First time flying with a baby!!! Tips/advice

[MissManda]

I'm so excited....we are going to go to Disney this fall with our baby. He will be around 20 months old at the time we go! This is a big trip for us as we will although belatedly be celebrating his first birthday, my 40th, and our 15th Anniversary. 2016 was a huge milestone year for us and I'm so excited to finally be able to celebrate it all in Disney. I"m also hoping to catch a Halloween party while we are there!!

Although its way in advance, I'm wanting to make some travel arrangements now (the sooner I book things, the sooner it become a reality and more set in stone!!!).

We do want to fly. Hubby drives a truck for a living and really does not want to spend his vacation travelling up and down the interstates. We have only flown a maybe 3 or 4 times ourselves, so we wouldn't call ourselves experienced in the least. Now, we will be flying with a baby and that brings on a whole other dimension/twist.

We are most likely going to fly Southwest out of Raleigh into Orlando. I have a ton of points saved up. Although its a shorter flight (only 1 1/2 hours), I'm thinking that I still want to get the baby his own seat. Our last flight was a little bumpy and I think I would feel safer with him in his own seat. So, that leads me to my first set of questions.

1. The Southwest sight says you can call for an infant fare or you can just buy a seat at regular price. I haven't called yet. Do most people do the infant fare or just buy the ticket? Is the only difference that you have to provide proof of age for the baby? Curious if there is a significant price difference? Anyone know first hand?

2. He will be 6 months older, obviously if we go in October. He is currently 25 pounds. Do you normally take you care seat and install it on the flight or just buckle him into the regular seat? (Do most car seats fit into an airplane seat?). I'm just wondering for a shorter flight if the car seat is necessary? Again, I want him to be protected as much as possible but I also want to have some ease in being able to get him in/out of his seat should we need to do a diaper change or just comfort him.

3. Diaper changes...lol...I've never looked...do the airplane bathrooms have a changing table???

4. We will be renting a car so will need a car seat of some sort, regardless of if we use it on the plane or not. Would you recommend taking our own or renting one? If we do take it but don't use it on the plane, do you check it with your luggage? I would be worried about a seat getting damaged in all of this process?

5. What about strollers? You need them in the airport but what do you do with them when you get on the plane? (Oh...and while at Disney, would you recommend an umbrella stroller or a regular stroller?)


Any thoughts/advice for flying the first time with a baby? Its a short flight so hopefully we can keep him entertained.

Excited and nervous at the same time

 

[Gracie09]

I'm so excited....we are going to go to Disney this fall with our baby. He will be around 20 months old at the time we go! This is a big trip for us as we will although belatedly be celebrating his first birthday, my 40th, and our 15th Anniversary. 2016 was a huge milestone year for us and I'm so excited to finally be able to celebrate it all in Disney. I"m also hoping to catch a Halloween party while we are there!!

Although its way in advance, I'm wanting to make some travel arrangements now (the sooner I book things, the sooner it become a reality and more set in stone!!!).

We do want to fly. Hubby drives a truck for a living and really does not want to spend his vacation travelling up and down the interstates. We have only flown a maybe 3 or 4 times ourselves, so we wouldn't call ourselves experienced in the least. Now, we will be flying with a baby and that brings on a whole other dimension/twist.

We are most likely going to fly Southwest out of Raleigh into Orlando. I have a ton of points saved up. Although its a shorter flight (only 1 1/2 hours), I'm thinking that I still want to get the baby his own seat. Our last flight was a little bumpy and I think I would feel safer with him in his own seat. So, that leads me to my first set of questions.

1. The Southwest sight says you can call for an infant fare or you can just buy a seat at regular price. I haven't called yet. Do most people do the infant fare or just buy the ticket? Is the only difference that you have to provide proof of age for the baby? Curious if there is a significant price difference? Anyone know first hand?

2. He will be 6 months older, obviously if we go in October. He is currently 25 pounds. Do you normally take you care seat and install it on the flight or just buckle him into the regular seat? (Do most car seats fit into an airplane seat?). I'm just wondering for a shorter flight if the car seat is necessary? Again, I want him to be protected as much as possible but I also want to have some ease in being able to get him in/out of his seat should we need to do a diaper change or just comfort him.

3. Diaper changes...lol...I've never looked...do the airplane bathrooms have a changing table???

4. We will be renting a car so will need a car seat of some sort, regardless of if we use it on the plane or not. Would you recommend taking our own or renting one? If we do take it but don't use it on the plane, do you check it with your luggage? I would be worried about a seat getting damaged in all of this process?

5. What about strollers? You need them in the airport but what do you do with them when you get on the plane? (Oh...and while at Disney, would you recommend an umbrella stroller or a regular stroller?)


Any thoughts/advice for flying the first time with a baby? Its a short flight so hopefully we can keep him entertained.

Excited and nervous at the same time

1) the infant fare is a % off the full priced fare. Most times the wanna get away fare is cheaper than the infant
2) especially given #4 I would take the car seat and use it on the plane. It is more comfortable for him and safer
3) some do some don't ask the flight attendant. I would change the baby right before the flight and use an overnight diaper on the flight
4) use your own
5) you gate check the stroller (get a bag for it to keep it clean). For that age I like the regular stroller especially if he will nap in a stroller. Much more comfortable.

snacks and more snacks. The triangle shaped crayons (although with a car seat you may not be able to put his table down all the way. Colorforms for the windows. stickers.

 

[DopeyDame]

I have two kids, now ages 4 and 7, and we've flown a ton with them, so I hope I can help a little. My answers are in red.

I'm so excited....we are going to go to Disney this fall with our baby. He will be around 20 months old at the time we go! This is a big trip for us as we will although belatedly be celebrating his first birthday, my 40th, and our 15th Anniversary. 2016 was a huge milestone year for us and I'm so excited to finally be able to celebrate it all in Disney. I"m also hoping to catch a Halloween party while we are there!!

Although its way in advance, I'm wanting to make some travel arrangements now (the sooner I book things, the sooner it become a reality and more set in stone!!!).

We do want to fly. Hubby drives a truck for a living and really does not want to spend his vacation travelling up and down the interstates. We have only flown a maybe 3 or 4 times ourselves, so we wouldn't call ourselves experienced in the least. Now, we will be flying with a baby and that brings on a whole other dimension/twist.

We are most likely going to fly Southwest out of Raleigh into Orlando. I have a ton of points saved up. Although its a shorter flight (only 1 1/2 hours), I'm thinking that I still want to get the baby his own seat. Our last flight was a little bumpy and I think I would feel safer with him in his own seat. So, that leads me to my first set of questions. Brilliant! Getting him his own seat is the perfect decision. It is safer and so much more comfortable. Good call.

1. The Southwest sight says you can call for an infant fare or you can just buy a seat at regular price. I haven't called yet. Do most people do the infant fare or just buy the ticket? Is the only difference that you have to provide proof of age for the baby? Curious if there is a significant price difference? Anyone know first hand? My understanding is that the infant fare is a percentage of the full fare price. Almost all the time, the cheapest online price will be cheaper than the infant price. Just call for the comparison on your flight, though. If you get a regular ticket online, just ignore the (ages 2+) when buying the ticket, as you want a real seat, not a lap baby ticket.

2. He will be 6 months older, obviously if we go in October. He is currently 25 pounds. Do you normally take you care seat and install it on the flight or just buckle him into the regular seat? (Do most car seats fit into an airplane seat?). I'm just wondering for a shorter flight if the car seat is necessary? Again, I want him to be protected as much as possible but I also want to have some ease in being able to get him in/out of his seat should we need to do a diaper change or just comfort him. Yes, use your carseat on the plane. It's safer and your son will be more comfortable because he'll be in a seat that is familiar. Make sure your carseat is approved by the FAA. There will be a sticker on it somewhere that says something like approved by the NHSB and the FAA or something like that. Almost all carseats are, but occasionally a flight attendant will ask you to prove it, so knowing where the sticker is in advance will help. Also, while it's not officially a regulation, we have had multiple flight attendants tell us that children under two can't sit in a seat with a regular seat belt - they must either be held as a lap baby or strapped into a carseat. So having the carseat just avoids that issue.

3. Diaper changes...lol...I've never looked...do the airplane bathrooms have a changing table??? I have - literally - never been on a plane in the last six years without a changing table in at least one of the bathrooms. People on here swear planes exist without changing tables, but I've never seen one.

4. We will be renting a car so will need a car seat of some sort, regardless of if we use it on the plane or not. Would you recommend taking our own or renting one? If we do take it but don't use it on the plane, do you check it with your luggage? I would be worried about a seat getting damaged in all of this process? Just use it on the plane and avoid all the rest of the issues.

5. What about strollers? You need them in the airport but what do you do with them when you get on the plane? (Oh...and while at Disney, would you recommend an umbrella stroller or a regular stroller?) You can check your stroller at the gate. When you get to the gate, just ask the gate agent for a stroller tag. Then you'll leave it at the end of the jetway just before you get on the plane. The baggage handlers have been known to be a little rough, so make sure any straps, attachments, etc are off before you leave it, and realize that it very well may get dirty or even a little beat up. We've never had any major issues, but they'll just throw the stroller down the shoot and throw it into the plane.


Any thoughts/advice for flying the first time with a baby? Its a short flight so hopefully we can keep him entertained.

As the flight attendant said to me when I was flying alone with my son, age 1.5 at the time. "Honey, this is the flight to Orlando. Relax. Everyone on board will have a screaming child."

Excited and nervous at the same time

SO exciting!!!
Have a fantastic trip!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

some planes only have changing tables in one of bathrooms so I would ask FA to direct you where you need to go. check your carseat for sticker that says it can be used on plane as not all carseats can be used. I wpild plan on little one has something to suck on during takeoff and landing helps with earpain

 

[MissManda]

1) the infant fare is a % off the full priced fare. Most times the wanna get away fare is cheaper than the infant
2) especially given #4 I would take the car seat and use it on the plane. It is more comfortable for him and safer
3) some do some don't ask the flight attendant. I would change the baby right before the flight and use an overnight diaper on the flight
4) use your own
5) you gate check the stroller (get a bag for it to keep it clean). For that age I like the regular stroller especially if he will nap in a stroller. Much more comfortable.

snacks and more snacks. The triangle shaped crayons (although with a car seat you may not be able to put his table down all the way. Colorforms for the windows. stickers.

Thank you for your responses. Good to know about the infant fare. Sounds easier and less hassle to just get the regular ticket for him. i wasn't even thinking about him napping in the stroller, so yes, would definitely want the regular stroller for that. Where do you get bags for the stroller? I've never seen them. I'm assuming off Amazon or somewhere?

I have two kids, now ages 4 and 7, and we've flown a ton with them, so I hope I can help a little. My answers are in red.



SO exciting!!!
Have a fantastic trip!

Thanks so much, your answers were very helpful. I will have to look at the back of my seats to make sure they are complaint. Thankfully a quick search seems to indicate that they are!

I will also need to keep your FA's advice in mind.... a flight to Orlando is probably a bit more forgiving with noisy kids that other flights would be!!!

some planes only have changing tables in one of bathrooms so I would ask FA to direct you where you need to go. check your carseat for sticker that says it can be used on plane as not all carseats can be used. I wpild plan on little one has something to suck on during takeoff and landing helps with earpain

Yes, I myself have ear troubles so I will be making sure that we help him out with that.