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Air travel with infant?
We're contemplating flying to see my parents in November, when M will be around 3 months old. Right now the thought of traveling with him feels overwhelming! How do you manage to take all of your baby gear and LO and stay sane? What do you do if LO has a screaming fit on the plane?
My parents have zero baby stuff at their house. We'd probably encourage them to get a pack n play or something similar, but we'd try to take everything else with us (except diapers, which we can buy there).
My parents have zero baby stuff at their house. We'd probably encourage them to get a pack n play or something similar, but we'd try to take everything else with us (except diapers, which we can buy there).
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Re: Air travel with infant?
congratulations on your LO!
i flew by myself with J when she was 3 months old. i bought a car seat carrier, my parents had a crib and i shipped diapers ahead. i wore her in the ergo and used the snap and go. you can gate check that. people will be really helpful. i was scared before i went but it ended up being a breeze. at that age, they won't have a crying fit. that happens more likely at age 2. just nurse on take off and landing and they'll sleep a lot.
TTC #2: BFP 12/17/11, m/c 1/7/12 and D&C 1/12/12
baby blog/cooking blog
we are flying in 3 weeks with DS who will be just about 10 months....I am interested to see what people say..
for those of you who remember my original post, DH wanted to drive to chicago, I wanted to fly...I WIN:-)
Just to echo what several PPs have already said...as crazy as it sounds traveling with a 3 month old is MUCH easier than traveling with LO when they are mobile or almost mobile. I traveled with DD#1 for the first time when she was 7 weeks old, then again when she was 3 months and from then on it's been every 4-8 months that we've done the plane-travel thing since all of our family is pretty far out of town.
Definitely have your parents get a PNP and anything else you might need...I might even suggest you think about having them get a convertible carseat down the road if you think you'll be visiting them regularly. Bring plenty of diapers with you on the plane (for everything that you can get in an airport, diapers are not one of the things you can find), several changes of clothes for DS and a change of clothes (at least a top) for you. I HIGHLY recommend using some sort of baby carrier (ergo, baby bjorn, etc) and checking the car seat. Less stuff to manage at the gate. We have always checked our car seat--if you decide to do that just bring a big black garbage bag to cover it, poke holes through the bag to slide the harness through and create a place for them to put the tag and make sure your contact info is taped somewhere on the seat. Airlines do not charge to check car seats, regardless of what else you are checking.
Also ditto the advice about nursing/feeding as you take off and land--I have found window seats to be best for this--you don't say if your DH is traveling with you or not, but it's nice to only have to worry about one person being that close to you as you nurse. If you use a paci, that can also be helpful if DS is having problems with the pressure and doesn't need/want to nurse. While a screaming baby is always a possibility, at this age, I think it's more likely that you'll nurse and he'll sleep for most of the flight (another great reason for a baby carrier--much more comfortable for you to be sitting with a sleeping baby for the flight).
When you get to the gate, check with the gate staff to see if there is pre-boarding for families and to get a gate check tag for your snap n go or car seat if you decide to gate check it. Some offer pre-boarding and some don't, but almost everyone will let you if you ask ahead of time. Southwest has the specific policy of letting families board between the boarding for groups A and B.
As daunting as it seems right now, like I said, you'll realize this is one of the easiest times to travel with LO. Once he is more mobile and aware of the world around him, it will be harder to contain him on the plane and you'll have to worry about bringing enough stuff to distract him, food, etc.
GL and enjoy your travels!!
I have traveled quite a bit with my now 28 month old. By the time he was 1 he had been on 3 separate plane trips--and one of those times was by myself. As far as the plane goes, I will repeat what the PP have said--it's far easier at 3 months then later! He will probably sleep a lot. You should wear comfortable clothes, bring something he can naw on if he is teething, and nurse during take off and landing.
I found it far easier to try to rent what we needed. I'm not sure where your parents live, but you should be able to rent just about anything close to the airport or in any major city. I have rented carseats, pack n plays, real sized cribs, and high chairs. It's amazing what they have (swings, bouncers, etc.).
If you have a hard time finding a rental place, I do suggest your parents get a pack n play or if you want to save money, there are travel infant beds: https://www.amazon.com/Eddie-Bauer-Infant-Travel-Bed/dp/B001OBDKJ2 that work.
You can easily gate check strollers and car seats. I suggest carrying your baby in a carrier on you through security since you have to close up and put everything through anyway. A snap n go with the infant car seat will do through the airport just fine to gate check. You might just want to order a base and sent it to your parents since they are relatively inexpensive anyway (and you all an install when they pick you up, assuming you aren't renting a car).
Good luck! I promise it's really easy at three months--it's when they are able to throw tantrums and want to run around that it really gets tough!
THIS. In hindsight, I wish I had traveled with DD when she was that young b/c compared to our adventure this past June (https://community.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/38140653.aspx), I think it would have been easy or at least MUCH easier. Definitely bring extra clothes for the baby and you.
I will SO be watching for your follow-up on your trip. I will be flying to Fl with DD at x-mas and she will be 11 months old...I picked a non-stop flight so it will only be 2.5 hours...so hopefully we will do ok.