Travelling with 8 month old!

[lovepiggie]

DH and I are taking our 8 month old on a little vacation this weekend... It'll be DS's first time on a plane! Whoo-hoo!

Any tips for travelling with a little one? Anything I definitely should bring, or shouldn't? It'll be a pretty short vacation, I just want some advice so I feel more prepared!

[lyra1977]

My top 2 pieces of advice are:

*bring a baby monitor with you, depending on where you'll be it might be very, very handy. We almost always have a need for one when we travel although it's not as necessary at home.

*wear the baby in the airport, it's so much easier than trying to push a stroller while also hauling bags. Plus you can't use escalators with a stroller and the elevators take longer.

Good luck, have fun!

[rightkindofme]

We took our daughter to New Zealand (from California) when she was 8 months. Easy-peasy. I don't do strollers, so I just had the Ergo. It was fabulous. She was chill and happy to do anything and she napped on the go. I'd be kind of terrified of bringing her now at 2 years.

At 8 months the best thing to entertain her were little ice chips. She's always bee a little weird...

[Caneel]

You will have such a great time! (at least I hope you will)

Looking back on it, travelling with DS was such a treat when he was still so little.

We wore him in the airport and while on vacay and never missed taking a stroller.

I would take one change of clothing for me and DH and two sets for DS, packing all into ziploc bags and forcing all the air out. This method takes up very little room in the carry on. Same method works for diapers. We never needed the extra clothing but I liked knowing it was there.

I am a planner so I would take a little cooler with enough snacks and water for me and DS. I was still breast feeding at the time and DS was into finger foods. Regulations may have changed but I never had a problem taking liquids through TSA.

Our experience on the plane was always great, the FAs seem to love having a baby in their section. Only once did I witness bad behavior. A family across the way from us asked for water for their child and the FA was a total bit@h about it and wouldn't give them water prior to take off.

Get to the airport plenty early so no one feels rushed. Common sense stuff like checking/doing diaper changes prior to boarding, keep your stuff to a minimum, combine your purse into the diaperbag, stuff like that.

Oh, one more thing that saved our sanity - assign duties and stick with the plan.

For example, one parent takes the baby thru security, the other is responsible for the bags/carseat. Agree on this ahead of time so you aren't standing there saying "who's got what? where is X?" and so on because as soon as you get stuff loaded on the belt, it actually moves pretty fast.

In our family, DH would take DS in thru first and I kept track of the carseat and carry-ons. DH knew his job, I knew mine and neither of us worried about the other.

[Asiago]

I agree about bringing a baby carrier, it is so much easier than a stroller in an airport. Lugging the car seat is a hassle though- it may be worth bringing the stroller frame just for that. Although I saw older kids being wheeled in their car seats like this http://tinyurl.com/2g4t876 (not infant car seats)

We nursed on the plane and he was quiet most of the flight time. If you nurse I would highly reccomend doing so on the flight (a window seat is private).

[lovepiggie]

Originally Posted by Caneel

I would take one change of clothing for me and DH and two sets for DS, packing all into ziploc bags and forcing all the air out. This method takes up very little room in the carry on. Same method works for diapers. We never needed the extra clothing but I liked knowing it was there..

I like this idea! I always regret not bringing a change of clothes for myself when I end up with milk all over my shirt :P

Thanks for all the ideas! I was planning on wearing him, and wasn't sure about bringing a stroller "just in case", but now I think I'll just leave the stroller at home...

Luckily for me, DS is still pretty more exclusively breastfed, so I don't have to worry about snacks for him... But I bet DS will love ice chips.

[Linda on the move]

if your baby is stuffed up even a tiny bit, give them something for congestion so that their little ears have the easiest time possible with the altitude change. Have something for them to swallow during take off and landing because it helps with ear pressure (a bottle, your breast!, whatever)

[leighi123]

DONT check in your carseat. It WILL be tossed around/dropped/possibly damaged in a way you cant see/possibly lost.

If you havent bought him a seat, then gate check it, and ask them to 'walk it down' to ground level (not throw it off the top of the steps or down the ramp)

[NicaG]

One thing I am finding extremely helpful on our current trip is a white noise machine. You never know what random sounds are going to be in your hotel room, and you don't want to have to tiptoe and whisper every time dc is asleep. If you have a iphone, there are white noise apps!

[gbailey]

Gate check your car seat and if you can sit by the window. DD loved pulling the shade up and down the first time we traveled. Good thing it wasn't noisy. The first trip was really easy. People even commented in customs that we had the most "quiet" baby they've ever seen on a flight. I just packed a few extra new toys and a book for her and things were great. Have fun.

[Asiago]

Originally Posted by gbailey

Gate check your car seat

We did this also and we used a plastic trash bag to cover the seat. A nylon one can be purchased. It is inexpensive and sturdier:


http://tinyurl.com/2b8u957

Actually, here's another idea, I think I may get this type:
http://tinyurl.com/2dw5erb

It can be carried over the shoulders like a back pack in the airport and then also checked as luggage if need be.

[miami mommy]

Originally Posted by Asiago

Actually, here's another idea, I think I may get this type:
http://tinyurl.com/2dw5erb

It can be carried over the shoulders like a back pack in the airport and then also checked as luggage if need be.

I have this car seat bag and it's nice. There is extra room in there for you to throw in some stuff besides the seat if you need it. I agree that you should gate check your seat. I checked it in the first time I traveled and they lost it. Then I had to use one of their loaner car seats for half of my trip.

I highly recommend bringing extra clothes in your carry on for you and your babe. My DS had an explosive poo going through security and I had to put on a new pair of pants. Wow was I ever grateful for family restrooms! Situations like that are another good reason to leave yourself some extra time at the airport.

I've been flying with my DS on my lap and the security ppl made me go back to the ticket counter and get a ticket that said "plus infant". I usually check in online and that pretty much defeated the purpose.

[Just1More]

I've found a roll of scotch tape keeps a baby entertained for a very long time...

So do stickers, just watch he doesn't eat them.

[aet.tea]

Jumping in - I am also flying for the first time with a one-year old next weekend. I see everyone talking about gate checking the car seat. We hadn't been planning to bring the car seat at all, assuming that rental car companies have them to rent with the car (but haven't actually reserved one yet). Is this not usually the case?

or is there another reason for bringing the car seat? (we did not buy a seat on the plane for her)

[octobermoon]

Originally Posted by aet.tea

Jumping in - I am also flying for the first time with a one-year old next weekend. I see everyone talking about gate checking the car seat. We hadn't been planning to bring the car seat at all, assuming that rental car companies have them to rent with the car (but haven't actually reserved one yet). Is this not usually the case?

or is there another reason for bringing the car seat? (we did not buy a seat on the plane for her)

FWIW i have heard that renting a car seat from the car rental company can be a real nightmare. like they won't even have the car seat you reserved when you get there, the seats being really dirty and or junkie etc... i don't want to lug my seat either but what the heck would i do if there were no car seat, ya know? not a risk i'm willing to take. good luck!