Flying with young toddler

[Denine]

Hi.

We are flying withour 16 month DD next month. We have not flown in several years, and never with a child. Could you please answer some questions?

1. Stroller: I know we can gate check. How?

2. Car seat: We bought DD her own seat. Will the flight attendants help with attaching the car seat?

3. Security: How does this work with the stroller?


unfortunately, we were not able to get 3 seats together on the way down. SO, unless we can get someone to switch (who wants to sit next to a 16 month old?), 2 of us will be together and one of us catches a break

Any helpful hints/suggestions?

 

[andijean]

Gate checking stroller - you can keept the child in the stroller throught the tunnel to the plane and then right before you step over the threshold they put a tag on it and give you a stub. Then, when you get off it takes them a minute to retrieve them and them bring them to you right at the planes door. It was really easy. Just make sure it collapsed and secured.

Attaching carseat - I don't know if I would trust the flight attendant to attach it. The belts are like the middle belt of a car. I think you probably would be more familiar with it. But I am sure they would be more than willing to assist you.

FYI - make sure you get your son his first pair of wings from the flight attendant.

Security - I think I had to remove my son and they scanned the stroller and I walked through carrying my son.

Happy flying! Make sure you bring snacks and lots of new fun things to do.

 

[NotUrsula]

No, the FA's are not allowed to help you install the seat; you will have to do it yourself. They also cannot hold the child while you install it, so it is best to have the other adult hold the child for awhile until you get it installed. (If you can preboard with the seat and let the other person come on later and hand over the child, that's best, otherwise, have the other adult go sit down, and retrieve the child before takeoff.)

The seat you use must have a full harness, and it must be FAA approved; look for the approval sticker on the outside of the frame. Also, measure the base width of your carseat; if it is significantly wider than 16 inches, it might be impossible to secure in a coach seat, even if it is FAA approved.

Did you inform the airline that you would be using a carseat in your child's seat? They need to know ahead of time, as there are several places on the plane where you cannot put it, so your seat assignments need to reflect that. (It has to go in the window position, for example, and not in the row in front of or directly behind an exit row.)

Tips on installation: recline the seat a little bit, raise the armrest, then open out the seatbelt to the fullest extension. Thread the seatbelt through the carseat, latch it, then position the seat while holding the tab end of the belt. Next, place your knee in the carseat and bear down on it while pulling up to tighten the belt; the buckle will disappear behind the carseat. Finally, press the recline button and pull the seatback up to full upright. To release the seat when the flight is over, either reach in through the slots and release it, or since your hand probably won't fit, wait until the folks behind you have left, recline the seat, and if you still can't reach, then go around to the row behind you and reach up between the seatback and cushion in order to release it.

As to the stroller, yes, you can gate-check it. Ask for a gate-check tag when you arrive at the gate, and make sure it is marked so that it will be waiting for you on the jetway when you deplane. The tag goes on the handle, somewhere where it cannot slip off. Remove all loose pieces from the stroller (best to put the hood in your checked luggage, actually) and fold and lock it when you leave it at the end of the jetway. It is best to secure it shut with a strap to make sure it does not come unfolded in transit. You will be asked to fold the stroller and put it through the x-ray at security; if it is too large they will hand-inspect it, but it still must be empty for that to be done (nothing in the basket, no toys, etc.) The baby has to walk through the scanner in your arms.

I forgot: the carseat also will be sent through the x-ray if it fits; if not, they will hand-scan it as well. They may try to tell you that you can't bring it onboard if it doesn't fit through the scanner; but this is not true. Just politely explain that the child will be sitting in it for the flight.

 

[Denine]

Thank you so much for the info.

The car seat is FAA approved, although, at this moment, I can't even remember the brand.

DH made the reservations. I don't know if he mentioned that DD will be in her carseat. I will ask. I know we are not in an exit row or in front of behind one.

Installing the car seat on the plane will probably be easier than the latch system we use at home. That can be a pain!

This question may sound stupid, but, where do I change her diaper if it becomes necessary? If I recall, the bathrooms barely have enough room to turn around. Our flight is only 2-1/2 hours and I hope it won't be necessary.

 

[NotUrsula]

Some aircraft have a fold-down changing shelf on the wall behind the toilets, but not all do. In a larger, newer aircraft, the forward WC may be wheelchair accessible, in which case there will be room to change her in the outer area of the WC; check the seat chart on the evacuation instructions. If there is no other available area, use your diaper bag changing pad and change her on the floor directly outside the WC; that way you can dispose of the diaper and still keep an eye on her.

If the seat-belt light is on, you'll have to change her at your seat. Just be as quick as possible about it and put the used diaper in one of the airsickness bags, then when you can get up again, go dispose of it. (FA's cannot touch that airsick bag, as they handle food, but if they hold out a trashbag, you can toss it in.)

You may want to put an overnight-type diaper on her just before the flight. The position a carseat puts the child in will put weight on the tush in such a way that a regular diaper can leak if she falls asleep.

Be sure you have a bottle or sippy of water on hand to give her on takeoff and landing; it will help keep her ears from hurting. Giving milk just before or during a first flight can be a bad idea, as if she gets airsick you will end up wearing it.

 

[jennie99352]

I flew with my 13 month old son a few years ago. I've since flown with him about 4 times (he is now 3) I can give you a few tips:

1) Always bring a few BRAND NEW toys. This is my biggest trick. I've done it each time on the plane, and my kids have never had a problem. With a 16 month old, try buying a few new trains or cars or something like that, as they can play around with them easily in the small space. New books also work well. For some reason, toys they have had for a while never seems to entertain them as long as a new toy! I usually save a new toy for the return back.

2) Like repeated above, bring lots of snack food. I have found eating one of the easiest distractions for the plane trip. I brought lots of small food--like fish crackers, etc., that take a long time to eat. Bringing drinks is not as big of a deal--the flight attendants have always been very helpful to me to filling up drink cups for you with juice. I've just pushed the assitance button and they've come right over to help me.

3) Before you board the plane, let your son roam as much as you can around the airport after you check in. My husband and I have let our son just explore and get out some of his energy before getting on the plane. It may sound weird, but I've found it works pretty well. What we do is one of us stays with the stroller/carry on bags, and the other just follows our little one around and encourages him to walk around.

As for your seat assignments--if they can't be changed when you check in, go to the gate attendant at your boarding gate. They can page the flier that is currently sitting next to your 16 month old and ask them if they are willing to trade. I did this on my last flight and worked like a charm--I just stayed with the woman when she did the paging, and explained to the person that came up the situation, and they gladly traded (as you said, who wants to sit next to a toddler!!)

Good luck! I'm sure it will turn out fine. As long as you plan out carefully and bring lots of food/distractions, it should go smoother than you expect! One thing that may be obvious to you is that we have a backpack that we have designated as the plane travel backpack for our kids--we use it to stick all their toys, blankets, food, etc. in, and then it is easy to carry on and off the plane in the airports.

 

[Denine]

Thank you for all the wonderful tips and suggestions.

I feel much better about flying now!

 

[piglet33]

Also, don't forget to buy Earplanes for their ears so they don't hurt on take offs and landings. I did that and was so happy that I did. There were several other children that were crying because their ears hurt, but my DD just sat there. They were one of the best investments that I made.

 

[lovesdumbo]

I found this to be the best way to carry a car seat through the airport. PacBac It holds the car seat snug to your body. I was even able to put a small cooler in the seat of the car seat and carry that too. The car seat bags are a bit cheaper and are nice in that you can add more things to the bag (jackets, Mickey balloon...) but they hang really low and are a bit akward to carry. I had both with me in Jan as I had 3 car seats and we had to remove the car seat from both the bag and backpack to put through xray.

I also had a few pull up diapers for my then 12 month old (pampers makes them in 1-2T) for easier changing on plane-baby could stand up.

You'll have a special trip with your baby!

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Originally posted by lovesdumbo
I found this to be the best way to carry a car seat through the airport. PacBac It holds the car seat snug to your body. I was even able to put a small cooler in the seat of the car seat and carry that too. The car seat bags are a bit cheaper and are nice in that you can add more things to the bag (jackets, Mickey balloon...) but they hang really low and are a bit akward to carry. I had both with me in Jan as I had 3 car seats and we had to remove the car seat from both the bag and backpack to put through xray.

I also had a few pull up diapers for my then 12 month old (pampers makes them in 1-2T) for easier changing on plane-baby could stand up.

You'll have a special trip with your baby!

Thanks for that link! I have never seen that.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Jesse-I bought mine at a Samsonite outlet store before our Jan trip. I paid about the same price as online. I had been looking for a link since to share with folks here and I just found it a few weeks ago. It really is great improvement over the bags if you're using the seat on the plane.

 

[long4disney]

When we travel my Dh did not want to use the backpack carrier for the carseat, so one of us carries our Dd to the gate and we put the heavy car seat in her stroller and just push it. She has to be out of the stroller anyway to go through security so it is a lot easier!!! Saves you money too, so you don't have to buy a car seat carrier. If you are traveling alone, then you definately will need something like that to help with the load.

We use pull up's too, instead of diapers so she can stand up to change her. She really hates to lie down now for diaper changes!!! The bathrooms are so small to change them in. Many years ago my Ds was an infant and he had a BM so we had to lie him down on the floor to change him. It was quite a challenge. Just hope your little one is only wet! It makes it a lot easier!!!

Toys and snacks are the best ways to keep them occupied. We also bring a portable DVD player along and put Winnie the Pooh or Seasame Street on for her and she never fusses. I believe you can rent the portable DVD players at some of the airports too!!!

Good Luck and Have a Wonderful Trip!!!

 

[NotUrsula]

There is a trick to putting on a backpack carseat satchel so that it does not hang too low or bang against your back as you walk. It took me a few flights to work it out, but it does work. It will be a bit hard to describe, but I'll try.

You should wear the satchel with the *seat* area of the carseat facing your back, right-side up. (the padded head area of the carseat will be against your shoulders). The straps that snap onto the outside of the carseat satchel have swivel hooks for a reason. You put the carseat into the satchel, zip it up, then pull the straps up and around so that they hang down across the zippered side of the bag, with the bottom part of the straps passing UNDER the seat of the carseat. If the straps are adjusted short enough, the front edge of the seat of the carseat will be sitting just at your hips.

Obviously, any objects you place into the open "seat space" inside the bag should be soft, or they will jab you.

Oh, and re: changing an older baby on a plane. Some newer widebodies will have a disabled-accessible WC; use this if there is one, as the floor area inside will be quite large. Otherwise, the best thing to do is change the baby on the floor right outside the WC, with the door open so that you can dispose of the ickies and wash your hands. If the seatbelt light is on, you'll have to make do at your seat (seal the used diaper in an airsick bag and wait to dispose of it when it is safe to get up.) It can be a good idea to carry a couple of "chucks" for this; these are the disposable absorbent bed-pads used in hospitals. You can buy them in the invalid-supply sections of pharmacies. BTW, an "overnight" absorbency diaper will make it through a whole flight without leaks if it is only wet, while regular diapers will sometimes leak when a child is sitting in that "carseat angle" position for an extended period.