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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
EvelynDeBelle
member
Flying with a 9 Month Old - Suggestions Please!
EvelynDeBelle
member
Anyone have any advice for flying and/or traveling with their LO. We are going on vaca with ours in a few months and I'm sure what to pack or how to anticipate flying with her, etc. Please help!
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Re: Flying with a 9 Month Old - Suggestions Please!
How long is your flight?
We flew international with DS when he was 6 months old. It wasn't too bad - we took his diaper bag, with extra diapers, wipes and formula than normal. Add in a few new toys and their favorite toy/blanket, and they're just fine. Make sure to take an extra outfit for LO, and another shirt for you. There's nothing worse than a baby throwing up while in the middle of traveling, and you have nothing to wear.
We bought a couple of new toys/books to hold her attention but we barely even got them out, she was asleep before lift off 3 of the 4 take offs and her favorite 'toy' when she was awake was the elastic tag thingy that you put your address on your bag with!
If LO is traveling on your lap the flight attendant will inform you of the 'infant hold' that they say you have to do during take off and landing, it would be hard to hold a fussy or sleeping LO this way but depending on how much of a stickler you attendant is they probably won't make you do it, we didn't have to.
DD has been on 13 flights (including connections) so we've had quite the experience.
If LO will be a lap child, be sure to have a copy of birth certificate. TSA sometimes asks for it. You will also need a 'ticket' for LO, even if you don't pay for it.
Not sure if you are nursing; if you are let me know and I can give you some learnings on that.
Family restrooms at airports are your friend. They allow you to get all your crap in there and do what you need to. I have nursed in them, pumped, changed LO and DH and I have gone to the restroom, changed clothes, etc. Many airports have them so just look/ask for them.
The best thing you can do is to have enough distractors for your LO. At 9 months most LO's are just wanting to observe and get into everything. Def have extra diapers in case of flight delay/cancellation but also have extra toys. New toys are awesome as well. And don't think you need to spend a lot of money on these things. We bought a snack cup with the swirl opening and DD thought it was the coolest thing and it kept her occupied for over an hour.
We always wipe down the seats/tray table/window, etc. with those antiseptic wipes. Trying to help kill germs.
We attempted to get DD to nap during flights. This worked early on a lot better than at 9 months, but the sound of the airplane and vibration does help.
Many airplanes have changing tables in a bathroom. You can ask the flight attendant; some have them in only some bathrooms, so it is best to ask.
We brought our car seat with base and stuck it on top of the stroller and gate side checked all of it.
I wore DD most of the time and we used the stroller to move all our crap through the airport.
DH dropped DD and me off at curbside check in. He parked and brought in the carry on bags. I checked the checked bags at curbside and we met at the gate. In retrospect it is nice to have DH help through security. Most people are nice and helpful. If you are wearing LO you will need to take LO out of the sling and have the sling go through the scanner. If LO is wearing shoes, they will most likely need to take them off.
Give yourself plenty of time. It is stressful enough traveling with a LO, don't make it more so.
GL with your trip!
Just saw you are EBF...so here are my tips on that:
You can carry bm in a cooler with no issue, just claim it with security. They will either put a swab above it or run it through some machine without opening it. You can pack ice or ice packs with it.
Family restrooms are great for nursing/pumping, etc. I didn't NIP early on so this helped. I NIP more now so that makes it easier. I got a window seat and DH middle and I would nurse in my seat. I have pumped in an airplane bathroom. Many woman do it right in their seat.
You can bring your pump as medical equipment so I loaded that up with anything that could be seen as pumping equipment. In addition to my checked/carry on I had a pump bag (free), diaper bag (free), breastmilk bag (free) along with my own carry on and personal item as well as DH's - and our stroller and car seat and base. I NEVER got questioned about the number of bags. People just wanted me out of the way. Most people were generally very helpful.
I got to the airport early in case of needing to nurse, but if you can hold off until just before flight it is the optimal time. DD has fallen asleep during this time on many flights if just after feeding b/c of the white noise and vibration. Also no one is walking around at that time so it makes it easier to NIP.
GL and enjoy your trip!
Give the baby a bottle up and down and if they have issues with their ears give them the normal does (as prescribed by your pedi) of Pedia Care or Baby Tylenol. That's what we were told by our pedi and DD is an awesome flyer. Flown every two months since three months of age.
You can take your car seat to the gate (if you have a travel system) and if they have an extra seat they can move you and you can keep baby in the carseat. If not, pack a Bjorn with you so you can wear the baby on the flight. Bring a favorite blanket and a couple soft toys and lots of pacifiers.