Flying with a 4 month old

[Syrreal]

Hi everyone,

In June we will be flying to Toronto for a wedding that DH is in. It'll be around a 2 1/2 hour flight and will be our baby's first. He'll be 4 months old.
I would love any tips on flying with the baby.
For example (but any tips are greatly appreciated)
Should we take his carseat and get him his own chair?
What's are good ways to handle take off and landing (the pressure)?
etc.

TIA

 

[airtime247]

We took a 2 hour flight to Disneyland when our dd was 4 months old. I was worried too but it turned out to be very easy...much easier than flying with her five months later!

For the pressure, feed him when you are taking off or give him a pacifier if he takes one. We had a bottle prepared for our dd but she fell asleep due to the engines running on the plane. We tried to wake her up to give her the bottle but she wouldn't wake up (a first and last for her) so we just let her sleep and were scared the pressure would get to her. It didn't and in fact, she slept until we started making our descent.

She took a little bottle when we were coming down but not much. Coming home was an almost identical experience except she only slept for about an hour.

I highly recommend bringing the car seat and paying for a seat. Check with your airline too though. With the two airlines I've flown with with dd, you can opt to not buy a seat and they will let you put your carseat in a seat if the flight isn't full. If it is full, they will tell you when you check your luggage and you can just check it then.

We didn't want to risk it though and just bought her a ticket. It was much easier and one less thing to stress about.

Carseats are pretty big and cumbersome. I've seen some parents with straps for them so they can wear them like backpacks through the airport. We brought our stroller which the carseat snapped into. This was nice for pushing her through the terminal. We were also able to hang and store our carry-ons on it too. We then left the stroller with them just before we boarded and carried her and her seat onto the plane.

Another tip is to try to keep your ds awake at the airport as best as you can so he will be tired when you board the plane. I got the idea from a baby I saw several years ago just before a 5-hour flight. I couldn't understand why the parents wouldn't let this kid sleep. He was obviously very tired and irritated and fussing a lot in the terminal. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to sit near them but I did and he didn't make a peep the entire flight because he was so tired!

Also, be aware of the security laws now regarding flying with liquids. Most baby stuff is accepted now but it is limited to quantities and how much the container can hold. I don't recall if you can bring pre-made or pre-pumped bottles. Be sure to check with your airline or TSA before you leave. We bought ready-made cans of Nestle's Good Start. You can also bring powder and buy a bottle of water when you get past security. You won't be able to bring bottled water through security. Again, check with your airline or TSA as it's been a while since I flew with her and don't recall the laws.

That's all I can think of for now. I hope that helps!

-steve

 

[all4fun]

Hi another parent to a Brennan here!

We waited until ds was 13 mos before flying with him but we have always bought him a seat and brought his car seat. I guess I always figured if he needs one in a car then why not in a plane too? Anyway here's a few sites I've found that have lots of good information on traveling with children:

Flying with children blog written by a former FA of 13 yrs who flies frequently w/her three children: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Child Safety and air travel site: http://www.cpsafety.com/articles/airplanetravel.aspx (car seat installation tips near the bottom of the page).


FAA child safety on airplanes: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/ and the TSA's site on traveling with children: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm

Hth!

 

[Kies99]

We've flown many times with both of my daughters. We never paid for a seat or used a carseat for them when they were under two. Never felt the need. We just held them on our laps. When they turned 2, we just paid the fare, but still did not use a car seat.

As for the pressure, we did what the previous poster did. We had a bottle ready and just fed them during take-off's and landing. Never had a problem.

 

[Hannathy]

I flew A LOT with my kids from 6 weeks on and I never brought the car seat. I found it a tremendous hassle to carry thru the airport and expense, we could go see Grandma twice if I held them. At 4 mos mine always were comforted more on the plane being held, plus it is easier to feed during take off and landing that way. Bring several chewy toys in case they are being picky! When mine were that age they had a mickey type rattle toy that was on a suction cup that you stuck on things and they batted it and it would go back and forth. I brought that and stuck it on the tray and they loved hitting that and chewing on poor mickey's ears!

IMO if they try to give you the bulkhead seat do not take it! They will say but it is more room ----but you can not keep your bag with you if you do and if you get stuck circling or hit turbulence and the seat belt sign never goes off, that is a long time to not be able to get another bottle, toy ,or diaper!

 

[dhardawa]

I'm a certified child passenger safety technician so let me give you my professional opinion. Take the car seat and buy him a seat. Not only will he be more comfortable and less of a hassle, he is much safer. Planes can encounter turbulence or be involved in runway accidents in which case the car seat could be the difference between life and death.

If you are going to need your car seat once you arrive in Orlando, you will want to have kept it with you as well. Airlines have been known to destroy seats or lose them. Both scenarios will leave you stuck in the airport with no child restraint. Not to mention, the hassle of dealing with the airline and trying to get them to replace the seat. I am in the process of assisting a lady right now whose $300 car seat was destroyed by the airline. It is not going well. I honestly think she'll just be out $300 for a new seat because the airline is taking no responsibility.

 

[CrzyforPiglet]

We've flown with my son at 2, 6, 11, 13, and 15 months. We bought him a seat twice (11 and 15 months). It was a huge pain to lug a 20lb car seat through the airport but it made things on the plane easier. Of course now, he is now too squirmy and we would never fly without him having his own seat and I also feel safer about it. The flight attendants on both of those flights told us how much happier they are to see kids in car seats than as lap children.

That being said our son was a breeze as a lap baby at 2 months but at 6 he was a bit more difficult. It was just one of those things that he wasn't tired and didn't sleep on either flight. Just be prepared with a couple of favorite toys or walk around once you have clearance to and you should be okay. On , one of the flights our son was making this low whine sound (for no reason!) and I was paranoid that everyone around us was getting annoyed but really there is so much white noise coming from the plane itself that I don't think anyone heard him.

Lastly, we always board last now that we fly with our son. On the flights with a car seat I sent my husband to board first while I stayed out with our son and then boarded last. You'll leave your stroller at the end of the jetway and then we usually just have a small bag that will fit under the seat so we don't have to worry about overhead space. We board last b/c if you board first then you'll still be sitting in a cramped space for about 20 mins while everyone else boards and gets situated before you actually leave. We just find with our son it is better for him to play or run around before we are going to be in a small space for a couple of hours.

Good luck!

 

[stacy6552]

YES YES YES! Buy that precious baby a ticket and bring his seat.

And another thumbs up for swallowing during take off and landing.

 

[TiggerStac]

Syrreal...


We are flying w/Brady in less than 3 weeks (he'll be 8 weeks). We bought him a seat (as we did w/our 1st at 5 months). If you decide to take this route..don't forget to ask the airlines about discounted airfare for buying a seat for children under 2. I know that delta does this, not sure about other airlines. I will echo what others have said, about trying to keep Brennan up prior to boarding the plane, feeding or paci during takeoff/landing.

 

[AngieWin]

Ok, where's the pic of your little man?? And I would love to know how you are doing!! Post on our families Wpsadi thread when you get a chance.

We flew with Noah when he was 3 1/2 months old and while we didnt buy him a seat, I did check at the gate to see if they had any available seats for his carseat. On the way down they did and I was able to put his seat on the plane. On the way back, I held him in the baby sling (some airlines will not allow you to wear them in anything on the takeoff and landing though).

Yes feed him or give a paci on takeoff and landing to help his ears.

And if you do buy a seat I second sending your dh on first to install the seat and then on last call you board. Makes it much easier.

If you cant put the seat on the plane you can gate check it with your stroller.

 

[CraftyCrissy]

The first time we flew with our twins they were about 4 months old. We bought one seat to save money and lap held the other. It was a 3 hour flight and my babies were still tiny and easy to hold (my son was about 12 pounds, my daughter was about 8 pounds.) I nursed them, which was quite a site on a plane! For the most part, my son slept in the seat the whole time and my daughter was in my arms. This past summer my sister and I flew with my 6 month old niece - no seat. She would have been fine had we not been delayed, locked on the plane for 2 1/2 hours before the 3 hour flight. For that situation I will never lap seat a baby over 10 pounds again! hee hee

On top of what everyone else has posted:
1. Really think about what you need to bring. If you're staying at a hotel - ask them about a port-a-crib and don't bring your pack n' play. If you're renting a car, request an infant seat. Seriously, bring as little baby gear as possible. If you're staying with family, ask them to borrow a stroller, pack n' play, bouncy seat, high chair, etc. (or buy one at Babies R Us or Target that can be used on return trips)

2. Gate check as much as you can - stroller, car seat, pack n' play. Yes, there is a chance they can get crushed (this happened with a double stroller and the airline never would take responsibility) so if you really need the stuff, buy a cheapie version if you can substitute (and you won't be furious if it gets ruined.) Don't want two of everything hanging around your house after the trip? Donate them to a shelter, organization or church who can use them.

3. If your baby is under 6 months old, go to the pediatrician two or three days before flying just to make sure ears are clear. If not, get a decongestant into him.

4. I don't know the regulations for carrying liquids but whatever they are - don't push it and figure you'll be able to charm your way through. DH's cousin is a flight attendent and his regular route is Orlando so he sees tons of families. He has amazing stories of how parents think they should be allowed to bring anything just because they are parents or have babies.

5. If you're nursing, ask the flight attendents for water throughout your flight. They are happy to oblige.

6. Take your baby wipes out the big plastic containers and put them into a zip-lock bag. Or better yet, for the flight - put a handful into a sandwich sized baggie and buy a box once you get there!

7. My opinion is not to wake a sleeping baby so if he's sleeping on take-off or descent, let him sleep. Don't wake him just because you fear he may have ear discomfort. I actually woke my daughter to eat when we flew and she screamed. I think it was more from the fact that she was ticked I woke her than from ears!!

 

[airtime247]

There are some great tips on here. I really like the one about leaving a parent behind with the baby while the other parent boards and gets the seat. Our dd gets really antsy if she's stuck in one place too long without moving. We'll have to try that on our next flight in June.

I have a comment to add about the discounted fares for infants. I've only flown Alaska and Southwest since dd has been born and their discounted rate was kind of a rip off. The rates were half off of the normal rack rate. The problem for both flights was that our dd's rate was nearly the same as the discounted Internet rate we got for our tickets. They wouldn't discount an already discounted rate for her. Other airlines may vary so check before you book. This may influence which airline you take.

We also couldn't book her ticket online for those two airlines. We had to call them directly (who uses a telephone anymore, anyway? ). At least they gave us the Internet rate over the phone since we had to call.

-steve

 

[all4fun]

On the way back, I held him in the baby sling (some airlines will not allow you to wear them in anything on the takeoff and landing though).

This is actually an FAA rule.

http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

While booster seats and harness vests enhance safety in vehicles, FAA prohibits passengers from bringing these types of devices on airplanes for use during taxi, take-off and landing. These devices should be checked as baggage. Also, supplemental lap restraints or "belly belts" are not approved for use in both airplanes and vehicles in the United States.

This includes baby carriers like a bjorn or sling, or one of those Baby B'aire devices. They can be used in flight, just not during take off, taxi, or landing. hth.

 

[Disneyolic]

We flew with our daughter when she was 4 months old. We opted to bring her car seat, which was actually an infant seat with a handle. We flew on Delta and bought a seat for her. They charged a less amount for her, so it definitely "paid" to call and book her own seat. We had her stroller in the airport (which her infant seat fits right onto). So at the gate, it was easy to pop her already in her infant seat right onto the stroller. This worked wonderfully when making our connections and in the final leg.

She was a wonderful passenger. So much easier then than she is now at 2+ years. I would highly recommend the seat and bringing your stroller!

 

[KristiKelly]

We flew with DD when she was 3 mo. We did not get a seat for her. I was BF'ing at the time. I fed her during take off and landing and she slept most of the time as well.

I would take a stroller for the airport.

Good luck!

 

[jodifla]

We never bought a seat for DS before he was 2. We gate checked his car seat, and half the time there was an empty seat, so they gave it to us and we put him in his car seat.

At 4 months, babies want to be in their parents arms anyway, not a car seat. The trickiest times to not have an under 2 in a car seat is around 18 months, IMO, when those terrible 2s start to kick in.

One thing to note: Be sure to take PLENTY of diapers and extra formula for baby, and extra outfits for you and baby. You never know when a baby is going to spit up, and with the way airlines these days, YOU NEVER KNOW how long you may sit on a plane or at an airport, and you don't want to run out of food and diapers!

 

[Disneyolic]

At 4 months, babies want to be in their parents arms anyway, not a car seat.

I held my daughter at times but it was sure nice to be able to put her in her seat when she was asleep. Holding her the whole way would have been tiring on the arms and I also liked to be able to sip my soda and have a snack w/o having to hold her the whole time. My daughter was totally fine sleeping in her seat and when she was awake too.

 

[sdbirdsong]

I saw mention of a company in the Orlando area that rents baby equipment; cribs, strollers and the like. They deliver and pick up. Their rates seemed reasonable enough to me. This may be a good idea for people with small children who do not want to travel with a lot of equipment. The board will not let me post the url. But the name of the company is A Baby's Best Friend and it's url is list as abbf and the domain is com

 

[Syrreal]

Thanks for all the great info.
We're actually going to Toronto for a friend's wedding and will def be renting a car so we'll be bringing his infant seat and base anyway. i have to see how long the flight would be too. There's a big dif in holding a baby for 1 1/2 hours and holding him for 4.

Another question- if we do get him a seat, we need to take the base on the plane too, right?

 

[airtime247]

Another question- if we do get him a seat, we need to take the base on the plane too, right?

You most likely won't need to bring the base unless there is no way to fasten a seat belt to the car seat. We brought the base for our Graco car seat/carrier and they let us use it one way but wouldn't let us use it on the return trip. The flight attendant looked over the labels on the base and seat and said the base wasn't rated for airline travel.

This was a bummer because the seat belt fit over the car seat so it was hard to take our dd out mid flight with the plane's seat belt in the way.

I'd check the base but who knows if they will even ask to check it.

-steve