babywearing and airports

[grlprpl19]

hey all! going on our first plane trip soon and i plan to wear my 6 month old son in some kind of carrier throughout the airport.  then it occurred to me that airport security might have a problem with the "package" strapped to my chest. 

any advice?  anecdotes?  carrier suggestions?  will they make me take him out of his sling/wrap?  also, any general plane trip/traveling advice would be great!  keep in mind it's just me and baby so i'm mostly trippin on how i'm going to be able to carry everything...including the baby! 

thanks ladies!

[mckittre]

Wearing baby in a wrap, they always just squeezed and examined the knot at security.  But I did need to remember to take baby's shoes/coat off before putting him on. 

[elisheva]

When I had dd in a sling, I had to take her out and send the sling through the machine though it could be that they knew the metal ring would set of the metal detector. They also make you take the baby out on the plane for take off and landing (at least Air Canada does - cna't speak for other airlines).

[Quirky]

I would just count on having to take baby out of the carrier for security, and for takeoff and landing, no matter what -- if it works out otherwise you can be pleasantly surprised!

I'd take whatever is easiest for you to pop baby into and out of. A ring sling or a hip carrier like the Scootababy would allow you to have the most poppability, while a buckle carrier for back carries would give you the best ability to be hands-free on your travels and for pushing luggage carts, etc.

[kawa kamuri]

In '06 I wore my 2w old daughter 4x through security in a Moby w/no issue. 

[HappyWoman]

My husband works for an airline, so we get to fly A LOT.

- The TSA rules recently changed, so they will make you take the carrier off to go through security. They will also make you take baby out of a carrier for take off and landing, but during the flight the baby can be in a carrier.

- Wear slip on shoes to pass through security easily.

- I would recommend a soft padded carrier - an Ergo or Boba or something similar if your babe is 6months old. If you had a teeny one, then I'd suggest a sling. (You can rock the baby in the sling on the plane, and they will sleep well.) The Ergo is most comfortable for long walking, and it's easy to get baby in/out. (Assuming your baby likes this carrier; some babies don't like to face in. My sister"s son likes to face out, so she uses a Baby Bjorn. She'd much prefer an Ergo though.)

- I would suggest purchasing a car seat bag that is a backpack, such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Childress-Ultimate-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B0009RNXNA

(Note: it will accommodate an infant carrier or a convertible type seat, so it will last for years.)

- The car seat bag is BIG. Use it to pack extra items (cloth diapers, blanket, coats, etc.) I usually pack our cloth diapers, and additional supplies in a duffel bag. After I put the car seat into the car seat bag, I put the duffel bag on top of the seat and then zip it all up. Baby items, such as car seats or strollers, do not count as baggage, so you will save yourself some money with check fees - plus it will be easier to carry your luggage. Baby on the front, car seat/diapers on your back, a rolling suitcase, plus a diaper bag on top of rolling suitcase.

- Check as much as possible.

- Don't bother with a stroller. Airlines won't fix it if it breaks, and strollers break often when they are checked.

- A diaper bag does NOT count as a carry-on. You can have a diaper bag plus a carry-on, plus a purse. I like to go light though, so I only pack one large diaper bag and pack everything in it, including wallet and keys.

- Tips for your carry-on:

Pack plenty of diapers. There could be a mechanical/weather delay and you might find yourself one a long layover, possibly overnight if things go badly. Pack plenty of food/snacks for yourself. I like PB&J sandwiches, carrot sticks, protein bars, etc. Things that are easy to eat with one hand.

- One the plane, when babe is tired, I will go back to the galley and slow dance with him in a circle in the Ergo until he falls asleep.

- If you use cloth diapers, you can pack the dirty ones in a zip lock or in a wet bag. We've fallen in love with the Fabulous Wet Bag from Bummis. We use the size Medium. We have one in the diaper bag, and one in the checked bag (full of diapers from the night before.)

http://www.bummis.com/us/en/fabulous-wet-bags.php

Safe travels. :)

[P.J.]

We've been on 7 flights with DS so far (7.5 months), and we had to take him out of the carrier and take it off through security every time. We had an Ergo. Just leave extra time for all the fumbling out of and back into the carrier.