Traveling with an Infant

Please tell me how have you done this? Have you traveled with your infant on your lap or buy an extra seat and use approved seat?
Suggestions on things to take while traveling?
DH and I are planning to go to FL for a few days after we consult with baby's pediatrician we will know for sure....and I always tend to overpack and now with the baby..... It's like you need so many different things....hence I'm asking.....I probably end up overpacking anyway...
Please share your experiences....
TIA !

Message edited 1/10/2007 3:04:12 PM.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

if i was going to florida i would just hold the baby on my lap. if i go somewhere further away i will buy a seat. chances are you will end up holding the baby for much of the flight anyway.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

I've traveled a bunch of times with the baby on my lap. My one piece of advice is NOT TO PREBOARD! Plan on checking all your luggage expect what you need for the plane and wait until the last possible minute to board. Let your baby stretch out and play in the waiting area. The first time I travled I preboarded and by the time everyone boarded and the plane took off, Jack was screaming. The next time we waited until final boarding call and he played in the waiting area and everyone had a much more peaceful flight!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

I went to Cali with Jordana when she was 5 months old. We did not buy her seat, but got lucky. We brought the car seat just in case. The way there we were the only two in the aisle. On teh way back, someone was in our row, but a few rows back there was an avilable aisle seat (he was sitting in the aisle) and I asked him to move, and he did. A tip someone suggested to me after the trip is to book teh aisle and window seat for you and DH. Not many people elect for a middle seat, so you have a better chance of getting the row all to yourself.

It was SO easy. We took at 7:30 am flight, so we left teh house at 5 am. I nursed her on the way up and down, and she slept pretty much the whole time. We took the red eye back, and it was the same. I kept her awake until we boarded the plane, and she slept most of the way. I brought some toys. She wasn't eating solids yet, so I didn't need to worry about food. It was very easy.

ETA: We did not preboard based on the advice of the ladies on this board. It worked out fine.

Message edited 1/10/2007 3:14:34 PM.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

We've gone to NY with Nate a few times and never purchased a seat for him. I've always preboarded and never had any issues. I also fly Southwest most of the time and since there are no assigned seats, i want to make sure we get a seat together. I think when you pre-board you have more time to get to your seat and get settled. Most of the time people are so impatient when boarding and tend to rush people to get seated. We always plan flights around his nap time. Most times he's a sleep before we even take off.

We check everything all luggage in (including the carseat). All we have is a backpack and his stroller. I make sure we pack a change of clothes, snacks, drinks, diapers/wipes, toys (quiet ones) and extra pacifiers.

I usually just pack enough diapers for a full day and buy a small pack when we get there. I used to do the same with formula. We always have access to a washer/dryer, so I try to only bring one complete outfit plus an extra shirt.

Message edited 1/10/2007 3:37:22 PM.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

Thanks for the tips. Never thought about preboarding.....
Keep them coming please !
And Thanks !!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

I traveled to NY when DS was just a month old.
I didn't buy a seat for him and both ways we ended up with an empty seat next to us so we were able to bring his seat on board.
We did preboard and had no problems. DS slept most of the time.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

-We flew JetBlue to the Bahamas & the little tv's in front of the seats were great! Kept Alex occupied.
-We DID buy her a seat b/c she hates to sit on our laps for more than a few minutes, she sat in her carseat the whole time & only took her out once for a quick diaper change. We were going to take the chance & hope for an empty seat but the plane was full both ways.
-We didn't preboard.
-We overpacked a little-too many clothes for her! Don't make the same mistake!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

Posted by AndreaLMT

-We overpacked a little-too many clothes for her! Don't make the same mistake!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

We just returned from Florida with our 5 month old DD. We planned to hold her on our laps so we only purchased two seats. When we checked in on-line, we reserved two seats that were NOT next to each other (left the middle seat open). On both flights, no one was in that seat, so we got all three for the price of two. We checked our snap&go stroller at the gate & they let us bring the infant seat on the plane so we strapped it into the extra seat. She barely sat in it, but it was nice to have (I wouldn't have paid for that seat though). It worked out great!

The descent was tough for her on the way home. She screamed until we landed. I attempted to feed her & give her a pacifier but she was too upset to take either. I used saline nose drops before we got on the plane, and changed her diaper before as well.

I brought a receiving blanket to place over our laps & the arm rests in case she spit up on us. Also brought an extra set of clothes for her & extra shirts for us, just in case.

I was sure to bring extra formula i& diapers n my carry-on just in case our flight was delayed.

**Be sure to pack any liquids (I brought baby Tylenol, saline drops, gas drops) in quart size ziploc bags. At Newark they never checked but at Palm Beach Int'l Airport, they did.

The weather can vary in Florida so I brought clothes for her for every condition- summer stuff, long sleeve stuff & sweats. We used it all.

We had a great trip & we're so glad we went. Enjoy!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

When they are young its not that bad. We flew to Vancouver when he was four months old and London when he was 6 months old. We did not buy a seat for him to Vancouver because the plane had a lot of empty seats when we called. We brought the carseat and he did have a seat. When we flew to London, they have infant seats that fold down. If your okay with taking your chances, you can not get him a seat. IF the tickets are not that expensive and you want him to have a seat, I would recommend buying a seat.

Each flight was fine - he did not sleep a lot, but he was happy playing or being held. Their ears are very sensitive so they have to be sucking during take-off and landing. I nursed him both times, and we had bottles just in case. We also brought his favorite toys for him too.

Bring enough diapers and formula (if you use it) on the plane that would last you if you were delayed like 8 hours -- thats what everybody told me because you never know! The rest you can buy in Florida.

Its a short flight, you'll be fine. Good luck!!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

We flew to Florida and had her on our lap.
Bring pacifiers if baby uses them, a blanket, and snacks.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

Probably not a popular opinion:

I used to travel with DS on my lap (chalk it up to ignorance), although there was almost always an empty seat next to me. I would never do that now though . Turbulence on an airplane can be pretty bad and if your baby flies out of your arms, well, we all know what could happen. Accidents during take off and landing are more apt to happen than an actual crash.

Would you ride in a car with your baby on your lap? (even if it were legal?) Nope.

Most airlines offer tickets at half price for infants. I would rather be safe than sorry.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

When I flew to the states in September when Noah was 7 months old, they do not give out waist belts for babies anymore. They feel it is safer for the baby to be held.

I am going to Florida in Feb (a 9+ hour flight) and I am now debating whether or not to spend the $500 for an extra seat (probably not!!!) We will probably just hold him on our laps and let him run around and bother everyone!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

I was going to post the same question today!

I'm taking DS to Florida in February when he's almost 5 months and he's going to sit on my lap. I'm not sure what I'm bringing though.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

Just an FYI if you plan on flying Southwest- if you wait til the last minute to board, you will not have seats together. PLEASE preboard if you are flying Southwest. I've let parents run their child up and down the jetway to "get the crazies out". This way, you can claim your seats, but still allow your chuild to run.

Also, I know that it's so much cheaper to fly with your child on your lap, but ladies..... it's not safe. I blame the airlines and the FAA for giving the flying public a false sense of security that babies are safe on their parent's laps.

At Southwest, if the flight isn't full, we allow parents with lap babies to preboard with their carrier. BUT you can't be guaranteed that all flights will have empty seats.

I've been flying for 14 years and I cannot tell you how many babies are injured due to turbulance, aborted take-offs, and hard landings. There are no approved devices that a parent can use during take-off and landing to keep a child secured to their body. We would never allow someone to hold a baby on their lap in a car moving 50 miles an hour, why do we allow it on an airplane moving at well over that?

The FAA has also mandated that all babies be removed from soft carriers (Baby Bjorn, Snugli) during take-off and landings.

I shake my head at the FAA's logic- We are required to put our carry-on luggage in a secure place under the seat or in the overhead bin, but our precious babies are perfectly secure on our laps?

Sorry for the long post- this is a topic very near and dear to my heart.

Re: Traveling with an Infant

More great advice...Thank You !
I also thought about the ears being sensitive. Great advice about feeding them around that time.
And I know about Southwest and the arrangements of seats but I'm flying another airline. It does make sense about getting that seat for the baby as well.....all valid points.
Thanks so much everyone !!!

Re: Traveling with an Infant

Re: Traveling with an Infant