traveling with a 12 months old - 3.5h flight

Re: traveling with a 12 months old - 3.5h flight

• kristen3546

  February 2013

  I traveled from Guam to the U.S. and then back again by myself when ds was 5 months old.  It's about 24 hours of travel time all together so I learned a lot on the trip lol. 

  We were allowed to take as much formula as I thought would we need and I'm assuming it's the same for baby food.  If you need to take another liquid for him I think if you tell TSA it's for the baby you shouldn't have a problem. 

  I'll be honest it is hard to keep him in your lap especially if your baby is wiggly like mine.  And since your baby is a good bit older at a year I'm assuming he will be much more mobile.  I would try to pack some quiet toys that can entertain him or if he'll sit and watch a video on your phone that could work too. 

  When I was traveling I always had people around me offer to hold him while I could run to the restroom.  Or look for another mother with older kids because more than likely they will understand or a grandma type person as well. 

  It was very hard for my baby to sleep on the plane with everything going on but eventually he would fall asleep if he got tired enough. 

  I would check your car seat at the gate if the plane is not full you may be allowed to bring it on and then he could have a separate seat which will be easier on you.  And if the plane is full I have heard it is better on the car seat to check it at the gate.

  Try to have him drink for taking off and landing for his ears. Stay confident and calm he will be able to sense what your feeling and will feed off of it. Even if he fusses try to just breath and know that it will be okay and you will get through the flight. 

  Good luck   I'm sure you and your little one will do great

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• MegSowers member

  February 2013

  I flew when LO was 4 months, and she was a piece of cake. However, I am also flying when she's 12 months. I'm a little nervous, too. I'm planning on using the bathroom in the airport before boarding, and hopefully I can make it the 3 hour flight. I'm going to try to sit in the back, so we can stand up or walk up and down the aisle. I'll check the stroller at the gate, so I can at least have her secure in the airport until we board. She'll be on my lap, too. I'm hoping she'll take a bottle and sleep. But obviously I can't plan on that, so I'll bring musical toys, books... I think the PP has a good suggestion about sitting with another mother, if you can!

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• anythingelseplease member

  February 2013

  I flew when LO was 10 months old for a 3.5 hour flight. TSA gave me a bit of a hassle about the baby food because it was more than 3 ounces, but two of the security people spoke and then they let me through. I had probably 3 pouches of 4 ounce baby food. I didn't have any formula or breast milk with me. I went to the restroom before we left and when we got there, but we had a really nice flight attendant that I'm sure would have held the baby while I used the bathroom on the plane. I was also conflicted about when to fly (with the same concerns as you). We wound up flying during naptime and she took a brief nap, but that was back when she nursed herself to sleep. She probably would not nap now on the plane as she doesn't nap well with a lot going on around her, so I would probably now try to avoid naptime (I guess it really depends on your baby and what you think he will do well with). We have flown many times at different ages, and I find the older she gets the harder it is. I brought a bag full of toys to entertain her. If you can get an aisle seat so that you can get up and walk around as much as possible. The best thing was letting her interact and look at the other people in the plane. She liked that the best. I also found that when we flew during the week on a mid-day flight it wasn't very crowded and we almost always had the seat next to us open. That was the saving grace and gave her a lot of space to be wiggly and entertain herself. We never brought a car seat (we had one where we were going) so I can't help with that one- sorry.

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