Airplane Tips

katy4128 · July 2014

DH and I are traveling with DS next week. Any tips for traveling through airports and riding on the plane?

Thanks!!

BR · July 2014

We flew when my daughter was seven months old. We brought the stroller & pushed her, although some people like to use a carrier. I needed the stroller anyway & I used it to store bags so it was worth bringing to us. One tip I got was to feed her at takeoff & landing so her ears didn't hurt. It was pretty easy. She slept most of the time.

heybulldog52 · July 2014

We are flying tomorrow! I was also told to feed during take off. I'll be bringing plenty of pacifiers as well.

BuggasMom · July 2014

Being Lysol wipes and wipe down everything within reach Planes are filthy. Feed baby while ascending and descending to help with air pressure change. Bring your stroller all the way to the terminal. If you have a spare use it. there is a good chance your stroller will get banged up . Have fun.

Avion22 · July 2014

We just flew yesterday. - If you can, wear the baby through security (ergo, wrap, whatever you have). This will keep your hands free to shuffle liquids, electronics, etc. - take the car seat on the plane, even if you don't have a seat for the baby. If there is an extra seat, you can use the car seat and keep baby strapped in. Bring a large swaddle blanket to throw over the top of the car seat to help the baby sleep - dress the baby in jammies for the flight - have a pacifier or bottle for the baby to suck on during the descent to help clear his ears

Trgree1712 · July 2014

Make sure the baby has a binky to suck on during take off and landing also, always get a seat and use a car seat for the baby. It is extremely dangerous for the child to fly on your lap.

katy4128 · July 2014

Thanks everyone!!!

RocksInTheWater · July 2014

I just flew with LO last weekend. Use family friendly security lines if available. We brought stroller/car seat combo through airport and checked them at the gate. Southwest has large bags for $15 that fit both pieces inside. That helped them from getting banged up. I don't remember the last time I was on a flight that wasn't completely full so if you want LO in a car seat on the plane you will have to buy an extra seat. I held DS and he slept the whole time. Pack an extra outfit for you in the diaper bag just in case. Have fun!

katy4128 · July 2014

@LoriMc12‌ great idea for an extra outfit for me!! Thanks!!

jaceyjc · July 2014

The pressure changes start with initial decent, so maybe start with pacifier a little early. Happy travels!

Moranju · July 2014

I learned from traveling with my older daughter (now 2.5 yo) to get on the plane as late as possible. On our first few flights we boarded early since the airline allowed that as a courtesy for families with young kids. If you do that, it could be at least another 30+ minutes before you're actually going anywhere. By boarding early you have no freedom to bounce, walk a around, etc. Even more so as they get older, if you board early you may have read them all their books, given them a snack, played a game with them, and you haven't even pulled away from the gate yet! For us it just made a lot more sense to keep the time confined to a small space on the plane as minimal as possible, and save up your energy for keeping them calm once you're actually flying. Good luck!

hlm184 · July 2014

Moranju said:

I learned from traveling with my older daughter (now 2.5 yo) to get on the plane as late as possible. On our first few flights we boarded early since the airline allowed that as a courtesy for families with young kids. If you do that, it could be at least another 30+ minutes before you're actually going anywhere. By boarding early you have no freedom to bounce, walk a around, etc. Even more so as they get older, if you board early you may have read them all their books, given them a snack, played a game with them, and you haven't even pulled away from the gate yet! For us it just made a lot more sense to keep the time confined to a small space on the plane as minimal as possible, and save up your energy for keeping them calm once you're actually flying. Good luck!

Ugh, I'm debating this. On one hand, what you posted. On the other, I've found these days that if you board late, there's no overhead space by your seat and your bag gets shoved in the way back, which makes it even harder to get off the plane! No way to win!

Kyllarae · July 2014

I've been on four flights with E and I prefer the redeyes with her. She sleeps the entire time and I don't have to worry about entertaining her. I board last as well so that she has the most time to play on the floor before being stuck in my lap for hours.

hcam0707 · July 2014

Thanks for all the tips! I'm flying, too, this Sunday with Finnegan. I called the airport to ask questions regarding the stroller/car seat and identification for the baby. I was surprised to learn if you fly domestically, no ID is required for the baby.
I just have one dilemma: my DH doesn't want to bring the car seat because everything is in walking distance of the hotel we are staying at in Indianapolis. I agree that it would be just another thing to add that we probably won't use. My only concern is the ride from the airport to the hotel. It's 12.4 miles, about 14 minutes, and I don't want to hold the baby in the back of a taxi. Has anyone used a taxi that provided a car seat?
Eta- typo

fireflygirl12 · July 2014

hcam0707 said:

Thanks for all the tips! I'm flying, too, this Sunday with Finnegan. I called the airport to ask questions regarding the stroller/car seat and identification for the baby. I was surprised to learn if you fly domestically, no ID is required for the baby. I just have one dilemma: my DH doesn't want to bring the car seat because everything is in walking distance of the hotel we see staying at in Indianapolis. I agree that it would be just another thing to add that we probably won't use. My only concern is the ride from the airport to the hotel. It's 12.4 miles, about 14 minutes, and I don't want to hold the baby in the back of a taxi. Has anyone used a taxi that provided a car seat?

There's no reason not to bring it with you and it's probably illegal to not have the baby strapped in (not the case in every state I guess). The car seat is great for pushing LO through the airport, check it at the gate (or bring on the plane if there's an open seat), use it in the taxi and then just leave it in the hotel room.

hcam0707 · July 2014

@fireflygirl12‌ thank you! I'm bringing it! My biggest concern was it was going to get damaged or not make it to destination because we have a layover.

Avion22 · July 2014

One more tip -- give yourselves lots of time. Now is not the time to be running through the airport trying to make a tight connection. It's much less stressful when you're not in a huge rush!

fireflygirl12 · July 2014

hcam0707 said:

@fireflygirl12‌ thank you! I'm bringing it! My biggest concern was it was going to get damaged or not make it to destination because we have a layover.

When you gate check, you have the option to get the stroller/car seat at your layover to use around the airport and then you can gate check again at the next flight. That way you can make sure it goes all the way through.

RocksInTheWater · July 2014

hcam0707 said:

Thanks for all the tips! I'm flying, too, this Sunday with Finnegan. I called the airport to ask questions regarding the stroller/car seat and identification for the baby. I was surprised to learn if you fly domestically, no ID is required for the baby. I just have one dilemma: my DH doesn't want to bring the car seat because everything is in walking distance of the hotel we are staying at in Indianapolis. I agree that it would be just another thing to add that we probably won't use. My only concern is the ride from the airport to the hotel. It's 12.4 miles, about 14 minutes, and I don't want to hold the baby in the back of a taxi. Has anyone used a taxi that provided a car seat? Eta- typo

This depends on the airline. Southwest requires a boarding pass for baby so I had to provide a copy of his birth certificate when we checked in. It's a good idea to call your airline to have your LO added to your reservation and see what their guidelines are for traveling with a lap child.

Moranju · July 2014

hlm184 said:

Moranju said:

I learned from traveling with my older daughter (now 2.5 yo) to get on the plane as late as possible. On our first few flights we boarded early since the airline allowed that as a courtesy for families with young kids. If you do that, it could be at least another 30+ minutes before you're actually going anywhere. By boarding early you have no freedom to bounce, walk a around, etc. Even more so as they get older, if you board early you may have read them all their books, given them a snack, played a game with them, and you haven't even pulled away from the gate yet! For us it just made a lot more sense to keep the time confined to a small space on the plane as minimal as possible, and save up your energy for keeping them calm once you're actually flying. Good luck!

Ugh, I'm debating this. On one hand, what you posted. On the other, I've found these days that if you board late, there's no overhead space by your seat and your bag gets shoved in the way back, which makes it even harder to get off the plane! No way to win!

Agreed. I usually check everything except for a diaper bag with all the essentials to store under the seat. With a baby in your arms it's almost impossible to maneuver anything in the overhead bin anyway, let alone drag it all through the airport. It's also nice to enter the plane after everyone done shoving these large bags above your seat, while juggling hot coffee, etc. I was happy to just avoid that scene altogether, but you're totally right that you basically forfeit any overhead space if you do it this way-

Twirple · July 2014

If you are concerned about checking your car seat and it being damaged, I have heard of people buying an inexpensive (approx. $55) car seat to use just for travel. That way their more expensive car seat won't get damaged, and they'll still have a car seat while on their trip.

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