OT- Flying w/ 10-month old???

[AllisonG]

OK, I haven't flown with any of my children yet but we are planning a family trip. I'd like to hear from all our veterans out there! What tips and advice can you give me regarding flying with my soon to be 10 month old daughter?? As you can see I am a bit aprehensive and I so appreciate any help.

 

[eliza61]

Tip 1, allow yourselves plenty of time and tell your kids what they can and cannot do on a plane. I mean hours extra. Unfortunately nowadays I find not only is it more of a hassle getting through security, airlines are not as forgiving (or should I say tolerant) as they once were. Remember the family they put off the plane because they could not get their toddler under control. Granted that may have been an extreme case but I fly alot between NYC, Chicago and LA and it just seems to me that the industry as a whole is a lot more impatient with small children. Once again just my perception.

 

[alanburger88]

OK, I haven't flown with any of my children yet but we are planning a family trip. I'd like to hear from all our veterans out there! What tips and advice can you give me regarding flying with my soon to be 10 month old daughter?? As you can see I am a bit aprehensive and I so appreciate any help.

We flew with our DD in 1999 for a 17 hour flight - she was 2 at the time. We knew were going to be in for a rough ride so we went to the doctor and got some kind of sleeping medicine that was safe for her age. After 2 hours into the flight she got really winey so we gave her the meds. She slept the rest if the way and only woke when we got to Miami.

I not sure if this would work with a 10 month old and maybe she is not such a handfull as our was back in '99.

What also helped is that we sat in the bulk head row and got a aircot that plugged into the wall in front of us. Maybe you can book these seats and get a cot too?

Good luck

 

[AllisonG]

Are you supposed to bring your own carseat? (yes, we are renting a car) Can I bring my own travel crib/stroller on the plane? Check it as luggage? How do I pack them?? We're going to my brothers in CT from FL. He is single, lives in a small place and we stayed with him before but we drove up and we didn't have a baby then.
I am completely confused on what a plane traveling Mom is supposed to bring. We've done ALOT of car trips but the whole plane thing has never come into play, until now.....
I know these may seem like silly questions but if anyone can help me? I would really appreciate it. This trip depends on me being able to plan and pack. If that is not possible then neither is the trip!

 

[islandmum]

okay - we fly ALOT with the kids. They've both done in excess of 50 flights now and are 4 and 2.

I dont know what your airline is like ut I'll give you what we've had and done.

We do as early check-in as possible. Get decent seats, PREFERRABLY BULKHEAD so you can get up and down and have some space. request bulkhead seating at check-in.

go get seated in a nice restaurant in the airport and have a good BIG meal, wastes alot of time, stuff them full of ice cream etc. Helps them SIT on the flight!!

For the 10 month old - with our flights we used a skycot which was attached to the bulkhead wall and he slept in one of those till he was 12 months old. I dont know if your airline has those so ask them.

we always bought a ticket for the boys from age 1 onwards. you can either use your carseat or ask if the airline has a special booster seat. The carseat is the better option as they are used to it. You will be required to seat the baby in your lap whenever the seatbelt sign is on however. If the flight is shorter than say 3 hours - probably dont buy a seat for the baby and just have him on your lap .... anyting over that time and you'll be begging for a rest.

I know people who have slightly sedated their kids on flights with things like antihystamine .... we enver needed to.

If your kids go wild and scream and cry and are unhappy, just try and soothe them. As a mum in a confined space with an unhappy child I know what can happen and once spent 5 hours out of an 8 hour flight in the toilet with our baby coz he wouldnt stop screaming!!

I was so worried about the other passengers - but **** happens - bring everything you know he'll want, and try to be as relaxed as possible as he'll pick up on your stress and react.

take a change of clothes for him, just incase of a little sickness, and a dummy or bottle to suck on during take off and landing to help the ears pressurise.

walk him round the plane, the FA's should let you and that keeps them very happy looking at loads of poeples faces!!

order childrens meals or bring your own.

book a porter to pick up all your luggage, and take the stroller all the way to the aircraft door and check in there, you'll get priority boarding as with a small child and pick up the stroller as you exit the aircraft so you dont have to walk with him carrying him to the baggage claim.

thats all I can think right now - I'm sure theres more though!

 

[all4fun]

If you're buying your baby his or her own seat on the plane, then absolutely bring the car seat because he/she will be much safer securely strapped into the CRS on the plane. If your baby is flying as a "lap baby" you need to advise the airline of this, even though you won't be charged for a seat they need to have it on the reservation. And remember that when you book a seat for the baby, you get extra baggage allowance for that seat, which can make it easier or harder depending on how you look at it. You don't get any extra baggage allowance for a lap baby.

Check your airlines website. Most don't count strollers and car seats against your baggage count. I suggest gate checking the stroller. What you do with the car seat depends on two things - if you're using it on board the plane you won't need to check it. If you're flying w/lap baby and using DME and NOT renting a car, then you won't need a car seat at all so don't bring it. If you're renting a car, definitely bring the car seat whether or not you'll be using it on the plane. Clear as mud? Some airlines might include a PNP as baggage, some not. In Orlando, there is also a rental company called A Baby's Best Friend (www.abbf.com) that is highly recommended here on the boards. You might just want to save yourself the hassle of traveling with the PNP and rent one instead. If you're staying on property, Disney provides them so you won't even need to rent.

ETA: oops now seeing you're from FLA and this is a trip somewhere else... sorry I was slightly confused. www.babysaway.com is a site that lists baby rental supply places for many major cities so maybe that would be helpful to you.

hth!

 

[islandmum]

how long is the flight and who with?? its important as with the longer flights you'll need different things to take ...

 

[AllisonG]

I believe it's with Continental and the flight to CT from FL is about 2.5 hours. I was planning on having the baby sit in my lap.

 

[all4fun]

I believe it's with Continental and the flight to CT from FL is about 2.5 hours. I was planning on having the baby sit in my lap.

Continental air infant & child baggage info

Carseat as Checked Baggage

Continental accepts one carseat in lieu of one piece of free checked baggage. When checked as baggage, all excess, oversize and overweight charges will apply.

Baggage info here doesn't mention P-n-P's so I would assume that would count against your baggage count.

hth

 

[islandmum]

2.5 hours is a great starter flight. Your boys wont get bored I dont think and the babe if you keep him awake for a while before the flight and feed him up to the gills should be quite happy once the excitement of take off has passed to drop off to sleep.

Quite often the hum of the engines and movement can sooth babies and make them drop off to sleep.

 

[AllisonG]

Thanks to you all I have learned so much. I do believe I can rent a car seat with the rental car. Thats good and I did go to the Continental website on someone suggestion (thank you) and learned all sorts.
I am sure Im gonna need more advice as we get closer to the date. I hope I can, once more, rely on my DIS friends!??
Thanks again!

 

[aclarke]

Hi, we flew from NY to Orlando twice with a DS. The first time he was 13 months old. We were nervous but he did well . We brought our own car seat (if you bring yours, make sure it's FAA approved or they won't let you use it). He had chronic ear infections, so his doctor told us to use Pediacare (a decongestant) right before the flight and also give him some Benedryl to make him sleepy. It did work, he slept for a portion of the 2-1/2 hour flight . Also, we brought some small toys and a portable dvd player (he loves to watch tv!)

Did pretty much the same on his next Disney trip last year when he was two. All went well again, thankfully. Also, we left him in his stroller for as long as possible and just gate checked it right before we boarded.

Hope this helped

 

[dhardawa]

I HIGHLY recommend you do NOT rent a car seat. Take your own. Also, if it is possible, buy your daughter her own seat so she can sit in it on the plane. It is much safer. There is a new You Tube video I'll find tonight about a plane that made an emergency landing and the lap babies burned up because they were thrown all around the plane in the crash landing and when the plane bust in to flames no one could find them. There are also stories of kids being thrown into overhead compartments and the like from things like turbulence.

As for renting a seat, this is a bad idea. You have no idea what seat they will have for you (I have heard horror stories of nasty dirty and expired seats being the only thing available. I have also heard of them having only seats that are inappropriate for the age/weight of the baby.) or whether it has been crashed/misused/damaged by previous users.

If you can't buy your daughter her own seat, take yours anyway. If there is an empty seat on the plane they may let you use it. If not, you can gate check the seat and the airline is less likely to destroy it.

Dana
Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician

 

[Nicholfamily5]

I have traveled with infants before, on flights longer than yours, so I have a couple of tips.
First, if you decide to take your own car seat, there is a really great item you can purchase (I know, more stuff to buy) but this is worth it! It is a car seat cover/carrier with wheels and straps. You can fit a full size convertable car seat in it, zip it up, and either pull it on wheels, or strap it to your back like a BIG backpack. It helps protect the seat in baggage, and keeps it clean as well. Trust me when I tell you how much easier it is to pull a huge seat around a huge airport! I have also seen carseats that convert into strollers, but I've never used one myself.

When I traveled with my little one (4 months) I carried her in a sling. It made it easy to carry her through the airport, I was able to discreetly nurse her, and also reassured me that I'd be able to hold onto her should we hit rough air. My personal favorite is Maya Wrap. I use the same one to this day with my son, who is 7 months now, but much larger than she ever was!!

I also recommend some small toys, keep enough in your bag so you can pull out a new one when he starts getting bored.
As far as dealing with the ears, hopefully he will sleep a little for you, but probably not. I'd have a bottle ready for him, or a pacifier. I personally nursed through takeoff and landing, but that may not be an option.

Good luck, and I hope you get some more great answers here!

 

[AllisonG]

You guys are SUPER!!!!! Thank you so much for all your great ideas. I am almost starting to feel comfortable.
Can I ask another question?
What does gate check mean???
I planned on wearing Lilly in a body carrier. She has been in it before and is quite comfortable.
Will be back with some more ?????'s I'm sure.
Thanks again everyone!

 

[islandmum]

You guys are SUPER!!!!! Thank you so much for all your great ideas. I am almost starting to feel comfortable.
Can I ask another question?
What does gate check mean???
I planned on wearing Lilly in a body carrier. She has been in it before and is quite comfortable.
Will be back with some more ?????'s I'm sure.
Thanks again everyone!

gate check is where you can take the buggy all the way up to where you actually board the plane, then give it to the agent at the desk and when you get off your buggy will be there as you get off the plane. All your other luggage will be checked at the check in desks at the front of the airport before security and the departure lounges.

you can only gate check things like buggies as it makes it easy for families who cant walk their kids for miles through airports.

 

[dhardawa]

Here is the video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rC4Q3ofz7SI

 

[Liltx]

If you can afford it, I would also buy a seat for the baby. The infant fares are half price of a full fare.

Gate check the stroller and the carseat (please bring your own). Feed bottle after take off.
Relax your flight sounds pretty easy.

Have a great trip!

Monica

 

[dani blaski]

Are you supposed to bring your own carseat? (yes, we are renting a car) Can I bring my own travel crib/stroller on the plane? Check it as luggage? How do I pack them?? We're going to my brothers in CT from FL. He is single, lives in a small place and we stayed with him before but we drove up and we didn't have a baby then.
I am completely confused on what a plane traveling Mom is supposed to bring. We've done ALOT of car trips but the whole plane thing has never come into play, until now.....
I know these may seem like silly questions but if anyone can help me? I would really appreciate it. This trip depends on me being able to plan and pack. If that is not possible then neither is the trip!

I have flown with my little guy on two trips, at 5mo and 9 mo (two weeks ago). Both times we chose the infant in lap option. Both airlines (Delta & Southwest) we were able to pre-board. Do bring the baby's birth certificate, you will need to show it. Bulkhead seating it great. We chose to carry the baby in our Snugli and gate checked the carseat. Check with your airline to see how they handle gate checked items if you are switching planes. Definitely have a good meal prior you board and give yourself lots of time. I do carry infant Tylenol with me just in case he needs it to help him sleep, but did not have to use it. Give them a bottle during takeoff & landing--helps their ears.Think of carrying on anything you would absolutely need it your luggage did not arrive at your destination. You can only bring on enough food & juice to fit in a quart size ziploc. I use the 4oz similac advance packets for formula--I prefer this for ease of packing. I use a backpack instead of the usual diaper bag and don't carry a purse. Decide if are checking a pack & play or making other arrangements. IMHO, the less gear the better. If you are traveling somewhere that you could ship items (diapers, snacks, etc) I would do so--less to think of the day of travel (or forget!).

 

[dani blaski]

You guys are SUPER!!!!! Thank you so much for all your great ideas. I am almost starting to feel comfortable.
Can I ask another question?
What does gate check mean???
I planned on wearing Lilly in a body carrier. She has been in it before and is quite comfortable.
Will be back with some more ?????'s I'm sure.
Thanks again everyone!

For one flight my DH was able to keep Jake in the carrier during the flight. The next flight, the flight attendant told us to take him out and hold him in our lap.