Traveling with an infant

[gcarney]

So, I'm a step-mother and have no biological kids of my own so I've never traveled with a child. We are looking to go to Orlando in October. Our granddaughter will be 10 months and coming with us with her parents.

Walk me through buying plane tix with an infant and how this all works, from car seat and stroller to where and how she is seated on the plane.....

First time Grandmother problems, may all your problems be so fun .

 

[supersnoop]

It all depends. Do you have anything booked yet?

Most airlines will allow you to carry a 10 month child on your lap without paying for a ticket, but the child must still be noted on the reservation. Alternatively, most airlines will allow you to purchase a ticket for an infant at half the price of your own ticket. If you buy a ticket, you can carry on your car seat to keep the child secure. Otherwise, you'll have to check the car seat and gate-check the stroller.

If you're flying SouthWest, it gets more complicated.

 

[happymommy]

Have her parents ever flown with her before?

Definitely bring the stroller that she's most comfortable riding in (we traveled a LOT with my son when he was a baby, actually with both kids too, so I had travel strollers and regular ones too. Never an "umbrella" one since they weren't good for sleeping). It can be gate checked, so at the gate the agent will give you a tag. You just fold it up and leave it as you enter the plane, and wait for it when you get off the plane.

Car seat - depends if you'll need it for a rental car or not.

Always allow extra time for things like unexpected diaper changes!

If you have any specific questions, depending on what airline you're flying, I'm sure you can call the airline for details. I think we always bought seats for our kids, with the exception of inter-island flights (we lived on Oahu when DS was born, and flew to other islands for a few trips, so 30 minute flights he just sat in our lap. For the 8 hour flight to mainland, he slept in his car seat except when he was 6 months old, I was in first class, flying alone, so he fit on the floor in his infant seat in front of me after takeoff). If it's not too much money, you can buy a seat. If so, I'd bring your own car seat.

Always bring more diapers than you think you may need! LOL. I'm sure the parents know that though!!

What a fun time you'll have - I hope to get to have grandchildren some day too!

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

It all depends. Do you have anything booked yet?

Most airlines will allow you to carry a 10 month child on your lap without paying for a ticket, but the child must still be noted on the reservation. Alternatively, most airlines will allow you to purchase a ticket for an infant at half the price of your own ticket. If you buy a ticket, you can carry on your car seat to keep the child secure. Otherwise, you'll have to check the car seat and gate-check the stroller.

If you're flying SouthWest, it gets more complicated.

Your post is incorrect.

All airlines allow a child under two years old to fly as a lap baby for free on domestic flights.

Airlines do not sell half priced tickets for infant seats.

Flying Southwest with an infant is no more complicated than flying on any other airline.

OP, you have the choice to fly with your granddaughter as a lap baby or you can buy her a seat and she can ride in her car seat.

Check your airline's web site for more information on flying with children, as well as the TSA website.

 

[JediBonas]

Your post is incorrect.

All airlines allow a child under two years old to fly as a lap baby for free on domestic flights.

Airlines do not sell half priced tickets for infant seats.

Flying Southwest with an infant is no more complicated than flying on any other airline.

OP, you have the choice to fly with your granddaughter as a lap baby or you can buy her a seat and she can ride in her car seat.

Check your airline's web site for more information on flying with children, as well as the TSA website.

Some airlines do offer reduced priced seats for infants, Southwest included, except it's off the regular fare price.

It is soooo much safer having her in her own seat, in a car seat. I agree with OP, take the stroller she's use to, same with car seat. Pack lots of snacks for the plane and don't forget a bottle and pacifier for take off and landing.

 

[GusGus77]

I highly recommend buying the child their own seat and having them remain in their car seat for the flight. Yes, it is more money, but it is also considerabley safer than holding a child in your lap (ever wonder why you aren't allowed to hold things in your lap during take off/landing/extreme turbulance?) Plus it will be a much more pleasant experience for you. Several hours in a small confined space with a wiggly squirmy baby with no where to go will get old very fast. Also, a 10 month old most likely will not have their soft spot closed yet on their head, so the air pressure change will not bother them like it does children and adults. This spot tends to close at about a year old. Most people don't realize this.

Also perhaps an unpopular notion due to media trends, but I brought a portable DVD player on the plane (and kept the volume so low I could hardly hear it sitting next to my child so I knew it wouldn't be bothering other passengers) and my child would watch Baby Einstein videos on the flight. Nothing worse than a bored baby on a flight and those really kept her attention. (Of course, that tatic would have never worked with my son but worked miracles with my first!)

The most important- relax and enjoy your time with your grandbaby!!!

Edited to add- if you do plan to buy baby a plane seat, most likely you will need to call the airlines to do this as this option is not always available online. It assumes online that every child under 2 is a lap child.

 

[Lolsmum]

If possible, buy a seat for the infant and bring the usual car seat. Most airlines require that the car seat be in a window seat and not in an exit row. Otherwise pretty much anywhere.

I second the advice of extra time and plenty of snacks. I would also suggest more diapers than anyone thinks she would need, especially if you have a layover, in the carry on bag. Spare clothes for her and possibly for whoever will be sitting with her can be good too. I didn't expect my son to get airsick and believe me I was grateful for spare clothes for both of us when he did. I usually brought a thin blanket at that age too, since the plane can be cold and a familiar one usually works better.

A bottle on take off and landing can help with ears. My daughter absolutely refused bottles, so I ended up nursing her for both but we flew UK airlines which provide a seat belt that loops through the adult loop for a lap child. Both of my kids were bothered by the pressure change from well before 1.

My general advice for entertainment for kids is:
a new snack
a beloved snack (Cheerios or similar act as both entertainment and snack)
1-2 familiar books that do not drive the parents crazy to read over and over
1 new book
crayons if the child is into colouring yet (the triangular ones don't roll off the tray table so easily)
paper and/or colouring book
a toy car (it can "drive" all over the place, both on the plane and in the airport)
any special lovey (at that age some kids have them and some don't)

I increase it for longer flights. We've been flying to the US (East coast, west coast and Midwest thanks to family spread all over) from the UK a couple of times a year since our kids were babies. Don't be afraid of slightly noisy toys, like talking dolls or whatever. The plane is actually really noisy and almost anyone would rather listen to a toy than an upset child.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Some airlines do offer reduced priced seats for infants, Southwest included, except it's off the regular fare price. .......

Yes, but they are not 50% off adult fares. That was what my post was referring to. Even the reduced fares aren't usually cheaper than regular discount fares.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Also perhaps an unpopular notion due to media trends, but I brought a portable DVD player on the plane (and kept the volume so low I could hardly hear it sitting next to my child so I knew it wouldn't be bothering other passengers) and my child would watch Baby Einstein videos on the flight. Nothing worse than a bored baby on a flight and those really kept her attention. (Of course, that tatic would have never worked with my son but worked miracles with my first!)
............

Edited to add- if you do plan to buy baby a plane seat, most likely you will need to call the airlines to do this as this option is not always available online. It assumes online that every child under 2 is a lap child.

Oh my! This is bad advice (about the dvd player). I once sat in front of a family playing Baby Einstein videos with the volume on during a flight and I thought I was going to go insane! If your child can't use headphones, you must leave the volume off.

You do not need to call an airline to buy an infant a seat; this may be done online. You do usually have to call to add a lap infant to your reservation.

 

[Alesia]

Oh my! This is bad advice (about the dvd player). I once sat in front of a family playing Baby Einstein videos with the volume on during a flight and I thought I was going to go insane! If your child can't use headphones, you must leave the volume off.

Yes, please. You may not be able to hear it, but the people around you can.

 

[Lolsmum]

Even if others can hear the DVD, it beats a screaming child hands down. Keep it in reserve but if needed, pull it out.

 

[gdrj]

1- for safety have buy seat for child and obviously use car seat
2- I'm amazed at how people need a device to keep their child occupied even at months old. (a discussion for a parenting board)
3- Due to ear popping binky or bottle during takeoff and climbing and descending will help child with discomfort.

the child will be fine its the parents and grandparents that usually need help... a little glass of wine will calm the nerves

On a side note, Some of our best memories are when we brought our kids to Disney World when they were young. I think it is a lot easier when they are in strollers and nap in stroller and just enjoy every new thing.

Enjoy and have a great time

 

[sam_gordon]

If you're using an already purchased car seat for the plane, make sure there is a sticker (or is it stamped?) on the seat saying it can be used for airplanes. No one may check for it, but if they do, you better have it.

 

[KaLyn]

If you're using an already purchased car seat for the plane, make sure there is a sticker (or is it stamped?) on the seat saying it can be used for airplanes. No one may check for it, but if they do, you better have it.

Yes, this is important! I've made 5 flights with care seats and I've been asked to hand it over to be inspected by the flight attendants every time, both to and from my destination.

 

[Lolsmum]

1- for safety have buy seat for child and obviously use car seat 2- I'm amazed at how people need a device to keep their child occupied even at months old. (a discussion for a parenting board) 3- Due to ear popping binky or bottle during takeoff and climbing and descending will help child with discomfort. the child will be fine its the parents and grandparents that usually need help... a little glass of wine will calm the nerves On a side note, Some of our best memories are when we brought our kids to Disney World when they were young. I think it is a lot easier when they are in strollers and nap in stroller and just enjoy every new thing. Enjoy and have a great time

At that age kids will vary a lot in their entertainment needs. My son was walking (running mostly) at that age and getting him to sit still for long was hard work. His primary entertainment at home was pushing cars around the floor and running after balls. Neither is doable on a flight, so we had to find other options. If we had had an ipad back then and he had been interested in almost any show, we probably would have tried it.