A little help, please

[jbd]

Hi! I'm new to the boards and I need some help.

DS and I will be meeting 2 sisters and a cousin @ airport in Orlando in October for a long weekend @ WDW. The adults are seasoned WDW travelers, but I've never traveled by plane or to WDW with DS, who will be 6 mos. at time of trip. I'm looking for some help in the following areas:

1. Plane ride by myself with 6 month old I'm flying out of Boston, my family out of Hartford, meeting in Orlando
2. Packing -- clothes, food, bottles, etc.
3. What about the parks?

Thanks!

 

[ToTLaugher]

I have traveled with 2 of my kids when they were babies. It actually seems to always go better than I expect!

1. Don't be afraid to ask the flight attendants for help when you need it, they are always happy to help out.
2. For saftey I like to use a vest designed to strap the baby to your seat belt for during the flight. It cannot be used at take off or landing but tethers the baby to you (with plenty of room for moving) so that if there is turbulence the baby is secure. You can find these through internet baby stores.
3. Use a bottle or pacifier for take off and landing so you DS doesn't get the painful pressure on his ears.

As far as packing goes - baby clothes are little so bring plenty! Also make sure you have light blankets and jackets to keep him warm when the sun goes down.

We like to pack our diapers and food. That gave us room in the suitcase for souveniers on the way home! Also, while you can buy anything you need at the resorts it costs a fortune!

 

[lovesdumbo]

I would buy your baby a seat on the plane. I called Delta and got special infant fare for my DD twice when she was 11 months and 21 months. It was just over 1/2 of our fare that I got on the internet. She actually slept most of both flights because she was in her car seat. I only paid $89 for her roundtrip ticket last year.

I've used this Pac Back to carry her carseat. It sits nice and snug on your back and I was able to put my carryon on the seat of her carseat and carry both that way. I actually bought mine at the Samsonite outlet at the Wrentham Premium Outlets.

You can gate check your stroller so that you can use it at the airport.

When you pack a carry on add an extra T shirt for yourself just in case.

There are a few great threads here on the family board for baby tips.

 

[jbd]

Thanks to both of you for your advice. Very helpful and great food for thought!

 

[michvin]

When my little guy, now 6, was 18 mos, my dr. suggested giving him some Benadryl for the flight...it was a 6 1/2 hour flight to CA so it depends on long you are going to be on the plane if you want to try this. Good luck

 

[msnina0417]

The baby is little, I would day save some money and children under 2 are free. I never pay for my children until they turned 2. I always check the car seat and the put the stroller under the plane, they pull it out when you arrive. If you are going to disney, then you really do not need the car seat, as they are not allowed on the Disney coaches. So check it and disney will take it directly to your room is you booked a package with disney.

 

[jbd]

Thanks! This is great info. I was wondering about Benedryl...I'll check with my pediatrician.

We're flying Southwest and I spoke with the airline. They said they would check the car seat and the stroller and neither would count as my checked items. I can have three bags PLUS the stroller and car seat. I had thought they would have counted. I doubt I'll have three bags, but it's good to know that if I need them, I can have them.

Slight change in plans and a couple of new concerns. Instead of flying out of Logan in Boston, which I'm very familiar with, I'll be flying out of TF Green in Providence, which I don't know at all. I was thinking I'd drive in and take advantage of long term parking, but then I started to think about how I would be juggling car seat, stroller, baby, luggage from the lot to the terminal. Any ideas or do you think dh will have to get out of bed early and drive us to the airport before he goes to work?

Thanks again!

~jbd

 

[poohluvrs]

I would have DH drive me