Tips for traveling?

JesscanTri

We are taking our first flight with DS (10.5 months) this week and I am a little freaked out about how to prepare for it. DS is formula fed, so we need to bring that with us. We purchased a seat for him since he will not sit still on our laps at home, much less a two hour flight. How do you juggle the car seat and an umbrella stroller? For those of you that have flown, how did you handle formula? We use RTF on occasion, so we could use it on the flight. The powdered formula can go in either a carry-on or checked bag.

Any help would be awesome!!

mikah.george

My suggestion is get the kind of formula that is already prepared. all you have to do is put it in a bottle. Baby needs to be drinking it during take off & landing to prevent his ears from popping. I bought Pediasure for my daughter, but she was drinking milk by then(over a year old)

If you plan on taking the car seat on the plane & he has his own seat, you can get one of those car seat stroller things for travel. 

For the umbrella stroller, you can hang your purse from it & have husband take your other bags..take it to the gate & they will take it for you & then have it for you when you get off the plane. 

st.augbride

We have always flown with ds on our laps, but at this age he totally needs a seat and our next flight we book will have a seat for him, so smart move there! We bought this backpack car seat carrier that works great and is surprisingly easy to carry:

https://www.diapers.com/p/jl-childress-ultimate-car-seat-booster-seat-carrier-9793?site=CI&utm_source=cse&utm_medium=cpc_D&utm_term=JL-005&utm_campaign=google&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=JL-005

I'm not sure how to install the carseat on the plane as we have yet to do that, though I imagine someone can help you or you can find instructions online. You can gate check the stroller which is the easiest way to have quick and full access to it in the airport. I EP so I'm not familiar with formula, for for BM I make all the bottles ahead of time and keep them in a cooler that we carry on. 

 

Janine0514

I have never purchased a seat but have flown 3 times with DS.  I would check to make sure your carseat is FAA compilant. 

Ask the desk for a gate check tag before boarding and get your stroller ready before you board.  They also say to board first but I woudl send husband first with the stuff (car sear) and board last.  My baby gets sick of sitting while everyone else boards and change his diaper right before.  Not all planes have a changing table.

Like pp said feed or use pacifer during take off and landing. I found puffs helped a lot to keep him entertained.  He was easier to fly with last week at 9 months than the previous times. 

hmp1

I haven't brought a convertible seat on, just an infant seat. I had him rear facing (you have to have him in an inside seat).  I would use the stroller in the airport and check it at the gate.

We use RTF and I bring a bottle cooler bag with 2-3 bottles. Give yourself lots of extra time to get through security because they will check the bottles.  I try to get DS really active in the airport while we wait to board. Change his diaper just before we board.  He takes a bottle at take off and always sleeps. 

JesscanTri

Thanks for all of the good tips! We have a Britax Marathon seat, so it is FAA approved. The suggestion of boarding last with the kid is a great one. That way he can move around as much as possible before getting on the plane. So much to prepare!  

BeeOhVee

Hi there. I just did a trip to the opposite coast and back with DD who is 10-months old. She did great. highly recommend checking to see if they can give you an empty seat. Sometimes it works.

As for feedings make sure to have a bottle at the ready for the take offs and landings. Keep it already mixed or get the premixed stuff. They will not give you too much trouble at the security gates. Keep all bottles in an insulated travel tote (with ice pack if necessary). They will test it but that's generally unintrusive (meaning they won't open it but they will put it into some kind of machine). If you need the bottle warm, you may have to find a place that sells hot tea. Get the biggest cup possible and dunk the bottle in the hot water. My portable warmer never works, so that is what I eneded up doing. Most people are pretty cool about giving you a cup and hot water for free when you tell them you are trying to warm a baby bottle.

Check the seat at the gate. They may still bang the crap out of your stuff, BUT it's less likely that they will completely wreck it all. Also, you may luck out and have them let you bring the seat on with you.

Hope this helps. Good luck and safe travels.