Flying alone with an infant

So me and ds may go away in Sept to meet up with my parents in FL. Unfortunately dh can't come with us so I'd have to fly alone with ds one way. I'm a little hesitant to bc I don't know how he'll react on the plane. He'll be 5 1/2 months old at the time.

Anyone have any flying stories that were a complete disaster with dc?

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I have never done this - but I was talking to someone the other day about it and try your best to book the flight during your DS nap time.

It was a life saver for my friend that just traveled alone with her 15 month old

Re: Flying alone with an infant

You'll be fine!! Just be prepared!!!

I flew with DH & DD when she was 5 months old. We did not book a seat for her, but we took the infant carrier to the gate with us & there were empty seats so we were able to take three seats together & put the infant carrier on one of them. That made it much easier. I didn't have to hold her the whole time.

Some recommendations based on my experience:

I would recommend a backpack, rather than a regular diaper bag because it can get difficult holding everything as you're moving around the airport.

You can bring the stroller to the gate, then they'll check it for you (helps so much).

If you FF, find out the formula policy before leaving for the airport. We've had some horror stories on here lately about that.

Feed (BF or FF) & give pacifier at takeoff & landing- helps with the ears.

Try to book a convenient flight time for the baby.

Florida is a quick flight, before you know it, you'll be there & enjoying the sun!

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I'm so nervous he's gonna scream the entire time...he doesn't usually cry but with my luck who knows lol

I guess there is only one way to find out! Thanks!!

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I flew alone from the UK to NY with a 4 month old and it was easy peasy lemon squeezy!!!

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I flew with DD by myself when she was 4.5 months.

Gate-check the stroller and if you can, the carseat. Bring the carseat on the plane with you if there is an empty seat. Unfortunately, my flights were jam-packed. I held DD on my lap.

If you have a Baby Bjorn, I'd put it in your carry on. It would be helpful if you want to walk the aisle or just to hold DC while you get a bottle ready or to use two hands to play with DC. And it's nice to have just in case they have a massive delay and everyone needs to deboard and you can't get your stroller out from under the plane.

Have everything organized and at hand in your diaper bag. Keep a diaper and some wipes in a plastic ziploc bag so if you need to change DC, you can just carry the ziploc to the bathroom. (I didn't know it at first but the plane did have a fold-down changing station in the bathroom, not sure if all planes do so I'd ask an attendant before getting up.)

I liked aisle seats because it gave me a little more room to hold her (when there weren't any people walking by) and it was easy access to the aisle in case I needed to get up. Also, she liked watching the people around us.

Ask for a pillow or blanket to support your arms while holding DC.

If you are FF, bring more food than you expect DC will eat. My DD ate more in-flight. At 4.5 months, I BF'd her for twice as long, 2x on our 3hr flight. On our last flight at 6 months, I FF her and she ate 2 full meals on a 3hr flight.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

Posted by krwm

I'm so nervous he's gonna scream the entire time...he doesn't usually cry but with my luck who knows lol

I guess there is only one way to find out! Thanks!!

Message edited 7/10/2007 12:23:47 PM.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I'm big on safety, so we always buy a seat, and use the car seat on the plane. Too many stories about babies being injured during turbulence, landings, etc. While we technically were 2 adults and 2 DC, on Southwest, the seats are 3 together, so I had DS by myself, and DW had DD by herself on the plane. With a carseat, the seat has to be against the window (so adults can get out of the aisle in an emergency).

A "reasonable" amount of formula is allowed on the plane by the TSA. You may want to print out that info from TSA info on formula on a plane , just in case the employees don't know.

Bottles and pacifiers are pretty good at dealing with the air pressure changes.

Get to the airport early, so you have time to go through security, and get settled on the plane.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I flew alone 2 weeks ago with DD who was just shy of 10 months. I planned my flights around her naptime...but my flight was delayed 3 hours on takeoff, so her schedule was out the window. She did surprisinly well under the circumstances. She was a little fussy once we got on the plane from being over tired, but she fell asleep and slept the whole plane ride. The passengers who sat next to me were sooo nice and helpful. On our return trip...our flight was also delayed, but only by about an hour. DD slept about 1/2 way on that one and I kept her busy with some toys, but the flight attendants and other passengers were having fun with her too, so she was an angel.

I flew with her on my lap. I was very nervous about bringing the stroller and formula, etc, but it was pretty easy getting through security.

Good luck, have fun!

ETA: DD does not take a pacifier. She slept through both takeoffs and on the 1 landing she was awake, her ears didn't bother her, she seemed not to notice anything.

Message edited 7/10/2007 1:02:23 PM.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I flew alone a couple of weeks ago with DD and DS. Surprisingly everything went smoothly. I purchased a seat for her and she fell asleep the entire flight both ways. Don't bring carry on's, only a diaper bag, gate check the stroller and you should be fine.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

great suggestions! hopefully it goes smoothly!!!

Re: Flying alone with an infant

DH and DD flew alone to meet me out in LA last month. He said she was an angel. But he said the best thing we did was buy her, her own seat. This way he could put her in the carseat, she slept, she played, she ate.... it was a lifesaver according to him.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I had an easy time flying with Jack by myself at that age. Everyone elses suggestions were great. The best thing I did was invest in a good carrier. And you no longer have to take the baby out of the carrier to go through secutiry. This is a huge bonus. If you have baby in a stroller, you will have to take her out, fold up the stoller, put it on the belt, etc. Sometimes there are nice people around to help you, but not all the time. I would put your DC in the carrier and you will be set for check in.

Also, don't get stressed is your child does cry on the flight. It happens. People need to just be understanding about it. When Jack was older we had a rough flight to florida where he cried for about and hour. And there was nothing I could do about it. People got annoyed and shot me looks, but I just ignored them.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

Re: Flying alone with an infant

Message edited 7/10/2007 4:14:40 PM.

Re: Flying alone with an infant

Re: Flying alone with an infant

I think you're going to be fine! What airline are you flying? If you can do Southwest where people choose their seat, they are less likely to sit near you with an infant and you can have the entire row! Oh and pack lots of ziploc bags - you can get ice once you go through security, you'll need it for bottles and formula bottles. HTH!

Are you renting the Astro Van when you get down there?

Re: Flying alone with an infant