Flying with an Infant

[mmbrad02]

I hope someone here has experience and can help me! Anna turned one in October, but was a preemie so is about the size of a typical 9 month old. My concern is feeding her during the flight. I've heard that you should try to get a baby to eat a bottle during take off/landing to help with their ears. My child will only take very warm bottles. So what does one do? We are flying Southwest if it makes any difference, and it's only a two hour flight. Technically I don't even think she would need to eat, but was just trying to plan for anything that would help keep her calm.

How do I take her bottles through security - can I already have premeasured (powder) formula in the bottles or do I need that in it's regular packaging? I'm assuming I can't have anything made ahead, which isn't really a problem because we don't normally make hers ahead of time. Do I need to plan to purchase water after we get through security?

In addition to this, DH and I are both diabetic and travel with our meds. We have a letter from our doctor, but it just makes me nervous trying to get everything figured out!

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

I flew with my DS when he was only 5 mo and then again at 8 mo and then again at almost 2. It's a bit intimidating at first, but you will likely be just fine.

You can bring pre-made bottles, but they will likely ask you to open them up so they can test them. I brought the powder mix (they did not ask to test this) and then bought water once we got through security. If you are bringing any liquid-like pre-made baby food (applesauce, peas, etc), they will ask to test that too.

I sat in the very last row of the plane (flew Southwest too) so that I was close to the bathroom and usually there was a flight attendant there too if I needed anything.

My DS didn't drink warm bottles. We never bothered to heat them up as he was too hungry to wait most of the time. It ended up being very convienient. However, I think the best you could do is ask for some hot/warm water from the flight attendant to warm the bottle up.

Also, if your little one takes a pacifier definitely make sure you have it handy. That may be enough for the take off/ landing and help with the ears. My DS never had a problem on take off/landing. I had stuff for bottles ready if he got fussy but it was never needed.

I hope this helps! Try not to stress to much - I am sure you already know that babies pick up on how your feeling! And your flight will be over before you know it.

 

[mmbrad02]

Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I don't think we will take any baby food through security since it is such a short flight (2 hours). We will manage with bottles, puffs, cheerios, and that sort of thing. Although I did just think about how it might be easy to feed her while we are actually waiting to board the plane (being the worrier I am, we do tend to get there way too early!) Okay, maybe we'll try food and they can test anything they want to

Anna doesnt normally take a pacifier anymore but is a huge fan of her thumb, so she might prefer that to a bottle. I will take one of our paci's just incase though and offer it.

I so wish we could ditch the warm bottles! She spent 97 days in the NICU, where they warmed every bottle she took, and that started us on this habit! I will ask the flight attendants. One thing I love about Southwest is that they seem so personable!

 

[Sandi]

Hi Melissa,

You'll be fine. I just wanted to advise you that, even though your flight is only 2 hours, be prepared to be on the plane a lot longer than that. Chances are you'll be on and off as planned, but if you don't bring extra formula and food, your child will want/need it.

 

[SamSam]

My daughter flew with twin (preemie) 9 month old twins and she gave them sippie cups during take off and landing. They didn't have any 'ear' problems, don't know if it was because of the sippie cups or just because they were fortunate.

Enjoy your travels, I think most of the time it goes better than anticpated.

 

[shaycamp21]

I am also flying with an infant for the first time and have similar concerns. If your child is asleep during take off or landing should you wake them up to feed them or will their ears be fine if they sleep through take off or landing? Also is there something that pulls down in the bathroom to change baby on?
Thanks

 

[Curiouser&curiouser!]

I am also flying with an infant for the first time and have similar concerns. If your child is asleep during take off or landing should you wake them up to feed them or will their ears be fine if they sleep through take off or landing? Also is there something that pulls down in the bathroom to change baby on?
Thanks

I would let them sleep. (Though I was always told to never wake a sleeping child!) I would just be sure you have the stuff handy for a bottle if they wake up and need it.

Some planes I have been on had a changing table in the bathroom. Other's didn't- but I didn't check every bathroom on the plane, just the one I was near. So its really hard to say for sure. Just ask the flight attendant if there is one in any of the bathrooms when you get on. Then you can plan accordingly.

 

[BonnieJean925]

FYI=my mom works for the TSA and she told me that for our upcoming trip that I can take small bottles of juice for my daughter on the plane, to just tell the TSO that she is a diabetic (she is not). It's one of those issues they won't really mess with Also, powdered formula and a bottle of sealed water should go through with no problem. Just let them know you have it and take it out of the bag before the x-ray machine scans it. Good luck!

 

[mmbrad02]

I'm back again!

About the diabetic comment - DH and I are both diabetic, so in addition to traveling with an infant, we also have our own medications and supplies in our carry on's. We do get a letter from our doctor explaining our medical condition and the need for supplies. But all of adds to my stress! But anyhow, sounds like we could carry juice, but I don't think we will be choosing to. Anna doesn't drink it and we usually just bring food type snacks for the event of low bloodsuagrs.

I did read about traveling with infants this weekend, but here is my question for "Been there, done that" folks. The Gerber baby yogurt is our "go to" food right now when all else fails. (I.E., cold bottle with no way to heat it, too distracted for a veggie, etc). However, it peels off and has no lid to replace on it. Would they make me open this during security, and if so, would I just have to carry it on past that point? Could I "dump" it in a tupperware type container? Or should I just forget the yogurt all together and rely on things like cheerios and puffs if the bottle/veggies won't work?

Also, for those of you who have flown with formula, would they frown upon me putting pre-measured powdered formula in my bottles with the intentions of adding water after security (purchased after security) or am I better off using a formula-divided container? I'm just trying to keep as much room available in my carry on, for my own medical stuff and entertainment for Anna

 

[luvmy2babies]

If available to you I’d use the single serve packets for your travel time as they would be the easiest to deal with. I wonder when your trip is, perhaps there is time to get her down to room temperature formula. With my son, I warmed it less and less each time until he was taking it at room temperature. It took about 2 weeks. He was full term, born on his due date actually, but loved his warm bottles too.

He was on warm bottles for our trip to Disney though. If there is a place in your airport that serves hot tea or coffee, this could be a source of hot water after security but before boarding. This was what I did. It cooled to a temp comfortable for him by take-off and a 2nd stayed warm in a thermal container until landing. He was asleep though. I’m just not sure you can count on flight attendants warming water for you.

 

[mmbrad02]

A couple of months ago we attempted to reduce the heat on bottles. We didn't really get far, she got sick, and we just stopped trying. We need to revisit the plan though. However, we leave this Thursday so I don't think we would be successful in getting her completely to room temperature water. She is such a slow gainer (14 months and just now hit the 15 lb mark) so we have honestly just catered to her "needs" with the temperature. I will definitely make note to look for a coffee stand type area before we board.

 

[mmbrad02]

Oh, and as far as the pre-packaged formula - we have the pre-packaged small bottles of liquid formula, but they are over 4 oz - will they complain? Otherwise, we always use powder, and we are on Neosure because of the being a preemie - and unfortunately it's really hard to find those in the packets. I think the only place I have seen them is Babys R Us (maybe?) and I'm not super close to one. I can plan to take a whole can, in it's original container, if that would be any better?

 

[ccgirl]

I hope someone here has experience and can help me! Anna turned one in October, but was a preemie so is about the size of a typical 9 month old. My concern is feeding her during the flight. I've heard that you should try to get a baby to eat a bottle during take off/landing to help with their ears. My child will only take very warm bottles. So what does one do? We are flying Southwest if it makes any difference, and it's only a two hour flight. Technically I don't even think she would need to eat, but was just trying to plan for anything that would help keep her calm.

How do I take her bottles through security - can I already have premeasured (powder) formula in the bottles or do I need that in it's regular packaging? I'm assuming I can't have anything made ahead, which isn't really a problem because we don't normally make hers ahead of time. Do I need to plan to purchase water after we get through security?

In addition to this, DH and I are both diabetic and travel with our meds. We have a letter from our doctor, but it just makes me nervous trying to get everything figured out!

I have lots of experience with this. Does she take a pacifier? Any type of sucking will help the ears. Is she flying as a lap baby or with a car seat? The reason I ask is the car seat needs to be in the window seat and I didn't know that the first time I flew. You can have the bottles ready to go through security (liquid and all). Medications and baby formula/bottles are exempt form the 3-1-1 rule.

Have a great trip!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

FYI=my mom works for the TSA and she told me that for our upcoming trip that I can take small bottles of juice for my daughter on the plane, to just tell the TSO that she is a diabetic (she is not). It's one of those issues they won't really mess with Also, powdered formula and a bottle of sealed water should go through with no problem. Just let them know you have it and take it out of the bag before the x-ray machine scans it. Good luck!

The Thousands Standing Around strike again. Their advice to get around the rules. LIE!!!!!! I guess that works because terrorists would never think to lie would they?

 

[tjmw2727]

Oh, and as far as the pre-packaged formula - we have the pre-packaged small bottles of liquid formula, but they are over 4 oz - will they complain? Otherwise, we always use powder, and we are on Neosure because of the being a preemie - and unfortunately it's really hard to find those in the packets. I think the only place I have seen them is Babys R Us (maybe?) and I'm not super close to one. I can plan to take a whole can, in it's original container, if that would be any better?

Powder is fine -in the bottle or in the compartment container. Formula is fine because baby formula and breastmilk is exempt from the 3-1-1 rules. No need to lie - just pack it separately and declcare it to the agent.

Honestly the best place to prepare is the tsa website - here is the link for traveling with children - 2nd hyperlink is for traveling with breastmilk and formula:

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm#formula

 

[katieandmylesmom]

Just to let you know....don't think about taking the premade bottles of formula. We just bought some of those for the flight and they said we had to open every one up so they could test it. It was either that or do a pat down of the whole family. Since the formula wouldn't last very long after opening, we opted for the pat down. Patted my 10 month old son and 3 year old daughter while they sat in their strollers. NICE! I just thought the premade bottles would be easier than buying water once through. Oops. I took my 10 month old when he had a doubleear infection. He actually had no problems. Took a bottle on take off and was asleep on landing. Would definitely not wake up a sleeping baby.

 

[tjmw2727]

Just to let you know....don't think about taking the premade bottles of formula. We just bought some of those for the flight and they said we had to open every one up so they could test it. It was either that or do a pat down of the whole family. Since the formula wouldn't last very long after opening, we opted for the pat down. Patted my 10 month old son and 3 year old daughter while they sat in their strollers. NICE! I just thought the premade bottles would be easier than buying water once through. Oops. I took my 10 month old when he had a doubleear infection. He actually had no problems. Took a bottle on take off and was asleep on landing. Would definitely not wake up a sleeping baby.

Sorry this happened and it doesn't help you now but it does state on the TSA website that agents may open and test forumula and breastmilk. So this is a good reminder for future travel. Fwiw you are allowed an ice pack to keep the formula cold.

In addition the TSA has changed the rules so they no longer pat down children 12 and under, in fact children no longer have to remove shoes!

If the OP's DD takes powder formula this is the best solution - you can bring the entire can with you if you like as there is no restriction on powder. Purchase as many bottles of water as you need after security (ask for some that hasn't been refrigerated yet!) and make the bottles as you need them. Setting a bottle in a cup of hot water works in a pinch for heating if necessary.

 

[NotUrsula]

Your best bet is to carry a large insulated coffee cup in your diaper bag; the wide fat kind. Ask the FA to fill it halfway with hot water and then set your bottle in it to warm.

Also, being as how this is winter and weather delays are common, be sure to carry-on 24 hours of whatever supplies your child might need, just in case of delays or a weather ground-stop. If a TSO says that it is too much, ask to speak to a supervisor and explain that you feel that it is a reasonable amount since no one can guarantee that there will be no flight delays.

 

[puffkin]

When I flew with an infant, we just took the powder in one of those containers with seperate spots. Then I just bought a bottle of water once through security to mix bottles. Super easy. I didn't bother with baby food at the airport...I just had a few bowls with cereal measured out so I could just add formula if he needed a bit more. We only have a 2 hr flight so not worth the hassle and he could wait until we got there for baby food. Flying with him was a breeze at infant age compared to toddler years

My DH is a Type 1 diabetic and we fly a lot. He never does anything special with any of his supplies/syringes/insulin bottles etc. He just shoves them in his laptop case. No notes or anything like that. He wears the Omnipod insulin pump and they never say anything about that either. We fly at least 3-4 times a year for leisure (sometimes more with business) and he has never once had an issue with his diabetic stuff.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just to let you know....don't think about taking the premade bottles of formula. We just bought some of those for the flight and they said we had to open every one up so they could test it. It was either that or do a pat down of the whole family. Since the formula wouldn't last very long after opening, we opted for the pat down. Patted my 10 month old son and 3 year old daughter while they sat in their strollers. NICE! I just thought the premade bottles would be easier than buying water once through. Oops. I took my 10 month old when he had a doubleear infection. He actually had no problems. Took a bottle on take off and was asleep on landing. Would definitely not wake up a sleeping baby.

Am I the ONLY person who does not see a connection between these bottles and a pat down?


The TSA continues to amaze me with thier bizarre ideas LOL!