I have been meaning to write this post for weeks now but since I just wrote about changing diapers on a plane yesterday, I thought it would be appropriate to continue with the topic of flying. For the most part, many of the recommendations that I made in my flying with an infant post still apply to flying with a toddler. However, it appears that since that post, many airlines are no longer allowing pre-boarding for families with young children. I think this is especially terrible when traveling with a toddler. Toddlers are at an age where they're beginning to assert some independence and having extra time to board without too many distractions is a great benefit. When flying, unfortunately, many of us are at the mercy of the airlines and I hope that my experiences can help some of you have a more enjoyable experience.
Flying with a toddler can be uncomfortable if they are still being held on your lap without their own seat during the flight. There are two devices that I started flying with to help ease the "pain" of flying with a lap child. The first was a Baby B'Air Flight Vest. This is a vest that you can put over the baby and attach to your seat belt. It is designed to "tether" your baby so they don't go flying out of your arms during turbulence. It is not FAA approved for take offs and landings but for the cruising portion of the flight. I have to admit that I was very happy to have this device after we experienced over two hours of turbulence on our flight to Spain. It wasn't the worst turbulence I ever felt but definitely the longest. We couldn't get any food, beverages or even use the bathroom during that time. It just left me a little more at ease knowing my baby wouldn't fly out of my arms during turbulence.
Another device that I always pack in the event of an open seat on our flight is the CARES harness. It is FAA approved and you can use this in lieu of a car seat for children that weigh at least 22 pounds. On our way back to the US from Spain, there was an empty seat in our row that we were able to safely secure our toddler to the seat. It is lightweight and folds compactly and it doesn't take much room in our carry-on luggage. Since we travel a lot, it is worth the investment since we'll be using it on every flight now that our toddler is over two years old and we are required to buy a seat for him. It sure beats lugging the car seat around the airport! We did not have it on our flight to Rome which we regretted. There was an empty seat on that flight as well but since we checked in his carseat, we had no way to secure him to the seat during the flight.
I think one of the big things with flying with a toddler is to be prepared with lots of distractions. I pack a separate bag filled with "goodies" for the flight. I stow that under the seat in front of me so it is easily accessible. I bring a snack cup and a bag of snacks to put in the cup. I also use a "secure a toy" to help keep it from falling on the ground. I also pack his favorite sippy cup and tether that with a strap to also keep it from falling.
I've learned that on shorter flights, they may not always have milk available on board. If that is the case, it is not a bad idea to buy some milk at the airport before boarding. I thought I would outsmart the TSA and bring boxed milk with me but they made me open it so they could test a sample. Lesson learned. It is easier to just buy it at the airport than trying to bring it from home. When I was breastfeeding, it wasn't an issue but as my toddler began weaning, having milk available suddenly became very important. There is nothing like having a screaming toddler on the plane crying for milk when there is none available.
I also buy one new book and bring it out during the flight. Thankfully my toddler enjoys reading so a good book is always something that can keep him occupied. I also make sure to pack some of his favorite books to bring something familiar from home to remind him of his usual "routine." I also make an album of pictures for him. I buy those cheap plastic picture albums and fill it with pictures of our dog, his grandparents, cousins, friends, etc. I try to find pictures that I know will bring him comfort in unfamiliar surroundings. I use a cheap album and prints of digital pictures so he is free to bend pages without fear of damaging important photographs.
I also pack his pajamas so when it is "bedtime," I try to mimic our usual bedtime routine as close as possible. I change him into his pajamas, read him a book and give him his blanket and stuffed animal to cuddle with. Luckily he is not "attached" to a specific blanket or stuffed animal so his travel blanket with ties (made by ROSK) and his backpack "child safety harness" doubles as a stuffed animal.
What is a child safety harness? It is basically a backpack that a child straps to his body that is connected to a strap that a parent can hold. The purpose is for parents to keep their toddler "attached" to them to avoid them from wandering off and getting lost or hurt. It can be controversial since many parents oftentimes compare it to a "leash." I for one, have no problem using them since I know especially when in an different environment, kids can wander off and get lost. I use it a lot at the airport to prevent him from getting lost amongst the hundreds of travelers. It is also especially handy when we venture out at home. Being 35 weeks pregnant, I'm not necessarily as fast as I used to be and chasing after a toddler can be downright dangerous since he outruns me these days.
As an absolute last resort, I also pack our old iPhone. I load old pictures and videos on it and have his favorite movie on it as well. He has never really watched a movie other than on an airplane before and even with the limited exposure, he has grown quite fond of the Cars movies. I can let him play with it without fear of him mistakenly deleting pictures on our phones (which he's done before). It is also nice to have at our destination since we can use the GPS features without fear of being charged outrageous data roaming prices.
To make my life a little more bearable on the flight, I pack a reusable wide-mouth water bottle. I've had more than one occasion where my little guy reached for my inflight beverage and spilled it everywhere. It is easier to just have the flight attendant pour the drink into the cup so a lid can be tightly fastened over it. It is also handy to have at your destination for filling up on the go. It was nice to have in Rome with all of their public water fountains.
Eating on the flight with a toddler as a lap child can be quite the challenge. I pack a bowl with lid and an eating mat along with a bib and utensils. I always pack the bowl with lid so I can store food and have it ready if he is not ready to eat when they bring food around. We've also discovered that stacking two trays on top of each other will allow one parent to eat while the other holds the toddler. It can be tricky but worth it when you're hungry. Obviously, if you were on a short flight with no food, it is always a good idea to pack food for the flight because kids get hungry quite frequently. I either bring food from home or buy some at the airport before boarding. Once again, the bowl with lid is handy for storing food until they're ready to eat.
It's been a few months since our last trip and I am already going through travel withdrawal. With the baby due in a few weeks, I don't think we're going anywhere anytime soon. I'm sure I'm probably forgetting something but if I am, I'll just write another post at a later time. My severe lack of sleep due to pregnancy insomnia is making my thinking a little cloudy at the moment. Please write a comment if you have any questions or if you have any suggestions.
Showing posts with label Flying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Flying. Show all posts
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Changing Diapers on a Plane
I stumbled upon an interesting blog post last night while reading a newspaper online. The post was titled, "Where should parents change diapers on planes?" The title alone really caught my attention. As I alluded to on an earlier blog post, "flying with an infant," you never know when you may encounter a "pooplosion" on an airplane. When that happens, where do you change the diaper?
Back in November, I flew solo with my 18-month old as a lap-child when he decided to poop right as we were taking off. Since the seat belt sign was illuminated, I could not leave to change his diaper in the bathroom. I was very aware of the passengers seated next to me and even though I was tempted to change him at my seat, I waited until the seat belt sign was turned off so I could change his diaper in the bathroom. In the meantime, he was smelly and uncomfortable from his dirty diaper. All of the squirming made his diaper leak and his pants began to get soiled. When it was safe to leave my seat, I immediately made a beeline to the bathroom.
As any parent who has tried to change a diaper in an airplane bathroom will tell you, it is not a pleasant experience. It is tiny, smelly and dirty. If there is a changing table in the bathroom (which is usually right above the toilet in the line of fire of any airborne particles), it is probably full of bacteria and any curious toddler will try to touch and grab things around him (however disgusting that may be). To help with some of that, I put several layers of toilet seat covers over the table and my changing pad on top of that. Despite all of this "prep" work, my toddler refused for me to use the table.
It turns out that my toddler was too freaked out for me to put him anywhere. He suddenly became very clingy when I tried to put him down to change the diaper. Since the diaper had to come off, I literally had to hold him against my body with one arm and pull off his clothes and diaper with the other. I dangled him under his armpits all the while trying clean him and avoid getting any poop on myself. I also had to balance all of this so as not to touch the toilet or drop anything on that nasty floor. If this was caught on video, it would have easily made it onto America's Funniest Home Videos. This was quite the ordeal for both of us but we managed to do it after occupying the restroom for several minutes.
After reading the post last night, I couldn't help but think that it would have been easier if I could have just changed him at my seat. My fellow passengers could smell him anyway and the friendlier confines of the seat would have made him more comfortable. By the end of our bathroom ordeal, we were both covered in poop (which it is why I will always pack extra clothes for the both of us going forward) and we were probably smellier after the fact than if we could do it quicker and probably cleaner at our seat. I know it would be considered extremely rude by other passengers but this was a situation that seriously made me think about throwing etiquette out the window. Frequent travelers are already upset at parents traveling with children and the airlines are making it increasingly difficult to travel with children. Why not give travelers another experience they won't soon forget? What do you think? Would you be offended if a desperate mother who is traveling alone with a toddler changed his diaper at her seat?
Back in November, I flew solo with my 18-month old as a lap-child when he decided to poop right as we were taking off. Since the seat belt sign was illuminated, I could not leave to change his diaper in the bathroom. I was very aware of the passengers seated next to me and even though I was tempted to change him at my seat, I waited until the seat belt sign was turned off so I could change his diaper in the bathroom. In the meantime, he was smelly and uncomfortable from his dirty diaper. All of the squirming made his diaper leak and his pants began to get soiled. When it was safe to leave my seat, I immediately made a beeline to the bathroom.
As any parent who has tried to change a diaper in an airplane bathroom will tell you, it is not a pleasant experience. It is tiny, smelly and dirty. If there is a changing table in the bathroom (which is usually right above the toilet in the line of fire of any airborne particles), it is probably full of bacteria and any curious toddler will try to touch and grab things around him (however disgusting that may be). To help with some of that, I put several layers of toilet seat covers over the table and my changing pad on top of that. Despite all of this "prep" work, my toddler refused for me to use the table.
It turns out that my toddler was too freaked out for me to put him anywhere. He suddenly became very clingy when I tried to put him down to change the diaper. Since the diaper had to come off, I literally had to hold him against my body with one arm and pull off his clothes and diaper with the other. I dangled him under his armpits all the while trying clean him and avoid getting any poop on myself. I also had to balance all of this so as not to touch the toilet or drop anything on that nasty floor. If this was caught on video, it would have easily made it onto America's Funniest Home Videos. This was quite the ordeal for both of us but we managed to do it after occupying the restroom for several minutes.
After reading the post last night, I couldn't help but think that it would have been easier if I could have just changed him at my seat. My fellow passengers could smell him anyway and the friendlier confines of the seat would have made him more comfortable. By the end of our bathroom ordeal, we were both covered in poop (which it is why I will always pack extra clothes for the both of us going forward) and we were probably smellier after the fact than if we could do it quicker and probably cleaner at our seat. I know it would be considered extremely rude by other passengers but this was a situation that seriously made me think about throwing etiquette out the window. Frequent travelers are already upset at parents traveling with children and the airlines are making it increasingly difficult to travel with children. Why not give travelers another experience they won't soon forget? What do you think? Would you be offended if a desperate mother who is traveling alone with a toddler changed his diaper at her seat?
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
As if Traveling with Kids Weren't Hard Enough...
Over the last few weeks, I have stumbled across several articles and blogs which describe the difficulties parents face when flying with children. It seems the airlines are making it exceedingly difficult for families to fly. In an earlier blog post, about Flying With an Infant, I had encouraged people to take advantage of early boarding for families offered by airlines. Unfortunately, it appears a growing number of airlines are not allowing families with kids to board early. Many of these articles and posts have arisen after United Airlines announced that they were eliminating this in time for the busy summer travel season. The rationale for eliminating pre-boarding? "We figured it would be better to simplify that process and reduce the number of boarding groups," said United spokesman Charles Hobart.
How is this going to simplify the process? When you're trying to juggle a squirming infant or toddler AND luggage, it helps to have extra time to get everything settled. I have traveled by myself with my baby on several occasions and having that extra time really helps. The flight attendants are usually free to assist you and you do not have to hold up other passengers from boarding the plane while you get your luggage stowed.
An angry mother even started an online petition on change.org to get United to change its policy back to allow families early boarding. Nearly 37,000 people have already signed this online petition. It will be interesting to note if this will bring about any change in United's policy. I suppose only time will tell if this new policy will cause more hassles and delays in the boarding process.
Another "unfamily friendly" practice regarding the airlines recently making the news ahead of the busy travel season is that "airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra. That's helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members who don't pay this fee to sit next to each other. At the peak of the summer travel season, it might be nearly impossible." Airlines are literally holding seats "hostage." "Frequent business travelers used to get stuck with middle seats even though their last-minute fares were two or three times higher than the average. Now, airlines are setting aside more window and aisle seats for their most frequent fliers at no extra cost." "To travelers who haven't earned 'elite' status in a frequent flier program, flights often appear full even though they are not. These casual travelers end up paying extra for an aisle or window seat believing they have no other option. But as flights get closer many of the seats airlines had set aside for those willing to pay a premium do become available — at no extra cost."
I have been on one too many flights where I have seen parents being seated away from their children. It is awful seeing them have to beg and plead with their fellow passengers to switch seats so they can be seated next to their children. What's worse, in my opinion, are the airlines who are pitting passengers against passengers. It seems as if they are purposefully trying to make the travel experience as painful as possible. What if someone really did spend more money to get that coveted aisle or window seat? Why should they have to feel "obligated" to switch seats so that a family can sit together? Why would the airlines ever think it's a good idea to have a toddler or young child sit by themselves away from their parents on a flight? This just boggles my mind. We haven't experienced this situation in any of our flights thus far but we may face this very real possibility on future flights. What do you think? Do you think the airlines have gone too far?
How is this going to simplify the process? When you're trying to juggle a squirming infant or toddler AND luggage, it helps to have extra time to get everything settled. I have traveled by myself with my baby on several occasions and having that extra time really helps. The flight attendants are usually free to assist you and you do not have to hold up other passengers from boarding the plane while you get your luggage stowed.
An angry mother even started an online petition on change.org to get United to change its policy back to allow families early boarding. Nearly 37,000 people have already signed this online petition. It will be interesting to note if this will bring about any change in United's policy. I suppose only time will tell if this new policy will cause more hassles and delays in the boarding process.
Another "unfamily friendly" practice regarding the airlines recently making the news ahead of the busy travel season is that "airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra. That's helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members who don't pay this fee to sit next to each other. At the peak of the summer travel season, it might be nearly impossible." Airlines are literally holding seats "hostage." "Frequent business travelers used to get stuck with middle seats even though their last-minute fares were two or three times higher than the average. Now, airlines are setting aside more window and aisle seats for their most frequent fliers at no extra cost." "To travelers who haven't earned 'elite' status in a frequent flier program, flights often appear full even though they are not. These casual travelers end up paying extra for an aisle or window seat believing they have no other option. But as flights get closer many of the seats airlines had set aside for those willing to pay a premium do become available — at no extra cost."
I have been on one too many flights where I have seen parents being seated away from their children. It is awful seeing them have to beg and plead with their fellow passengers to switch seats so they can be seated next to their children. What's worse, in my opinion, are the airlines who are pitting passengers against passengers. It seems as if they are purposefully trying to make the travel experience as painful as possible. What if someone really did spend more money to get that coveted aisle or window seat? Why should they have to feel "obligated" to switch seats so that a family can sit together? Why would the airlines ever think it's a good idea to have a toddler or young child sit by themselves away from their parents on a flight? This just boggles my mind. We haven't experienced this situation in any of our flights thus far but we may face this very real possibility on future flights. What do you think? Do you think the airlines have gone too far?
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Flying with an infant
After being on 11 trips and over 30 flights with our baby before he turned two, I have had many friends ask me for advice on what to bring on an airplane when flying with a baby. I define baby or infant as under 1 year of age. After a year, I consider them to be a toddler and have different recommendations for that. I'll save that for another blog post. These are all purely my opinions based on my experiences.
As a disclaimer, I'd like to say that purchasing a seat is the safest option for anyone of any age. However, most airlines do not require you to purchase a seat for a child under two years of age. They are considered a "lap child" and do not need a ticket but must be seated on a parent's lap. There is usually no charge for a lap child but if you're flying internationally, they will usually charge you a nominal fee to bring a lap child.
Even if you do not purchase a ticket, I would recommend calling the airline to notify them that you're bringing a child under two so they can indicate on your ticket that you will be traveling with an "infant in arms." You can do this after you purchase your own tickets online. This will help when going through security. Another handy thing to bring to the airport is a copy of your baby's birth certificate (passport is a must if traveling internationally). Not all airports or airlines require a copy of the birth certificate to verify proof of the baby's age. However, to spare yourself the agony of figuring out which airports or airlines require it, I recommend just bringing it. You don't want to be caught at an airport (like we were) that required it and possibly not making your flight because of it. Our baby was only 3 months old yet they needed "proof" that he was under two! It caught us by surprise since he had been on another flight at another airport and they did not ask for any "proof" of age.
If you need an infant car seat at your destination, I highly recommend bringing your own car seat rather than renting one at your destination. Rental car seats can be dirty and you have no way of knowing if it had been in an accident. Most airlines will usually let you check in the car seat at no extra charge with your bags. However, since airlines fees and rules are constantly changing, I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure. When you check in the seat, they will usually put it in a plastic bag. I've also only checked in the car seat base without charge when I wanted to use the car seat at the airport.
Since I'm traveling with a infant car seat, I did not bring a full-sized stroller. I just used Baby Trend's Snap-N-Go. I liked this model a little more than the Graco because of the compartment that can hold keys or miscellaneous items. This was a lot easier to use than a full-sized stroller. We've even rolled this on sand at the beach in Hawai`i. You can gate check both the car seat and stroller at the gate. However, if you're gate checking your car seat and stroller at the gate, I would recommend getting a stroller bag. I used to just let them put it on the plane as is. Unfortunately, during one of our flights, it was raining when we landed, and the stroller and car seat were soaking wet by the time they brought it up to the gate. Since I needed the car seat for the car ride home from the airport, my baby had to sit on a wet seat.
I also prefer to gate check the infant car seat in the event there is an extra seat on the plane. If there is an extra seat on the plane (I usually check before boarding), you can use the car seat to place your baby. Just make sure there is a label on the seat indicating that it can be used on aircrafts. It should say, "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircrafts." They will only allow you to place a car seat on the window seat (or middle seat if you are in a row without a window seat). The car seat cannot obstruct a passenger from safely leaving the aircraft in an emergency. Of the 30 flights that we have been on, there have only been 5 instances where there was an extra seat available so it is not a common occurrence.
I would also like to remind you that most airlines will allow you to do early boarding when traveling with a child under 2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXTRA TIME. It will give you a chance to put your stroller and car seat in a gate check bag and give you time to situate yourself on the plane before the "rush" of other passengers. You can also ensure you will get that coveted overhead bin space since you're now carrying more stuff for the baby. However, I would recommend using anything that you may think you'll use frequently during the flight to be stored under the seat in front of you. It is a hassle to have to constantly open and close that overhead bin when in flight.
I've always been a fan of baby wearing. Baby wearing is especially helpful when traveling. However, if you're going to attempt baby wearing, I would recommend using it with your baby for at least several weeks or days beforehand so they're accustomed to being in one. For the first four months, I used the Moby wrap. I wore it everyday like a shirt and started when my baby was a week old. I used this while flying as well. TSA will not make you take it off and you can request a "pat down" screening to avoid having to take it off. Once the baby was four months old, we switched to the Ergo. It is awesome in that both parents can wear it. I've breastfed with both wraps on. Both carriers are great when hanging out at the airport and when walking down narrow airplane aisles. Helpful to use when walking around during the flight as well. The only drawback is that they will not let you use it during take offs and landings. I never really thought much about it until I saw this video which came from the NTSB website...
What you bring on the flight depends on if you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding. I breastfed for 22 months so we did not have to bring any bottles on our flights. It was awesome. I could feed the baby (under a nursing cover to prevent making anyone feel uncomfortable) on demand and there were no bottles to clean or formula to warm up. Breastfeeding during take offs and landings were also helpful to prevent any pain that may be caused by the change in cabin pressure. It was also very soothing for the baby and helped with a change in surroundings and time zones. If you're planning on having someone bottle feed your baby while you're at your destination, you may want to pack a bottle and breastpump in your check-in luggage. It is usually not necessary to bring with you as a carry-on.
Since I have limited experience with a baby on formula, I can't say much other than to bring bottles, more formula than you think you would need in case there are any delays. To prevent any ear pain from changes in cabin pressure, you can use a pacifier or feed the baby a bottle.
If your baby has transitioned to solid foods, I would recommend bringing jarred baby food. Most TSA security checkpoints will let you bring jarred baby food as long as you declare that you have it as you're going through your screen. They may take it to do extra screening. I'm a big fan of making my own food but when traveling, it is easier to bring the jarred stuff since you don't have to worry about refrigeration or food becoming spoiled.
As for what you should pack in your bag other than food, I would recommend bringing at least three changes of clothing (don't forget the bibs). You never know how many "pooplosions" you're going to get and need to change the baby's entire outfit. If space permits, it's also not a bad idea to pack an extra set of clothing for yourself in case of an accident leaking onto yourself. I forgot to pack extra pants once and my baby had to spend the rest of the flight without pants. I'd also pack an extra large ziplock bag to store the soiled clothing to minimize smell and soiling the other things in your bag.
I would also bring any comfort items like toys and pacifiers. I like to tether my things so they don't fall on the nasty airplane floors. I loved a product called "Secure-a-toy" for everything from my baby's wubbanub pacifiers to Sophie the Giraffe. Those were honestly the only two "toys" that we needed in the first months of flying. Something as simple as an empty beverage cup provided by the flight attendants can be a great "toy."
I also packed a blanket. Depending on the time of the year or the destination dictated which blanket I brought. When traveling to warmer climates, I brought a Aiden and Anais Swaddle blanket or a ROSK tieable blanket. Both of these blankets are awesome because they can double as nursing covers or covers for your infant car seat.
I also packed more diapers and wipes than I thought I would need on a typical day (traveling can sometimes give a baby diarrhea or constipation) and you don't want to be caught without diapers. I also use a changing mat and made sure that was stocked as well.
I would pack the following items separately in its own ziplock bag for ease when going through security... I packed Lansinoh if breastfeeding (even if I haven't used it in months) since my baby tended to nurse more than usual when we traveled. I also packed (and this may be a bit OCD) a tiny squirt bottle of rubbing alcohol. I just bought an empty 3 ounce squirt bottle and filled it up with rubbing alcohol. I find airplanes to be absolutely filthy and I would take the preboarding time to clean the arm rests, seat back table, and window sill and shade with the alcohol. Rubbing alcohol has a distinctive smell so using early boarding to do that will prevent any weird looks. LOL! I also brought a travel-sized bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer. As a parent, you can never have too much of that around.
When your baby is an infant, it is probably the best and easiest time to travel (until they're in college). LOL! Since most are not sleeping through the night, they adjust easier to time zone changes, don't require food other than breastmilk or formula and you can use a carrier to bring them anywhere a stroller and a heavier toddler may not be able to go to.
As a disclaimer, I'd like to say that purchasing a seat is the safest option for anyone of any age. However, most airlines do not require you to purchase a seat for a child under two years of age. They are considered a "lap child" and do not need a ticket but must be seated on a parent's lap. There is usually no charge for a lap child but if you're flying internationally, they will usually charge you a nominal fee to bring a lap child.
Even if you do not purchase a ticket, I would recommend calling the airline to notify them that you're bringing a child under two so they can indicate on your ticket that you will be traveling with an "infant in arms." You can do this after you purchase your own tickets online. This will help when going through security. Another handy thing to bring to the airport is a copy of your baby's birth certificate (passport is a must if traveling internationally). Not all airports or airlines require a copy of the birth certificate to verify proof of the baby's age. However, to spare yourself the agony of figuring out which airports or airlines require it, I recommend just bringing it. You don't want to be caught at an airport (like we were) that required it and possibly not making your flight because of it. Our baby was only 3 months old yet they needed "proof" that he was under two! It caught us by surprise since he had been on another flight at another airport and they did not ask for any "proof" of age.
If you need an infant car seat at your destination, I highly recommend bringing your own car seat rather than renting one at your destination. Rental car seats can be dirty and you have no way of knowing if it had been in an accident. Most airlines will usually let you check in the car seat at no extra charge with your bags. However, since airlines fees and rules are constantly changing, I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure. When you check in the seat, they will usually put it in a plastic bag. I've also only checked in the car seat base without charge when I wanted to use the car seat at the airport.
Since I'm traveling with a infant car seat, I did not bring a full-sized stroller. I just used Baby Trend's Snap-N-Go. I liked this model a little more than the Graco because of the compartment that can hold keys or miscellaneous items. This was a lot easier to use than a full-sized stroller. We've even rolled this on sand at the beach in Hawai`i. You can gate check both the car seat and stroller at the gate. However, if you're gate checking your car seat and stroller at the gate, I would recommend getting a stroller bag. I used to just let them put it on the plane as is. Unfortunately, during one of our flights, it was raining when we landed, and the stroller and car seat were soaking wet by the time they brought it up to the gate. Since I needed the car seat for the car ride home from the airport, my baby had to sit on a wet seat.
I also prefer to gate check the infant car seat in the event there is an extra seat on the plane. If there is an extra seat on the plane (I usually check before boarding), you can use the car seat to place your baby. Just make sure there is a label on the seat indicating that it can be used on aircrafts. It should say, "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircrafts." They will only allow you to place a car seat on the window seat (or middle seat if you are in a row without a window seat). The car seat cannot obstruct a passenger from safely leaving the aircraft in an emergency. Of the 30 flights that we have been on, there have only been 5 instances where there was an extra seat available so it is not a common occurrence.
I would also like to remind you that most airlines will allow you to do early boarding when traveling with a child under 2. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS EXTRA TIME. It will give you a chance to put your stroller and car seat in a gate check bag and give you time to situate yourself on the plane before the "rush" of other passengers. You can also ensure you will get that coveted overhead bin space since you're now carrying more stuff for the baby. However, I would recommend using anything that you may think you'll use frequently during the flight to be stored under the seat in front of you. It is a hassle to have to constantly open and close that overhead bin when in flight.
I've always been a fan of baby wearing. Baby wearing is especially helpful when traveling. However, if you're going to attempt baby wearing, I would recommend using it with your baby for at least several weeks or days beforehand so they're accustomed to being in one. For the first four months, I used the Moby wrap. I wore it everyday like a shirt and started when my baby was a week old. I used this while flying as well. TSA will not make you take it off and you can request a "pat down" screening to avoid having to take it off. Once the baby was four months old, we switched to the Ergo. It is awesome in that both parents can wear it. I've breastfed with both wraps on. Both carriers are great when hanging out at the airport and when walking down narrow airplane aisles. Helpful to use when walking around during the flight as well. The only drawback is that they will not let you use it during take offs and landings. I never really thought much about it until I saw this video which came from the NTSB website...
What you bring on the flight depends on if you're breastfeeding or bottle feeding. I breastfed for 22 months so we did not have to bring any bottles on our flights. It was awesome. I could feed the baby (under a nursing cover to prevent making anyone feel uncomfortable) on demand and there were no bottles to clean or formula to warm up. Breastfeeding during take offs and landings were also helpful to prevent any pain that may be caused by the change in cabin pressure. It was also very soothing for the baby and helped with a change in surroundings and time zones. If you're planning on having someone bottle feed your baby while you're at your destination, you may want to pack a bottle and breastpump in your check-in luggage. It is usually not necessary to bring with you as a carry-on.
Since I have limited experience with a baby on formula, I can't say much other than to bring bottles, more formula than you think you would need in case there are any delays. To prevent any ear pain from changes in cabin pressure, you can use a pacifier or feed the baby a bottle.
If your baby has transitioned to solid foods, I would recommend bringing jarred baby food. Most TSA security checkpoints will let you bring jarred baby food as long as you declare that you have it as you're going through your screen. They may take it to do extra screening. I'm a big fan of making my own food but when traveling, it is easier to bring the jarred stuff since you don't have to worry about refrigeration or food becoming spoiled.
As for what you should pack in your bag other than food, I would recommend bringing at least three changes of clothing (don't forget the bibs). You never know how many "pooplosions" you're going to get and need to change the baby's entire outfit. If space permits, it's also not a bad idea to pack an extra set of clothing for yourself in case of an accident leaking onto yourself. I forgot to pack extra pants once and my baby had to spend the rest of the flight without pants. I'd also pack an extra large ziplock bag to store the soiled clothing to minimize smell and soiling the other things in your bag.
I would also bring any comfort items like toys and pacifiers. I like to tether my things so they don't fall on the nasty airplane floors. I loved a product called "Secure-a-toy" for everything from my baby's wubbanub pacifiers to Sophie the Giraffe. Those were honestly the only two "toys" that we needed in the first months of flying. Something as simple as an empty beverage cup provided by the flight attendants can be a great "toy."
I also packed a blanket. Depending on the time of the year or the destination dictated which blanket I brought. When traveling to warmer climates, I brought a Aiden and Anais Swaddle blanket or a ROSK tieable blanket. Both of these blankets are awesome because they can double as nursing covers or covers for your infant car seat.
I also packed more diapers and wipes than I thought I would need on a typical day (traveling can sometimes give a baby diarrhea or constipation) and you don't want to be caught without diapers. I also use a changing mat and made sure that was stocked as well.
I would pack the following items separately in its own ziplock bag for ease when going through security... I packed Lansinoh if breastfeeding (even if I haven't used it in months) since my baby tended to nurse more than usual when we traveled. I also packed (and this may be a bit OCD) a tiny squirt bottle of rubbing alcohol. I just bought an empty 3 ounce squirt bottle and filled it up with rubbing alcohol. I find airplanes to be absolutely filthy and I would take the preboarding time to clean the arm rests, seat back table, and window sill and shade with the alcohol. Rubbing alcohol has a distinctive smell so using early boarding to do that will prevent any weird looks. LOL! I also brought a travel-sized bottle of alcohol based hand sanitizer. As a parent, you can never have too much of that around.
When your baby is an infant, it is probably the best and easiest time to travel (until they're in college). LOL! Since most are not sleeping through the night, they adjust easier to time zone changes, don't require food other than breastmilk or formula and you can use a carrier to bring them anywhere a stroller and a heavier toddler may not be able to go to.
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