was pretty easy to buckle.

We r in convertible

[kerrigrooves]

we are still in infant car seat and we're flying in a month to FL. I hope he still fits! We are bringing infant car seat, double stroller for toddler and LO. DH and I both bring large backpacks as diaper and toy bags.

I also bring copies of birth certs. 8 diapers, wipes, food/snacks, bottles, pacis, paci leash, toys, outfits for baby and me, bib, clorox wipes, baby advil. When I have a layover, I bring a sheet and find an empty gate and set up shop near a window and let LO crawl around.

I jokingly bring a pack of ear plugs for the people around me...and when I get on, I offer them a pair