Talk to me about flying with babies

[lauren9317]

We might be flying with the twins when they are 4 months old. Or, we have the choice to go on the trip in June when they'll be 6 months, but from what I'm hearing, it might be a little easier to travel with them at 4. It sucks because MH doesn't want to go-- it's a thing with my family up in MD where they basically want to have a party for us so that everyone can meet the babies, especially my 94 year old grandma. So MH is dreading it and not really on board since I'm sure the traveling will be stressful. But I really want to make it work! So what all do you need to fly with a baby? I know this is such a general question, lol.

[mrsmew]

In my experience, food. You need lots of food.

We first flew with Ellie when she was 4 months old. They recommend nursing/giving a bottle at takeoff/landing, because the sucking/swallowing helps with the pressure in their ears. In Ellie's case, on that flight, she fell asleep nursing on takeoff and slept a good portion of the way. Then my husband was able to keep her calm (and even get her back to sleep) on his lap for the rest, until I nursed her again at landing. (Unfortunately, I don't know anything about taking pumped breastmilk/formula through security, if you're going that route, but I'm sure some of the other ladies do!)

Now that she's older the trick is still food. When we flew with her at 8 months I basically shoved Puffs in her face for 3 hours straight. Good times.

I also personally find it easier to wear her in the airport than to mess with the stroller, but I'm sure that's just personal preference. Some airports won't even make you take them out of the carrier when you go through security (in my experience, TPA let me keep her in). So that's nice. Easier to be hands-free, too. Even when we do take the stroller with us to the gate, I still try to wear her and we use the stroller to push our bags. We're lazy like that.

You can check a carseat for free for sure, and I think maybe strollers are free too? Alternatively, I believe you can gate-check both for free. (We've always checked the carseat with our luggage then carry the stroller with us to the gate and valet check it there, so it's waiting when you get off the plane.) Pack-N-Plays will be counted as a piece of luggage for checking purposes, so when traveling with the baby we try to fly an airline that gives each passenger one free checked back if possible, and one of us checks the PNP and the other our suitcase.

I've heard lots of tips about "try to fly around naptime so baby will sleep" and such but personally, that never worked for us. We try to fly at times that are least disruptive to her schedule in general but haven't found any sort of magical formula that makes things easier.

That's all off the top of my head right now. If I think of anything else I'll add it in!

[mrsmew]

Also, just a vote of confidence: you can do it. It's anxiety-inducing and stressful, sure, but it's definitely do-able. If you just try to stay calm and do the best you can, the flight will be over before you know it and you will survive!

[melis74]

We have flown on seven trips with Mia, so 14 flights. The youngest at six weeks and the oldest at 16 months...we are getting ready to fly again in two weeks(totally taking advantage of the "free under two" policy). When she was young, we alternated bottle/paci during take off/landings. We were pretty lucky with her, she slept quite a bit on the flights when she was younger. I definitely say now is more of a challenge, I just take distractions...snacks, toys she hasn't seen before, the kindle fire w/videos on it, etc, etc.

I was very nervous the first time we flew and it went very smoothly. I will say we had two blowouts on the plane in the early days...not fun, but we managed to change her across H & I's laps. We have always flown SW and on all but one flight segment, we had a seat for her carseat. We gate checked the stroller and never took a PnP, either the hotel provided one or we stayed w/family who had one or let us borrow one. As for breast milk/formula in your carry on, you just take it out and put it in a bin on the security belt, they will then wave some magic doodad over it to make sure it doesn't contain explosives and you will be on your way. PLEASE remember to take it out of your diaper bag, if not they will make you empty the whole damn thing...PITA when you've got it packed like a clown car.

Let me know if you have any questions!

[aegis2005]

We flew with S at 3 months and 7 months. I tried BF on the first flight and it was a cluster. Little guy started flailing and I'm sure I flashed a few people. Bottles were a much better option. Also, I second wearing through security. A thousand times easier than folding a stroller, putting the carseat through, etc.

[lauren9317]

Very helpful, thanks! I'm sure I will think of lots more questions.

[amellis2]

Also, make sure you ALWAYS carry extra clothes with you. I know you probably do already, but the take off and landing messes with little tummies, too. The girls were 20 mths old on our way up to New York (Layover in ATL); I had an extra set of clothes for each kid. They did fine, so I didn't have an extra set on us the way back. Amelia tossed her cookies (literally cookies. The FA had been giving her animal crackers and apple juice the entire flight.) on herself and on Luis (Luckily, we had just switched kids. HA. Take that DH!)

Fortunately, a well-traveled person saw what happened and ran all the way down the concourse and bought us two xsmall "Atlanta" shirts.

Her name was Kathy and she asked me to Pay it Forward.

[mrsjason]

I can't even count the times I flown with Macy.......just know its a shitload, lol. For a few years we were flying back to Orlando once a month. I just recently flew with Macy (4) and Brit (2 months) by myself.

It is true, it's easier to fly we're their smaller, although 6 months is still easy. The hardest time for me was when Macy was 1.5-2. She was busy and wanted to move around. It was difficult to keep her occupied for the two flights to Orlando.

You can travel with breast milk and if they're formula feed you can even bring in water for bottles.

I always check the stroller and carseats, although I don't travel with those. I have a second set at my parents house. I don't think it's worth the hassle of getting the carseat/stroller through security and to break it down before getting on the plane.

If you fly Southwest the only bathroom that has a changing table is the front lavatory. But I always changed Macy/Brit right before boarding. And yes, bring change of clothes. Sometimes I wasn't able to change Macy when needed and she soaked through her diaper.

To be honest it's really not that bad traveling with babies! And if they do cry, what do you care? You'll never see those people again!

If I think of anymore tips I'll let you know! Gl!

[lauren9317]

Cool, thanks for all the help!
So you can bring your own water for formula? Bc I was thinking how we use room temp water and it would prob be impossible to buy that in the terminal so I would love to bring my own.
Another q- when you've traveled somewhere with your babies, is it hard not having their swings, bouncers, etc with you? I'm wondering if my kids will be screaming in the hotel room without one of those apparatuses to soothe them.

[amellis2]

I'm no help there. We never really used one.

[mrsmew]

As for comfort apparatuses for us...for the first, like, 4-6 months of Ellie's life she was essentially a basket case unless someone was holding her and bouncing on an exercise ball. My core was top notch after those six months because I bounced on that ball FOREVER. Every single day.

Because she was so dependent on it, no way would we travel without it. Luckily, that kind of thing is easy to deflate and pack, or we'd pick one up at our destination.

If your kiddos are heavily reliant on something like that, is looking for something for cheap on Craigslist at your destination an option? Maybe someone could pick it up for you to have just in case? Or is there anyone there you could borrow from?

[mrsjenrn]

All great ideas above! Ditto! Also allow yourself plenty of time.

We ended up picking up some second hand stuff at Once Upon A Child in CT and we sold it back to them before we left.