Air Travel with LO

formerwigirl · October 2014

Hey all,

Just wanted to get some advice about traveling with LO. DH and I are from the Midwest, different states though, and live in Florida. I haven't been "home" to visit in over 4 years so before I found out I was pregnant I was planning a trip to visit. Well now that we have LO, we are planning a trip to see both families/friends. We are flying up to see my family for a few days, driving over to see his family, then flying home from there. LO will be 8 almost 9 weeks old when we fly (I wanted to go while I was on maternity leave because then I don't have to ask for time off). We have to rent a car so we will be taking the car seat and base. My question to all of you is should we get LO his own seat on the plane? I was originally just planning to check the car seat (we are flying southwest) and then carry DS in my ergo carrier. Then I read an article saying that isn't safe. Anyone have any insight on this? Any tips/suggestions for airline travel to make it easier on all of us? Thanks in advance!

Ahlome08 · October 2014

It's just like a car, safest to have baby in their own car seat. If you hit bad turbulence, you wouldn't want to drop LO or have them hit their head.

Jenner37 · October 2014

I have now flown quite a few times starting when DD1 was 3 weeks, we have never purchased a seat for her. I can understand from a safety point of view but she has been on our laps every flight and I know that she wouldn't want to stay in her car seat so we have decided to save the money and not buy her own seat. Honestly, it's what you're comfortable with, I am typically about convenience when flying and carrying a car seat onto the plane doesn't sound like an easy feat, but then again a few of the times I have flown I was by myself so maybe that's why.

Eta: if you do decide to buy the seat, you do not need the base, you can just put the seat in with the regular way with a seatbelt.

Jenner37 · October 2014

@breannekot‌ I'm surprised they made you take LO out of the carrier, I have been able to wear her through security, they just scan my hands. Baby wearing also makes travel so much easier!

Rmj1022 · October 2014

I'm flying cross country when she's 11 weeks for thanksgiving to Florida and I am so nervous about it. I've been thinking about getting a seat for her as well for safety reasons but i don't know if were going to end up doing it. Im almost positive it wouldn't even fit in between the seat and the seat in front of it as it only fits in our one car with the front seat pulled all the way up and i have more leg room sitting in the car with the seat in a normal position than in the plane. I'm definitely going to wear her in a carrier for travel through the airport. We have to switch planes twice so it's going to be a long and interesting day. Good luck whatever you decide.

formerwigirl · October 2014

@shimmer475 if you need any advice/tips or tricks about disney let me know! I hope you guys have a blast while you are here!

peanutbuttervibes · October 2014

I have done it both ways and honestly preferred LO having his own seat.

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

Gate checking the car seat is a safety concern. They get so jostled and beaten up, it gives the seat an unknown history and you'll never know if there was any kind of internal damage. I would suggest either buying the baby a seat or having a cheap seat waiting for you when you get there.

punnybunny · October 2014

mrsdanielleM2010 said:
Gate checking the car seat is a safety concern. They get so jostled and beaten up, it gives the seat an unknown history and you'll never know if there was any kind of internal damage. I would suggest either buying the baby a seat or having a cheap seat waiting for you when you get there.

This was my concern when I brought up our thanksgiving travel plans to DH. Do you have recommendations for a "cheap seat" to have at our destination?

mrsdanielleM2010 · October 2014

beccalou12 said:

mrsdanielleM2010 said:
Gate checking the car seat is a safety concern. They get so jostled and beaten up, it gives the seat an unknown history and you'll never know if there was any kind of internal damage. I would suggest either buying the baby a seat or having a cheap seat waiting for you when you get there.
This was my concern when I brought up our thanksgiving travel plans to DH. Do you have recommendations for a "cheap seat" to have at our destination?

On the car seats for the littles fb page they most frequently suggest the Cosco Scenera which is at Wal Mart for $39. It works for kiddos 5-35 lbs, most newborns fit well. The downside is it is not an infant carrier seat, so you have to unstrap and restrap the baby every time you're in or put of the car.

Honestly if I wasn't going to buy a seat on the plane for my child (and depending on the flight distance and cost I might not), I would go this route. $39 for a safe and cheap car seat is better than giving my real seat an unknown history for sure.

formerwigirl · October 2014

@shimmer475 While you are here Epcot has the food and wine festival going on. The kids may not enjoy it so much but its a cool event that runs once a year. There are lots of places around Epcot that have coloring stations and such though. Animal Kingdom-Hit up the Safari first thing in the morning and then go back later in the afternoon (I love the Safari). Make sure you also see the Festival of the Lion King Show (one of the best shows on property). Magic Kingdom is just classic disney so you will have fun no matter what you do. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party-Soo much fun. In fact, we are taking our LO at the end of the month. My DH says the fireworks are some of the best we have. They have lots of candy for the kids so be aware you will leave with bags of it. Both water parks are a lot of fun. Everyone seems to have their favorite. Let me know how your trip goes. I'm curious to hear about how flying went and all that. Have a blast at disney too.

amom2four · October 2014

mrsdanielleM2010 said:

beccalou12 said:

mrsdanielleM2010 said:
Gate checking the car seat is a safety concern. They get so jostled and beaten up, it gives the seat an unknown history and you'll never know if there was any kind of internal damage. I would suggest either buying the baby a seat or having a cheap seat waiting for you when you get there.
This was my concern when I brought up our thanksgiving travel plans to DH. Do you have recommendations for a "cheap seat" to have at our destination?
On the car seats for the littles fb page they most frequently suggest the Cosco Scenera which is at Wal Mart for $39. It works for kiddos 5-35 lbs, most newborns fit well. The downside is it is not an infant carrier seat, so you have to unstrap and restrap the baby every time you're in or put of the car.

Honestly if I wasn't going to buy a seat on the plane for my child (and depending on the flight distance and cost I might not), I would go this route. $39 for a safe and cheap car seat is better than giving my real seat an unknown history for sure.

Yes to all of this. Look up some videos on how baggage is handled and there are even a few showing car seats. I wouldn't put my kids in car seats after seeing that. (And I flew A LOT when my oldest were young and always checked their seats. Now I know better.)

There is also an infant seat at walmart that is about $50. It's an evenflo nurture I believe. We were going to buy one of them as a last minute seat if this little guy was too small to fit into his seat because he was estimated to be so small.

Checking strollers at the gate is nice and easy. If you are taking a car seat base, carry it on. Clip it onto the seat so it won't be counted as a carry on and then just slide it under the seat or in the overhead when you board. Just be aware that any time you check car seats/strollers or what ever else you may need, they can be ruined and should be put in a heavy box to protect it.

laurendcolee · January 2015

I'm going to be traveling with my 14week old in a couple of weeks, and I just wanted to know if anyone who checked their carseat also brought their stroller/travel system, or used an umbrella stroller instead. Also, has anyone used the car seat travel bags, or do you box up your car seat when you check it? Last question... Did you rent a car or use public transportation (cab/subway,/etc) Just a little nervous. I plan on wearing LO through the airport, and all of your tips have been super helpful so far!

Ivorytower2 · January 2015

@laurendcolee‌ I bought the jj Childress car seat bag. It was 40 bucks and awesome- it fit cars seat, pump parts, pump, bottles, receiving blankets, diapers and wipes and a winter coat.

laurendcolee · January 2015

Thanks @Ivorytower2‌ !

SanRemo · January 2015

We just got back from a trip with dd. We had her as a lap baby, checked her car seat (free on United) and checked her stroller on the ramp. We did not purchase any extra travel bags.

EscoMama · January 2015

Yuristar said:
ZOMBIE THREAAAAAD

I don't think it really qualifies as a zombie thread if someone has a question about a topic we've discussed before. I'd rather they do this and add their question than start all over again.

LarisaSky · January 2015

I just flew with my baby girl and I nursed her during take off and landing. It helped her pressurize and she was a dream the whole flight. Didn't cry once. I chose not to buy her a seat because I knew I would be nursing her during take off and landing, which is usually the bumpiest part of the flight anyway. That being said, even on our relatively smooth landing it was still bumpy enough to make me worry I would accidentally hit her head into the side of the plane while nursing. So be careful!

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