Flight Tips

JanMommy2under2

Since so many of us seem to be flying for the first time with our babies, myself included.  I'm looking for travel tips, things to take with, etc.  I have flown a TON in my life but the thought of flying with my son from Seattle to DC has me nervous.  We can't afford an extra seat so we have been told to call 24 hours ahead and we can try to secure the middle seat between my husband and I.  

We will also have our Ergo, carseat, and stroller with us through the airport until the gate.  My main concern is my son won't take cold bottles (he's on formula), stupid question but the flight attendants can give just hot water right?  I've always gotten coffee or soda on planes.  Any other tips?  My friend was great and advised me to bring a couple changes of clothes for myself in case my son spits up all over me.

BrittanyAmundson

I'm pretty sure you can get hot tea, so hot water would be an option (extremely hot water) on a plane.

I'm glad you posted about this OP because we are taking LO up to visit the grandparents in WA in two weeks. I'm interested in the advice/tips too.

MalyJ

Try and keep him awake as long as possible while waiting at the terminal. Maybe even bring a blanket to lay him down on to play for a bit. He's going to be held for the next few hours and if he hasn't got some of his playtime energy out, he may get fussy on the plane.

Then he will hopefully be tired on the plane and you could give him his bottle during takeoff and hope he passes out for awhile.

In a perfect world, of course...

KatieGummow

We are going to Hawaii in October so I am happy you posted this. I was going to try to keep the boys awake and hungry until take off.

There is a place on Maui where you can rent baby equipment, so the only things I am bringing is clothes, breast milk, and car seats. We are going to rent cribs, toys, and strollers there. I imagine having to bring a lot with you adds to the stress of traveling with baby(ies).

heybulldog52

We flew a few weeks ago from Baltimore to Miami and it went really well. LO is FF and we bought enough of those ready-to-drink bottles of similac to use while at the airport/ flying. It was really easy: just shake, add a nipple and feed. Definitely have a paci on hand for take off/ landing. It helped a lot!

katy4128

We also just flew with LO. I too used the ready to use formula for traveling. It made things much easier. Depending on how warm your LO likes formula this may be a good option for you. We took an early morning flight both times and DS slept most of the time. It was actually a lot easier than I expected.

lokimau

When we were traveling 8 hours in the car, I warmed the bottles between my thighs. It took the chill off. And little cold on my legs tho but works in a pinch

Nxy

Is buying a snap-and-go better than lugging my full sized (babytrend jogger travel system) stroller around the airport?

Twirple

PP's have mentioned feeding LO on takeoff to help relieve the pressure in baby's ears.  This is good advice, but I recommend waiting until you can feel the pressure change in your own ears, so that LO isn't done feeding before it is helpful.

I wore DS in the Ergo on an overnight flight once.  We were both able to get some sleep, and I didn't have to worry about dropping him.

lokimau

Love my baby trend jogger but I do have the snap n go for errands and such. Easier to get around.

KatieGummow

@twirple I am so happy you said that. I would have totally kicked myself!

PoppySeedWindsor

Doing this on Saturday. Things I've been told to do:

1. Don't board the plane first. Would uuuuuber suck to be stuck sitting down if LO needs to be moved/rocked.

2. Breastfeed/woober baby during take off and landing

3. Brings toys for baby to play with

4. Sit in an aisle seat

Things I plan on doing also:

1. Putting laptop in checked bag. It's not like I'm gonna be able to use it anyway

2. Check stroller with my luggage (but I have a bag I'm using to protect it)

3. Have hubster take me through to the security for extra help

4. Wear sandals and pack a sweater to put on after I get through security

5. PRACTICE pulling shit out of the baby bag

6. Exclusively nurse (I know this isn't an option for all, but I just don't want to deal with the hullabaloo of liquids at security)

7. Go with disposable diapers (I'm usually CD but I think this will be muuuuuuch easier)

I'll let you all know how it goes afterwards!

Avion22

Definitely wear the baby through security.   

Flight attendants should definitely be able to bring you hot water to warm up a bottle (I found all flight crew and airline employees to be VERY helpful on both United and JetBlue, and they were constantly offering to help).  

Bring more diapers and spare outfits than you think you need.   It's really hard to find diapers in airports (imagine your flight getting delayed for a long period of time).

We threw an A&A swaddle over his carseat on the flight to isolate him a little bit, which helped him sleep.

Consider dressing the baby in cotton footed jammies for the flight (but depending on the airport and weather, you may want shorts/onesies to wear in the airport until you're through security, especially if you're using the Ergo, because it can get really hot)

Meg Collins, the author of Lucie's List, has an eBook about flying with babies (it's like $2.99 on Amazon).  Lots of helpful tips and info :-)

BabyBsMommy

Bring more outfits then you think you'll need. DD never leaks or has blowouts...ever! When we flew, she had two up the back....we arrived at our destination with a naked baby in a diaper. Mother of the year! I brought extras on our flight home, so of course we didn't need them...

RocksInTheWater

If you don't plan to wear LO, you can check your stroller at the gate rather than with your baggage. That way you have it right with you.  

JanMommy2under2

I wasn't thinking when I booked our flight last year and we have a 4 hour layover in Tx in the middle of the night, so we definitely want the stroller for the airport because the airport is huge!

Nxy

houzesm1986 said:

I wasn't thinking when I booked our flight last year and we have a 4 hour layover in Tx in the middle of the night, so we definitely want the stroller for the airport because the airport is huge!

Yea pretty much this. We have a 3 hour layover in Japan a 4 hour layover in Detroit. Then on the way back we layover in Minneapolis for 3 hours and Japan for 16. I'll be gate checking the stroller so i can use it with my carseat in the airport. Hoping to hear back from some of you that leave before me!

AcaAwkward

houzesm1986 said:

I wasn't thinking when I booked our flight last year and we have a 4 hour layover in Tx in the middle of the night, so we definitely want the stroller for the airport because the airport is huge!

Do you mean so your baby can sleep in the stroller?  I've flown a ton with kiddos now, and I really think checking the stroller at the counter and wearing the baby is SO MUCH EASIER with a baby this age...  I guess I can see bringing the stroller through security if you plan on laying the baby down to sleep in it for your layover, but otherwise, I'd seriously consider ditching the stroller at the gate -- even if you're walking a ton. 

Other Tips: 

- Bottle or paci during takeoff and landing -- the flight attendants will definitely bring you a cup of hot water to warm bottles. 

- Pack anything that your baby usually uses to sleep in your carryon -- including swadde or sleep sack, white noise {you can download an app on your phone}, paci, etc.  Recreating the sleep environment as closely as possible will help your LO snooze better! 

- pack more diapers and wipes (and formula) than you think you'll need, as well as extra clothes. 

- I like to travel with itty-bitties wearing footie PJs -- planes and airports get cold! 

lcr23

@PoppySeedWindsor I would not recommend putting your laptop in your checked bag for risk of theft. My friend just had her wedding jewelry stolen out of her checked bag last week.

PoppySeedWindsor

lcr23 said:

@PoppySeedWindsor I would not recommend putting your laptop in your checked bag for risk of theft. My friend just had her wedding jewelry stolen out of her checked bag last week.

Damn. This immediately makes me think of OITNB. Looks like I'll practice my security check with a compy. Shouldn't be too much of a pain in the ass since I'm not carrying BM or formula. Still be extra weight. Bleh.

AcaAwkward

LalaMama81 said:

I can't disagree enough with the suggestion to keep them awake at the airport before you board. That often backfires and you have an overtired baby on a plane. If your baby is tired, let them sleep.

This.

PoppySeedWindsor

Man. So flying went really well today. I ended up checking my stroller and car seat. They were in totally fine condition. I had my laptop in the diaper bag and they didn't have me take it...or anything out. Since I wore Merriwether I had to get my hands swiped at security to make sure I wasn't carrying any type of explosive.

Sad, huh?

She nursed during take off and was passed the heck out on both landings. I think she got a little bit of an upset tummy but the second take off was really rough.

All in all, it was pretty easy and Merriwether stole all of the attention and slept a ton.