Traveling with LO?

authorofdreamz · November 2012

So DD and I along with my mom are most likely going to be taking an unexpected trip to ME (from CA) next month. I know there have been lots of posts about traveling with LO but I have never really paid attention because it wasn't something I planned on doing. I am super nervous about this since it will all be completely new. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! TIA.

brighteyes2123 · November 2012

Bring snacks and toys, stop every few hours go stretch yours and LO's legs... I don't really know what else. I'll be driving with DS, DH and my Mom from NorCal to OR, the day after Thanksgiving. I am not really looking forward to it, cause DS hates car rides!

smilelari · November 2012

Are you driving or flying?

authorofdreamz · November 2012

smilelari:
Are you driving or flying?

Flying.

Natty13umppo · November 2012

Wear LO thru security. Get there PLENTY early b/c you'll have to go to the ticket counter if LO is a lap child and/or you are checking luggage. Check as much as possible. Carry on as little as possible. With that said, bring on more than you think you'll need - extra diapers, extra food, extra clothes, extra distractions. Change LO before getting on the plane. Luckily DD has only needed to be changed once on a plane (and DH did it! Awwwww, DH!) and DH said it was pretty rough (tight quarters, gross plane bathroom). New toys or favorite toys or anything you think will distract/entertain LO is good. Let LO rip apart the Sky Mall catalog - they will replace it. If you are traveling over the holidays/winter, remember everything is extra crowded and if you are traveling to or thru (connecting) somewhere snowy, you might have delays or mis-connections so see the tip above about taking more than you think you need. Try to stay calm with all the travel stress b/c I think the LOs can sense it. If you are calm, they are generally calm. I think to them it's just one big new adventure! (That is, if your LO is cool with new situations...)

With all that though, it's not *that* bad....DD has been a really good traveler....it's just exhausting for us (the parents)....so much stuff to lug around....keeping DD entertained....just constant attention.....no "sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight"

good luck! happy travels!

smilelari · November 2012

Ok. Luckily at this age it's way easier than it was just a few months ago. I would check everything you possibly can and travel light through the airport. Only lug the car seat with you if you got a seat for DD. Otherwise check it. I'd probably do a light weight stroller and a back pack. For food, I'd pack a few snacky things like cheerios and skip anything that required special screening like milk or purees. You can buy Horizon Organic whole milk at Starbucks in the airport Pack a clean, dry sippy cup. You probably want to have a blanket with you both so that LO has something to play on and because airplanes get cold.

Otherwise. Are you staying in a hotel? In someone's house?

authorofdreamz · November 2012

Natty13umppo:
Wear LO thru security. Get there PLENTY early b/c you'll have to go to the ticket counter if LO is a lap child and/or you are checking luggage. Check as much as possible. Carry on as little as possible. With that said, bring on more than you think you'll need - extra diapers, extra food, extra clothes, extra distractions. Change LO before getting on the plane. Luckily DD has only needed to be changed once on a plane (and DH did it! Awwwww, DH!) and DH said it was pretty rough (tight quarters, gross plane bathroom). New toys or favorite toys or anything you think will distract/entertain LO is good. Let LO rip apart the Sky Mall catalog - they will replace it. If you are traveling over the holidays/winter, remember everything is extra crowded and if you are traveling to or thru (connecting) somewhere snowy, you might have delays or mis-connections so see the tip above about taking more than you think you need. Try to stay calm with all the travel stress b/c I think the LOs can sense it. If you are calm, they are generally calm. I think to them it's just one big new adventure! (That is, if your LO is cool with new situations...)
With all that though, it's not *that* bad....DD has been a really good traveler....it's just exhausting for us (the parents)....so much stuff to lug around....keeping DD entertained....just constant attention.....no "sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight"
good luck! happy travels!

Thanks for this! I will have to keep reminding myself of this over and over lol. Thanks for all the advice it is very helpful.

authorofdreamz · November 2012

smilelari:
Ok. Luckily at this age it's way easier than it was just a few months ago. I would check everything you possibly can and travel light through the airport. Only lug the car seat with you if you got a seat for DD. Otherwise check it. I'd probably do a light weight stroller and a back pack. For food, I'd pack a few snacky things like cheerios and skip anything that required special screening like milk or purees. You can buy Horizon Organic whole milk at Starbucks in the airport Pack a clean, dry sippy cup. You probably want to have a blanket with you both so that LO has something to play on and because airplanes get cold.
Otherwise. Are you staying in a hotel? In someone's house?

That's a relief, I was thinking it probably would've been better before she was mobile haha.

Forgive me since I have very little experience with flying in general, what are things that require special screening? It is a 6+ hour flight plus a 3 hour drive so I will need to have more than just snacks.

We will probably be doing some of both, staying with my grandparents for part of the trip and in a hotel for part of it.

Thanks for all your advice it is greatly appreciated. I have never even taken a trip like this alone let alone with DD!

smilelari · November 2012

authorofdreamz:
smilelari:
Ok. Luckily at this age it's way easier than it was just a few months ago. I would check everything you possibly can and travel light through the airport. Only lug the car seat with you if you got a seat for DD. Otherwise check it. I'd probably do a light weight stroller and a back pack. For food, I'd pack a few snacky things like cheerios and skip anything that required special screening like milk or purees. You can buy Horizon Organic whole milk at Starbucks in the airport Pack a clean, dry sippy cup. You probably want to have a blanket with you both so that LO has something to play on and because airplanes get cold.
Otherwise. Are you staying in a hotel? In someone's house?
That's a relief, I was thinking it probably would've been better before she was mobile haha.
Forgive me since I have very little experience with flying in general, what are things that require special screening? It is a 6+ hour flight plus a 3 hour drive so I will need to have more than just snacks.
We will probably be doing some of both, staying with my grandparents for part of the trip and in a hotel for part of it.
Thanks for all your advice it is greatly appreciated. I have never even taken a trip like this alone let alone with DD!

Liquids require special screening. I like to travel with baby food pouches, but TSA wants to open them. Ugh. If you do the smaller pouches that are just barely over 3 oz, they will sometimes let you through without opening because they almost fit the 3-1-1 rule.

I think for stuff that's more than just a snack, I'd buy it in the airport after going through security.

Natty13umppo · November 2012

smilelari:
Liquids require special screening. I like to travel with baby food pouches, but TSA wants to open them. Ugh. If you do the smaller pouches that are just barely over 3 oz, they will sometimes let you through without opening because they almost fit the 3-1-1 rule.
I think for stuff that's more than just a snack, I'd buy it in the airport after going through security.

When I last flew with DD and pouches, one way (when we had maybe 3 on us?) they swabbed the bag they were in (but didn't open them....um....that's not cool....they have to be refrigerated after that!) . Coming back, we only had one and they just treated it like it was any other liquid (meaning, they didn't do any extra check). But these pouches were 3.5oz so yeah, just over the threshold.

OP - sorry if this is "duh" info - you said you didn't travel a lot so I don't know if you know this or not. Check out: https://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/make-your-trip-better-using-3-1-1

Anyway, the point of all this is that since you are traveling with a baby you get some exceptions. You can take some liquids for the baby that they will allow, they just get extra screening (they took my bag of pouches over to the explosive screening machine, swabbed the bag with a wipe and then tested it to make sure there wasn't an issue with the pouches).

But smilelari is right.....it is much easier to buy stuff after security, if you can.

Also, when traveling, I just take enough stuff for the flight and a little extra and plan on getting to a Target/grocery store/whatever on that first day or two to get extra diapers/baby food/snacks/whatever.

When staying at hotels, we always use the pack 'n' play/crib that the hotel provides and it's always been fine. (Though I do bring a sheet from home.) If you are staying with g-parents though, you'll either want to bring your own pack n play (you can usually check it for free - check with your airline) or maybe you have someone out there you can borrow one from?

authorofdreamz · November 2012

Natty13umppo:
When I last flew with DD and pouches, one way (when we had maybe 3 on us?) they swabbed the bag they were in (but didn't open them....um....that's not cool....they have to be refrigerated after that!) . Coming back, we only had one and they just treated it like it was any other liquid (meaning, they didn't do any extra check). But these pouches were 3.5oz so yeah, just over the threshold.
OP - sorry if this is "duh" info - you said you didn't travel a lot so I don't know if you know this or not. Check out: https://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/make-your-trip-better-using-3-1-1
Anyway, the point of all this is that since you are traveling with a baby you get some exceptions. You can take some liquids for the baby that they will allow, they just get extra screening (they took my bag of pouches over to the explosive screening machine, swabbed the bag with a wipe and then tested it to make sure there wasn't an issue with the pouches).
But smilelari is right.....it is much easier to buy stuff after security, if you can.
Also, when traveling, I just take enough stuff for the flight and a little extra and plan on getting to a Target/grocery store/whatever on that first day or two to get extra diapers/baby food/snacks/whatever.
When staying at hotels, we always use the pack 'n' play/crib that the hotel provides and it's always been fine. (Though I do bring a sheet from home.) If you are staying with g-parents though, you'll either want to bring your own pack n play (you can usually check it for free - check with your airline) or maybe you have someone out there you can borrow one from?

Thanks to both of you for all your advice!

I didn't realize you could buy food in the airport (other than McDonalds) that will make it much easier.

Awesome! I will check into that. It is possible my uncle has one from his little one's but we aren't sure yet so that is very helpful.

smilelari · November 2012

authorofdreamz:

Thanks to both of you for all your advice!
I didn't realize you could buy food in the airport (other than McDonalds) that will make it much easier.
Awesome! I will check into that. It is possible my uncle has one from his little one's but we aren't sure yet so that is very helpful.

It depends on the airport. But, even the tiny airport here in Colorado Springs has a coffee shop, Quiznos, burrito place, etc. It you are flying out of a more major airport, it will probably have a Starbucks every few feet, several restaurants along the lines of Chili's, sandwich shops, newspaper stands, etc. Just be sure to get there early enough to buy food.

Most airports have webpages listing the available restaurants/shops if you want to check that out ahead of time and get an idea of what you want to have on hand or what you won't need because they sell it there.

You could probably even buy diapers in a pinch. But I wouldn't count on it. I've certainly bought toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (ended up sleeping in the airport when my flight was cancelled)

smilelari · November 2012

One more thought. If you are doing a flight during weird hours, some things will be closed.

authorofdreamz · November 2012

smilelari:
It depends on the airport. But, even the tiny airport here in Colorado Springs has a coffee shop, Quiznos, burrito place, etc. It you are flying out of a more major airport, it will probably have a Starbucks every few feet, several restaurants along the lines of Chili's, sandwich shops, newspaper stands, etc. Just be sure to get there early enough to buy food.
Most airports have webpages listing the available restaurants/shops if you want to check that out ahead of time and get an idea of what you want to have on hand or what you won't need because they sell it there.
You could probably even buy diapers in a pinch. But I wouldn't count on it. I've certainly bought toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant (ended up sleeping in the airport when my flight was cancelled)

Thanks! I never thought of the airport having a webpage with that info lol. I will check into it.

smilelari · November 2012

Just ran across this

https://www.aintnomomjeans.com/2012/05/tips-for-flying-alone-with-kids.html

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