Flying with a 6 month old

[Ima Disnewby]

I'm starting to panic at the idea of flying with my dd who will be 6 months in May when we go on our trip. We will be staying at a park/sleep/fly hotel on the nights before and after our flights so I'm a little worried about how to go about packing her formula and bottles.

I've read that baby food/formula is exempt from the tsa liquids rule, does it matter how much I bring for her??

Any experiences of flying with babies would be wonderful! The good, the bad and the ugly

 

[collcass]

In my experience, flying wshen they are babies is, by far, the easiest time. They tend to sleep more, have the bottle and/or the pacifier to assist in the pressure change and dont move around nearly as much as older ones.

Formula in a bottle is exempt. Make sure to have it out and ready because the tsa agent will take it and put it in a little machine. They are very good at explaining to you exactly what they are doing. i wouldn't bring more prepared formula on plane than is necessary simply because ea bottle must be scanned & it does take a bit of time

 

[Crystal824]

I agree. I flew with my oldest DD when she was 5 weeks old. That was the easiest flight. We then flew with her again at 9 mo. That was a little more difficult. At 2, it was a real challenge. We always use the liquid ready to feed formula when we fly (actually we use it whenever we are out and about at home too). They scan the bottles. That is it. We only brought with us the amount we needed for the flight and a little bit more just in case. The rest was packed in our checked luggage. During the flight at 9 mo., she mostly slept. She woke up, and I gave her a baby mum mum and a toy to keep her occupied. She sat on my lap; we were fine.

 

[collcass]

the last time we flew (20 months old) I wanted to pull my hair out. We left at the height of a nasty Nor'Easter, the flight was horrible, and nothing helped him with his ears. It was miserable. it wasn't his fault and most people were generally kind, but a few were downright nasty. lol

 

[NJlauren]

So far I've flown with DD at 3 months, and 7 months and in May she will be 10 months. I've found taking a few bottles of the liquid was easy enough, they do scan it. I wouldn't pour into bottles before flying mostly because they may then ask to open it, which I dont love.

Ive found the following helpful when flying, board last, I know they let you board first but I board last and give DD the bottle for take off and it decreased the amount of time stuck on the plane, worked well for us! I also brought powdered formula in case we were delayed and ran out of liquid, that stuff is heavy to carry.

If going to Disney consider getting some items shipped to your resort so you don't need to bring a weeks supply!

We are also going in May and can't wait! Have Ana amazing trip!

 

[Ima Disnewby]

Thank you all so much for the fantastic info

I had considered bringing the liquid prepared formula for the plane but now I certainly will!!!

 

[Gracie09]

May sound weird but get the smaller size nipple for the bottles you will use on the plane (for ascending and descending). It makes them suck harder and helps with their ears.

 

[bostonminnie]

I've flown with each of my kids when they were 6 months old. We packed powdered formula into a formula dispenser in our carry on, and just let the TSA agent know that we had it. Once we got through security we bought a bottle of water to mix with the formula. While we were waiting for our flight, I put the water in the bottles, so they would be ready to go once needed.

If you decide to go with the liquid formula, I suggest to try it out with your baby beforehand. One of my kids did not like it at all, and it would have been awful to be on the flight when we realized that! Have a great trip, 6 months is such a fun age

 

[Betty Rohrer]

based on fact you mentioned feeding baby, make sure you have a complete change of clothes for everyone in your party in carryon. nothing worse than having either a blowout or throw up on the one holding little one and only having a change for the baby. and if at all possible have it in the one under seat in the over head. been there and wished I had. ps in checked bags make sure everyone has clothes in each bag in case one bag takes the long way there

 

[philschrek]

Definitely extra clothes!! When our oldest son flew for the first time my husband had to change a nasty diaper in the airplane bathroom and came back to his seat needing his own change of clothes haha! Even last year the same child (then 5) threw up during a diverted layover landing. Extra clothes are always handy.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

......

Ive found the following helpful when flying, board last, I know they let you board first but I board last and give DD the bottle for take off and it decreased the amount of time stuck on the plane, worked well for us! I also brought powdered formula in case we were delayed and ran out of liquid, that stuff is heavy to carry.

.......

Keep in mind that very few airlines these days board families with small children first. You board in your boarding group.

OP, you are allowed to bring a reasonable amount of formula for the flight. Go to TSA's website; the rules are explained there.

 

[Bluegrrl]

6 months is the best! Invest in a travel bobby (it folds up and has a sling to carry it with). I did not use any formula since I am a breast feeding mama. They never scan those! I've NEVER been hassled by a flight attendant, so no worries there, and no worries about prepping a bottle. If you breastfeed, I found that stroking baby's hand increased the suck reflex. He fed from Florida to Cali, with some rest in between and it really helps with any sort of "jet lag". It also stopped him from getting sick on the plan, oddly enough. It was so good feeding him and he was so quiet (because he fed on demand) that some people even told me that they hardly knew there was a baby with me!

Do bring extra clothes and extra diaps, especially easy on/off clothing. Boy had a pretty bad poop on the bus from the airport to Disneyland. No fun to change, but had to be done. The flight attendants were really helpful, especially when I flew back on my own. One of them actually help change boy!! Don't expect it, but they are pretty helpful.

Now he's older, ugh. I miss the quiet 6mon old days!

 

[Ima Disnewby]

Keep in mind that very few airlines these days board families with small children first. You board in your boarding group.

OP, you are allowed to bring a reasonable amount of formula for the flight. Go to TSA's website; the rules are explained there.

Definitely extra clothes!! When our oldest son flew for the first time my husband had to change a nasty diaper in the airplane bathroom and came back to his seat needing his own change of clothes haha! Even last year the same child (then 5) threw up during a diverted layover landing. Extra clothes are always handy.

Thanks! I will most definitely check the TSA's site for further clarification

yes! I will definitely be bringing extra clothes for us!! We learned this the hard way when she had a blow out at a funeral lol Babies always pick the most convenient times for these things!

I haven't flown in about a year and I don't recall, is there anywhere to change a baby in a plane washroom? Or do you just need to get creative in a really small space??

 

[NJlauren]

Keep in mind that very few airlines these days board families with small children first. You board in your boarding group.

OP, you are allowed to bring a reasonable amount of formula for the flight. Go to TSA's website; the rules are explained there.

Good to know, and interesting I fly JetBlue as much as possible and they allow families to board early, not first but after preferred and before everyone else (or at least on my last two flights)

 

[NJlauren]

Thanks! I will most definitely check the TSA's site for further clarification

yes! I will definitely be bringing extra clothes for us!! We learned this the hard way when she had a blow out at a funeral lol Babies always pick the most convenient times for these things!

I haven't flown in about a year and I don't recall, is there anywhere to change a baby in a plane washroom? Or do you just need to get creative in a really small space??

JetBlue has changing tables, can't speak for other airlines.

 

[Crystal824]

Not sure what airline you fly, but SW (at least the last time I flew which was about 18 mo. ago) allowed families with children under a certain age to board after preferred seating but before others.

SW also has changing tables, but the bathrooms are tiny so changing the baby is not easy. I try to avoid changing diapers on the plane if at all possible. I change the baby right before we leave and when we land. We haven't ever taken our kids on a flight longer than 3 hours so...that works for us.

We usually keep the liquid formula in the sealed bottle to let TSA check it if we can. We then make a bottle after our stop at TSA. If you choose to do powder, they will let you bring in a bottle of water (cheaper than buying one at the airport). While I don't use powder formula while traveling, we have traveled with family members that do. It wasn't a problem.

I agree, try the liquid formula with you baby before you travel to make sure they are ok with it. Both our children have not had a problem switching between powder and liquid. We typically use liquid when out and about even around home. It is just easier for us. We don't have to measure out the powder or bring (or find water). We use powder at home. I have heard of some kids aren't agreeable to switching back and forth though.

 

[philschrek]

There's a tiny changing table on Delta, if you get a squirmy child and a messy diaper, it's not a good combo though in that small space.

 

[Bluegrrl]

There are changing tables on Southwest, but beware - changing a baby in a rocking plane (or even a steady one is an adventure! Bringing a diap back is almost impossible, since there is zero space in them. Get one of those diaper wallets - diapers, wipes and a clean pad is all you need. I love my Skip Hop one since it's so compact. I find my Eddie Baer one to be way too big and cluncky.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not sure what airline you fly, but SW (at least the last time I flew which was about 18 mo. ago) allowed families with children under a certain age to board after preferred seating but before others.

......

For the past few years, Southwest has had family boarding between the A and B groups; officially one adult and one child aged four or younger. Southwest doesn't have preferred seating.

 

[Crystal824]

For the past few years, Southwest has had family boarding between the A and B groups; officially one adult and one child aged four or younger. Southwest doesn't have preferred seating.

Maybe I worded it incorrectly, but it is still early boarding before the general B group. In my post, I consider A preferred seating because the person pays a premium to board first.