Advice for Summer Airplane Travel with Baby and Small Children

The 3 and 4y will not need carseats on the plane. You can however bring your own car seats for when you land. They can be checked for free.

Personally I would get the baby his own seat. That way your hands and arms are open to helping the other kids. As for what carseat would be allowed for him, you'd have to check with your airline.

A portable DVD player will do wonders!

Take a pack of diapers for the bag on the plane, but otherwise wait and buy a box of diapers when you get there.
For the baby, you will be allowed to have a few cans of sealed ready-made formula (if you are bottle feeding). For the pre-schoolers and adults, all liquids have to be purchased after security, but you are allowed to bring whatever dry foods/snacks you want.

Try to keep the carry ons to one bag per kid.

As for packing. I am a bit weird. Instead of packing a whole suitcase for each person, I pack a suitcase for a place. We 4 people went on a week trip with 3 hotel stays. 4 suitcases. For the first stop, I fit all of the clothes for the first stop in 1 suitcase. Hubby thought I was crazy. Then when we got to the first hotel I only had to unpack one suitcase. When we were done at that hotel, that suitcase was full of dirty clothes and moved to the back of the trunk. When we got to the second hotel I got the 2nd suitcase out. Again, only one suitcase to unpack. When we were done with that hotel, THAT suitcase was moved to the back. When we got to the 3rd hotel, I got out the final 2 suitcases. When we left there, all clean clothes went into one and dirty into another. Then when we got home, the clean suitcase went upstairs for unpacking and the others to the wash room.

When my kids were little, I found they were more comfortable flying if they could sit in their own car seats. It felt familiar and was easier to nap in than the regular airplane seat. By carrying on the car seats, you also don't have to worry about showing up at baggage and discovering the carseats didn't make it. But it's a little insane carrying along 2 carseats in addition to 3 kids and all the other stuff you will have to schlepp into the airplane so you will have to decide if it's worth the trouble.

As for staying in different hotels and driving alot, just make sure to include some downtime in all your travels. Sleep in later or get to the hotel earlier once in awhile, just snack and watch TV or play at the hotel pool. If you can buy lunch makings and a cheap styrofoam cooler once you get to Oregon, you can have lunch in the hotel room or by the pool or at a park, instead of doing restaurants 3x a day. Saves time and money and stress.

I bought little backpacks for each of my kids so they could bring along their favorite toys, books and stuffed animals. It was their little slice of home, so wherever we were, they could plop themselves on the bed, bring out their own things and regroup.

here's a useful link from a certified child passenger safety technician about air travel with small children: http://carseatblog.com/6599/airplanes-carseats-and-kids—w...

Wear a front pack for the baby so he can be in your lap with your hands free. I would bring a car seat for the 3 year old.....it seems to keep them more content. The cosco scenera from walmart is only $40 and perfect for airline travel. Bring a portable dvd player, new small toys and snacks.
Do NOT rent car seats (you can check them in for free).

Do you have another adult helper? I have traveled many times with my 4 and just me. I have always had each kid with their own little backpack full of toys and snacks for them and the older ones can pull their own little suitcase (if you don't want to pay to check in luggage). I usually put the car seat in the stroller and my youngest in the car seat. That way I have a stroller, carseat and kid all in one spot. Then I can also pull a suitcase.

My kids have never used those earplugs and did just fine. The kids love the trip to the airport, it is so much fun!

HI-we love our sit and stroll for the plane ride or the CARES harness. I bring a pacifier for the plane to help with his ears.
You can find all my travel tips here.
http://www.happyhealthymom.com/newsletters/Don't-Leav...
Have fun!!

I would keep your baby on your lap. If they fall asleep, the flight attendant will insist you put them in their own seats when light goes on and for landing etc and they will wake up. Bring new toys they've never seen. The 4 yr old will be fine, esp if there are screens at each seat.