Tell me about flying with a 10 month old...

[mousefanmichelle]

We have a grand gathering in May 2009 - there will be 14 of us going. My sisters granddaughter will be 10 months by then and my niece doesn't know what to expect.

Car seats on the plane?
Stoller on the plane?
Packing baby food?

Please help me help my niece!!!

What do we need to know before we go?
How are babies ears on planes?

Thanks
Michelle

 

[badblackpug]

I just returned from a trip with my 8 month old. We "gate checked" the stroller. Which meant we kept her in the stroller right up until we literally got on the plane. At the gate they give you a special tag to put on the stroller, and they store the stroller "under the plane" and it is waiting for you as you get off the plane. We did not use a car seat. We brought her as a lap infant and held her the whole time. We did not want to pay for a seat. (we don't rent a car, we use WDW transport, so no need for a car seat) We carried on cans of formula for the plane ride, we had Garden Grocer (www.gardengrocer.com) deliver baby food. We had no trouble with her ears she played most of the way to WDW, she slept all the way home. But...we did have bottles ready in case she cried. She doesn't take a pacifier.

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks! That helps so much. My kids are older and we never flew when they were little. I am nervous just because I don't know what to expect. First time my kids flew was this past August and my 11 year old had such bad pressure in his ears - I thought for a baby it would be so much worse.

Thanks!!!

 

[visual]

In general I find that flying with infants is much easier than flying with toddlers. If you can request a basinet (sp?), it would make your trip much easier.

 

[Bren's Mom]

The FAA has several pages on flying with children:

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

"Did you know the safest place for your little one during turbulence or an emergency is in an approved child restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap?"

From FAA's FAQs:

The FAA does not require the use of CRS's on commercial airplanes because a mandate would require parents to purchase an extra airline ticket for their child, forcing some families who can't afford the extra ticket to drive, a statistically more dangerous way to travel. However, the FAA strongly recommends the use of CRS's or an alternative FAA-approved device based on a child's weight. A child safety device is an FAA-approved alternative to using a hard-backed seat and is approved only for use on aircraft. It is not approved for use in motor vehicles. For example, the FAA has approved a new harness-type device appropriate for children weighing between 22 and 44 pounds. Airlines currently allow children under the age of two to fly free of charge as "lap children," not the safest way for a child to travel. Many airlines offer half-price tickets so parents can be guaranteed that their child can travel in a CRS or device. Parents should call their airline to ask for a discount and/or ask what the airline's policy is for using empty seats.

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/

"We will not ask you to do anything that will separate you from your child or children."

The above page also spells out the guidelines for taking baby food, breast milk and juice, etc.

I would strongly recommend check the pages again shortly before your trip in case any security measures have changed.

Also if you have any older children traveling PLEASE prepare them for what security will be like. It will make it much easier for them and quicker for everyone!

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

In general I find that flying with infants is much easier than flying with toddlers. If you can request a basinet (sp?), it would make your trip much easier.

Great tip for International travel. Bassinets are only really available on international flights these days. I used to be a corporate business flyer and have never seen one on a domestic route.

As my girls have gotten older, I can agree with the statement about it being easier when they are little. I flew by myself with them a few weeks ago and it helped to be prepared with food/liquids/toys/DVD player.

If you are worried about pressure, I either nursed my girls on takeoff and landing or gave them a bottle to drink (depending on age). If they take a pacifier, that will work in the same fashion as drinking to relieve any pressure on the ears. Just make sure they aren't flying with an ear infection or major sinus issue -which increase pressure in the inner ear and eardrum. Last thing anyone needs is a ruptured ear drum.

Best of luck - it will be fun!

 

[nikkers]

We fly several times a year with our children DS (4) and DD (2). My kids love to fly. I prefer to bring a car seat on the plan. It seems to be a lot more comfortable for them. Much easier for them to sleep. When my DS turned 3 we stopped bring on a car seat. We will continue to bring the seat on for my DD until she turns 3. We bring a lot of entertainment for our kids. Little toys and snacks. We also gate check a stroller. When you get to the gate, ask for a tag for whatever you are gate checking. A lot of people gate check their car seats.
Both of my kids have tubes in their ears. We have never had an issue with their ears when flying. But a lot of people feed their babies or give them pacifiers on take off and landings.
I agree with everyone, babies are very easy to travel with. Have a great vacation!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and help. I will pass all of these tips onto my niece. I am sure the more info I give her the better she will feel traveling with her 10 month old daughter. I know I will feel more peaceful to know these tips too!!

Does anyone know about the cribs in the hotels at Disney? Of course she will need to get one for their room - will the baby be comfortable in it? How about sheets and blankets for the baby - does she need to bring those or are they supplied? Is it better to bring your own?

TIA again for your help!! This is new territory for me - my kids are 14, 12 and 10 and we camped when they were babies but never took them on a plane or to a hotel!!!!

Michelle

 

[snugglepeas]

the first time my daughter flew she was 10 months old, it was the easiest flight I have ever taken her on, as soon as the planes engine started she fell right to sleep and slept most of the flight, now fast forward she is now 2 1/2 and I have to bring a bag of tricks to keep her busy.

 

[hardingk]

We are flying on Saturday for the first time with our 12 week old dd. We have purchased a seat for her on the pland and got the 5 in 1 sit & stroll car seat that is FAA approved. Does anyone know if we still have to have the car seat rearfacing on the plane since she is only 3mo or can we have it forward facing for her to see the tv?

 

[Bren's Mom]

Technically you must use the seat according to manufacturer's instructions. So unless your 3 month old will be 20lbs by the time of the flight the answer is no.

And Michelle, I'm assuming crib sheets, etc are supplied (hopefully someone else will confirm that) but I'd bring a crib blanket from home (or one that baby uses every day in the car or wherever) plus a lovey of some kind so there are familiar 'smells' in the crib. That should help some with a good sleep!

 

[mousefanmichelle]

Thanks Bren's Mom. I would have thought that there would be sheets but you just never know. Better to be prepared than get there and not have thought about it at all.

 

[MaleficentFan]

I believe they do supply bedding for the crib but your niece may want to bring an extra crib sheet and blanket just in case. You never know what kind of "mess" could happen in the middle of the night... you don't want to have to be up trying to figure out the details. It's easier to just put on a fresh sheet and put the baby back to sleep! I brought extras when we went to WDW with dd (6 months). We never needed them but I was glad to have them "in case of emergency".

I have only flown once with dd. We purchased her a seat and took her car seat on the plane. It made things much easier for us... we didn't have to hold her the entire flight... she would have either been squirming around to see what was happening the whole time or been "dead weight" as she slept. I thinm she was much more comfortable in her familiar car seat. I too worried about the pressure and her ears. She won't take a pacifier... we did the bottle route. Of course we were delayed and she was hungry and screaming while we waited on the runway. Needless to say she got her bottle before take off... but then slept through the entire plane ride... didn't wake up until we were off the plane! She was only awake for the landing on the ride home and had no difficulty with her ears.

We rented a car and took a grocery trip so I didn't pack much baby food and formula. I had enough to feed her dinner and a bottle, plus extra in case of delay. I didn't have a problem with secutiry at either MCO or Newark Liberty. I simply told the TSA that I had baby food and formula in the diaper bag... they didn't even make me show it to them... they just sent the bag through the scanner. Just be prepared for the security line. DH and I made that first trip with my parents. Everybody knew what their "job" was before we hit the front of the security line. We did the divide and conquer getting everything no the belt, folded, the baby out of the seat, etc. It went smoothly.

We gate checked our stroller... we took the travel system stroller do it was bigger than an umbrella stroller. It was very easy... tagged at the gate. We had a stroller bag for it... which I highly recommend. (Have you seen the way they handle strollers at gate check sometimes? ) We folded it and bagged it before walking down to the plane... it was bulky. Much easier that way. But do whatever makes you comfortable.

Hope some of this helped!

 

[Melee's Mom]

We gate checked our stroller... we took the travel system stroller do it was bigger than an umbrella stroller. It was very easy... tagged at the gate. We had a stroller bag for it... which I highly recommend. (Have you seen the way they handle strollers at gate check sometimes? ) We folded it and bagged it before walking down to the plane... it was bulky. Much easier that way. But do whatever makes you comfortable.

Hope some of this helped!

Can you please share if you use Disney bus with the travel system stroller to go to parks? I will be traveling with a 6 months old. We have Graco travel system for DS6months and Peg Perego P3 for DD5. Do you think it's possible to get those two stroller on/off bus just DH and I plus 2 kids? Any advice is appreicated. Thanks.

 

[Kae]

When the kids were babies we always tried to fly around nap time. that helped.

kae

 

[all4fun]

We have a grand gathering in May 2009 - there will be 14 of us going. My sisters granddaughter will be 10 months by then and my niece doesn't know what to expect.

Car seats on the plane?
Stoller on the plane?
Packing baby food?

Please help me help my niece!!!

What do we need to know before we go?
How are babies ears on planes?

Thanks
Michelle

Hi. We traveled with ds when he was 10mos adj age (13mos actual - he was a preemie). He slept really well in his car seat that we brought on board the plane. We took several trips with him as a toddler and one thing we learned that made boarding the plane easier was to have one of us (always me) board first with at least one carry-on (back pack) and the car seat. I would get the seat installed first then dh and ds would join me. When we all boarded at once, our little family always ended up blocking the aisle while the issue of the car seat was being addressed and it could be a little awkward, so boarding this way solved that problem. Some airlines do allow families with small children to pre-board, but that is not always the case. This site here has great tips on how to install a car seat on an airplane.

the first time my daughter flew she was 10 months old, it was the easiest flight I have ever taken her on, as soon as the planes engine started she fell right to sleep and slept most of the flight, now fast forward she is now 2 1/2 and I have to bring a bag of tricks to keep her busy.

I agree, this is a great age. When they get more mobile then it gets harder.

We are flying on Saturday for the first time with our 12 week old dd. We have purchased a seat for her on the pland and got the 5 in 1 sit & stroll car seat that is FAA approved. Does anyone know if we still have to have the car seat rearfacing on the plane since she is only 3mo or can we have it forward facing for her to see the tv?

No, you should install the seat the same way you would in a car. Infants under 1 yr and 20lbs (not either/or) should be rear facing. See the site I linked above for information why rear facing is safest in airplanes & click on "front facing too soon" for some great information on why rear facing is by far the safest in the car.

ETA: she will probably be so stimulated/entertained by the new experience of flying she won't even miss the tv anyway. Plus w/her r/fing you will be able to face her and entertain her better. In addition, she may even take a nap, and it's much easier to get a rear facing seat reclined at the appropriate angle for a 3mos old than it would be fwd facing anyway.

hth

 

[MaleficentFan]

Melee's Mom:

We did not use Disney transportation... we had rented a car since we were there for 5 days and only did one park day. I know I saw people at various bus stops and waiting for busses with bigger strollers. But I couldn't tell you whether that mode of transport is easy with a bigger stroller. Hopefully someone else can help you out!