@ flying with a LO

[Deleted]

So quick back story. H's Gma has had cancer for a while, a very rare form of liver cancer to be exact. Anyway this past week they didn't get good news at all. Chemo isn't working at all and if anything would have worked the chemo they were doing on her should have stopped the growth of the tumors but it hasn't. So pretty much the Dr.s say they can only keep her comfortable anymore and it's just a matter of time. Gma and Gpa don't want to know how much longer they give her to live. especially gpa he says he thinks that gma would just give up if she knew. Not an easy situation to be in that is forsure!

Anyway, because they have never met Taylina yet and we would really like to give them both the opportunity to meet her. Before things get to much worse with Gma we decided to book flights to fly out to see them. We fly in two Fridays and I'm kinda dreading it. Taylina is super curious and doesn't nap in different places easily so napping in the airports is going to be a disaster! So we will have a crabby baby on the 2nd flight ugh. Anyone else flown with LO's? Tips?? She is about 5 1/2 months..

[Deleted]

I don't have any advice but I'm sending T&Ps your way.

[jennlin]

i flew with bjl when she was 3.5 months and 4 months. i wore her in a MT carrier throughout the airports. when we visited family, we borrowed a stroller/car seat...when we went to hawaii, we had to bring our own. i would say borrow from family/friends for stroller/car seat if you can..it helped the navigating throughout the airport.

the flight itself wasn't bad...nurse her a few minutes after take off (when pressure changes are faster)..and a few minutes after the start of landing...

also, know your breastfeeding rights in wherever you'll be. there are still some backwards states that don't let you bf in public....i think virginia?

[jennlin]

p.s. good luck, and t&p's for your family.

[amandasw]

just wanted to say good luck and funny idea from a friend who recently flew with a little kid: she brought ear plugs and treats for the people sitting around them

[jennlin]

Oct 2, 2012 9:02:22 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

just wanted to say good luck and funny idea from a friend who recently flew with a little kid: she brought ear plugs and treats for the people sitting around them

what an awesome idea!! i will do this next time.

[amandasw]

Oct 2, 2012 9:06:26 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Oct 2, 2012 9:02:22 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

just wanted to say good luck and funny idea from a friend who recently flew with a little kid: she brought ear plugs and treats for the people sitting around them

what an awesome idea!! i will do this next time.

I know right?! I will totally do this when I have a kid (although I will avoid planes at all costs when they're little, but I know it happens and you have to do it sometimes)

[jennlin]

Oct 2, 2012 10:24:11 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Oct 2, 2012 9:06:26 GMT -5 jennlin said:

what an awesome idea!! i will do this next time.

I know right?! I will totally do this when I have a kid (although I will avoid planes at all costs when they're little, but I know it happens and you have to do it sometimes)

tbh, flying was NOT BAD at all. bjl cried for at most 3 seconds combined during the 4 flights we took.

[picksthemusic]

How long is the flight? If you can afford it, spring for the extra seat so she can be in her carseat on the plane (it's the safest way for babies to travel on a plane anyway). That way she's in a familiar thing and will possibly fall asleep (if you can cover it with a blanket or something). Bring a binky and a bottle (or nurse her) for her to suck/swallow during take off and landing so her ears don't hurt, and bring some toys to keep her occupied.

We were worried about M since she was 10 months and super wiggly and busy, but she was just SO curious that she was wide-eyed and good most of the way. It was just an hour flight, though, so we didn't have to be on teh plane long.

The other thing was that we took our umbrella stroller with us and that was a lifesaver going through the airport - we just took her out to get through TSA (use the family lane!), and then put her back. We were able to gate check the stroller, so it was waiting for us when the plane landed. Super conveneint.

HTH! If I can remember anything else, I'll post it.

[InBetweenDays]

First, I'm sorry to hear about your husbands grandma. It's great that you are able to fly there so she can meet Taylina.

We've flown with the kids numerous times, and honestly the younger they are the easier they are (until they hit about 3.5, then it seems to get easier again). A few things I'd suggest:

As jennlin said, try and wear her through the airport and on the plane if she is sleeping. I used my ergo with no problems, although I have heard of cases where people have had to take their baby out of the carrier through security and/or during takeoff and landing.

If you do wear her through the airport I'd probably check the car seat and the stroller (if you're bringing one). It doesn't count against the number of bags you can take, and then you have less you have to deal with through the airport. You can buy a bag for the car seat so it isn't damaged with the luggage.

Try and nurse or give her a bottle during takeoff and landing as this can help her ears adjust. If she isn't hungry you could also try a pacifier if she takes one. But if none of those work don't sweat it - the pressure change has only recently seemed to bother DD (now 6 years old). It never did when the kids were younger.

Bring an extra change of clothes for Taylina, and an extra shirt for you. Just in case she spits up or has a blowout.

In my experience the white noise of the engines tends to lull them to sleep.

Bring some new toys. Maybe a set of those plastic keys, things that jingle but don't really make much noise. And both kids LOVED these things:


If she is upset don't worry about the other passengers. Babies cry, and often there isn't a lot you can do about it. I think *most* people realize this. Those that don't would most likely be looking for a reason to get upset anyways.

I actually don't think there are any states that say you can't breastfeed in public. Some just have better laws protecting nursing mothers. Here is a website with the state specific laws:
www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/breastfeeding-state-laws.aspx#a

[InBetweenDays]

Oh, yes, use the family lane! They don't have it at each security check point (and they don't have it at all airports) but I'm pretty sure it is the security line near the B concourse that has a family lane.

[fiddles]

No advice but keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2012 11:30:30 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

Oh, yes, use the family lane! They don't have it at each security check point (and they don't have it at all airports) but I'm pretty sure it is the security line near the B concourse that has a family lane.

We are flying through Spokane which is a smaller airport so I don't think they have a family lane there. Thanks for the info though we'll have to keep that in mind if we ever do fly out of Seattle!

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2012 11:19:59 GMT -5 picksthemusic said:

How long is the flight? If you can afford it, spring for the extra seat so she can be in her carseat on the plane (it's the safest way for babies to travel on a plane anyway). That way she's in a familiar thing and will possibly fall asleep (if you can cover it with a blanket or something). Bring a binky and a bottle (or nurse her) for her to suck/swallow during take off and landing so her ears don't hurt, and bring some toys to keep her occupied.

We were worried about M since she was 10 months and super wiggly and busy, but she was just SO curious that she was wide-eyed and good most of the way. It was just an hour flight, though, so we didn't have to be on teh plane long.

The other thing was that we took our umbrella stroller with us and that was a lifesaver going through the airport - we just took her out to get through TSA (use the family lane!), and then put her back. We were able to gate check the stroller, so it was waiting for us when the plane landed. Super conveneint.

HTH! If I can remember anything else, I'll post it.

There isn't any way we can justify an extra $600ish for a seat for her. Then she also hates her carseat for extended periods of time. So we opted to just take her as a baby in arms. As for falling asleep, not our daughter she is super duper curious and the least bit of a difference in her environment she doesn't settle but has to check everything out. I did buy a baby sling to carry her in at the airport because I figure that is easier than a stroller.

I plan to nurse her for landing and take-off, and we don't go anywhere without a selection of her favorite toys in the diaper bag.

[Deleted]

Oct 2, 2012 11:25:05 GMT -5 InBetweenDays said:

If you do wear her through the airport I'd probably check the car seat and the stroller (if you're bringing one). It doesn't count against the number of bags you can take, and then you have less you have to deal with through the airport. You can buy a bag for the car seat so it isn't damaged with the luggage.

Bring an extra change of clothes for Taylina, and an extra shirt for you. Just in case she spits up or has a blowout.

In my experience the white noise of the engines tends to lull them to sleep.

Bring some new toys. Maybe a set of those plastic keys, things that jingle but don't really make much noise. And both kids LOVED these things:


If she is upset don't worry about the other passengers. Babies cry, and often there isn't a lot you can do about it. I think *most* people realize this. Those that don't would most likely be looking for a reason to get upset anyways.

Thanks for the advice, some great tips!

[Deleted]

Thanks everyone, we really appreciate it!