Airports and flying with babies

caitb413 · July 2014

So I'm looking to travel mid-September (DS will be almost 4 months) and I've got questions, as I've seen people travel with babies but have never experienced it. I'd be traveling by myself (no DH) and I feel totally clueless and a little nervous. The travel would be 5-7 hours total with layovers.

What's getting through security like? Can you bring bottled breast milk through security? I'm EBF and hoping to still be at it in Sept, so bottles aren't completely necessary, but I'd like to be prepared for it.

Babies in laps fly free, right? Assuming I bring a car seat, do I have to check it at counter/gate? I'm guessing if you have LO stay in the car seat on the plane, you pay for that extra seat (I saw someone on FB do this)? I have an ergo that I could, and prefer to use for walking around, but I'd need a car seat for the ride to/from the airport and I'm trying to figure out the logistics of that.

Any other tips or advice for air travel? I know someone on here flew with LO recently...

lest12 · July 2014

Here's the info for security lines - https://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-children

I've never flown with a baby, so no other advice. But check with your airline!

b48kate · July 2014

@katburdette‌ has already flown with her LO. Any advice for the OP LB?

caitb413 · July 2014

Yes, that's who it was! Thanks @Internationalkate‌

izzetoot · July 2014

All airlines are different. We are flying to Denver next month so I just looked up a bunch of what you just asked. Yes you can bring breast milk and bring it in your diaper bag (which most airlines let you carry on in addition to your one personal item for free) You can bring your stroller/car seat up to the gate and then they will check it and it will be waiting for you at the gate when you land, also free. If you ride with the baby in your lap its free up until they are 2yrs old, but in a car seat you pay for the extra seat. No clue about security. Im nervous too, but only traveling 1.5hrs with DH. Good luck mama!

Unknown · July 2014

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caitb413 · July 2014

@shiggybop‌ AA is one of the airlines I'm considering, so good to know about not wearing during takeoff/landing. I usually fly southwest or us airways, so I'll look into their policies too.

@izzetoot‌ good luck with your flight to Denver!

ElTrain5 · July 2014

What everyone else already said. Policies differ by airline, be sure to check your airlines website. Some airlines allow you to gate check and regular baggage check your stroller and car seat for free, others charge.

MrsCase1 · July 2014

I always checked my stroller and car seat. Some people are fearful of checking the car seat but mine have always come back totally fine, no scratches, etc.

You can bring breast milk but I just nursed because it helped alleviate ear popping and I like to travel light. Getting through security was fine; I actually think they accommodated me MORE because I had an infant.

CherSomething · July 2014

I am flying with my LO in less than 2 weeks so I love this thread.

I had to go through TSA with LO a couple of weeks ago to escort my son to the gate, and they did not make me take baby out of her wrap carrier. They did however pat me down. Not sure if any of this had anything to do with the oxygen she was hooked up to--we couldn't pass through metal detector.
I love travelling with the kids because they never make us go through the naked scanner. Glad for that because I would refuse it anyway, and would hate to make a scene.

caitb413 · July 2014

@CherSomething‌ I have a k'tan and was thinking that it might be more security friendly than the ergo- it'd be great not to worry about having to take him out at the checkpoint. And I totally don't mind a pat down if it means I can keep wearing him.

aravis121 · July 2014

caitb413 said:

@CherSomething‌ I have a k'tan and was thinking that it might be more security friendly than the ergo- it'd be great not to worry about having to take him out at the checkpoint. And I totally don't mind a pat down if it means I can keep wearing him.

I flew with DD1 numerous times in our K'Tan and had to take her out each time. It was really a pain since I was always travelling alone, but the larger airports often let me go through the "special needs" security (like for people with wheelchairs) so I wasn't holding up the regular security line.

Also, I found travelling with a young baby relatively painless and easy. Just nurse or offer a paci or bottle on takeoff and landing, and the vibrations of the plane seem to be the best sleep inducer ever. I always packed a super full diaper bag of all kinds of just-in-case items and never needed anything besides diapers and wipes. And once I even forgot wipes and just used paper towels!

caitb413 · July 2014

@aravis121‌ @StrawberryDreams219‌ I guess having to take LO out of the carrier depends on who's working security. Good luck with your solo trip!

I haven't even booked a flight and I'm already thinking too hard about this!

aravis121 · July 2014

I had to take her out I also had to have a pat down which was a super huge PIA! I am flying next Wednesday by myself with both kids and I'm worried about going through security. Luckily while traveling alone with DD when I was 32 weeks pregnant I didn't have to take her out of the carrier so I'm hoping for the same next week. I also use the K'tan.

Please let us know how the solo trip with both goes. I'm doing that myself soon and am far more nervous than with just the one. Once a kid can run around, the list of "things that can go wrong" is just astronomical!

Aaward1658 · July 2014

I have a work conference in September, LO will be just shy of 3 months. I'm not planning on bringing her with me, anyone travel or been away from their LO at that early age? I'm going to pump while away, but nervous I made the wrong decision to go. It's for 3.5 days that I'll be gone.

purtz · July 2014

I am traveling next week with our 3 year old and 8 week old. I'm sure there will be a few trying times, but I generally find strangers to be very helpful or at least sympathetic and the trips are always worth it. Good luck all!

CherSomething · July 2014

caitb413 I *think* I got the pat-down because I couldn't go through the metal detector with her oxygen tank. Will be traveling with her in the Boba Wrap in a couple of weeks, and she won't have oxygen that time. Will let you know how it goes.

whoberry · July 2014

Where do you change baby on the plane? The bathrooms are so small, do they have changing stations?

readyornot14 · July 2014

Thanks for this thread.
I'm also planning to travel end of September for a wedding (if I get the clear from the docs) and am very nervous about it.
My LO is not a big fan of bein carried, I'm trying to get her used to that. Hopefully it will work.

ashanne88 · July 2014

Everyone has pretty much covered it. We flew with DS from SFO to Denver at the end of June (so only 2.5 weeks old) for a wedding. I was stressed out before we went but it was actually really easy to travel with him. We gate checked the stroller and car seat. It gave us the option of putting him in the stroller or wearing him in the airport (we ended up doing both). I brought pumped breastmilk in a little cooler. All we had to do was take it out to go through security and they tested it. He sat in my lap with the boppy and nursed or slept the whole time.

One thing I learned is that LO needs their own ticket to go through security even if they are sitting on your lap. We just went to the airline counter and they print out an Infant ticket with your last name.

.

Aaward1658 · July 2014

I broke down and felt way too guilty with not taking my baby on May trip with me. I don't think DH can handle 4 days on his own even with support from his mom and mine. I was able to get my mom to come along I the trip as my nanny for while I'm working. I feel so much better about this.

Thanks for all the suggestions in this thread, I'll need all the advice I can get about traveling with a little one. Thankful my mom will be along to helpe out too!!

lynnblack · July 2014

My main advice is to get baby a seat. Both the NTSB and the AAP have tried to get child restraints mandated for infants but the airline lobby has blocked them out of fear of parents choosing not to fly due to the added expense.

elsa1688 · July 2014

I am thinking about going to Italy with baby when he is about 3.5 months. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to go with my dad. We would stay with family. Any thoughts / experience?

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