Plane travel

mamadcb · June 2016

We're taking our first flight on Tuesday. For those of you who have traveled, do you have any suggestions? We have a 1.5 hour ride to the airport, security, etc., 5-hour flight (daytime), and another hour's drive on the other end to our destination. We'll also be losing 3 hours since we're going from the west coast to the east coast. Things to bring, suggestions for time zone change, strategies for getting through the airport with a ton of stuff?

jblake320 · June 2016

I flew with my LO when she was two months old. It was a little stressful. I wore my baby in a carrier and they'll let you go thru security like that. Also, be prepared for them to check and double check your diaper bag. Idk if you're nursing or not but it granted me sanity. When LO would get upset id just put her on the boob and problem solved. I really hope your experience goes better then mine! Also, babies aren't special to TSA you still can't have any more than 3oz of liquid if you take bottles.

Cricket99 · June 2016

Try to keep the usual routine as strictly as possible! If it's eat, play, sleep, do that on the plane! I did the same as @jblake320 and just popped LO on the boob if he got too upset. Also, try to get an aisle seat so you can get up and walk easily. Nothing like being stuck in a window seat with a cranky baby.... Also it's recommended on takeoff and landing to feed them or have them suck on a pacifier to help clear their ears. Your LO may very well not need to, mine didn't seem bothered by the changes, but it doesn't hurt to do it the first time and see what happens!

dtspmama · June 2016

We've traveled with LO in the US and just returned from taking her to Europe. When we stayed in the states, I did my best to keep her on our home time zone. It meant getting up really early (I went from East to West) and going to bed super early, but it kept her happy. Wearing her in the airport was essential and the TSA was super nice. I brought a 32 oz bottle of formula with me and didn't have any problems with that, either (they just test it to make sure it isn't explosive). I make sure I have a bottle and pacifier handy during takeoff and touchdown, but she hasn't had any problems with her ears popping.

I was really worried that people were going to be like "oh sh*t, a baby" when they saw us in the airport, but people are usually REALLY nice. I've had random strangers help with bags and opening doors and stuff. For me, the key was to stay as calm as possible because I knew that the minute I started to stress out, it would only make things worse. Good luck!

klbh · June 2016

I flew solo with my son when he was 12 weeks and it went totally fine. He didn't cry on takeoff or landing. I wore him through security but also had his stroller for use in the airport. The motion and white noise really helped him conk out--he slept a lot and calmed down quickly with nursing whenever he did cry. Strangers were really nice and helped me with gear a couple of times. The only wrinkle was that we were detained by the TSA when my hand set off the explosives residue detector! It meant an extra 45 minutes of screening, which ate up the extra time I had planned for feeding/changing and meant I had to board with a cranky babe. I googled later and learned that some brands of baby wipes (Burt's Bees, in our case) contain glycerin, which is one of the chemicals they screen for. So watch out for that!

mamadcb · June 2016

Good advice so far, thank you all! Logistical question: where did you change diapers on the plane? The last time I flew I did not have dirty diapers in mind so I wasn't aware of any changing station if there was one. If there's not I'm trying to imagine using the plane seat, but since we're currently on day 4 with no poops I'm envisioning a pretty big mess and no real room to maneuver.

jblake320 · June 2016

They have a changing table in the bathroom, it's tight but do-able. Also, I took advantage of the family bathroom in the airport, it was quiet and a wonderful escape. My daughter was super stressed out after security and it was a nice place to decompress as odd as that sounds

dtspmama · June 2016

I didn't have any trouble changing diapers in the plane bathroom and found that it was a good place to let LO kick her legs for a few minutes (after I sanitized EVERYTHING). And I second what @jblake320 said about family bathrooms in airports, they're a life saver.

Ebiejay · June 2016

We had our first flight on Saturday, it was just a 1.5 hour flight on a tiny plane so it was a practice for our transatlantic flight in the Fall. We had no issues taking larger bottles of formula, they just had to screen it. I'd checked the TSA site beforehand so I wasn't worried. I don't think there are changing tables on small flights but I'm sure there will be on yours.

Someone recommended taking baby's outfits in Ziploc bags so they're easier to find and I found this really helpful. Definitely baby wearing through the airport, shoes that slip on easily, something to help with pressure changes during take off/landing such as a paci, and apologetic looks for other passengers though you'll hopefully find them very understanding and helpful. LO was entertained lots by other people waving and smiling at him.

kgcnyc · June 2016

If you're taking a car seat/stroller they will let you gate check it, which is helpful if you don't want to wear him the whole time.
A great tip was to take a large ziploc and put diapers, wipes, extra paci, etc and keep in seat pocket so you're not digging around or taking your whole bag when you go to change dipes. One thing I didn't think about was how dirty the changing table probably is, so in the future I will probably take some sanitizing wipes or disposable changing pads to put my changing pad on top of.
we only took the solly baby wrap which was perfect because I wore him while he slept and I could also feel comfortable sleeping. Otherwise you're holding him and an ergo can be too bulky.
like others said, take something for them to suck during take off and landing - my baby wasn't bothered.
Try to check bags if you can. It was easier than we expected. Good luck!!

grkgdss00 · June 2016

I'm flying tomorrow with a similar schedule to yours. 3.5 hour flight + 2 hour drive. Not looking forward to it! We did a short 1.5 hour flight when she was 3 months old and it went totally fine, she slept most of it. But now she's more aware of things i'm a little nervous... definitely going to babywear through the airport and gate-check carseat and stroller. Like PP, make an extra small diaper case with diapers and wipes to bring to bathroom to change without bringing entire diaper bag.

efrans · June 2016

Has anyone used a stroller that can be carried on the plane and stowed in the overhead? I just bought a Zoe XL1 Deluxe and a GB QBit lightweight to check out. Supposedly they can both fold small enough to be brought on the plane (I'm trying to decide which one to keep). Any benefits to actually bringing the stroller on the plane vs gate checking? I thought about using the Ergo, but will need a stroller at my destination and figured skipping the Ergo would just mean one less thing to pack.

Cricket99 · June 2016

@efrans When we fly we just check the stroller at the desk and carry him in the Ergo. It's so much more convenient then trying to wrestle with the stroller through security and having to fiddle with it at the gate. Plus I'm using budget European lines which have strict rules on what you are allowed to take on the plane. I'm traveling by myself with LO tomorrow and will have a carry on and diaper backpack. He will be in the Ergo probably sleeping

my philosophy on plane travel is to keep gear as minimal as possible when getting on a plane as you don't want to be the person holding up traffic as people are getting on.

failuretofly · June 2016

We are currently in the middle of a trip across the country! We had 1 3 1/2 hour flight, a 3 hour layover then another 2 hour flight and LO was fine. We brought our stroller and gate checked it, it was super easy and convenient, plus gave us somewhere to stash bags when we were hanging out. Though if you already prefer baby wearing over a stroller it would be just as easy.
@efrans I don't see any benefit of bringing your stroller on board. Would probably be more inconvenient to have one more thing to wrestle into the overhead bin while also trying to manage a baby.

l4rk · June 2016

efrans said:

Has anyone used a stroller that can be carried on the plane and stowed in the overhead? I just bought a Zoe XL1 Deluxe and a GB QBit lightweight to check out. Supposedly they can both fold small enough to be brought on the plane (I'm trying to decide which one to keep). Any benefits to actually bringing the stroller on the plane vs gate checking? I thought about using the Ergo, but will need a stroller at my destination and figured skipping the Ergo would just mean one less thing to pack.

Most airlines will check your stroller and carseat at the gate for free. They get loaded on last and off first. I plan to just take full advantage of this service and not worry about putting my stroller in overhead bins, etc.

ETA: you can't use a stroller on the plane anyway and overhead storage is often limited so it could actually inconvenience other passengers for no real benefit.

mamadcb · June 2016

I agree with PP about not wanting to have the stroller on the plane. Holding a sleeping baby without a carrier gets exhausting, I've learned, so if I were choosing which to have with me it would be the carrier for sure. Thanks to all for the good advice! I found it less stressful than I anticipated.

Blueyedsky · June 2016

We've flown four times with baby now. The time I did it alone was by far the worst! Other times were just fine, if a little stressful.

My biggest advice is to feed as often as possible whenever you're comfortable. There are going to be times when it's ridiculously inconvenient to feed, like during check in, or in security, or while boarding. Or when youre seated next to a 300 pound body builder and cant get even an inch to be able to feed your baby (from experience

). As long as LO is fed well, you can solve most other concerns.

Check everything you possibly can. We needed to bring a car seat with us on vacation, so we decided to also bring the stroller mostly for transporting everything across the airport. They will check both cars eat and stroller for free at the gate, so you can use it before and after the flight without having to bother with it on the plane. If you can check your carry-on, do it.

If you're flying alone, bring a carrier. We almost never used it when we flew together, but it was absolutely essential for when I was flying alone and trying to board with a baby, a diaper bag, and a carry-on. Also, it became super important that the diaper bag I brought was a back pack, since carrying anything else down those aisles was a nightmare.

You know your little one best, so you know what your best chance of keeping them happy will be! We brought little melt in your mouth snacks, a couple of toys, and a big blanket to snuggle in. One of our flights was so hot we were all drenched in sweat, and another was so cold we spent the whole time shivering. So variable clothing is a plus.

For sleeping, a big rolled up blanket is your best chance of comfort. I don't know what type of carrier you have, but ours ended up being extremely uncomfortable for both of us once we were crammed in between people. It was better to just have her sit against me or try to lay her down on my lap.

Sorry this is so long and repeats a little of what others have said. I hope it's helpful!

Rakastajatar · June 2016

I just flew with my LO and husband this past weekend.

I see great advice given here so far.

This is what my DH and I did.
We checked our car seat with our luggage (Delta waves the fee for the car seat)
We went through TSA with our diaper bag, Bjorn and stroller (DH had a back pack)
Stroller was checked at gate.
I sat by the window for all flights. Easier to nurse.
My DH did the diaper changes.
I tried nursing going up and going down, but my LO wasn't having it. So the return flights, we used a bottle, worked like a charm.
Our first two flights out, we asked if there was any rows available, so we could use the middle seat for her to nap on. We were lucky they were. Certainly doesn't hurt to ask!

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