lupa03
Especially lately with the new rules? We are taking an 7-8 hour plane trip cross country with my son who will have just turned 2 for the trip and was wondering if anyone had any good suggestions or tips for the plane ride? Things to keep them occupied? Ways to get the car seat through the airport? Can we bring our own juice cup and snacks with the new regulations? Any advice and wisdom is greatly appreciated!
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot of long haul alone with my three kids.
We always bring a car seat. They sell gizmos which attach to seats to take through airports but save your money and use a small, foldable, metal luggage cart and an extra bungee cord to secure it in place. One trick I used to do is NOT bring a stroller and my toddler could sit in this contraption if she got tired.
If there are two of you traveling, one can pull the car seat and the other push the stroller. JFYI, here are some of the gadgets sold to help with this situation.
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
You could also see if your stroller can transport the car seat. Try it at home and either wedge it into the seat or attach it to the back. Careful of tipping, especially with the latter.
Bravo for taking the car seat on board. You are smart to not check a car seat as luggage. The airlines lose and break them ALL THE TIME and it's too important a piece of safety equipment to leave it up to fate and baggage handlers. Bringing it on board means it gets to your destination with you, in good shape.
Instead of a diaper bag, use a backpack (or a backpack style diaper bag). This will free up your hands. You may want some sort of small bag for essentials. I don't take a purse when I fly.
For entertainment, get him a new toy, anything, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Keep it and give it to him once you're on the plane. I found that stickers, coloring stuff, simple plastic toys (like animals, cars, etc.) and books were better at occupying them at this age. No one will mind if you read to him.
Be sure to buy one or two new toys to give him at critical periods. One is when the plane is pushing back from the gate. Everyone has to be seated and this is tricky for toddlers. Hopefully the toy will keep him occupied, at least until you're in the air!
I actually don't recommend a portable DVD player *unless* he can watch it without sound. I doubt he'll wear the headphones at this age but you can try it at home. If you opt to bring it, make sure it either has a battery life of at least 5 hours or you have a second battery. Bring a recharger and an adapter in case of any delays.
Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on one of those tiny baby changers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don't fret security. I've never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that's the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you
-Bring slippers for him, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!
Please shelve any potty training projects until you're on the ground again. Children understand this special situation and putting them back in diapers does not really upset the process. You can't always get a toddler to facilities when traveling and they don't give you a lot of notice. Don't risk an accident.
The 3oz. limit on liquids is not enforced for those flying with children and babies in most countries so bring what she needs. There are no specific food restrictions.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
It's actually a myth that they have to drink on take-off and landing. If he falls asleep on take-off, please don't unnecessarily wake him up!
The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.
For more information, I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with kids. It's totally non-commercial and other parents have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good flight!
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot of long haul alone with my three kids.
We always bring a car seat. They sell gizmos which attach to seats to take through airports but save your money and use a small, foldable, metal luggage cart and an extra bungee cord to secure it in place. One trick I used to do is NOT bring a stroller and my toddler could sit in this contraption if she got tired.
If there are two of you traveling, one can pull the car seat and the other push the stroller. JFYI, here are some of the gadgets sold to help with this situation.
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
You could also see if your stroller can transport the car seat. Try it at home and either wedge it into the seat or attach it to the back. Careful of tipping, especially with the latter.
Bravo for taking the car seat on board. You are smart to not check a car seat as luggage. The airlines lose and break them ALL THE TIME and it's too important a piece of safety equipment to leave it up to fate and baggage handlers. Bringing it on board means it gets to your destination with you, in good shape.
Instead of a diaper bag, use a backpack (or a backpack style diaper bag). This will free up your hands. You may want some sort of small bag for essentials. I don't take a purse when I fly.
For entertainment, get him a new toy, anything, and it doesn't have to be expensive. Keep it and give it to him once you're on the plane. I found that stickers, coloring stuff, simple plastic toys (like animals, cars, etc.) and books were better at occupying them at this age. No one will mind if you read to him.
Be sure to buy one or two new toys to give him at critical periods. One is when the plane is pushing back from the gate. Everyone has to be seated and this is tricky for toddlers. Hopefully the toy will keep him occupied, at least until you're in the air!
I actually don't recommend a portable DVD player *unless* he can watch it without sound. I doubt he'll wear the headphones at this age but you can try it at home. If you opt to bring it, make sure it either has a battery life of at least 5 hours or you have a second battery. Bring a recharger and an adapter in case of any delays.
Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you'll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don't try to fit him on one of those tiny baby changers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A's use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don't fret security. I've never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that's the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there's no one in front of you
-Bring slippers for him, especially if you're not in the bulkhead!
Please shelve any potty training projects until you're on the ground again. Children understand this special situation and putting them back in diapers does not really upset the process. You can't always get a toddler to facilities when traveling and they don't give you a lot of notice. Don't risk an accident.
The 3oz. limit on liquids is not enforced for those flying with children and babies in most countries so bring what she needs. There are no specific food restrictions.
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
It's actually a myth that they have to drink on take-off and landing. If he falls asleep on take-off, please don't unnecessarily wake him up!
The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. Make sure yours' doesn't have one of those! The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they're clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.
For more information, I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with kids. It's totally non-commercial and other parents have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good flight!
Airline Travel with a car seat?
Diann C
I asked this earlier in the General Travel section, but have no replies so I am hoping to get some answers here.
I am traveling next weekend with my toddler (15 months old). We are only going for the weekend so we aren't checking any bags. I am going to be traveling with my carry-on bag and my diaper bag as well as a very active toddler. I would also like to bring her car seat along. She is a lap-sit child, but I can gate check the car seat. In the past we have always had direct flights, but in this case we have multiple lay-overs. Does anyone know that if you gate check a car seat if you then have to pick it up and take it to the next flight? What about if you pay the extra to check it as baggage? If you check it as baggage do you have to have a cover for it? What if it doesn't make it to your destination?
Would I be better off just trying to rent a car seat? Are there places in St. Louis that will do that kind of thing? I heard it's dangerous to rent car seats because you have no way of knowing if they've been in an accident or recalled or anything. I guess I'm just a little worried about traveling with lay-overs with a toddler and all that baggage.
Any advice?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children.
You are right to be concerned about rental car company seats. Many are old, expired (most are only good for 6 years) and/or missing parts. Not only that but they charge a lot for them! I had a bad experience when I was a new mother (friends arranged it for us) and a dirty old seat showed up that was too small for him. Not long ago I popped my head in a local agency to see what they had-scary! Definitely better to use your own.
I really recommend not bringing anything on board which you don't need on the aircraft. First problem is that security is sticky about liquids. You are welcome to bring whatever liquids, drinks, etc. for your child but your shampoo, etc. wont make it through.
With an active toddler, especially one who doesn't have a seat, you don't want to be hauling anything extra through the airport. Check in a suitcase with your clothes and just have what you need on the airplane.
Yes, you can gate-check your car seat. You can do this with the stroller. You can use the stroller to transport the car seat but I strap my car seat on to a small metal foldable luggage cart with an extra bungee cord. My child could even ride in this contraption (when too tired to walk).
There are plenty of gadgets to transport car seats in airports sold. The Gogokidz is often cited but I think it's overpriced. The backpack converter is a good idea if you have a stroller. You would push the stroller with the car seat on your back but I recommend switching it to the stroller when she's walking.
The best solution is to see if you can use your car seat on board. This is really the only way to fly safely with a baby. Ask nicely at check-in if the flight is full and if you can have an empty seat placed next to you.
Put the gate-check tag on your stroller anyway. If you don't manage to get your daughter a place, the seat will go down with the wheelchairs and strollers. You will then collect it at arrival either at the door of the aircraft or at the bottom of the "air stairs" if deplaning outside. Take whatever gizmo you're using to transport the car seat with you on the plane.
Never check a car seat in as luggage, especially not on the kind of flight you're taking, with multiple connections. It could too easily be lost and/or damaged in the hold. Gate-checking is better than checking it in as a bag. At least with gate-checking, you can try to use it onboard for every leg of your journey and you will know for sure how far it got. The airlines will NOT take responsibility for damage on what they consider to be a "delicate" item. Lost bags are usually returned in a couple of days but how will you leave the airport with your child? Totally unsecured?
While she doesn't have a seat on the plane, air travel is much safer than road travel. Lap children are allowed because of commercial reasons but please do try to get that seat on board. This is a very tricky age to travel. Toddlers are active and don't understand why sometimes they have to sit still.
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck and have a good flight!
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I fly a lot with my three children.
You are right to be concerned about rental car company seats. Many are old, expired (most are only good for 6 years) and/or missing parts. Not only that but they charge a lot for them! I had a bad experience when I was a new mother (friends arranged it for us) and a dirty old seat showed up that was too small for him. Not long ago I popped my head in a local agency to see what they had-scary! Definitely better to use your own.
I really recommend not bringing anything on board which you don't need on the aircraft. First problem is that security is sticky about liquids. You are welcome to bring whatever liquids, drinks, etc. for your child but your shampoo, etc. wont make it through.
With an active toddler, especially one who doesn't have a seat, you don't want to be hauling anything extra through the airport. Check in a suitcase with your clothes and just have what you need on the airplane.
Yes, you can gate-check your car seat. You can do this with the stroller. You can use the stroller to transport the car seat but I strap my car seat on to a small metal foldable luggage cart with an extra bungee cord. My child could even ride in this contraption (when too tired to walk).
There are plenty of gadgets to transport car seats in airports sold. The Gogokidz is often cited but I think it's overpriced. The backpack converter is a good idea if you have a stroller. You would push the stroller with the car seat on your back but I recommend switching it to the stroller when she's walking.
The best solution is to see if you can use your car seat on board. This is really the only way to fly safely with a baby. Ask nicely at check-in if the flight is full and if you can have an empty seat placed next to you.
Put the gate-check tag on your stroller anyway. If you don't manage to get your daughter a place, the seat will go down with the wheelchairs and strollers. You will then collect it at arrival either at the door of the aircraft or at the bottom of the "air stairs" if deplaning outside. Take whatever gizmo you're using to transport the car seat with you on the plane.
Never check a car seat in as luggage, especially not on the kind of flight you're taking, with multiple connections. It could too easily be lost and/or damaged in the hold. Gate-checking is better than checking it in as a bag. At least with gate-checking, you can try to use it onboard for every leg of your journey and you will know for sure how far it got. The airlines will NOT take responsibility for damage on what they consider to be a "delicate" item. Lost bags are usually returned in a couple of days but how will you leave the airport with your child? Totally unsecured?
While she doesn't have a seat on the plane, air travel is much safer than road travel. Lap children are allowed because of commercial reasons but please do try to get that seat on board. This is a very tricky age to travel. Toddlers are active and don't understand why sometimes they have to sit still.
For more information, nine years ago I wrote an article on this subject. It's based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with children. It's totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Good luck and have a good flight!
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