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Flying with 10 month old ?
I am sure these questions have probably been asked, but I was looking for some advice...
We are going to visit my grandma and flying from Denver to Florida next month (3.5-4 hour flight). We can get a non-stop flight - which I assume will be easier than having to change planes. But I have some questions about the logistics.
Should I wear T or bring her travel system to get her through the airport?
We have a BOB, but I assume it would be easier to bring the chicco travel system stroller, so we can easily attach the car seat - right?
If she rides in my lap, can I still bring her travel system to the gate and check it there?
Other than lots of snacks and toys for the flight, any other tips?
She is on a 3-4 hour nap schedule and exclusively nursing. She will take water out of a cup, but won't take a cup or bottle of milk. Hopefully I can nurse her during take off and landing, and get her to nap at some point during the flight. I am flying with my sister and mom (but not DH) and they will definitely help me, but I am a little nervous about confining T to such a small area for that long. She is becoming very independent and enjoying her own space at the moment.
I want to have our car seat with us, so I don't have to worry about renting one from a car rental agency. If I can check the whole travel system at the gate, I don't have to worry about it, but if I can't check it at the gate - what should I put it and the stroller in to check them at the ticket counter?
I don't think I will bring her pack n play - I don't want to pay to check it. However, that probably means I will have to sleep on the floor with her and have her nap on the floor as well. Any suggestions for sleeping arrangements if I don't want to bring her pack n play?
I feel like the logistics of planning will probably be more difficult than the actual trip. I know people travel with babies all the time, but we are used to our routine at home.
TIA for your advice!!
ETA: Title
Re: Flying with 10 month old ?
I flew with Mags at 11 weeks, 5 months, 12 months and beyond haha. Here is my input.
Should I wear T or bring her travel system to get her through the airport? I brought her carriage in the airport. You can check it right at the gate with no problems.
We have a BOB, but I assume it would be easier to bring the chicco travel system stroller, so we can easily attach the car seat - right? By that time Mags was in a big girl seat so we never attached the car seat. If she can be in the stroller without the car seat, I say check the car seat (most let you do it for free)
If she rides in my lap, can I still bring her travel system to the gate and check it there? Yes
Other than lots of snacks and toys for the flight, any other tips? I tried to make sure Maggie was tired for the flight. I woke her up early or skipped a nap. It was easier to get her to nap that way. Bring her favorite blankie or snuggly. It definitely helped Mags.
I want to have our car seat with us, so I don't have to worry about renting one from a car rental agency. If I can check the whole travel system at the gate, I don't have to worry about it, but if I can't check it at the gate - what should I put it and the stroller in to check them at the ticket counter? Check the car seat, it's free as long as T can be in her stroller without it.
I don't think I will bring her pack n play - I don't want to pay to check it. However,that probably means I will have to sleep on the floor with her and have her nap on the floor as well. Any suggestions for sleeping arrangements if I don't want to bring her pack n play? Everytime we went to Disney there was a pack and play there so we always used that. Sorry no advice on this one.
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Thanks Krissy - I didn't think about checking the car seat and just bringing the stroller to the gate. I figured it would be easier to keep them together. T would prefer to be in her stroller without her car seat, so that would work well. What do you put the car seat in to check it?
We just flew with Mackenzie to visit my parents. It was only an hour and a half flight, but hopefully I can be of some help.
I wore her when we went to Palm Springs and she was 5 months. It was kind of a pain because I had to take her out for security, etc. But you also have to take them out of the stroller so I think it's 100% your preference. However, if you are planning on bringing your stroller, I would suggest just having her in the stroller in the airport and gate checking it.
Is she still in the infant carseat? If so, I would bring your travel system because that will probably just be easier. M is in a convertible seat so we checked her carseat with our luggage and checked her stroller (bumbleride indie) at the gate.
M rode on our lap, but we brought the stroller right up to the airplane. I've seen other people bring their whole travel systems right up, so you should be fine there. I have heard that if the plane isn't full they will let you take your carseat on for the child, but we've never experienced that.
Definitely bring lots of snacks and a couple toys. M entertained herself for about 1/2 hour flapping around a wipe, and then the safety pamphlet from the plane
You should have no problem nursing her on the plane, however they always told us we had to hold her in the "burping position" during take off and landing, so I wasn't able to nurse her for that. She didn't have any ear problems at all though. For Palm Springs I gave her a soother, so if she takes a soother still you could try that.
My parents bought a cheap like $40 pack n play for when we were out there. Maybe you can find something like that or ask your Grandma to scour Craigs list out there to get a cheap one.
Good luck!
My personal opinion on the flight is that I don't like anything over 2-2.5 hours. Which means that we always have a layover where ever we go. That is just too long for Parker to sit in my lap. We have taken Parker on 4 trips so far (one more "free" one in August) and the direct flight from KC to Ft. Lauderdale (3.5 hours) was pure hell. There were 4 adults to 1 child and it still sucked.
I would do whatever you and T are more comfortable with. If you think she would be more confortable being strapped to you then wear her. If not, bring the travel system.
I would HIGHLY recommend not checking her car seat. You wouldn't want to get to Florida only to find out they lost it. Then you would be stuck at the airport and hoping that a car rental place has one. We bought a JL Childress bag and we always gate check it. I believe most airlines will let you gate check or check 2 baby items so you could take the stroller and car seat and be fine.
As far as the pack-n-play goes I would look into baby equipment rental places in FL. We were just in Maine and rented a crib for my nephew and a pack-n-play for Parker. It was so easy. She delivered and had everything set up before we even got there and then she came and picked everything up right as we were walking out the door. It was fairly inexpensive too.
I was thinking of you when I wrote this. T is still in her infant car seat, which is why I am thinking the travel system is easier than two separate pieces. It's good to know I can bring it with me to the gate (with or without the car seat).
PS - I am so glad to hear M is doing well. She looks so happy and doesn't seem to be phased by this at all. Hang in there Mama!! Can you believe they are almost 1?!?
Thanks. My biggest worry is the airline losing any of her stuff. We only have one car seat, so we would have major problems if it didn't make it to Florida or back with us. If I can bring both to the gate, I would definitely prefer it. I appreciate the tips and will look into renting a pnp in FL.
I flew with KR at 11 months and 12 months.
I had a small foldable stroller, it would have been a pain in the butt to have something bigger.
I bought a cheap car seat (for my mom) and took that-there was no way I was going to take my Britax-I checked it with no problems)
Try to wear her out before going on the plane, that's going to be your best bet.
If you can, try to see if you can move to a three row seat with an empty in the middle-that way she could have her own seat to kind of have her own space that way. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt.
I know! Almost a year. This year has flown by!
If you are ok with carrying it to the gate you can gate check the entire travel stroller system. Ask the gate agent if there is an open seat that way you can actually have her car seat on the plane with her in it. (air travel is extremely safe but they are still safest in their car seat)
Doctors tell all mothers to nurse their babies during take off and landing to help with their ears. Flight attendants then have to turn around and tell those same mothers that it's not safe for you to hold the baby down there (yet if you look at the actual Saftey Briefing Card it shows you holding the baby on your lap, face down with their head facing towards the aisel if there is an emergency landing). Like someone said above, little ones are safest being held in the burping position. At 10 months I don't know if thats still acurate, they might be better sitting on your lap with you holding on to them. Either way, just letting you know what the FAA requires. They also won't let you wear her during take off and landing or taxi.
That's my extent of knowledge. My hubby and I flew to Taiwan almsot 2 years ago to help our friend and her one month old move back to the States...that was quite the adventure. I should look for the photos we took of ALLLLL of the luggage we were "lugging" around. I still don't know how we did it. But he was only a month old. Mom and Dad were so tired that when I held him for takeoff from San Fran to Denver they fell alsleep and I had him the whole flight (as well as 2 hours in the Hong Kong Airport) but other than her needing to feed him, his diaper needing changed or him sleeping there wasn't much more to it lol
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