flying alone with an infant

[justhat]

What have you all done regarding boarding if you're flying alone with an infant? I'm trying to decide if I'll be able to fly from DC to Orlando in May, just me and a 2.5 month old, or if it will be necessary, or at least much, much easier to have help. Originally, I was going to drive back to NJ to fly down with my mother, who is coming on the trip, but the fares are so much cheaper out of DC and it's such a hassle to drive up there, and taking the train would make it even more expensive. I have a friend in DC who is coming on the trip as well, but she's not sure yet what days she can get off from work so I'm not sure that her times will work out with mine. I can arrange it so that my mom or another relative arrives in Orlando at the same time that I do so that I have help with baggage once I get down there, and my fiancé will take me to the airport in DC, so it is really just walking from the security checkpoint to boarding the plane that worries me. Will it be doable, or is it worth it to just spend more money to fly with someone else? My fiancé thinks I'm crazy to try it, but I think that if I can handle the walk to the plane and boarding then I'll be fine. (They're nonstop flights in both directions so I don't have to worry about changing planes). Additionally, the baby will have her own seat on the plane and I'll be bringing her Graco Snugride and the stroller it snaps into, if that makes any difference in terms of convenience.

 

[CEDmom]

It is doable with some planning. However, have you considered asking you mom to take the train to DC and fly with you? Maybe the difference in airline prices would offset her train ticket? If that's not an option just make sure you pack smartly. Try to get everything you need to carryon into one bag (this includes your purse). You'll have to fold the stroller part of the travel system up at the plane door and then carry your DD in her seat onto the plane. Having one bag will make this much easier. See if you can get bulkhead seats which will give you floor space to put your bag once the plane has taken off. This makes it so much easier to get things out. Make sure you have a bottle for the baby ready just before takeoff. The sucking/swallowing will help with the pressure.

 

[disneymom3]

I have flown to CA from MN with all of my kids, one at a time when they were newborn/infants. It really is not bad at all. Especially since you have the snap in stroller and a seat for the baby! Just keep your stroller with you to the gate and you will be able to gate check it at the bottom of the little hallway before you get on the plane--most airlines have you get a gate check receipt at the counter before boarding. Then it will be there when you exit the plane and you can snap the carseat back in.

The hardest part is going to be going through security. You will most probably have to fold up the stroller and send it through the scanner. Then take baby out of the carseat and send it through too. So make sure the bag you bring with baby necessities is either a good shoulder strap or a back pack so you can hold it while you do all of that stuff. Just take your time and ignore any other passengers who might be sighing and impatient behind you. You gotta do what you gotta do and they can just chill out for awhile! Besides your DF will be there and can help with the folding and loading on and then get out of line and wave to ya!

It's SO easy to bring a baby to WDW. Have a great time!!

 

[disneymom3]

Oh one more thing--I honestly don't like the bulkhead seats as you don't have a place in front to store your stuff. I know it's right up above, but I like having it in front of the baby's seat. JMHO

 

[NotUrsula]

Not difficult at all, the younger they are the easier it tends to be.
If you have a sling, that will help you with getting through security, though they may ask you to take baby out and pass the sling through, too, if the fabric is thick. (A snugli would probably have to go through, as it has hardware on it.) This lets you hold the baby and still have your hands free to restack the stroller and collect your bags. Remember to REMOVE all toys and accessories from your stroller before you get to the airport, put them in your checked baggage (it's even best to take off the hood and put that in your suitcase, too.) Carry your ID in a pocket where you can easily reach it w/ one hand.

Minimize your hand luggage. If it were me, I'd go with only a largish backpack, containing your wallet and necessaries from your purse (you can put those in the outer pocket) a change of clothes for yourself, a large bottle of water, 3 changes for the baby, and enough diapers/wipes/formula for about 36 hours, just in case you get a weather delay. If you're nursing, take 2 bottles of water, you'll need to be careful to stay well-hydrated.

Be sure to carry a lot of singles for tips; skycaps and curbside check are wonderful things.

 

[HappyMommy2]

I love the advice you got from the previous posters. You will do just fine! I've done this quite a few times with one or two babies/toddlers. I do almost exactly what NotUrsula suggested and it works great. Our backpack-style diaper bag is the only carryon I bring--it's so nice to be able to stuff all the necessities in there and just sling it over my back.

One thing that's been a bit of a challenge for me when I travel alone with the little ones is keeping my boarding passes and ID handy for security. You have to show them so many times! I try to wear something that has nice safe deep front or side pockets so I can keep the passes and ID handy in there. It's hard to dig them out of the bag at the security checkpoint while juggling the baby, folding the stroller, etc.

Also, unless you're REALLY sure your shoes won't "beep" at security, just take them off and run them through the X-ray machine. It could save you a hand-wanding, which is not fun with a baby in tow!

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[justhat]

Wow, thanks for the encouraging tips! I did ask my mother to come down here to fly out with me, and her response was basically "yeah, I thought of that, but then I have to lug all my stuff onto the train". Now, we'll only be gone 5-6 days, but for my mother that means the maximum allowance of baggage for whatever airline she's on. We've tried my whole life to get her to downsize to save room for souvenirs, etc., but I'm thinking that at this point she's not gonna change. I'll be sure to share all of your stories with my fiancé tomorrow (ah, the joys of not being able to sleep during the end of pregnancy) and then book my flight before the fares go up. Oh yeah, they do have bulkhead seats available on both flights--I see that there are differing opinions on this, but will it be easier to install the infant seat in a bulkhead than a regular row?

 

[NotUrsula]

Most of the time, carseats do not fit in the bulkhead seats, because the armrests cannot be raised.

 

[justhat]

I booked our flight today! As it worked out, a friend is flying from Boston and the price difference to have a flight that connects in DC vs. a nonstop was minimal so she volunteered to do that, so that her DCA-MCO flight is the same one I'll be one. That way I will at least have someone there on the flight down, though on the way back I'll be alone with the baby. But that shouldn't be too bad since my flight leaves around the same time as many of my family members so I'll have help lugging stuff to the gate at least. I was a little skeptical that the carseat wouldn't fit in the bulkhead after NotUrsula reminded me that the armrests don't raise, so I booked a regular row. I figured it would be better anyway so that I can use the other 2 seats in my row to change the baby since hte armrests can be raised, which I'm sure will have to be done at least once on our flight. Now I can only hope that I'll get that seat installed as tight for the ride from MCO to WDW as the car seat inspector did today!