Looking for travel tips!

rubber_chicken

In a couple weeks we're flying to Chicago for a long weekend.  I'd love some travel tips for the flight and getting around the city!  I'm really confused about our options.  For example...

Baby is flying in our lap.  But should we bring the carseat and snap n go and gate check them? That way we'd have a carseat and stroller, although we're not renting a car, we're taking the L.  Should we bring the umbrella stroller and gate check it? Or will we be fine getting around with the ergo? She likes the ergo but we've never used it for more than hour at a time.  Also, we'll be wearing winter clothing, can you even use an ergo with a winter coat?  I also have a wrap, maybe I should use that instead - although that means DH won't help carry her, snort.

My SIL recommended bringing nothing and just renting gear when we get there - has anyone done this before?

Has anyone flown with a breastpump and expressed milk?  I have a battery pack so I can pump at the airport although I should probably buy a nursing cover (baby never latched). 

 

RedDDD

dont bring your big stroller...just bring the umbrella stroller.  To me the less you bring the better.  The smaller stroller will be fine on the L.  We flew over thanksgiving and checked our car seat and it was fine.  I dont breast feed but I did fly with formula in a bottle...they just scanned in it a machine and let me have it back...no big deal.  My tips are just have a bottle ready, snacks, small toys and any other good distraction items....I also didn't board early....I felt that would have been a recipe for disaster.  I just waited till the end to board.  If you can purchase the E-row seats DO IT.....its cramped enough with just your self but with a child on your lap?...really cramped.  Since its only a weekend don't over do it because you will be sorry you packed too much.  And if you get there and you realize you forgot something...its Chicago not a foreign country you can always buy whatever you need.  But I guarantee you will need less then you think! 

FemShep

I've flown multiple times with DD (6 mos).  My tips:

Bring extra food and a change of clothes for baby.

Most people are incredibly nice; don't hesitate to ask if you need help.

A hands-free baby carrier is a godsend. If your LO is ok with a snap n go and car seat, that's a great option; if there are extra seats available, airline staff will often reseat you so you can use the car seat online.

You won't be permitted to sit in the exit row with a lap infant.

Check your airline's regulations; two airlines haven't asked us for a birth certificate, another did (and made a fuss about it when we didn't have it).

Try to plan feedings so baby is nursing at takeoff and landing to help clear LO's ears.

Good luck!  Really,  it'll be fine.  Most people are incredibly nice, helpful, and understanding.  

gracielou314

We flew to Napa with DS when he was 4 months old, so things would be different now as far as keeping him entertained on the flight, but as for gear...

I checked my car seat with base attached (we rented a car, so you probably wouldn't need the base) and gate checked our uppa baby vi sta stroller. But he hated his car seat at that point, so that was our only option. Ithink if you could gate check your car seat and snap and go, and have both when you get off the plane, that would be perfect. We also took our baby bjorn and moby and used both, although he only tolerates them for about an hour at a time.

As far as breast milk, I carried expressed milk through both ways and I just told the TSA agent that I had it and they put it in a special machine to scan it. No big deal.

 If DS ever got fussy on the plane, I just whipped out a boob (with nursing cover) and it was fine. I took my boppy as one of my carry ons and was so glad I did. We also took disinfecting wipes and DH would go clean the bathroom and I would follow him to change DS....who had two major blow outs on the plane, so pack a change or two of clothes and PLENTY of wipes.

 We bought wipes and diapers when we got there. I just didn't have room to pack them. I found a company in Napa that rents baby gear and they delivered it to our condo and picked it up. I rented a pack n play, bathtub and swing and it was super handy.