Flying with an infant?

Question

Here in about a month I am taking a 2 hour flight with my daughter who will be 13 months. I am not booking her a seat, so I can save some money. What are some tips when flying. The trip is from Houston to Denver so it isn't that long.

Answer 1

I worked for an airline for years. The best thing to do is, at check in, ask the ticket agent how the flight looks. If it looks like there may be some empty seats I recommend taking the carseat or booster seat to the gate if you can. Its safer to have your child strapped in than saving some money. You can never predict turbulance and especially flying into Denver you are going to get some rough air coming into the mountains. If you dont take the car seat, and there are extra seats, strap her in as you would in a car.

On take off and landing, have her drink. That way she can be swallowing to equilize her ears and try to wake her up on landing to do the same if she dozes off. The June Issue of Parenting Magazine has a short "what to do" for flying with kids. Between the flight and the higher altitude, she may have a problem the entire trip with her ears, so dont be suprised if she comes home with a bad ear infection.

When you check in, tell the ticket agent you are flying "Infant in Arms" and they will ask for the babies name and birthdate. If you take the stroller to the gate with you, check in at the gate so that you can have it tagged for a Gate Claim Item. Ask the gate agent if you can pre-board so that you will have time to get onboard with out 200 people behind you. Fold the stroller up at the end of the jetway before you get on the plane and leave it there for the ramp agents to get it. When you get to Denver, be patient when getting off the plane, dont worry about being the last one off. They bring stollers up late sometimes. Also, remember that if she is travelling infant in arms, the diaper bag counts as one of your carry on items and you are allowed two. So, make sure you only take with you what you need and keep your items down to 2. Put your purse inside the diaper bag if you have more than 2 including your purse.

You can check additional items for free above the two piece limit on most airlines if they are baby times such as the car seat, stroller, pack and play etc. Just check with the airline. If you have a cheap stroller, take that with you instead of the big $200 version if that is what you have. Strollers are easily broken because they are the last thing to go in the bulk bin under the plane. Im not gonna lie, but they are usually just tossed up in there and not secured. So, if you have a cheap stroller, I suggest taking that instead of the Peg Perego. If you do have one of the big nice ones, check everything before you leave the jetway. Wheels break off easily and the airline will reimburse you should you need to purchase a new one. But its a pain in the butt to get a check sometimes. Just suggestion and worst case scenario, but it does happen.

Answer 2

A cup or pacifier is great for take offs and landings, keeps their ears open. If she has enough teeth, you might also try some fruit chewy snacks. I gave my daughter the Sesame Street ones when we flew, she loved them and they kept her chewing so her ears wouldn't pop. One thing I always do is take one carry on bag with me and pack my purse in my checked suitcase. I put all my things and my daughter's things together so I only have to worry about 1 bag. It makes things soooo much easier. Pack some small books and a couple of her favorite toys and you should be good. Also, when you get to check in, ask the airline worker if the flight is full or if it still has room. If they have room ask if you can be seated where there will be an empty seat next to you. They have always done this for me when there was room available. If not ask for the bulk head seat, it will have a little more leg room and a small area in front of you for you daughter to stand up for few minutes. Lastly, if you are checking her car seat as luggage, bring a clear garbage bag to put it in or ask the airline worker for a car seat bag. If you don't, it will be FILTHY when you pick it up at baggage claim. Make sure you label the bag like your other luggage, too. Good luck!

Answer 3

Flying with a baby is easy! Don't stress.
I took my 1 and 1/2 month old on a flight from Salt Lake to Portland, and it was 2 hours. He didn't sleep the whole time, but he was very quiet and relaxed. In fact, he treated it just as though it were a car ride. I was pretty nervous about it (he didn't have his own ticket, either. I just held him the whole time). If your baby does good in a car, he'll probably do great on the plane, too.

They did tell me to give him his pacifier during takeoff and landing to help his ears. He didn't take it, but he seemed to do fine--except when we landed, he was quite fussy for a little while.

Answer 4

Try the evening flight when she is usually sleeping. I took a 14 month on his first flight and he slept through the whole trip. I got the extra seat so I could take his car seat though!

Answer 5

If your kid is energetic, I totally recommend you buy a plane ticket, remember that your baby can't be walking along the halls on the plane.

1. Give you baby tylenol before you get on the plane to avoid ear ear aches or headaches.
2. Give your baby a bottle when the plane is taking off and see if falls to sleep
3. Bring a portable dvd player with favorite movie
4. Make sure is wearing comfortable clothes easy to change diaper just in case, but try to change it before you get on the plane.
4. Give tylenol 4 hours later just in case

Good luck!

Answer 6

If she is still taking a bottle, bring it along for her to suck on during takeoff and landing. It will help with the ear popping. See if you can get a seat right behind the bathrooms. There is accomdation for a little crib to put the baby in when she is sleeping.

Answer 7

Give her tylenol a few hours before traveling, like while at the airport. Stock up with plenty of snacks, fluids and toys. If possible try having music that she can listen to through head phones. Depending on how she responds, you might have to walk around to calm her down..

Answer 8

You can take along your car seat, if the flight is not full, they will allow you to use a seat for baby, if it is full then they will just check the car seat in for you when you enter the plain.

Answer 9

I'd bring along a bottle of juice or milk and some snacks, those gerber fruit puffs (star shaped) are great, they taste great and are small and disolve in the babies mouth, my daughter is pretty entertained just eating.....the bottles will come in handy at take off and landing to keep her ears from popping.....maybe her favorite lovey...

Answer 10

Sit by window! Small pillow for rest and confort. Baby loves it. Babys favorite toy and blanky. Hold baby constantly at airport and on into plane... Baby will stay on lap better. Know to be with you and trust you. Snacks a must!