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tips for traveling with a baby?
We are going to a family reunion in the Dominican Republic, DS will be 6 months old. Total travel time is 14 hours, (2 4ish hour flights and a 3 hour layover). We have a carrier, not a bjorn but a cheap one like it to use. I'm debating whether or not to buy one of those cheap ($20) strollers to bring. Does anyone know if that is considered ok as a carry on? I don't think I will bring anything else (no car seat, pack-n-play, etc.) We will be in an all-inclusive resort so I will be also planning on bringing diapers and food since I don't want to worry about trying to find a store. So, not sure if we would actually need the stroller once we are there.
Anyone have opinions/other suggestions, I'm getting a little worried about trying to think about how to make it easiest on all of us... and anyone else in the plane!
Re: tips for traveling with a baby?
Are you going to be doing any car travel while there? If so, I'd think you'd want to bring a carseat just for safety. Also, are you lap-carrying baby or did you get an additional seat? Either way, you can gate-check just about anything baby-related: a gigantic stroller, carseat, pack-n-play, etc.
So a stroller would just be for your own convenience when you don't want to use the carrier, and if that's the case then yes, you can gate-check it.
We took DS to Italy at that age. We bought him a seat on the plane and we also had a rental car, so it was essential to take his baby carrier. We didn't bring the base because you can use the seat belts to attach the carrier to the airplane and rental car seats. If your little one will be a lap baby on the plane, and you won't have a rental car, you might not need the baby carrier.
Like PPs said, you should take a stroller, so you can relax on your layover and during your vacation without having to hold your son the entire time. At 6 months, our DS didn't sit up quite well enough for an umbrella stroller, which is another reason we took his baby carrier. We took a Graco Metrolite stroller and gate-checked it everywhere. Luckily, they gave it back to us on our layovers.
Other things to bring, aside from baby clothes: bottles (unless you EBF), small toys, baby spoon, burp cloths, a couple of bibs, etc...We used a pacifier and/or a bottle during takeoff and landing to help with his ears.
Six months is a great age to travel with a baby! I bet you'll have a wonderful time. I can't imagine a reprise of our Italy trip now that DS is super mobile and curious, though we are starting to get the travel bug again.
We took Molly to Canada at 6 months (3 hour flight only) and to Europe when she was 8 months old. She did well on each flight. The 3 hour was no big deal. The 10 hour overnight flight was worse, we didn't sleep and she needed to sleep but was too engaged in everything. Bring lots of toys and snacks and things to keep her occupied. The layovers will help with keeping things interesting. I had a baby bjorn and walked the isles with her, and she liked smiling at everyone.
We had a cheap umbrella stroller and you gate check it but that was fine for us. You'll want the stroller at the all inclusive when you walk to restaurants etc. We bought diapers and formula in both Canada and Europe, but I had no worries about same brand etc. With domican republic you may want to make sure you bring enough formula with you. As for diapers, you can always buy wipes and diapers at the store or they may have a shuttle that can take you there. Molly had just started some solids at 6 months but we just brought baby food with us. The airline will also probably have a meal for the baby since it's a longer flight, and you can bring the extras with you,
I was worried about how it was all going to go, but it ended up no big deal. The hotel will have a pack n play or even a crib, so don't bring any of that. Molly ended up sleeping in our bed both trips (but we co slept until 16 months anyways). She slept well and both trips she enjoyed the new sights and sounds.
How long is the ride from the airport to the hotel? You may want a car seat for that. We bought a "cheap" but top rated car seat from Walmart that was $40 and gate checked it. We only used to and from the hotel but it was nice to have and felt better to have them save and sound in a car seat.