Air Travel with an Infant
While planning our upcoming summer vacation, I thought maybe I should put tips when traveling with an infant on my blog. Last year when we "A" was just 5 months old, he went on two airplane trips in a month! The first trip we flew without Daddy (but had Auntie with us), and I was pretty nervous. Then the second trip, we flew as a family to Florida. That was a LONG trip, but went pretty smoothly. Here are some tips that may help you on your next trip with your little ones.
1) Infants under 2 can travel on your lap. You also have the option of buying a seat for them too. We put "A" on our lap because he HATED his car seat and screams while in it (the other passengers didn't need to hear that for 5 hours). So we figured he'd be the happiest on our lap.
2) You can bring full bottles onto the plane. The no liquid rule gets pushed aside when you have little ones. Some airports wave a little stick of paper over the water to test it, and other (more sophisticated) airports stick your bottles in a little machine that tests them.
- Tip: I put very hot water in my bottles and then placed them in a thermal lunch bag. That way when it was time to mix the formula, the water was still warm.
1) Infants under 2 can travel on your lap. You also have the option of buying a seat for them too. We put "A" on our lap because he HATED his car seat and screams while in it (the other passengers didn't need to hear that for 5 hours). So we figured he'd be the happiest on our lap.
2) You can bring full bottles onto the plane. The no liquid rule gets pushed aside when you have little ones. Some airports wave a little stick of paper over the water to test it, and other (more sophisticated) airports stick your bottles in a little machine that tests them.
- Tip: I put very hot water in my bottles and then placed them in a thermal lunch bag. That way when it was time to mix the formula, the water was still warm.
3) BRING YOUR CHILD'S BIRTH CERTIFICATE (or passport)!
Apparently you and the airlines can get hefty fines if you are caught without it. You have to prove your child is under 2 (even if they are a newborn).
4) Most airlines let you check a car seat and stroller for free. We flew southwest and got to check 2 bags for free plus the stroller and carseat!
Stroller: We were able to keep the stroller while in the airport and check it at the gate. It was very convenient to keep it and roll it around during the long layovers, and the best part is, the workers had it set up and ready for us when we got off the plane. Just remember, you have to fold it up and put it in the x-
ray machine when going through security. (We mainly used the stroller to hold bags because "A" prefered the backpack (see below).
Carseat: We ended up buying a car seat carrying bag from Amazon and were soooooo glad we did. When we saw the other car seats going around the luggage belt, they sure were beat up.
Apparently you and the airlines can get hefty fines if you are caught without it. You have to prove your child is under 2 (even if they are a newborn).
4) Most airlines let you check a car seat and stroller for free. We flew southwest and got to check 2 bags for free plus the stroller and carseat!
Stroller: We were able to keep the stroller while in the airport and check it at the gate. It was very convenient to keep it and roll it around during the long layovers, and the best part is, the workers had it set up and ready for us when we got off the plane. Just remember, you have to fold it up and put it in the x-
ray machine when going through security. (We mainly used the stroller to hold bags because "A" prefered the backpack (see below).
Carseat: We ended up buying a car seat carrying bag from Amazon and were soooooo glad we did. When we saw the other car seats going around the luggage belt, they sure were beat up.
We used our Kelty backpack in the airport as well, and it worked really well during the layovers. We walked up and down the small Albuquerque airport for three hours. It also doubles as a diaper bag so we didn't need another bag.
|
Our car seat bag had wheels and straps so you can either wheel it or carry it like a back pack (or pack mule).Note: We never used an infant car seat. We started with the convertable, which this bag is made for. |
5) Buy a new toy and don't let your child see it until you're on the airplane. This should give you at least 10 peaceful minutes! My very smart friend Meghan bought her toddler 16 or so new dollar store toys (and wrapped them) and let her open one toy every hour (it was a long flight to China). What a smart mommy!!!! Check out her blog Happiest Baby In the World.
6) Give your baby a bottle or a binky during the ascending and descending parts of the flight. This will help their little ears with the altitude change.
7) By law, airlines have to give you a "loaner" carseat when they lose yours. We found this out the hard way. But thankfully the loaner carseats are sterilized and not bad.
8) Bring lots of snacks! (If your baby has started solids) I suggest the bags of food like Plum Organics or Peter Rabbit Organics. You don't need a spoon or bowl, just let your little one suck the delicious food out. We love the Mish Mash variety because they have oats and/or quinoa.
6) Give your baby a bottle or a binky during the ascending and descending parts of the flight. This will help their little ears with the altitude change.
7) By law, airlines have to give you a "loaner" carseat when they lose yours. We found this out the hard way. But thankfully the loaner carseats are sterilized and not bad.
8) Bring lots of snacks! (If your baby has started solids) I suggest the bags of food like Plum Organics or Peter Rabbit Organics. You don't need a spoon or bowl, just let your little one suck the delicious food out. We love the Mish Mash variety because they have oats and/or quinoa.
|
|
Travel By Train
Amtrak
This past week, my family took a train trip from Arizona to California. My husband and I thought taking the train would be an awesome way to get to a wedding in San Diego because we live with two major train lovers. My two year old is always talking about trains, playing with trains, or watching trains on YouTube. However the trip was definitely...... an experience. I wouldn't recommend taking Amtrak after this trip due to a 6 hour delay (we left at 1:30 am), a filthy train, and a conductor who got in a yelling match with a passenger about 3 fee away from my sleeping children. If you still want to ride the train..... here are some tips to hopefully make it a smoother trip for your family:
1) Bring disinfectant wipes!!! On the way to California, I didn't have any and was disgusted. This train was on it's final leg and was dirty. The seats, the floors, bathrooms, and it smelled horrible! I didn't want my kids to touch anything. On the way home, I wiped every hard surface they may touch.
2) Bring a fitted sheet to go over each seat. I had my husband stop at Target before we left California to buy wipes, Purell, and sheets. I was disgusted to see my kids sleep on those dirty seats. On the way home, I felt so much better when they were laying on sheets. (However the train was wayyyyyyy cleaner on the way home).
3) Bring a blanket. We had two overnight trips in coach and it got really chilly. I brought a sleeping bag and neck pillows for my kids and they were pretty darn comfortable.
4) Bring plenty of drinks and food. Although there is a cafe car, it's only open certain hours.
5) You can use car seats: Although there aren't seat belts on trains, I was able to hook the car seat on the seat using the back latch system. Not the most secure, but my son was very comfortable in his car seat and wanted to be buckled in. Also, the car seat put him up a bit higher so he was able to see out of the window.
6) Families don't board first. Even though my research told me this is the procedures, it didn't happen. The conductors were definitely over their jobs and just wanted to get everybody on.
7) There are family bathrooms in the cafe car. The last hour of the trip I figured this out after multiple times trying to get myself and kids squished into an airplane sized bathroom! Ugh!
1) Bring disinfectant wipes!!! On the way to California, I didn't have any and was disgusted. This train was on it's final leg and was dirty. The seats, the floors, bathrooms, and it smelled horrible! I didn't want my kids to touch anything. On the way home, I wiped every hard surface they may touch.
2) Bring a fitted sheet to go over each seat. I had my husband stop at Target before we left California to buy wipes, Purell, and sheets. I was disgusted to see my kids sleep on those dirty seats. On the way home, I felt so much better when they were laying on sheets. (However the train was wayyyyyyy cleaner on the way home).
3) Bring a blanket. We had two overnight trips in coach and it got really chilly. I brought a sleeping bag and neck pillows for my kids and they were pretty darn comfortable.
4) Bring plenty of drinks and food. Although there is a cafe car, it's only open certain hours.
5) You can use car seats: Although there aren't seat belts on trains, I was able to hook the car seat on the seat using the back latch system. Not the most secure, but my son was very comfortable in his car seat and wanted to be buckled in. Also, the car seat put him up a bit higher so he was able to see out of the window.
6) Families don't board first. Even though my research told me this is the procedures, it didn't happen. The conductors were definitely over their jobs and just wanted to get everybody on.
7) There are family bathrooms in the cafe car. The last hour of the trip I figured this out after multiple times trying to get myself and kids squished into an airplane sized bathroom! Ugh!
Waking up on a train! Very exciting!
|
live and learn.... Both boys are on sheets with the leg rests out and very comfortable on makeshift beds.
|
Nice and comfy in his car seat and with technology.
|
|
We use this bag on every trip. It keeps our car seat safe and you can stuff it with lots of toys and diapers on the seat of the car seat. It also has wheels and we connect to it our wheeled suitcases and WHALA! Easy (well easier) traveling.
|
|