Traveling with Bebe

Mastering the Art of Flying with a Little Person

So, most of you have seen the frequent flier miles that Makena has been racking up before her first birthday. There are many. I really do wish we could start counting them. I have had several friends ask about tips and advice on traveling with little ones since we have done 4 flights and will do a 5th, before Makena is 1. We have had direct, short flights from Seattle to Salt Lake City and Disneyland. There were two layover trips from Portland to Kauai via Maui and Oahu, and Columbus via Denver. I prefer early morning flights, thought a lot of people like the red eyes so kids can just sleep. I find that just makes everyone grumpy, so I choose to fly when I have the energy and am awake enough to deal with it. I have flown with Makena myself twice (Disney and to Ohio). With my Mom to SLC and with the Hubby on the way back from Ohio. Kauai included my parents and the hubby, which was the worst of all the flights because she had an ear infection and we lost the Ergo on the flight over. I have to say that they have all gone pretty well, minus the one where she got an ear infection (and so far only one) on our longest flight. Even with it, she was still pretty good. 

To make things easy, I'll start the tips in order with how a trip normally goes from booking to landing. 

First off, I do want to tell you about this blog. This is where I got a lot of my tips, however it will take you days to read through it. Mine will be a condensed version, with a few extras. The writer was a Flight Attendant who flew consistently with her 3 children. It covers a wider age and more details, but like I said, it's dense.

Packing the Diaper Bag

This is the piece that you need to make sure you do it right and don't forget anything. Most airports don't have a lot of baby friendly items, or if they do it's one item with no choices. I haven't ever seen diapers at an airport (but I haven't looked to hard either). This is also the only bag I carry. I don't carry a purse, if I want one on my trip, I pack it in my luggage. For kids still in diaper, you will want to pack enough for each hour of travel. For example, flying to Ohio to see family requires a lay over and 6 hours of flight time, making our total travel time around 8-9 hours. I normally pack 10 diapers for that trip. I have had a trip where I had one diaper by the time we got to my in-laws house. Kids do a lot of sitting so you want to make sure they have a fresh diaper often to avoid rashes. For cloth diapers, I use disposable inserts by Charlie Banana. I do the same rule as disposable diapers in how many inserts I bring. I also make sure I have at least 1 extra cloth diaper in case there is a leak or disaster. Here is what I normally pack:

• Diaper (1 per hour of travel)
• 2 extra Oneies and pair of pants
• package of wipes
• Bottles and container of formula
• Blanket (one thick enough to lay on and warm enough for the plane)
• Lovey or security item
• Change of clothes for Mom ( I have used the change of shirt and could have used pants a different trip too)
• Snacks for kid (Important! You will need these because time change and the stress of flying can make you forget the time and miss meals)
• Kid water bottle (seals better than sippy cups with the pressure change)
• Toys/Entertainment
• Hand Sanitizer
• Disposable Change pads (look like giant paper towels)   
• Tylenol (You will need this the one time you don't pack it)
• Disposable diaper bags (Exactly like dog poo bags, small plastic bags that come on a roll)
• Burp Cloth (x2 if you have a spit uper)

For the diapers and wipes, get a large ziplog bag and put one or two diapers, changing pads, and the package of wipes in it and pack it on top or an outer pocket. When you get to your seats, take the bag out and put in the pocket on the back of the seat in front of you. This will give you easy access to it when you need it and the ziplock can work as a "OMG that poo went everywhere" bag for the clothes. I always pack the spare clothes in large ziplock bags as well so they stay dry if something spills or contain any mess if they are used. The disposable bags serve the same purpose. We used them a lot when we flew with disposable diapers as Makena was having constant blows out (those happened all the time not just flying, which is why we switched to cloth diapers). They work great at containing the mess or just using as trash bags. Very handy.
For the toys/entertainment part: if your kid loves movies and still sit through a whole one, don't count on him doing it while your flying. It's a new experience and a lot of people to interact with. That doesn't mean you can't give it a shoot. For the toys, you can purchase a new one and wrap to give them on the plane. This will keep them engaged for the flight. Or you can hide an old toy a month or two before the flight and wrap and give it back. They will probably have forgotten about it and will see it as something new.

Booking and Checking In

You can carry a baby in your lap until age 2, then the airlines require you buy them their own ticket. It's cheaper to go this route and when they are tiny, much easier. I would recommend, if you can afford it, to get the kid their own seat. Kids fare is normally half the price of the adult ticket. Being able to have the extra space is great. Also, most kids tend to be more comfortable in a car seat than held for hours at a time. And you will be more comfortable too. However, most people don't go this route. I would highly recommend that you gate check your car seat and not at baggage check. The airlines consider car seats fragile so if it breaks they aren't responsible, and you probably won't notice it until it doesn't perform in an accident. On top of which, if it doesn't make it your destination your SOL. I'll talk more about gate check later. 

When moving through the airport, I found using our Ergo is easiest route.

It keeps both hands free. You can keep the baby in there going through security and they won't run off. This is especially useful for when you are trying to board. It allows you the space to get stuff out of your bag, compact strollers or just buckle your seat belt. In the picture, Makena was about 4 months old, I just kept her in the Ergo and she would just sleep the entire flight. 

Strollers and car seats are FREE to check at the check in desk. I have taken the stroller to the gate and checked it. Both work just fine, but I found having the stroller when I was flying alone to be really handy. It gave my back a break and made peeing easier (but it is possible to with the carrier as well!) Make sure the stroller/car seat are covered or in a bag. It helps to protect from dirt and any scratches and tears.

Now if you don't get the kid their own seat, go to the desk at the gate, and ask how full the flight is. If its not full most airlines will book the seat next you for the child. This will allow you to bring the car seat on and you get a free seat! Don't count on it though. Do make sure your car seat is approved to fly BEFORE you leave your house, otherwise you will not be allowed to use it on the plane. 

Every flight that Makena has been in her seat, she has slept the entire flight. In this picture, we were flying back from Salt Lake City. She was asleep before take off, slept through the flight, landing, getting our bags and the 45 minute drive home. It was amazing.When she was in the convertable car seat, we used a little handy item that makes it like a rolling luggage bag,here is the link. We used a car seat bag when we gate checked it. The first picture is just cute :) I have done a few flights by myself and a few with the hubby or my mom. It's great to have the extra hands but I find it less stressful to fly with just me and baby, weird I know.

This second picture is the only one I have with the wheels attached. Its super easy to push through the airport and as you can see, the kid can sit in it while you push so it can be a sort of stroller as well. It breaks down small and flat so it fits easily in an overhead bin.

Getting Through Security

There are family lines in all airports that I have flown in. I would use it if you see it. There are normally extra agents, the other fliers are more patient and you get a shorter line in general. If you take your stroller or car seat through to the gate, it will need to go through the scanner or be hand checked by a TSA agent. It doesn't take long to do, it's just getting the free agent to do it. If you have your baby in a carrier, they will just need to wipe your hands and check for explosives (funny I know). And you get to skip those new body x-ray machines. All liquids including diaper cream, breast milk and hand sanitizer will need to come out of your bag and set in a different bin when it goes through the scanner. I use another ziplock bag and put all of those items in it so I can just wipe it out and then stuff it back in.

Waiting

Before you board, put a new diaper on your baby. Even if you just change it an hour ago. You want them to be as comfortable as possible, and you don't want to realize you need to change them mid departure. I have made that mistake and it's a long take off when it happens. If its getting close to meal time, feed them early. Make sure they have plenty of time to run around and get some energy out. You will also need to go to the desk at the gate and get a gate check tag for your stroller/car seat. They will print one off that states your destination and your name. If you have a layover, you will most likely have the option to check it to the final destination or to use it during your layover. Also, it's a great time to get a latte and feed yourself. It will be a needed. 

Boarding

Airlines allow families with young kids to board first. Take that chance. Its so much nicer to get settled with the extra space and time. If you are gate checking your stroller/car seat, make sure they are folded down and covered at the bottom of the gate. You don't want the guy loading your stroller to try and figure out how to break it down, he doesn't have the time. When you put the car seat on the plane, it must be in the window seat. It it too big to allow anyone to pass it so it has to be in that window seat. They require you buckle it in so get that all situated before you put the kid in it.I wouldn't strap them in right away, it will take awhile for everyone to board so let them move around a little before they have to be buckled in. I would make sure you get out the diapers and any other items you will need right away. Putting the bag under the seat is best if you can spare the leg room. I am tall and never put the bag under the seat, so I can attest to how annoying it is to get stuff out of the over head bin while dealing with a baby. I would wait until you are in the air or about to take off to give the new toy. This will have them focus on what's in front of them and keep them calm during take off. 

All kids will fuss during this time. Its ok. There are a lot of people doing a lot of stuff and it's confusing. Don't stress out. It will just increase their stress and make things worse. Just remain calm, sooth them and just wait until everyone is seated, you will find your babe will settle too.

Flight

So everyone always asks me about her ears during flights. That is a myth. out of the 12 take offs we have down so far, she was eating (drinking) during maybe 3 of them. Most people panic and think that they have to drink or be chewing during take off to pop their eyes, and if they cry during a flight, its just their ears and they can't do anything to sooth them. This is the real story: kids are prone to ear infections, like any adult who has a sinus cold, the pressure hurts. If a kid is healthy, then they will adjust to the pressure just like everyone else. Makena has slept through most take offs without a hitch. The picture below was taken during take off.

You can see she is really bothered. If you are worried, have your child checked a few days before your flight to make sure they don't have an ear infection. Makena had one when we went to Kauai. We didn't discover it until we were there and it explained why she struggled on the flight over. The flight back was better since we kept up on the Tylenol, but she still cried some. So the lesson is, if you kid is crying during take off, they might be hungry or scared or just overstimulated so work on meeting their needs like you would normally do and they will settled down.

Now Makena isn't walking yet, so we just let her do a lot of standing and talking to everyone. When I fly alone, I take up the offers of those sitting next to me to hold her and let me pee or just have a break. Your on a plane, they can't kidnap your child. Plus, its free entertainment for the child for at least 10 minutes. Makena normally sleeps so I lack tips on keeping your kid busy. I have seen coloring books as great option. The new toy, a movie on an iPad or iPod (with headphones), a favorite book or even the free magazines on the plane. Remember to keep you and the babe well hydrated. Yes they will pee more but they will recover from flying faster and make the overall trip better. Again, change their diaper before you land, as that can take as long as 45 minutes to an hour before you can get off the plane and to a bathroom. 

Last tips

I have found that one piece outfits work great for flying. Like sleepers or rompers. Its less elastic wearing on their skin and makes diaper changes easy. Layers also work well. Sweatshirt with a shirt and sweats for baby so you can adjust to how hot or cold they are. If you are holding them the whole flight, they will get hot and need to be stripped down (Makena normally ended up in a oneies by the end). It also makes it easy if you are catching an early morning flight to just wake them and put them in the car without having to put on a new outfit. 

Some Flight Attendants love children and are willing to help you, if they have time. Remember they are working and their job is not to help you handle your kid. I have only run across one rude FA (and caught her to and from Kauai!) who yelled at me for walking the aisle with my in pain daughter. Everyone else was extremely nice and helpful anytime I asked for for anything (like water with a lid, crackers for Makena, or just took up their back cabin to pace with an almost walker) 

Some planes will not want you to throw the dirty diaper in the trash in the bathroom. It's considered a biohazard. If you remember, just ask the FA, and they will give you a bag to put it in so they can put it in a different trash bin.

Wear something comfortable yourself. I wear yoga pants because I grew up in athletic uniforms so it's my comfort zone. I use the pocket on the Ergo for my wallet and cell phone. I have worn shorts with pockets, also very handy and great when you are flying to a warm place.

I'm sure there are stuff I am missing. Fill free to ask me about any part of the flying process or any fears you have about your first flight.