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D.C. Area Babies
Tips for traveling with toddler?
I always get good advice from you ladies, so I'm hoping you can refresh my memory with your toddler travel tips! I remember reading several posts on this with suggestions like bringing new toys/books for the trip.
I'm taking a short 1 hr direct flight with my son (in my lap) and my sister in law and her two daughters (1 yr and 4 yrs). We're leaving at 4pm from Reagan and taking US Airways. He usually naps 9:30-10:30am and 2:30-3:30 pm. I'm hoping I can delay his morning nap so he's not too cranky at the airport and then get him to nap once we get on the plane (fingers crossed). I'm still nursing him 1-2x a day so maybe I'll nurse him to sleep while the plane takes off?
I'm planning on bringing our City Mini- it's fully collapsible so I'm hoping they won't have trouble taking care of it at the gate? Do I need to get a bag or something for it? How do they deal with strollers in the airports? Do they let you go through security with LO in the stroller? I assume I will forfeit it right at the gate and then get it back as soon as we get off the plane?
I'm also not sure what kind of bag to bring as a carry on. I have this diaper bag but I don't know if it will be practical for travel. I don't want to bring a big roller bag because I already have the stroller to deal with. I also plan on bringing my laptop so I need something that fits that too...
Last question, can I bring snacks through security for DS (fruits, cheese, crackers, etc)? What about milk and water?
TIA!
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Re: Tips for traveling with toddler?
You have to get DS out of the stroller and once it's your turn for security. Then you walk him through if I remember correctly.
We got lucky when we flew out of National, the lady watching the security line let us cut the entire line and go to the front since we had stroller, car seat, etc.
Yes, you can take snacks with you. I took two sippy cups of milk and one of water. When I flew out of National and BWI, they didn't check them. When I was flying back, they did check them. They just waive something over the bottles to make sure they aren't explosives inside.
New toys/gadgets kept DS occupied on our flights.
1. If he can nap on the plane, that will make things much easier for you. I recommend nursing him during take-off and landing (or give him some milk in a bottle or a paci), so his ears won't hurt as much with the altitude change.
2. You can gate check your stroller. You will get it back as soon as you get off the plane at your destination. You don't need a bag for it, unless you're paranoid about damage. I've never gotten a bag for my stroller, and it's been fine. You'll have to fold up the stroller and put it through the x-ray machine at security, if it fits through the machine. If it doesn't fit, TSA will check it by hand. You'll have to take LO out of the stroller and carry him through the metal detectors.
3. I took a cross-body messenger bag as my carry-on. A backpack would also work well. I wouldn't take a roller bag. I think that's too much of a hassle with the stroller.
4. You can take snacks for LO. You can't take water through security, but you can take an empty cup and fill it up from the water fountains near the gate, or buy bottled water and use that to fill up his cup. You can take milk -- just tell TSA it's for the baby, and they will do some checks on it and give it back to you.
Good luck!
I've taken at least 10 roundtrip flights with DD (20 flight legs), so I've learned a lot along the way. Some tips...
- For me personally, there's nothing useful about boarding first, because it just means longer time on the plane.
- I've both checked my stroller at the gate AND at the ticket counter, and I personally much prefer the ticket counter. The only useful thing about checking it at the gate is that it's there for you as soon as you land. Having to fold it up for security (it has to go on the conveyor belt) is a pain, and I personally enjoy having DD get out as much energy by running around before the flight as possible. If I have the stroller, it isn't as easy to let her run around.
- Keep your baby in just socks if possible, or put easy slip on shoes on him - even babies have to remove their shoes at security.
- You'll have to help the gate agents fold up the stroller. You won't need a bag whether you check it at the ticket counter or at the gate. At the ticket counter, it's free, and they put it in a plastic bin.
- I've taken books and toys in the past, but all I take now is her lovey blanket. She usually takes more interest in the magazines, plastic cups, and yes - barf bag - than she does in the toys that I pack. I also have some animal apps downloaded on my iPhone that she enjoys.
Do nurse at takeoff and landing - it helps with the pressure change in their ears.
- Any liquids you take through security will have to be tested, which could be a pain, so it's easier to just buy water and milk inside the gate area. You can travel with as much food/snacks as you like - they wont need to test that.
- A 1 hour flight should hopefully be a piece of cake. I've done 5 hour flights that turned out much better than I anticipated! Good luck!
Thanks everyone, such great tips! Using a backpack sounds like a great idea to keep my hands free. If my husband was coming along, I would probably check the stroller at the ticket counter, but I will prob need it to reign in DS at some point.
Thanks again!