tips for airplane travel?

[riogirl71]

We need to take a long trip overseas with bean when he will be 5 mos old. Any of you go on long trips or any airplane trips, did you buy a seat or did bean go on lap? Any advice on what to take or how to travel. How much did you pay and did he/she get a luggage allowance?
PS - we can't afford 1st class

[sugabeanzs]

Hey, my dad is an airline pilot so hopefully I can help a little. I would say just keep em on your lap. They are free. And yes they do get a bag for themselves. (I dunno if all airlines are this way, you can call them and ask though). Also, when you go up and down in the plane it is rough on their ears. Since you are BFing, when you go up in the plane feed the baby and when you are going down feed the baby. It helps with their ears to pop and pressure right. If they seem to cry a ton it may be their ears hurting so try BFing to make them pop (you know how we chew on gum? Same thing). Hope this helped a little!

[CarolineP]

We took our first short plane trip (2.5 hours) when DD was 5 months old. She sat on our lap for the whole journey (she travelled free) and I breastfed her on the way up and down to help with the cabin pressure on her ears. I also pumped and froze some milk a few weeks beforehand and had two bottles of breast milk for the journey for extra security.

She slept most of the way and it as a painless experience. Having travelled several times since (same journey time), it is definitely harder as she has got older (more mobile and sleeps less in the day time) - that 1st experience was the best so far!!!

Good luck
CarolineP

[2ndtimer]

We did the "lap" travel at 3 months. It was not bad at all. We brought the car seat and car seat base and stroller with us. On the flight there we did a door check with the base & stroller and since the flight was not full we were allowed to keep the baby in the car seat & strap it into a seat. On the way back the flight was full so we checked in all 3 items at the plane door & held the baby. It was much easier than I expected. I had just stopped breast feeding at at that time,but it was not a problem because you are allowed to bring enough formula for your travel time. I think I packed 3-4 bottles in the diaper bag.
Have fun.
2ndtimer

[kholtan]

A few hours is one thing but an overseas flight is another. I would HIGHLY suggest getting a seat for the baby. two couples we know just went to FIJI together with their young babies and one got the seat and the other didn't. The couple that didn't said after a 15 hour flight their baby never got more than a couple hours straight of sleeping because they needed to move a bit themselves and would wake the baby. In the end their baby was a HOT MESS by landing. They were never more sorry they said.

Like I said, I few hours or going inside the US is one thing but I would say anything over 8 hours total needs a car seat and their own seat. Also, if you check your car seat you never know if you'll get it at the same time as when you land. I would check the car seat at the door for sure.

I've traveled in the states with babies on my lap and that was easy but IMO it depends on how long the travel time.

[Rinnie]

Rio...Just checking on you guys
I have to travel overseas when the bean is about 3 mos old, so I've already been reading about it....jumping the gun I know
Many international airlines have bassinets that you can put the baby in...although some can go on the floor, the best ones attach on the wall in a bulkhead seat. You have to book early to get them & you have to take the baby out if there's turbulence but it's much easier than holding them.
I'm not sure any american airlines have them, but check and see.

Hope this helps

Rin

[riogirl71]

Thank you for all the replies, our flights are bronken into 3 hours, 5 hours and 8 hours. I will check on the bassinet. Rinnie! So good to see you and congrats on a boy - boys are awesome, I love my little guy!

[iriecricket]

Riogirl,
I'd also highly recommend getting a seat for the little one -- it's just so much safer if there's any turbulence, as well as for takeoff and landing. We're taking our soon-to-be 11 week old with us on Wednesday for two weeks in Jamaica to visit family. She's got her own seat.

You might find this site useful: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

You may also want to check out www.flyertalk.com -- there's a special forum just for those traveling with children: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-children-221/

Good luck and safe travels!