Suggestions on how to get a first time mom through the airport with a 10 month old?

Question

Suggestions on how to get a first time mom through the airport with a 10 month old?
Ok, so my family has to go on an unexpected trip to seattle from Iowa it's a 6 hour flight! and I have never traveled with a baby before. My daughter is ten months old. I would like to have some suggestions on how to make this as peacefull as possible. Any suggestions on quite toys besides book's. Which I already have planned to take. and hand puppets.
Also has anyone ever used the car seat cover/carrier's that have straps on them to place it on your shoulders and the wheels to move it "easily" through the airport. should I even buy one or will it be a wast of my time and money? And what should I expect from the airlines. Are they normally pretty good with passangers and young children. I guess since that family got kicked off the flight for thier daughter crying to much a few weeks ago it has made me nervous. We will be flying alsakan airlines and no I am sorry I dont' have a choice on leaveing my daughter at home. I know some people are very against taking babys on flights. Thanks

the car seat is actuelly the one from 20 lbs up! since she just went to the bigger size. if it was the newborn seat I wouldn't have a problem carring that through the airport. I just have heard that the car seats and strollers get really nasty being in the belly of the plain. also carring one that size all the way throughwould be difficult. so just wondering about the cover slips for them.

Answer 1

Flying with an infant isn't as bad as you might think! Since your daughter isn't walking yet, she won't be upset over being stuck in a seat. (My child is MUCH harder to travel with now that she's three, than when she was one!)

Airlines understand that it's extra work to travel with children, so they should be understanding and helpful. You will get to board early; use the extra time to make sure all necessary baby items are in a carry-on (at your feet!!!) so you can get to them quickly. Bring books, favorite stuffed plush things, well-loved toys -- things that make her feel at home, and will keep her attention. When the plane's ascending or making the final approach, either feed her or give her a pacifier -- with something to suck on, she should not have ear problems from the air pressure changes. If you aren't breastfeeding, bring pre-mixed formula for her to eat. Formula and milk are exempt from the TSA's 3-1-1 guidelines, but must be declared for inspection when you go through security -- see TSA link below.

Bring snacks and entertainment for yourself, too, but be prepared to do nothing but pay attention to baby if she isn't napping or entertaining herself. If you're flying with other family members, trade who sits by/with her every now and then to give each other breaks!

If you are flying with her sitting on your lap, don't bother with an extra car seat. Carry her through the airport in a sling or Snugli or other carrier that straps to your body. If you must bring the car seat but aren't flying with her in it, then having a case around it will definitely result in less damage (and muckiness) to the car seat when it arrives. Maybe you could make do with a big duffel bag instead, depending on how often you expect to travel by air with that seat.

Above all, give yourself plenty of extra time, and stay calm and relaxed. Remember, you and your daughter have as much right to be on that plane as everybody else :-)

Answer 2

First, the family that got kicked off the plane--- it wasn't because the little girl was crying. It was because she would not sit in her seat and put her seatbelt on, and her parents could not control her. It's a FAA regulation that everyone is in their seat, she was too old to be a lap baby, and if you don't have your seatbelt on, the plane won't take off. So don't be afraid if the baby is crying--- yes, your fellow passenger want her to be quiet during the trip but you won't get kicked off.

Make sure you reserve a seat for the baby and the car-seat. If you have a stroller and car-seat that come apart, the gate agent will check the stroller part into baggage for you at the gate and give it back to you at the destination gate; you can wheel the baby through the whole time. The stroller does need to gothrough the x-ray so make sure you can break it down easily.

Answer 3

I'm assuming with a 10 month old, you are bringing a convertible seat. Which seat do you have?

What I have done - and I've traveled internationally - by myself - with my eldest son when he was 4 mo, 9 mo and 13 months - is typically to "wear" the baby in some type of carrier (snugli, baby bjorn, mei tai, whatever) and attach the carseat to the stroller in some way... for a convertible seat, i strapped the TETHER (not the harness) over the handle of the umbrella stroller and then popped my diaper bag in the stroller. Depending on your stroller, the carseat might fit inside it. The FAA says you don't have to take your little one out of cloth carrier to get through security, so it's a lot easier that way.

Often, if there is room on the plane, you will be allowed to bring your carseat on the plane and install it.

If you can, definitely nurse (or bottle feed) your daughter through take off and landing. And have a variety of her favorites and some new small toys. The link-a-doo thingys are great too... My boys are known to throw things, and it's great to be able to attach toys to the carseat or seatbelt strap, so you aren't constantly bending down to fetch. LOL

Also, be sure you have all of your own food for her, whatever you feed her. The airline won't provide anything for her, and most likely, nothing for you either.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hopefully you haven't already bought the baby carrying contraption, because yes it would be a big waste of money. The baby has to stay in your lap the whole flight so there will be no car-seat. Plus you take the stroller throughout the airport and before you get on the plane they will take it and put it under the plane for you, and when you get off you get it right back again. Toy suggestion would be go to anyplace with toys even a target and get a bunch of cheap quite toys so you can change toys as often as the baby gets uninterested. It really isn't as bad as your anticipating, people know babies cry. Good luck

Answer 5

First, how does your daughter holiday in a motor vehicle? Does she nod off in the present day, coo via a visit, or does she cry lots of how? this would provide you a sprint of what to anticipate on the airplane. No, it is not the comparable, planes are louder and function the stress matters, yet that's a beginning factor. If she does not do properly in a motor vehicle, talk along with your pediatrician some dose of Benadryl for the airplane (or have it for emergency). airways are generally very powerful with little ones and young little ones (destiny shoppers). in case you won't be in a position to or don't get the take a seat and walk, attempt a small umbrella stroller and carry the carseat. call the airline forward to ascertain in the event that they help with cart service to the gate in Iowa and from the gate in Seattle. As for toys - small vibrating/pull toys that can connect with the vehicle seat, a wrist/ankle rattle, or a 'crinkle' toy (a fabric coated toy that makes noise whilst moved). those made adequate noise to maintain my babies busy and not disturb others around me. And as others have mentioned - quite some popular snacks. sturdy success!

Answer 6

That family got kicked off for not making their two year old sit in her seat & put on her seatbelt so the plane could take off. At that point, parents have to take the upper hand & do their jobs, which they didn't. No, people don't like crying babies, but accept it as a fact of life, although not always graciously.

You might try a pair of child-sized EarPlanes earplugs on takeoff & descent to help her ears not be so effected by the change of air pressure, if she'll wear them. You could try practicing w/some cheap ones so she'll get used to them. Also bring her favorite luvvie and bottle so she can do some self comforting.