Flying with a 15 month old next month, any tips?
Hello, I am looking for some tips and tricks to make my flight with my son easier. It will only be the two of us so my hands will be full! I know to pack his bag down with extras of everything and snacks and drinks. He will be sitting on my lap during the flight but I will need to bring his car seat for while we are on our visit. Is this something I check in or can I carry on (makes me nervous since it is designer)? I prefer to keep him in a stroller while in the airport and heard that they can gate check it so it will be available when I get off the place as well, has anyone done this before? I will call the airline (when we know who we are flying with) to get all the details but I don’t even know what questions to ask! Do airlines allow parents with small children to board first? It would be so convenient if they do! I also have an orthopaedic problem that I recently had surgery for, do they also take that into consideration? I appreciate any help!
I’m a former Flight Attendant and now I fly a lot with my three children.
Even though you haven’t booked a seat for him, I do recommend that you bring his carseat along. Try to get an extra seat next to you if the flight isn’t full.
This is the only way to fly safely with any baby. Lap children are allowed because statistically, flying is so safe, there’s very little chance of anything going wrong. If it does though, a lap child has no protection.
The risk of your seat being damaged and/or broken is actually greater than anything scary happening on the flight. I’ve disembarked only to find not all my bags on the belt so I feel safer with my seat with me. Airlines don’t take responsibility for what they consider a “delicate item”.
First check that your seat is FAA approved;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
If you are flying a non-U.S. company, check your airlines’ website for more information. You can search with the name of the airline, followed by the word “children” to find the right page.
If there is an empty seat next to you, you can then use it for your car seat. Call the airline and see if the flight is full. Then, at check in, ask nicely if you can have an extra seat. They often do this for families.
Taking your car seat to the gate means that if you can’t use it, it will be “gate checked” and go down with the strollers and wheelchairs. This is better than checking a seat in as luggage.
You can put it in a bag but this will not protect it too much. The recommendation of car seat technitians is to transport it in the original box, if it must be checked. This isn’t too practical for most parents!
Having the seat for an older toddler is great since they are usually calmer and more settled in their familiar seat.
About the stroller, yes you can gate check it. Double check that you will get it back, on the jetway, for any connections. Make sure the tag goes somewhere it wont be squished or hidden when the stroller is folded. Bring a bungee cord to double secure the stroller, after you leave on the jetway (or bottom of the stairs if boarding from outside). You may even use it to help get your car seat to the gate.
To get your car seat through the airport, they sell all sorts of gizmos like these;
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
I simply use a small metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord and it works great.
Not all airlines “pre-board” families but check. If I were you, I would use the othopaedic issue to justify pre-boarding in your specific case. This might be a better reason for the airline than the fact you are flying with a 15 month old (although we both might not agree!).
Call them and ask. Be sure you are up in front before boarding begins to be sure to get on first.
If you have a good baby carrier, bring it. Fiddly front packs are usually too small at this age but if you use a sling, wrap or other quality carrier, they’re really useful for flying, and will save your back if you have to carry him. My sling was magic for calming my toddlers on board.
For entertainment, get him a new toy, anything and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Keep it and give it to him once you’re on the plane. My son at that age liked anything with wheels. Once, I simply had a package of plastic animals. Kept him busy for ages!
I actually don’t recommend a portable DVD player *unless* he can watch it without sound. I doubt he’ll wear the headphones but try it at home. It’s such a short flight, I’m sure he’ll be fine without.
I found that stickers, coloring stuff and books were better at occupying them at this age. No one will mind if you read to him.
Just some other small tips;
-Bring a change of clothes
-Bring way more diapers than you think you’ll need
-Learn to change him standing up (don’t try to fit him on those tiny babychangers and toddlers hate to lie down in strange places)
-Bring an empty sippy cup to fill during the services. This will prevent spills in the air.
-Get up and move around with him but keep an eye out. Those carts the F/A’s use are the perfect height for hiding little ones
-Bring snacks. Don’t fret security. I’ve never had anything taken away (yes, water but not snacks) and that’s the only risk. If you have something not allowed, they simply remove the item. No scenes, no speeches, no arrests!
-Try to sit in a bulkhead seat so that there’s no one in front of you
-Bring slippers, especially if you’re not in the bulkhead!
It’s actually a myth that children need to suck on something for take-off and landing. I rarely saw it in my 13 years as a Flight Attendant and I have never, ever done anything special with them for take-offs and landings. Children often fall asleep on take-off so please don’t wake your little guy unnecessarily if he nods off then.
ENT specialists simply recommend that the child is awake for landing. Just being awake, your child will swallow, yawn, etc. which will help his ears adjust.
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
The delicate time is not during take-off or landing/touchdown but at the *top of descent*. This is when the aircraft leaves “cruising altitude” and starts its descent. This is usually 40 minutes to an hour before landing and everyone’s ears have to reverse the pressurization. You can usually feel it too.
I can confirm that when I worked, if any passengers had ear problems, this was the time. Not just children either! They actualy felt *better* as we got closer to landing.
The BEST way to avoid ear issues is to take your little guy to the doctor a few days before flying. My son was good at getting symptomless ear infections. The doctor will look in his ears and make sure they’re clear and infection-free. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes.
For more information, I wrote an article on this subject about 8 years ago. It’s based on both my personal and professional experience of flying with kids. It’s totally non-commercial and other parents from around the world have contributed;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Good luck getting that extra seat. Your little guy will be more comfortable, safe and you wont have to worry about the condition you’ll see your seat at your destination!
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