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Here's the scoop on flying with babies
(infants under a year old) from a parent who goes everywhere with her little
one. Her tips are just what you need, particularly her fabulous
idea for how to turn the airsickness bag into a hand puppet! |
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At the Airport |
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If you are traveling solo with baby, you may be able to get
an Escort Pass for your spouse or other helper to help you take things to
the gate, but he or she will not be allowed to board the plane to help.
Airlines vary in their rules about this, and post 9/11 there are many that
no longer allow this. Call ahead to find out if your air carrier will issue
an Escort Pass or has staff to help you if you need it. Sometimes, other
sympathetic passengers and flight attendants will help out, but don’t
count on it. Instead, do a dry-run at home before you leave to make sure
you can manage everything by yourself, if worse comes to worse. |
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Getting through Security |
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It seems as though every airport is different when it comes
to how to checking families with children. We've experienced everything
from fairly intrusive pat-down searches to just walking on through without
even so much as a glance beneath our stroller. Usually, it is somewhere
in the middle. To be safe, plan to be at the airport early to be prepared
for delays getting through security. If your baby is in a sling or back-pack
type carrier, you may have to remove him or her and hold the child out in
front of you as you walk through. The stroller will usually have to be emptied
and screened manually by a checker. Some airports do not require that you
remove the child from a Baby Bjorn, but you will have to send a car seat
carrier and folding stroller through the X-ray machine. Right after 9/11,
one mom on the news reported having to chug breast milk out of her baby's
bottle to prove that it was, in fact, breast milk and not something else.
Thankfully, they seem to have abandoned this practice. |
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It is a good idea to pack things in see-through plastic bags,
so that the security personnel don't have to rummage through everything
and contaminate pacifiers, nipples, and teethers when searching your bag. |
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Tip: There are new regulations about carry-on items on the plane. Check here to find out about specific carry-on items for US airlines, and click
here for info about flying through Heathrow airport. |
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Boarding the Plane |
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When you get to the gate, you can gate-check your stroller
by getting a tag for it and leaving it at the end of the jet-way, just before
you board the plane. You pick it up when you get off the plane at the same
spot. Be sure to collapse or fold it when you leave it – if it is not
folded, it might be damaged by airport luggage handlers who will use "any
means necessary" to get it to fold up. The airlines will not pay for
a broken stroller, since it is considered a "fragile item" according
to their rules, so you check it at your own risk. If your baby is big enough
for an umbrella-type stroller or you are using a Fold 'n Go, you can fold
it up and stow it in the overhead bin during the flight. |
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Many U.S. carriers no longer allow families with small children
to board early. The reason is that most of their profits come from business
travelers and frequent flyers who complained about not getting to board
first. So, United, American, and several others now have families board
at the same time as other passengers. The last time we flew Northwest, they
seemed to have a compromise position – boarding first class and frequent
flyers first, families with small children and people needed extra time
second, then general boarding by row number. Many foreign carriers still
allow families with small children to board early, and if it is important
to you, call or check the airline Web site for their policy. If you or your
spouse is the holder of an elite-status pass on any air carrier, the entire
family can board with the frequent flyer and use the early boarding to set
up camp. If at all possible, you should purchase a seat for your child –
it is safer and more comfortable for both of you, particularly on long trips.
Many airlines offer tickets for children under two years old at 50% off
the normal air fare. |
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In the Air |
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One of the main sources of discomfort for infants traveling
on airplanes is the change in cabin pressure when taking off and landing.
This causes pressure in the ears, and can be quite painful for the baby,
particularly if the baby has a stuffy nose. Prepare for this by planning
to nurse or give a bottle or pacifier to the child during take-offs and
landing to help alleviate the pressure. |
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Younger babies (under 6 months) tend to sleep on planes, and
many are lulled by the engine noise. If your baby is awake and fussy, use
a Baby Bjorn or other baby sling to walk up and down the aisle to give the
baby a change of scenery. Bring along an age-appropriate new rattle, book,
toy, or stuffed animal to keep the baby amused, and don't forget cool teething
rings for babies needing something to chew. Airsickness bags can make an
on-the-spot hand puppet – just draw a face on the bottom of the bag
and amuse your child with endless games of "Peek-a-Boo". |
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When it's time to eat, it is fairly easy to nurse on the plane.
You might want to bring along a small pillow for extra support, since the
ones provided by the airline are fairly small and slippery. A Boppy pillow
is probably too big – a few rolled up airplane blankets or baby blankets
from home will do and use an extra blanket for privacy. Book a window seat
if would like maximum privacy. If you are using bottles, it is easiest to
use the pre-measured, individual servings of formula. If using powdered
formula, measure it out beforehand in individual baggies or in a container
with compartments made just for this purpose. Bring along a small, soft-sided
cooler for anything that is frozen or must be kept cool. |
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You can thaw out frozen breast milk in hot water using an
airsickness bag. Ask the flight attendant to pour some hot water into the
bag (make sure they are usually plastic lined and won't leak). Put the frozen
milk in, slosh it around, and wait for it to thaw or warm up. Another idea
is to get a collapsible bowl at a pet store and use this as your bottle
warmer, along with hot water from the flight attendant. |
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Many airplanes have fold-down changing tables in the restrooms,
but not all do. Ask the flight attendant which ones have the changing tables
before you hike all the way to the back only to find that the changing table
is in the front of the plane. Be sure to bring along enough plastic bags
to dispose of the diaper. If the baby is small enough, you may be able to
change him or her in the seat, but as a courtesy to those around you, take
the dirty diapers to the restroom for changing. |
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The main thing to remember about traveling with baby is to
relax – it will likely go much better than you are anticipating! For
us, the times that strangers and flight crews were kind and helpful far
outnumbered the occasional rude stare. It was amazing how often business
people and random strangers got misty-eyed looking at him and telling us
about their own kids or grandkids. For many parents, this is the best time
to travel with kids. Enjoy it! |
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© Glennia Campbell |
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Editor's note: Be sure to check the TSA
web site to find out the latest rules for carry-ons. |
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This guide is chock full of useful tips for traveling with babies, what gear to bring (including a carry-on travel kit of 3 oz bottles), childproofing your accommodations, managing baggage on trains, and more. (Guidebook)
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An essential guide to planning a trip abroad, especially adventurous destinations – what to bring, traveling by plane, car, or train, how to handle challenges (bites, dehydration, cuts), plus lots of first-hand travel stories. Best of all, detailed information about diapers, bathrooms, food, cultural tips and etiquette for Africa, North and South Asia, the South Pacific, Caribbean, Middle East, Central and South America and Western Europe. (Guidebook)
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