Flying with a 3 month old (and a breast pump)?

[Donna Metler]

I have a chance to go to an out of town workshop in a few weeks, which
happens to be in a place that we have friends who haven't gotten to meet
Alli yet, so DH and I are planning to fly up for the weekend. It's about an
hour, non-stop flight. This will be the first time we've travelled with her
since she was born, so it will definitely be a new experience:

1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it? She
really doesn't like it if she isn't obviously moving-she's fine in the
stroller or when the car is moving (and usually sleeps), but if you stop,
she complains, and I know I don't feel motion on a plane unless I look out
the window. I can just wear her for the trip, and I suspect she'll snuggle
up, nurse, and sleep if I do.

2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how hard would
it be to bring her stroller? What about sleeping in a hotel? She usually
sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed. I don't think she's
likely to be willing to sleep in her car seat.

3) I will have to pump during this trip, both because Alli doesn't nurse
reliably yet and because I will be away from her for 8 hours during the
workshop, so will have to pump so that daddy has milk to feed her and to
avoid my breasts complaining (according to the workshop sponsors, pumping
and storing milk won't be a problem). I have a Medela Lactina, with the big,
clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to try to
take it as a carry on? If the latter, will it cause trouble in security?
Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a feeding
or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since I'll
only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?

4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I will
both be traveling with her.

Anything else I should know? Thanks!

--
Donna DeVore Metler
Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
And Allison Joy, 11/26/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)

[emilymr]

We've flown 3 times with Micah (he's 3 1/2 months) and it's been pretty
easy.

1. We bring the carseat with us to the plane; if there are extra seats,
the airlines have let us take it on with us for free (this has happened
every time we've flown Southwest, and once when we flew American). If
there aren't extra seats, they check the carseat at the gate and we pick
it up again coming off the plane. They also do this for the stroller,
btw. I usually hold/nurse Micah for about half the flight, but something
about the noise and vibration of the plane knocks him right out -- and
he's a baby who wants to be held ALL THE TIME. Last time, I strapped him
in for takeoff, and then when he woke up, I picked him up and nursed him.
Anyway, my suggestion is to check at the gate counter if there are extra
seats and if you can take the carseat; that way, it's there if you
need/want it. Although for such a short flight, you're probably fine
holding Alli.

2. We've brought the stroller (it's one of those travel systems where the
carseat snaps in). It's a royal pain in the airport (you have to fold it
up and put it through the security sensor, along with the carseat), but
it's also nice to be able to push the baby while hauling along all the
other stuff. And I thought it was *very* useful to have at all of our
destinations -- but we use the stroller all the time anyway; if you never
use it normally, chances are you won't use it on vacation either.

In the hotel, we got a room with 2 queen beds and Micah and I slept on one
and DH slept on the other. Some hotels have cribs although I don't know
if I'd put Micah in one.

3. I only had a handheld pump, which I checked. But I also checked
frozen breast milk -- can't remember exactly how I insulated in, but I got
the method from mkb so if you search there, it's the message from the
woman who transports frozen moose meat or something like that. ;)

4. Didn't need any extra documentation for Micah. They fill out a little
ticket for him at the gate, I guess so in case anything happens there'll
be a record that he was on the flight.

Honestly, flying with him was *much* easier than I had feared! Have a
great trip! :)

Em
mama to Micah, 11/14/04

[[email protected]]

Donna Metler wrote:

> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?
She
> really doesn't like it if she isn't obviously moving-she's fine in
the
> stroller or when the car is moving (and usually sleeps), but if you
stop,
> she complains, and I know I don't feel motion on a plane unless I
look out
> the window. I can just wear her for the trip, and I suspect she'll
snuggle
> up, nurse, and sleep if I do.

I've done a lot of 1-hour flights with babies, I think it is tons
easier to check the car seat, especially if the baby doesn't like it
that much. If you are very very concerned with safety though, it is
technically safer to have her in the car seat.

For some perspective, it is safer, statistically, to fly without the
car seat than to drive the same distance with it. But it is safer to
fly with it than without.

>
> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how
hard would
> it be to bring her stroller? What about sleeping in a hotel? She
usually
> sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed. I don't think
she's
> likely to be willing to sleep in her car seat.

Strollers are usually pretty easy to bring, because most airlines let
you gate check them. Call the airline and double check.

You could request a crib from the hotel, or I have in the past just put
the baby on the floor on a blanket. Could also just sleep with her for
this trip.

>
> 3) I will have to pump during this trip, both because Alli doesn't
nurse
> reliably yet and because I will be away from her for 8 hours during
the
> workshop, so will have to pump so that daddy has milk to feed her and
to
> avoid my breasts complaining (according to the workshop sponsors,
pumping
> and storing milk won't be a problem). I have a Medela Lactina, with
the big,
> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to
try to
> take it as a carry on? If the latter, will it cause trouble in
security?

I doubt it will cause any problems with security. I've taken my Medela
pump in style with no trouble. I would carry it on -- what if they lost
it? Or luggage was delayed for a day or two?

> Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a
feeding
> or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since
I'll
> only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?

I would pack frozen milk with ice packs and use that the first day.
Call the hotel and ask for a small fridge in your room. Use that to
store milk you pump while there, and use the new pumped milk after
using up the frozen.

>
> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I
will
> both be traveling with her.

Photocopy of the birth certificate. Call the airline and double check
-- if you don't buy her a seat, you will need verification of age
(although for a three month old, they won't look at it).

>
> Anything else I should know? Thanks!

Travelling with a baby this age is not that hard. 18 months is where it
gets nasty :).

Jan

>
> --
> Donna DeVore Metler
> Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
> Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
> And Allison Joy, 11/26/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)

[Mary W.]

Donna Metler wrote:

> I have a chance to go to an out of town workshop in a few weeks, which
> happens to be in a place that we have friends who haven't gotten to meet
> Alli yet, so DH and I are planning to fly up for the weekend. It's about an
> hour, non-stop flight. This will be the first time we've travelled with her
> since she was born, so it will definitely be a new experience:
>
> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it? She
> really doesn't like it if she isn't obviously moving-she's fine in the
> stroller or when the car is moving (and usually sleeps), but if you stop,
> she complains, and I know I don't feel motion on a plane unless I look out
> the window. I can just wear her for the trip, and I suspect she'll snuggle
> up, nurse, and sleep if I do.

We almost always buy a seat. First, its safer. Second, my girls both
readily fall (fell) asleep in the car seat, especially with the noise
of the plane. That said, our last trip was a last minute deal (funeral)
and involved two short hops (1-1.5 hours). I held my six month old and
it went very well. I also like buying a seat because then you know your
car seat will arrive at the end location. It was a leap of faith for
me to check DD2's car seat and trust that it'd make it to Milwaukee.
When we flew home from vacation at Christmas we were on the shuttle
to the parking lot with a couple that had a baby just a few weeks older
than our DD2. They had checked their carseat and the airline had lost
it so they were just going to hold thier son in the car for thier ride
home. We ended up giving them DD2's infant seat, since it was the last
time we were going to use it (having moved her to her convertable seat
already, so we had that installed in our car).

>
> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how hard would
> it be to bring her stroller? What about sleeping in a hotel? She usually
> sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed. I don't think she's
> likely to be willing to sleep in her car seat.

We always bring the stroller and gate check it. I find it easier to get
through the airport by being able to load the stroller with baby and
bags. Plus, if you have an infant car seat and a snap in stroller, it
makes transporting the carseat through the airport easier.

>
> 3) I will have to pump during this trip, both because Alli doesn't nurse
> reliably yet and because I will be away from her for 8 hours during the
> workshop, so will have to pump so that daddy has milk to feed her and to
> avoid my breasts complaining (according to the workshop sponsors, pumping
> and storing milk won't be a problem). I have a Medela Lactina, with the big,
> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to try to
> take it as a carry on? If the latter, will it cause trouble in security?
> Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a feeding
> or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since I'll
> only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?

No idea on security. When I travel I usually bring my Isis, but then
I only pump if DD decides to skip a feeding and I'm desparate. I'd
probably try to carry it on to make sure it gets there and is in
working shape. I think security would just ask you to turn it on,
but I don't know. As for bringing milk, you'd probably be better
off bringing freshly refrigerated milk in a cooler with ice
packs since refrigerated milk can last up to 7 or 8 days in the
fridge, whereas thawed milk needs to be used in 24 hours.

As for hotels, make sure you have a fridge in your room and someway
for DH to heat up the milk, if needed. For sleeping, we always
get a king size bed and baby sleeps between us (but then that's
how she sleeps at home!). Some hotels will have cribs available,
just request it (usually ends up being a pack n play type crib).

>
> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I will
> both be traveling with her.
>
You shouldn't need any documentation. At least we don't bring
any for either of our kids.

Mary W.

[Donna]

"Donna Metler" > wrote in message
.. .

> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

At three months, I would recommend checking the carseat. Your baby will be
happier on your lap, or in your arms, I would imagine.


> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how hard
> would
> it be to bring her stroller?

I never found strollers that useful, and I certainly wouldn't check one.
And if you're flying to the north, or the northeast, you're going to be
dealing with cold weather and snow - no point to a stroller, really.

What about sleeping in a hotel? She usually
> sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed. I don't think she's
> likely to be willing to sleep in her car seat.

Call the hotel and arrange for a portacrib in your room. Most hotels will
have one. Bring sheets and blankets from home, so that they will smell
familiar to her.

>
> 3) I will have to pump during this trip, both because Alli doesn't nurse
> reliably yet and because I will be away from her for 8 hours during the
> workshop, so will have to pump so that daddy has milk to feed her and to
> avoid my breasts complaining (according to the workshop sponsors, pumping
> and storing milk won't be a problem). I have a Medela Lactina, with the
> big,
> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to try to
> take it as a carry on?

Carry on.

> If the latter, will it cause trouble in security?

When I've flown with my breast pump it wasn't a problem. Once, one of the
screeners had to ask me what it was, but other than that, not an issue.

> Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a
> feeding
> or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since I'll
> only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?

I can't imagine this will be a problem if you carry the pump on. I used to
travel for business while I was nursing my daughter, and I was always flying
home with my breast pump compartment full of bags of refrigerated milk.
Take a couple of frozen bags. I am pretty sure it will be fine.

>
> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I will
> both be traveling with her.

I believe you are going to need a copy of her birth certificate, or, if you
haven't received that yet, some kind of hospital documentation of her birth.
I carried a print out from my medical chart when I flew with my son before
his birth certificate arrived in the mail.

Naturally you know about nursing on the descent to keep the ears from
hurting, right?

Best of luck!

Donna

[The Watsons]

"Donna Metler" > wrote in message
.. .
> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

Take it on. She'll be asleep for most of the trip.

> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring?

Playmat. They're good for sleeping on, too.

> For example, how hard would
> it be to bring her stroller?

Not. Gatecheck it, and you'll be one of the first ones on anyways.

> 3) I will have to pump during this trip,
>I have a Medela Lactina, with the big,
> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to try to
> take it as a carry on?

Carryon. There is a leather case with handles for it, so you don't have to
deal with the clunky case.


>If the latter, will it cause trouble in security?

*snerks* Only if they get stupid. ;)

> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I will
> both be traveling with her.

Dunno-we didn't.

> Anything else I should know? Thanks!

Bring a paci or something else for her to suck on to pop her ears that you
can keep a finger on to get her to suck.

Jess

[Mary W.]

The Watsons wrote:
> "Donna Metler" > wrote in message
> .. .
>
>
>>For example, how hard would
>>it be to bring her stroller?
>
>
> Not. Gatecheck it, and you'll be one of the first ones on anyways.
>

This is airline dependent. Many airlines no longer preboard
people with infants. That said, even if they don't preboard
ask the attendant that is doing the boarding if you can board
early. Often they'll let you.

Mary W.

[Nikki]

Donna Metler wrote:

I flew with Hunter at 3mos.

> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

I checked mine at the door of the plane and got it right as we landed. In
hindsite I would have sent it with the luggage because it was a major pain
lugging it through the airport.

> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring?

Two changes of clothes for baby and a fresh shirt for you. Small garbage
bags.

For example, how
> hard would it be to bring her stroller?

I didn't but then I didn't use a stroller at home either ;-) I think you
can check them at the door of the plane and then get them right away as you
get off. That might make getting through the airport eaiser?

What about sleeping in a
> hotel?

We coslept but if you don't want to do that you can ask for a crib from the
hote...which I wouldn't really like to do. If I didn't want to co-sleep I'd
empty out the suitcase, line it with a blanket, and put it on the floor or
bed. Actually Hunter didn't roll around at 3mos so I just put him on the
regular bed.

> 3) I will have to pump during this trip,

Sorry, I don't know. I didn't take the pump or milk since mine was a
pleasure trip and not a work one :-)

> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli?

I didn't but that was before the heightened security.

> Anything else I should know? Thanks!

Have fun :-D.


--
Nikki

[Nanm]

Donna,

Most of your questions have been answered, but I will tell you that i
have never had a problem with the pump through security, (Pump In
Style), no one ever even asked what was in there, after I told them it
wasn't a computer. I have flown with my little guy about 6 or 7 times
in the past year.
I always buy a seat for my baby if I am going alone, if my husband is
with me, and the flight is an hour or less, we share the holding. At 3
months old, and two of you to hold her, I wouldn't bother with the
seat.

Bring the stroller, you will be glad you did when you get there. She
will go in it when you are on the train/subway/bus. If you are renting
a car, bring the car seat, but check it In the back of a cab, you
really just hold the kid anyhow - I know, dangerous, but that is what
people who live in cities do.

And, if you have frozen breast milk, and put it in a coller with a
cool-pack, and there isn't a lot of empty space in the cooler, it will
stay frozen for at least a half-day.

Nancy

[Nanm]

Donna,

A few people mentioned you need a copy of her birth certificate. This
isn't the case on domestic flights, and for international travel, you
*really* should get the kid a passport. Once in a while, if the kid
looks to be over the 2-year limit for lap-sitting, it might be a good
idea to cut back the hassle. However, I don't think that will be a
worry for you and your 3-month old baby!
If you really are uneasy on this, you should phone the airline to ease
your mind.

Nancy

[Lucy]

"Donna Metler" > wrote in message
.. .
> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

It's safer to bring the carseat and pay for a seat for her, but for such a
short trip, I'd be tempted to hold her.

> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how hard
would
> it be to bring her stroller? What about sleeping in a hotel? She usually
> sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed.

It's easy to bring a stroller if the airports you are using allow gate
checks, because then you can keep her in it all the way to the gate. Just a
note though - the airport I fly out of allows gate checks, but the two
destinations I've been to so far with DD do not. When that's the case, you
end up having to check the stroller, so be prepared for the possibility.

You could check with the hotel if they can provide a crib in your room. Most
will, I believe. You'll probably want to bring blankets and favourite
stuffed animals etc to make it feel a bit more like home.

> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to try to
> take it as a carry on? If the latter, will it cause trouble in security?
> Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a
feeding
> or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since I'll
> only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?

Carry on the pump if you can manage it. I don't think security will have any
problems with it, as long as you tell them what it is.

> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I will
> both be traveling with her.

Sorry, I have no idea on this. I use a passport for DD.

[Lucy]

"Donna" > wrote in message
...
> And if you're flying to the north, or the northeast, you're going to be
> dealing with cold weather and snow - no point to a stroller, really.

I live in the north with the cold weather and the snow. I still use a
stroller from time to time. Mine does very well in the snow, even in the
woods and other places off the beaten track. :o)

Lucy

[The Watsons]

"Nanm" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Bring the stroller, you will be glad you did when you get there. She
> will go in it when you are on the train/subway/bus. If you are renting
> a car, bring the car seat, but check it In the back of a cab, you
> really just hold the kid anyhow - I know, dangerous, but that is what
> people who live in cities do.

AFAIK, it's illegal in all 50 states to have an infant in a moving vehicle
and not have them buckled in a carseat. I'm not sure if a cab company would
accept the liability of an infant without a carrier, it'd be a very *cold*
day in the lowest level of hell before I would have sproglette in a moving
vehicle without her car seat, and I'm in one of the fifth largest cities in
the US, so I think I qualify as someone in a big city.

Jess

[April]

Sorry to butt in without a proper introduction (I'll intro myself soon) but
I have been on MANY domestic flights with our daughter (now 2), and I would
seriously recommend taking a copy of the birth certificate. Some airlines
(or some agents) can get picky....it has to do with proving that the child
is yours, as well as proving their age.

Also, I'd say gate check the seat and the stroller (if you have a small
lighterweight stroller, that would be the best one to take). Gate checked
items are much less likely to get lost than checked bags that ride through
the entire airport before they get to (hopefully) the right plane.

Good luck,
April
Mommy to Abby (10-02)
"Nanm" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Donna,
>
> A few people mentioned you need a copy of her birth certificate. This
> isn't the case on domestic flights, and for international travel, you
> *really* should get the kid a passport. Once in a while, if the kid
> looks to be over the 2-year limit for lap-sitting, it might be a good
> idea to cut back the hassle. However, I don't think that will be a
> worry for you and your 3-month old baby!
> If you really are uneasy on this, you should phone the airline to ease
> your mind.
>
> Nancy
>

[Melania]

Donna Metler wrote:
> I have a chance to go to an out of town workshop in a few weeks,
which
> happens to be in a place that we have friends who haven't gotten to
meet
> Alli yet, so DH and I are planning to fly up for the weekend. It's
about an
> hour, non-stop flight. This will be the first time we've travelled
with her
> since she was born, so it will definitely be a new experience:
>
> 1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?
She
> really doesn't like it if she isn't obviously moving-she's fine in
the
> stroller or when the car is moving (and usually sleeps), but if you
stop,
> she complains, and I know I don't feel motion on a plane unless I
look out
> the window. I can just wear her for the trip, and I suspect she'll
snuggle
> up, nurse, and sleep if I do.

I always checked the carseat, since I never bought a seat for ds (we
flew all the time, and it would just be too much of an expense). He
nursed and then slept in my lap for the whole flight. He is a terrible
flyer now, at 25 mo, but was a dream till he was about 16 mo. Even our
epic trip to Sri Lanka when he was 21 mo wasn't that bad, really.

>
> 2) What other baby items would be good to bring? For example, how
hard would
> it be to bring her stroller? What about sleeping in a hotel? She
usually
> sleeps in the same room with us, but in her own bed. I don't think
she's
> likely to be willing to sleep in her car seat.

Stroller for us was always easy to take through the airport, security,
etc. We just gate checked it.

We got a room with 2 beds and ds and I shared one while dh got his own.
Worked fine.

Melania
Mom to Joffre (Jan 11, 2003)
and #2 (edd May 21, 2005)
>
> 3) I will have to pump during this trip, both because Alli doesn't
nurse
> reliably yet and because I will be away from her for 8 hours during
the
> workshop, so will have to pump so that daddy has milk to feed her and
to
> avoid my breasts complaining (according to the workshop sponsors,
pumping
> and storing milk won't be a problem). I have a Medela Lactina, with
the big,
> clunky case. Is it better to check this (and risk losing it), or to
try to
> take it as a carry on? If the latter, will it cause trouble in
security?
> Also, is there any good way to bring enough frozen breast milk for a
feeding
> or two, so that I have enough for SURE for daddy to feed her, since
I'll
> only have one night to pump before the workshop the next day?
>
> 4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I
will
> both be traveling with her.
>
> Anything else I should know? Thanks!
>
> --
> Donna DeVore Metler
> Orff Music Specialist/Band/Choir
> Mother to Angel Brian Anthony 1/1/2002, 22 weeks, severe PE/HELLP
> And Allison Joy, 11/26/04 (35 weeks, PIH, Pre-term labor)

[Leslie]

<<What about sleeping in a hotel?>>

We make a pallet on the floor if we don't want to co-sleep. I don't
trust hotel cribs after one fell apart on me. Also, they don't always
have them available.

Leslie

[The Watsons]

"Leslie" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> We make a pallet on the floor if we don't want to co-sleep. I don't
> trust hotel cribs after one fell apart on me. Also, they don't always
> have them available.

I'm seeming to recall that my parents had a travel crib dingus that folded
up into its' own travel case. Do they still make those?

Jess

[JJ]

I traveled with DD at 3 and 4 months on 1, 2 and 5 hour trips.


1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

DD doesn't like her carseat much either if still, but it was OK on the
plane, and nice to buy her a seat and strap her in, especially since on
of the legs was extremely turbulent. (she loved the turbulence & went
right to sleep) I mostly worried about safety, so bought her a seat.
Our first trip we had a nightmarish experience with a psycho USAIR
flight attendant who thought breastfeeding was offensive (see old
posts on this, and I will never fly them agaiin) It actually worked a
bit better for me to pump immediately before the 5 hour flight so I
could strap her into the seat, give her EBM on takeoff, and have her
fall asleep strapped in. (DH has club access because of work so the
club room has a very nice private area to pump in.)

2) What other baby items would be good to bring?

Our first trip we brought the stroller and gate checked it- the second
time I didn;t bother- just put a shoulder strap on the car seat base,
carried her in the Bjorn, and carried the car seat. The Bjorn was/is a
lifesaver for us. Most hotels will give you a pack and play. I wish
we'd brought the monitor on our last trip- we were staying in a hotel
with friends, their room was right next to ours; if we'd had a monitor,
we could have spent time next door with them, instead of taking turns
watching her nap. Do bring a port a crib sheet from home, preferably
one she slept on at least once for the familiar smell.

3) CARRY IT ON! nearly lost ours and I nearly lost it. The security
guards will know what it is or else they are on their first day on the
job.

4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I
will
both be traveling with her.

You probably don't if you are both with her, but if you have an
original birth certificate, particularly if leaving the country (even
US/ Canada) may as well bring it along. especially if you buy her a
seat- seemed they were more interested iin this. Possibly since DH
accidentally entered her birth year as 1904 on the e-check in...

Good luck! DD is now 6 months old and we have 5 more flights in the
next three months.......I figure, I spent years traveling and listening
to crying babies and now it is my turn. I was rreally worried when DD
screamed for an hour on first flight until some nasty woman yelled at
me when she got off the plane and I immediately realized that anyone
who would make such a comment was a B$#%$ and not worth being upset
over. Most people are incredibly kind and supportive.

[JJ]

I traveled with DD at 3 and 4 months on 1, 2 and 5 hour trips.


1) Are we better off taking the carseat on the plane, or checking it?

DD doesn't like her carseat much either if still, but it was OK on the
plane, and nice to buy her a seat and strap her in, especially since on
of the legs was extremely turbulent. (she loved the turbulence & went
right to sleep) I mostly worried about safety, so bought her a seat.
Our first trip we had a nightmarish experience with a psycho USAIR
flight attendant who thought breastfeeding was offensive (see old
posts on this, and I will never fly them agaiin) It actually worked a
bit better for me to pump immediately before the 5 hour flight so I
could strap her into the seat, give her EBM on takeoff, and have her
fall asleep strapped in. (DH has club access because of work so the
club room has a very nice private area to pump in.)

2) What other baby items would be good to bring?

Our first trip we brought the stroller and gate checked it- the second
time I didn;t bother- just put a shoulder strap on the car seat base,
carried her in the Bjorn, and carried the car seat. The Bjorn was/is a
lifesaver for us. Most hotels will give you a pack and play. I wish
we'd brought the monitor on our last trip- we were staying in a hotel
with friends, their room was right next to ours; if we'd had a monitor,
we could have spent time next door with them, instead of taking turns
watching her nap. Do bring a port a crib sheet from home, preferably
one she slept on at least once for the familiar smell.

3) CARRY IT ON! nearly lost ours and I nearly lost it. The security
guards will know what it is or else they are on their first day on the
job.

4) Do I need to have any extra ID or documentation for Alli? DH and I
will
both be traveling with her.

You probably don't if you are both with her, but if you have an
original birth certificate, particularly if leaving the country (even
US/ Canada) may as well bring it along. especially if you buy her a
seat- seemed they were more interested iin this. Possibly since DH
accidentally entered her birth year as 1904 on the e-check in...

Good luck! DD is now 6 months old and we have 5 more flights in the
next three months.......I figure, I spent years traveling and listening
to crying babies and now it is my turn. I was rreally worried when DD
screamed for an hour on first flight until some nasty woman yelled at
me when she got off the plane and I immediately realized that anyone
who would make such a comment was a B$#%$ and not worth being upset
over. Most people are incredibly kind and supportive.

[Lucy]

"The Watsons" > wrote in message
news:LxQUd.82136$Yu.13399@fed1read01...
>
> I'm seeming to recall that my parents had a travel crib dingus that folded
> up into its' own travel case. Do they still make those?

Yes. We have a Pack 'n' Play, if that's what you mean. We bring it when
we're visiting family, but it's still a bit cumbersome to cart around, so if
we're staying in a hotel, we tend to use theirs.

Lucy

[Hillary Israeli]

In <ZsNUd.82113$Yu.39328@fed1read01>,
The Watsons > wrote:

*
*"Nanm" > wrote in message
roups.com...
*> Bring the stroller, you will be glad you did when you get there. She
*> will go in it when you are on the train/subway/bus. If you are renting
*> a car, bring the car seat, but check it In the back of a cab, you
*> really just hold the kid anyhow - I know, dangerous, but that is what
*> people who live in cities do.
*
*AFAIK, it's illegal in all 50 states to have an infant in a moving vehicle
*and not have them buckled in a carseat. I'm not sure if a cab company would
*accept the liability of an infant without a carrier, it'd be a very *cold*

I have never done it or seen it done, but I am told by some folks I know
with kids in NYC that people do routinely take them in cabs w/o a carseat.
Also, there are "nature tour" companies in the Outer Banks of NC that take
you in a 4WD SUV on the beach, and they will take infants and children
without a carseat.

Just FWIW. I certainly am not advocating the practice, just saying that
yeah, it is possible.

--
Hillary Israeli, VMD
Lafayette Hill/PA/USA/Earth
"Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it is
too dark to read." --Groucho Marx

[Nanm]

I am embarrased to say, but I have ridden in cabs in NYC, Chicago and
DC with the kid on my lap. I have also put him in the car seat,
without the carseat being attached to the car. Never hear one word
from the driver.

We city dwellers seem to think cabs operate in their own universe, and
they never get in a crash. I would never drive in my own car without
the kid in the seat.

[Lucy]

"Nanm" > wrote in message
oups.com...

> We city dwellers seem to think cabs operate in their own universe, and
> they never get in a crash. I would never drive in my own car without
> the kid in the seat.

Having seen the state of most of the cabs in Chicago it seems to me they
must get into crashes on a daily basis.......

[Donna Metler]

"Lucy" > wrote in message
...
> "Nanm" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
> > We city dwellers seem to think cabs operate in their own universe, and
> > they never get in a crash. I would never drive in my own car without
> > the kid in the seat.
>
> Having seen the state of most of the cabs in Chicago it seems to me they
> must get into crashes on a daily basis.......
>
>
Most of the cabs I've been in here are old enough that installing a carseat
correctly would be a major pain, and rather time consuming when the meter is
running. We usually rent a car, so I'm hoping that the carseat will just
snap in and out with LATCH.

[The Watsons]

"Lucy" > wrote in message
...
> Yes. We have a Pack 'n' Play, if that's what you mean. We bring it when
> we're visiting family, but it's still a bit cumbersome to cart around, so
> if
> we're staying in a hotel, we tend to use theirs.

It was definently not a playpen-I'm not sure if my parents even *owned* a
playpen the whole time we were kids. I'll try to find it on another break
from the lymphatic system.

Jess

[[email protected]]

I am surprised no one has mentioned it yet, but indispensible for me
when travelling was some sort of baby carrier / sling. Best is a wrap,
but easier is a Mai Tai or pouch.

Check out http://mamatoto.org/ or www.thebabywearer.com (need to login
to use forums, but free and worth it).

Jose

[Amy]

JJ wrote:

> Good luck! DD is now 6 months old and we have 5 more flights in the
> next three months.......I figure, I spent years traveling and
listening
> to crying babies and now it is my turn. I was rreally worried when
DD
> screamed for an hour on first flight until some nasty woman yelled at
> me when she got off the plane and I immediately realized that anyone
> who would make such a comment was a B$#%$ and not worth being upset
> over. Most people are incredibly kind and supportive.

Wow, people are unbelievable. I would've been tempted to make
something up - like, "Gosh, I know that people who travel with children
are just SUCH an inconvenience to the rest of the world, but both of my
parents and my two younger brothers died tragically in a car accident
two days ago, and we're here for the funeral... We didn't have time to
make other arrangements for our child..." If you say it in that 'nice
as pie' tone of voice, anyone with a conscience will feel guilty for
the rest of her life.

But I'm evil, I do things like that... >:)

I make a point to tell people when their kids are being good. I
recently flew back from Florida and a little girl a few rows ahead of
me was chattering cutely the whole way. Her parents kept hushing her,
even though she was being an angel. When we deplaned, I caught her
Dad's eye and said, "She was just such a good girl, you must be awfully
proud..." or something. I always like flying when there are kids on
board, because I feel that I'm safer (completely flawed logic, I know,
but I don't want to think about it. It works for me).

Amy

[Melania]

Amy wrote:
> JJ wrote:
>
> > Good luck! DD is now 6 months old and we have 5 more flights in
the
> > next three months.......I figure, I spent years traveling and
> listening
> > to crying babies and now it is my turn. I was rreally worried
when
> DD
> > screamed for an hour on first flight until some nasty woman yelled
at
> > me when she got off the plane and I immediately realized that
anyone
> > who would make such a comment was a B$#%$ and not worth being upset
> > over. Most people are incredibly kind and supportive.
>
> Wow, people are unbelievable. I would've been tempted to make
> something up - like, "Gosh, I know that people who travel with
children
> are just SUCH an inconvenience to the rest of the world, but both of
my
> parents and my two younger brothers died tragically in a car accident
> two days ago, and we're here for the funeral... We didn't have time
to
> make other arrangements for our child..." If you say it in that 'nice
> as pie' tone of voice, anyone with a conscience will feel guilty for
> the rest of her life.
>
> But I'm evil, I do things like that... >:)
>
> I make a point to tell people when their kids are being good. I
> recently flew back from Florida and a little girl a few rows ahead of
> me was chattering cutely the whole way. Her parents kept hushing
her,
> even though she was being an angel. When we deplaned, I caught her
> Dad's eye and said, "She was just such a good girl, you must be
awfully
> proud..." or something.

That's what I do, too (as well as the smile of "boy have I been there!"
when a child is crying or restless.

On one flight, there was a little boy (maybe 2.5 or 3) who was quite
scared during the descent and crying a lot. A slightly older little
girl (4 or 4.5) nearby brought him over one of her toys to play with
and asked the mom if she could do anything to make him feel better!!

I've had older kids give ds crayons and colouring sheets on planes, as
well as tirelessly play peek-a-boo with him - - it's pretty wonderful!

Melania
Mom to Joffre (Jan 11, 2003)
and #2 (edd May 21, 2005)
I always like flying when there are kids on
> board, because I feel that I'm safer (completely flawed logic, I
know,
> but I don't want to think about it. It works for me).
>
> Amy

[JJ]

Wow, people are unbelievable. I would've been tempted to make
something up - like, "Gosh, I know that people who travel with children

are just SUCH an inconvenience to the rest of the world, but both of my

parents and my two younger brothers died tragically in a car accident
two days ago, and we're here for the funeral... We didn't have time to

make other arrangements for our child..." If you say it in that 'nice
as pie' tone of voice, anyone with a conscience will feel guilty for
the rest of her life.

LOL

Ironically, several other people commented on how well she did. I
figure the woman who made the comment did me a favor. Before she said
anything, I was feeling guilty and self concious. Afterwards, I
realized how ridiculous it was for someone to get mad. Obviously given
our travel plans this spring I got over it. :)

I remember one long flight back when I was traveling for work quite a
bit- a little boy about 4-5 traveling with his dad was behind me, bored
out of his mind, and sang for 3 hours, over and over "Bok Bok, doin'
the chicken BOK BOK" and kicking the seat in time.
It was so annoying it was actually cute and funny. This was 4 years
ago and I still get that song stuck in my head sometimes. So does DH-
even though he wasn't there, I have sung it enough to infect him too.

great- there it is again.....bok bok.
jj