Flying first time as parents... any advices?

jsebsirois

DIS Veteran

Joined

Oct 2, 2008

• Jul 26, 2015

• #1

Hey there!

Only two months to go before our first trip as parents and our first visit in two years, can't wait!

We'll be flying for the first time with a baby so even with all the reading I do, nothing beats the advices of fellow Disboards users!

So tell me, what are your tips for an easy flight and process through security and border when you're flying with a baby (our son will be 10 months old)?

Thanks in advance!

 

S

SaraMc

Moderator

Moderator

Joined

Jan 18, 2005

• Jul 26, 2015

• #2

Take a few of his favourite toys away a couple of weeks before the trip and introduce them during the trip. He will be happy to have them back and will possible keep him entertained on the flight.
Have a bottle or feeding ready for him at take off and landing will help with his ears.

Depending on where you are flying out of, they often have parents with strollers take their kids through the accessible line as it gives you more time. As you will have to fold down your stroller and put it up on the X-ray belt.
Make sure you have all his paperwork and that you get it back. We were not given DS's birth certificate back when we went through Minnesota once. Luckily we had his passport too and were able to get him a new one. But there was a moment of panic.


My son loved to throw things, we feathered toys with those rings to his stroller so that we never lost them forever. His sippy cup took a beating.

Most of all have fun!

 

canadiankim

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 27, 2010

• Jul 27, 2015

• #3

Best advice is for you as the parents to try and relax and not to get too stressed. Your little one will pick up on your stress and then it just snowballs. I agree with PP, taking away favourite toys and then reintroducing them or even popping to the dollar store and buying something new (harder with really little ones) is just a way of a short term distraction. Lots of snacks will keep him busy for a while too.

We took our son on his first flight at 9 months old to Florida (he's 15 now!) but at that time we lived in England so his first flight was 9 hours long. He was great, we did have bulk head seats and he did sleep part of the way. Having a drink on take off and landing will help with the pressure in his ears which is what tends to be the worse thing for babies.

Depending on how long your flight is try and minimise what you have in your diaper bag. It's easy to get 'carried' away with extra this and that for him and you end up lugging a heavy bag with more than you need. I would pack a spare set of clothes and a waterproof bag in case of motion sickness for soiled clothes.

 

dsneygirl

<font color=blue>My little pirate is here<br><font

Joined

Jun 6, 2000

• Jul 27, 2015

• #4

Allow yourself lots of extra time for security and make sure you have lots of diapers. I know the PP said don't carry too much in your diaper bag but if you get stuck in a delay once you've give up your checked baggage you could be screwed.

We've flown lots of times with babies (including to Hawaii with a 7 month old and I found the engines the best white noise. My kids slept like logs most of the time.

Good luck.

 

jsebsirois

DIS Veteran

Joined

Oct 2, 2008

• Aug 3, 2015

• #5

Awesome! Thanks for the tips everyone!

Curious : any canadians having tips on what we can get through security as far as baby food is concerned?

 

Aladora

DIS Veteran

Joined

Aug 22, 2011

• Aug 3, 2015

• #6

jsebsirois said:

Awesome! Thanks for the tips everyone!

Curious : any canadians having tips on what we can get through security as far as baby food is concerned?

Click to expand...

This link will help you with the baby food question as well as a whole bunch of other ones!

TSA Traveling with children

As for personal tips, we took DS on his first plane trip when he was 13 months and here are a few things that come to mind:

If your baby is going to have their own seat, definitely bring his car seat for use on the plane. Not only is it much safer but he will be more likely to nap in a familiar seat.

Our son was an early walker so getting to the gate a bit early and letting him run around before the flight was really helpful.

We booked early morning flights so that by the time we were on the flight and in the air, it was just around his morning nap time and he slept for a fair amount of the flight.

We had our son in sleepers for the flights, much easier and more comfortable for him. Also, pack 2 changes for him and one for you in your carry on bag.

Bring more diapers than you would normally, stuck in a metal tube 32,000 ft in the air is a bad place to run out of diapers.

Try not to stress out. Babies cry, people get that. My last trip a few weeks ago included one sold out flight with at least 8 kids under 4. It got pretty noisy but that's what happens sometimes with kids. No biggie.

 

T

Tropics

Mouseketeer

Joined

Jul 22, 2012

• Aug 3, 2015

• #7

I totally second the extra clothes for both you and your baby. It's not fun to run through the Toronto airport looking for clothes for a 2 year old because she's already puked in her spare set!

 

LemonNeko

Mouseketeer

Joined

Sep 8, 2014

• Aug 3, 2015

• #8

This may not happen to you but I found they were way more lenient with what you could bring with a toddler. My son was 18 months the first time we flew so I wasn't bringing baby food but I had drinks in the bottom of the stroller and they said nothing. They had a separate line for people with young kids which was really helpful for me since it was just me and him flying everyone else drove.

 

BLAZEY

DIS Veteran

Joined

May 29, 2006

• Aug 4, 2015

• #9

If your child is mobile have one parent board with carry on/ carseat if using. the other parent stays with the kid and does last minute diaper change /potty break and boards near the end. It keeps the little one from being cooped up in the plane for longer than necessary.