babywearing in airport and on airplanes

[zomigi]

I'm taking my first plane ride with DD at the end of April, when she will be four months. I'll be by myself, so I'm thinking wearing her in the Moby Wrap will be the easiest way to get through the airport. But I imagine I can't wear her through security, right? Any other restrictions or hassles with babywearing in airports?

I'm also probably going to try wearing her on the airplane, instead of using one of those bassinets. She prefers being held to sleep anyway. Again, any tips for babywearing on the plane itself?

[alegna]

You *may* be able to wear her through security in the moby. Some airports/screeners allow that. Some don't.

You will not be allowed to wear her for take off and landing if you're in the US.

-Angela

[DahliaRW]

I have never been allowed to wear a baby OR a carrier through security. They make me take both off and just carry the baby and put the carrier through the screener. So you'll want to have some way to put your LO down to tie the Moby back on if need be.

But wearing your baby at the airport other than through security is fabulous! One of my dh's proudest moments was when we were on a layover in Chicago and he had our 15 mo in an Ergo on his back and he went and used the bathroom without taking him off, LOL! (WAY easier as a man!)

[NW6Londonmum]

I have sometimes been able to wear through security. It does seem variable. Outside the US I have also had to remove a sling/ wrap for take off and landing. Couldn't even put the infant belt inside it.
Makes travelling soooo much easier to babywear.

[i*wish]

I recently flew w/ dd in a wrap.... they let me through security both ways. they looked at me kinda funny but motioned me thru...if they ever made me take the wrap off i woulda had a meltdown
they made me take her out for takeoff & landing...that was a bummer b/c she was *out*!
good luck...i was glad i did it (esp alone & w/dd1 to manage!)

[BookishVonLiberal]

Just flew with a four-month-old in the US.
Wore him in the Moby through security and for take-off and landing on both flights.
I was very relieved not to have any problems.

[Autumn Breeze]

depending on how full my hands were I would wear her to the gate at least But at that age my main carrier was a pouch.

But yeah, as others have said, you will not be allowed to wear her for the ride.

[lifeguard]

Flew about 1.5 months ago with moby style carrier to Canada & back & never had to remove him once.

From previous threads here it seems it is highly variable & would guess more to do with the mood of the person(s) at security than anything else.

[Britishmum]

I've flown a lot with all three kids at various stages in carriers. It just depends on who is working security. They usually insist that you take the carrier off, and put it through the xray machine, then walk through wtih the babe in arms. It's not a big deal. It's normally a pretty smooth experience.

That said, the worst I've had was in Frankfurt when the security police made me try to walk through alone, leaving all three kids the other side of the barrier. I also had to push all my stuff through from one side of security to another, with three kids, and no offers of help to get it through, until it became obvious that physically I could not do it, and that all three kids were going to scream and try to hang on to me. At that point, a policeman stepped in and told them to help me and let me walk the kids through. It was the middle of the night, and a truly horrible experience.

Thankfully, that only happened to me once. Other than that, I've always found the staff to be helpful and understanding of what it is like to travel with little ones.

[joshs_girl]

I'm getting ready to fly with my LO in a month and the Moby is our favorite carrier as well. However, my nightmare is being asked to take it off and having to re tie it with no help on the other side of security. My plan is to take the Moby in my carryon and put it on once we are through security. I plan on wearing her in either the ring sling or the mei tai through security as they are much easier to get on and off by myself without putting her down.

[hrsmom]

I was also going to say that it's a good idea to have something that is easy-on, easy-off. Although with the Moby, they wouldn't necessarily make you untie it, you might just have to take the babe out of it. You could still have the Moby on you. Then just tuck her back in on the other side, if they do require you to remove her.

I've flown once with my babe- two times through security and four take off and landings. Only once was I told I couldn't wear her during take-off, but it is definitely something to be prepared for. They let me wear her through security.

My dd slept during three of the four legs of our journey, and it was so nice when she was tied to me! On the one flight where I had to take her out (of the mei tai) she fell back asleep and it was pretty awkward holding her! It would have been worth it to get up and put her back in!

[lucifugous]

I just flew with my almost 8 m.o. for the first time. TSA clearly says on their website that any baby carriers will have to go through the X-ray machine, but I have heard many people say they didn't have a problem getting through in a wrap or sling. I had her in a quick ruck anyway, so I put it on the belt without asking. If your baby is within the airline's age limit to be a "lap child" (usually 24 months), you should have no problem wearing him or her during the flight or at any other time except for the security check.

[TopHat]

Last summer when I flew from SLC to Chicago, I wore my 4 month old in a wrap. I was never asked to take it off either on the flight or through security. What was great is that they let me go through the "family" line of security where they take people with strollers. It was just me and my DD: no stroller. It was in and out and I didn't have to stand in the long security line.

[terese17]

have any of you used the baby b'air thing? my sister gave me one of those and we might possibly being going overseas. are they necessary, or just one more thing to carry around?

[ramama]

I've always been asked to remove the baby carrier at security. I know it's the rule not to BW on take off or landing, but I've only been asked to remove DD once (or twice?) during take off. Never during landing.

[ramama]

crazy double-post!

[kalisis]

My go to sling for travel (and I travel at least once/month - sometimes twice) is a ring sling. Easy in, out, take it off, put it back on if you have to. If you have the moby and they make you take it off (which they could and you wouldn't be able to refuse) where are you going to lie DD when you tie it back on? I learned that lesson the hard way b/c no one had ever made me untie it and then they did and I was in a pickle.

Either a ring sling or a pouch. Those are my recommendations for anyone flying.

[Materfamilias]

I just flew to San Francisco and back (across country) and in neither direction did I have to take dd out of the mei tai through security (she was on my back). I told the personnel there was no metal in the carrier.
I had her on my lap -- I do not think they will let you keep her in the Moby for the flight.

[joshs_girl]

About during the flight ... I believe you are allowed to keep the baby in the wrap/sling/carrier when you are in the air. However, they have to be sitting in your lap or held in your arms during take off and landing. For some reason, they seem to view being in your arms as being safer than in a carrier.

[brooklynbabymama]

Originally Posted by joshs_girl

For some reason, they seem to view being in your arms as being safer than in a carrier.

Insanity, right? How are my arms stronger than a carrier for turbulence?

I flew with DD at 3 months and used a pouch through security, then put her in the ring sling through the airport. I was asked to take her out and hold her for take-off, landing they left me alone.

We're flying tomorrow morning, and I intend to wrap her through security in a quick ruck, just in case though JFK is all about moving the line along and likely won't hassle me, then let DB wear her in the Ergo through the airport and onto the plane. I'm anticipating needed to hold her for take-off, which is fine as I'll nurse if she's awake.