How do you travel with an infant?
ByCan you share what you bring and how you manage when you travel on an airplane with an infant? I see a lot of people with strollers in the airport, but what happens if you have the infant carrier attached to the stroller? Can you check that in at the gate? Do you carry your baby the whole time on the plane? I will not be buying the baby a seat on the airplane. Do you find that the cargo people handle strollers pretty gently or not?
Related posts:
7 Comments
April 25th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
You have to make sure you either wear out the babies energy so it sleeps, or keep it busy. The problem with infants is that the air pressure with their sensative ears makes them uncomfortable. they may cry scream or do anything that can be disturbing to others. Try to keep the baby calm and get it earplug or cotton balls. Just try to be weary of those around you on the plane.
April 25th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Depends on what airline you are flying on and how far. Continental will give you a baby bassinett if you request it early before your trip… the carrier I believe you have to check that one… but the stroller they will take at the gate when you board the plane… and give it back when you change… As far as what to take.. pack lightly but bring all the necessities.. Best wishes to you!
April 25th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Baby benadryl. Put him/her right to sleep. Babies can get fussy on planes. Not unusual and i suppose somewhat expected, but incredibly annoying to the other passengers. Remember that story last year in the news of the lady who got kicked off the plane because her baby wouldn’t stop crying? just a thought.
April 25th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
If you must fly with a baby, you need to talk to your baby’s doctor, and speak to a travel expert.
You will have trouble with getting food, water, milk and other things you need past security.
If I were you I would consider ground travel, or not flying at all. baby’s flying now is not easy or a kind experience, air lines do not care, and will not help you.
Sorry
April 25th, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Go minimal… use a snap and go and gate check it and your infant seat. Don’t put your baby in shoes, they will make you take off the baby’s shoes and lift her out going through security even if she was happily asleep. I’m a big believer in Benedryl for babies, but try it out before you go because some babies get hyper instead of sleepy and you don’t want to find that out on your flight. Breastmilk is allowed through security. Feed on take-off and landing because the sucking will help with popping ears. I think that’s everything…
April 25th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
I’ve never had any trouble checking a stroller. It seems to be one of the last things loaded,and one of the first things off. You take the stroller right to the gate, and they meet you with the stroller when you get off the plane.
Here’s how I travel with my kids when they were under a year…….I drugged them. A nice heavy dose of Benedryl and my daughter slept all the way from CA to NY….a 4 hour flight! It was wonderful. If you don’t buy a seat, the kid is called a “lap child” which means s/he has to stay on your lap the whole time. So I’m all for knocking them out and letting them sleep!!
April 25th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
Yes you can check the stroller, No they do not always handle gently, Some airlines still allow you to hold the baby…but more and more are leaning toward insisting you have an aviation approved (approved for air travel ) car seat. IF yours is approved it will say on the seat or in the manual. IF you are allowed to hold your baby, and there happens to be an extra seat, OFTEN the stuards will offer you the seat next to the empty (so you can spread out, and buckle baby in)
Flight attendants LOVE babies as a rule…Passengers HATE crying babies as a rule.
If you can delay feedings until the flight it will help…swallowing helps to clear the babies ears, which build pressure at high altitudes. (You know….when your ears “pop” on an airplane..babies don’t always know what to think of that sensation and can get really fussy, but swallowing helps so do pacifiers)
DO bring a nursing bib or light weight blanket…Airplanes can get stuffy, but the fan is kind of harsh. Also you get all sort of people traveling…..I wish everyone could nurse out in the open….but when traveling I would rather not deal with the ugly comments. Matter o fact, it is the last fight I want to have when I’m in an airplane.
Ointments and large baby bottles are NOT allowed on the plane…Check with the airlines, but restricitons on amounts of liquids and gels includes FORMULA and DIAPER CREAM. My solution is to pre squeeze the diaper cream onto the wipes, and work the cream into the wipes, for an all in one affect at diaper changing time. If you are using formula, pack it in small DRY (powder bottles) the hostess can give you bottled water on the plane ( be sure to add a little extra water, since powder-first is not the right way to mix a bottle)
Once I had a stroller LOST by the airline. (If they lose it they have to deliver it to your HOUSE.) It might be easier to bring a light weight stoller and some cash for a cheap car seat at your destination….along with a baby sling (back pack or front pack) I know it is technically not an approved use…but I used to use overalls..NOT The cheap walmart kind…the sturdy kind you buy at a farm store or oshkosh outlet, double stitched…they made the BEST baby carrier, and loosening them made for a great nursing sling/bib.
Diaper bags DO count as carry on, and are scrutinized.
Bottled breast milk DOES count as a hazardous substance at some airlines (rediculous , but true) check your ailine.
PJ’s are more comfy for baby to tavel in…even though it’s fun to dress baby up when you go out and about.
BEWARE of germs….a light blanket over baby does a lot of good when traveling.
Pack a dry washcloth that you don’t mind tossing just in case you need a really big clean up.
Prepare all you can…then relax and enjoy…babies can sense your stress and this could be enjoyable if you let it be..:)
PS a mild antihistamine (benadryl) is usuallly harmless. It acts like a sedative, travel sickness med and helps with the ear popping. I never used it because I didn’t like to deal with the constipation it caused my kids….but it won’t hurt.