That's right Emma takes her first flight this weekend! We are headed to Arizona to visit some friends from Hawaii and for a family reunion. As I am preparing for the journey I have done some research and talked to a few friends on how to fly with a baby. I still feel a little anxious as to how Emma is going to react to the sounds and feelings of flying. I am also anticipating the amount of luggage I am going to have and how much harder it is going to check-in, go through security, board, de-board, and get our luggage. And all by my self!!!! (Mark is taking a later flight)
This is where you come in. I am turning to you my blogging buddies. I need some help - and maybe a little encouragement! What experiences have you had with flying with a baby or what advice have you heard or used that might be helpful? Anything would be GREAT!
Here are a few details and things that I have already planned on:
1. Emma is 7 months old and will not have her own seat (does anyone buy a seat for children under 2?)
2. She is really active and vocal ( I am a little worried that her talking will bother others).
3. I am planning on checking in her car seat and base and just taking her stroller ( don't they let you just put it at the door of the plane before you board and then they give it to you after you land?)
4. We are flying out at 6:30 (she is normally up at 7) and we have a 2 hour layover in SLC, then we arrive at 11:30 (2 hours past her nap time) . I am just hoping she will nap or just be so curious about her surroundings that she will make it through :)
5. We are flying out of Medford so it's going to be a turbo-prop plane until we reach SLC.
Ok I think that's it.... HELP!
10 comments:
Trac, I have no advice at all, except I wouldn't buy a seat for her... I'm sure what you do is just hold her on your lap. I'm pretty sure they'll check your stroller at the door (I'd take one of those little umbrella strollers - they just seem easier to deal with). Then I would just check everything I could and plan well, wear flips, no belt, make sure all your liquids are in a baggie before you leave for the airport or just put them in your checked bag, and remember...your going through security in Medford so it should be pretty low key and not too busy! Girl you can do it!!! I believe in you. Just focus on what a fun time your going to have and time will fly by!!! She'll be great!
HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!!!
Traci-I just have to say that my favorite drug of choice for flying is Benadryl! It worked wonders for us.
Sadly Benadryl doesn't work for everyone! It has the opposite effect on my girls, they get hyper! If you want to try this try it out before hand to make sure of the effect on Emma. But the only real advice I have is to feed her while you are taking off and landing. It will help her little ears not hurt! Good luck, and if she bothers people oh well. They can deal. Don't let it bug you, you have every right to take her on that plane! Good luck and have a grea trip!
I would say that you should try to feed her, or at least let her suck during take off and landing because babies little tubes can't equalize to the pressure change as well as ours do and it hurts them bad. Sucking helps. I would seriously give her some kind if cold medicine or something too, which I know sounds terrible, but if she is teething or anything her ears are already going to be a bit swollen and the medicine will help with decongestion. I am not sure what you can give a 7 month old though,,,as far as drugs go. I mean over the counter stuff. I really should huh. I am sure you do, or your doctor has told you , or just look on the box. Other than that, I would say get there early, check as much stuff as you can, and call me in Salt Lake if you need me to bring you anything during your layover. Good luck! Oh and don't worry too much about bothering anyone else. I mean there is only so much you can do. Plus who get get mad at that face?
Traci, I've done this! I'm doing it in two weeks...and it's hard! Benadryl doesn't work for Henry either (yes, I tried it.) And he has a really, really hard time falling asleep anywhere but his bed. However, now that he's 2, we have to buy him his own seat and bringing his car seat and having him sit in that worked wonders for us. he knew he was strapped in, wandering was not an option, and he actually went to sleep ('cause he sleeps in the car sometimes.) as far as stuff goes, pack light, plan well, bring snacks, books, toys, lots of things to keep her busy and entertained. but bottom line is that it's crowded and stuffy and long and hard...and you just have to remember that it's all those things for little EM, too. so be patient with her and remember that no matter what she does, and no matter how rudely the snooty lady next to you is looking at you...they'll all get off that plane and forget about it. you'll do great! have fun!
I dont' know what anyone else had suggested, I didn't have time to read them all. But my bit of advice is to leave your car seat base at home. We have the same one as you (stroller too) and they are designed to be used without the base if needed so don't bother with that. She will be just as safe without it.
While in airport until you load the plane, have Emma in the stroller (they put it on plane for you without being a "carry on"), take the diaper back with toys, books, drink, food, etc. with you and check in anything else. Less hassle from check-in/security on out for you. And then just pick up your 1 large rolling luggage at baggage claim when you arrive. YOu should be able to do that and the stroller but no more than that. And maybe if you don't NEED a bunch of the stuff, Mark can bring it when he comes to lessen your load.
We did exactly this when we flew to Las Vegas in March (Cade was 10 months) and it worked like a charm. She probably will be so enthrawled with the noises and people around her that she'll be happy as a clam. Just make sure you have enough snacks to keep her busy too.
Good luck my friend! It is nerve wracking because you never know how they'll react (you'll feel this even with your next time on the plane with her) but just come prepared but not overboard!
Hope this helps and happy flying!
Just went a read a few other comments.
Don't drug your baby, don't buy her a seat, check her car seat in too like your luggage, DON"T take an umbrella stroller.. Your graco is small enough and so much more sturdy, not to mention the nice basket at bottom for purse, diaper bag, etc.. my sister ditched her umbrella on in vegas and bought one just like ours. She was MUCH happier.
just make sure she's sucking on a pacifier, eating, or drinking while taking off and landing. if she has pressure in her ears, she'll be crying and upset people around her. Take a blanket so she'll be cozy while sleeping.
Anyway, good luck! You'll do great!
p.s. whoever drops you off, have them help you check in!
You are probably already gone on your trip. But my advice is to put in her some kind of carrier, like a sling or a baby bjorn and then use the stroller to wheel all that extra stuff you need to carry on the plane. Best of luck with the travel!
k, so we did it when breanna was 3 months old, so i know it's a bit different, but....
the stroller is wonderful to have. keep it with u up to the gate, then u don't have to lug things around. definitely ask at the check in desk if there are any empty seats. if there are they will try to accommodate u by changing ur seats so emma can have her own next to u, without having to pay. they'll let u know before u board, so if they don't have an extra seat, u don't need to bring the carseat on board. if they do, i would recommend it so that emma would have a place to be strapped in and fall asleep (if she tends to fall asleep in the car)
the MOST important thing is the take off and landing, make sure she's sucking/chewing on something and it'll make her be a much happier girl the entire trip.
pull out each toy that u bring for her individually and let her play til she's bored and then move to the next...i made the mistake of too many at once and then u don't have any left over!
i bet she'll be really curious about everything going on and might fall asleep once the motion of the plane is steady, or else she'll fall asleep on the car ride home. the plane vibration is pretty soothing though to put her to sleep, at least that what seemed to work with breanna. we took the flight from hawaii to cali, 2 hour layover than 2 1/2 more hours to colorado....during the day, we had to get up at 4am and didn't get home til 9:30pm colorado time....breanna slept 1/2 of the time on each flight, a 2 1/2 hour nap the first flight and 1 hour nap the next flight.
i would expect emma to be good because everything is so new and exciting.
good luck. i stressed WAY too much before our first flight and it ended up be 100 times easier than i thought it was going to be.
if you have any problems, ask any employee in the airport/plane to help, they're usually VERY helpful, especially when they see a mom trying to do it on her own with a baby!
you guys will do great!
ps-don't forget to take pics of it! i forgot to do that with breanna :(
I used to have to do this a ton, since we lived far away from everybody. Several times across the country by myself with three kids. Don't get too worked up about it -- I think we talk ourselves into things being worse than they really are. I agree with most people's advice. I don't drug kids (that's just me), but definitely bring your good stroller to check at the gate -- no need to skimp and bring the umbrella one, unless you won't have trunk space at your destination. I like having the Baby Bjorn or other carrier too, in case the stroller isn't working for the babe, or to put the baby in for a few minutes in between gate-checking the stroller and actually getting settled in your seat -- sometimes you need both hands. With bigger kids, having tons of snacks is always my secret. Don't bring so many toys and books that your bag is super heavy -- I made that mistake once, and the child wasn't any better entertained. Talking babies won't bother anyone (don't forget the airplane is pretty loud) but of course, try to keep her happy, since no one, including you, wants to listen to a crying one. I had one that cried once for a pretty long time on a flight and it was a little nightmarish. I probably shouldn't have told you that. Good luck -- you'll do great.
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