Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

We're going to visit my dad in FL on Sunday. Flying Southwest direct flight from Islip. Cole's still in the infant carrier - can I put that in the snap and go and check it at the gate? Do I have to have a bag or box or something to pack it in? We didn't purchase a seat for him, so I'm thinking I should bring the boppy on the plane to make him more comfy on our lap. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

You can bring the stroller up to the plane & leave it at the door. They take it down to the cargo & it will be the first things taken out. So that when you get off the plane you wait by the door & they will bring it to you. ASk for a tag when you are checking in.

As for while your on the plane as long as you have a bottle, pacifier or if your breastfeeding yourself. Make sure Cole is drinking/sucking while departing & landing his ears should be fine. For the most part Cole won't even realize that he is on a plane. Maybe you might even be lucky & he will sleep the whole way.

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

We flew with Nick to FL when he was 5 months - it was no problem. We checked the infant carrier and stroller right before we boarded (no bag necessary for that)...and just held him on our laps during the flight. The boppy pillow might be a good idea....
Make sure you have a bottle and/or pacifier for him to use during take-off and landing so his ears don't pop.

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

I'm not sure of SouthWest still does this or not, but my sister used to fly them all the time with her two small children. They do not have seating assignments, but they let parents with children board first. She always got the bulk head, where there are seats facing each other. That way she had more room, and people were less likely to sit next to her b/c she had two small children. Again, I'm not sure if Southwest still works this way.

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

If you are on the bulkhead, some airlines have basinets that you can use. I'd ask at check in since I don't think you can reserve the bulkhead ahead of time on Southwest.

I'd bring gas drops or Tylenol. On our way down to Florida last week Sarah had a bad case of gas while we were descending and was crying for 45 minutes. I don't know if it was just a coincidence or flying related. She really didn't want the bottle again since it was a short flight so it was hard to get her to calm down. The other passengers were pretty good about it, only one guy was annoyed and a few people around us kept talking loudly about how hard it is for babies since they don't understand why their ears are hurting and how to relieve it. That seemed to calm the guy down.

On our way back, we fed her at the gate before we boarded and stopped when she had about 1/2 bottle left. We used that on takeoff, and then when we started descending she took another bottle. She didn't cry at all on that flight. It was probably just dumb luck, but we were pretty proud of ourselves.

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

If there is room on the flight they will let you bring in the infant carrier, and buckle it into a seat. If it is full, you will have to carry the baby in your lap.. the boppy is great to rest on, make sure you have a bottle for taking off and landing to ease the pressure in your babys ears. Try to give it right before you take off--literally-- so it lasts longer in the climb!

Your stroller they check at the plane doors, and tag it with two tags... they are ususally VERY helpful when flying with an infant/toddler, as we have been flying Southwest since my son was born.. And we now live down here... Good Luck... any questions please feel free to FM me!

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?

Thanks so much for the info. Now I have to pack! DH really desn't understand why we used to bring 1 carryon for both of us and now we have 2 big suitcases to check!

Re: Any tips on flying/travelling with a 6 month old?