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Georgia Babies
Flying with an infant
I know this has been discussed before, but I can't seem to find any of the old posts. I'm traveling with Baer when he'll be 11-12 weeks old. Any tips? Check the stroller and carseat curbside or gate check? Carry him through security in a carrier? Nurse him on take off and landing? Any seat tips? Did you guys change them in the bathroom or at your seat? I'm terrfied he's going to cry the whole time!
HELP! Thanks 
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Re: Flying with an infant
The first time I flew with Tess she was a little older but I guess the same principals apply.
I checked my carseat and gate checked the stroller. I gave her a bottle at take off/landing. I changed her in my lap in the bathroom. But, on the last flight we took the plane had a changing table in the bathroom. Just be prepared that security will look through your diaper bag and they picked my stroller (and carseat this last time) over with a fine tooth comb.
I have NO personal experience but my sister & brother in law were here at Christmas from Denver. I asked how the flight was and she said that Bryson did great. She fed him before take off and before landing, to help with him to nap and also with the ear popping. The sucking is suppose to help.
Again, I can't speak from experience, but sounded like good advice to me
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Check the stroller and carseat curbside or gate check? Depends. Is it a travel system? If so, gate check both. If not, gate check the stroller and check the carseat.
Carry him through security in a carrier? If you're already using the stroller, don't use a carrier. They will make you remove him from the carrier.
Nurse him on take off and landing? Nursing or paci will work. It's to keep baby happy and to try to prevent popping ears.
Any seat tips? Bulkhead is nice. Other than that, try for the aisle in case you need to get up quickly.
Did you guys change them in the bathroom or at your seat? We've always changed at our seat.
I'm terrfied he's going to cry the whole time! He may surprise you! Hope for the best!
Also, I carried my Boppy. This made it super easy for feeding and so Geneva could sleep in my lap. Best ever.
I flew with Aerin at the age. We gate checked our stroller (snap and go) and infant seat. You will have to take him out and carry him through security, but you can put him right back in the seath once you go through.
As far as feeding, try and time it so that you can give him a bottle right when you take off, that will help with his ears.
In terms of changing--Aerin pooped right when we got on the plane and it stunk so I had to change her in the bathroom on the plane. They did have a fold-down changing table. I had brought clorox wipes to wipe everything down. Also, a good friend of mine had advised me to take a few receiving blankets that could be thrown away just in case you have to change him in the bathroom and there is no changing table thing..just lay them on the floor.
this is the best time to fly with an infant. He will probably sleep most of the time:)
i always checked the stroller/carseat at the gate....only b/c i used them both up until boarding. i just like to have it there if i want it, b/c sometimes mom needs a break too. i carried baby (in arms) thru security and put everything else, stroller, car seat diaper bag, etc. on the conveyor belt for the security check.
Nurse/bottlefeed on takeoff/landing or give a pacifier if you are using one. My flights were short (1.5 hours), so i changed diapers before boarding and after getting off the plane. I have not done an in-flight change.
You'll be OK. It's not as bad as i imagined it would be.
If you are visiting your parents, I had my mom buy a convertible car seat to keep at her house. It has worked out so much better than trying to deal with a car seat every time we fly home. I don't know if this is an option, but we only flew home a few times when he would have used an infant seat, but I figure he will be in the convertible seat for a few years and we will get use out of her having it. We used a snuggle me insert in it and of course installed it rear facing. A few times we flew home I didn't even bring a stroller because I just wore him everywhere or depending on where we were going, someone always wanted to hold him etc. When Easton got too big to really wear in case of a delay etc I got a Maclaren stroller with full recline and it is perfect for the airport. I check it at the gate. I highly recommend Maclaren as a great travel stroller!
I would nurse Baer on take off and landing, and I bet he sleeps most of the flight. Don't worry! It will be really easy! The white noise sound of the plane knocks the kids out at that age!
Ava has been on at least 10 flights in the past 2 years....here are some things I have picked up along the way.
- Use your stroller (vs. the carrier) to take him thru the airport and security, as strollers get to go in the wheelchair lane/special assistance lane which is a by-pass of the main security line and generally easier. I then check my stroller at the gate. I have always checked the carseat with my bags and not had an issue. (one less thing to carry thru the airport) They do not charge for the carseats like they do the bags.
- I used to nurse on takeoff/landing to help prevent their ears from popping. If you get delayed and can't wait to feed, or if they won't nurse, try using a pacifier at takeoff/landing.
- I always brought a backup bottle of milk in case the nursing doesn't go well on the plane. If you bring a bottle thru security, you just have to pull it out (like with your bag of liquids) and they will run a test on it to make sure it is not harmful. (this is normal)
- I recommend buying a carseat cover bag. Otherwise your carseat will get nasty dirty...this helps to protect it and you can also label it.
- Changing on the plane is NO FUN! Some planes have a drop down changing table in the bathroom above the toilet and some don't. I always change Ava right before we board, to try and avoid changing on the plane if possible. I have changed her in the bathroom without a table, if I put the seat down and a changing pad on top, but I would not attempt this at Baer's age, cause it is kinda tricky and not the cleanest environment.
We were very lucky - all the flights with Ava when she was young went well, and she slept almost the entire time. At 1year old, it was a different story. I think at the young age the loud noise of the engine actually helped to put her to sleep. Good luck and safe travels!
You already have a lot of great advice.
If you use your snap and go and bucket, know that you don't have to have the base to fasten it in the car when you land. Look at your instruction book.
The only other thing I would add is to have an "emergency" bag outside of your diaper bag and place in the seat pocket in front of you. That way you don't have to try and get your bag and go through it if you need something. I put a diaper, wipes, burp cloth and a spare pacifier in mine.
At his age, I'll bet you'll be surprised at how well he does. Other passengers won't even know he's onboard. Its when they get a free will that they lose their cool because they want to explore the plane.
You got great advice from everyone, so I won't be redundant.
Ditto this. It was so much easier to travel with him as an infant- he always just ate and slept. Now... whoa... so much harder! Have a good trip!