Flying with a Baby

yup it's been awhile since i've flown with my kiddos but you can take the stroller and car seat all the way onto the plane and they will check it there for you, and that way if for some reason the flight isn't full and you have an empty seat next to you you can use it. diaper changes aren't fun, though there is a little area in the bathroom on the plane so try to change her right before you board. good luck and enjoy your trip.

We just got back from a trip. :) Yes, you check the seat at the gate, along with your stroller if you bring one (handy for hauling the seat if you don't have a direct flight). There's a REALLY small changing area above the toilet in the restroom on the plane. My six year old and I both thought it was a little crazy though, how small it was. Plus with the plane bouncing along . . . :P Luckily my two year old did her thing in the airports though, for changing at the regular areas. Good luck and stay safe and have a great trip! God bless.

Hi M.! The best thing to do is phone your airline to find out about their policy. I flew from London to Cincinnati on American Airlines with a nine-month old (in my lap) and a five-year old. We were allowed to check the baby's stroller and car seat as well as my son's booster seat for our arrival in the US. We also had six other items to check and they did not charge us for extra baggage, which was a miracle! If we can move country with all of that stuff, I am sure that you can check your carseat with no problem.
There are changing tables in the airplane restrooms for changing your baby.
Also, when you book your tickets, mention that you are travelling alone with an infant and they should accomodate you . . . either with a decent seat towards the front where there's lots of leg room or with a cot for the baby to sleep in. If you don't ask then you won't get it. Happy Travelling!

Take the carseat, there may be an empty seat next to you. The flight attendants are usually happy to let you put her in it. Also check at check-in if there is an empty aisle and switch your seats. She will have to be in the window seat. IF not, check it at the gate. Change her before getting on and only attempt it if she is poopy, there are usually changing statios int he bathroom.

I have flown with my son several times. Yes, you can check your car seat. Be for warned...some airlines do not give you anything to cover your seat with. So with that said make sure you take off all the un-necessaries and make sure no straps are loose or dangling. If you are not buying a ticket for her you can not bring the car seat on the plane(you'll have to check it). If you ask the check in counter at your gate, sometimes they have a few seats in the back that aren't occupied and they might let you take those so you can spread out(if it's not a full flight). They do have baby changing stations in the bathrooms. Good luck with that. My suggestion...change her diaper right before you board-hopefully she can hold out on another till you land. I had a connection with about 2 hours of flight each time in the air. He did make it till we landed. I think the new experience kept his mind of the "wet feeling". I was lucky, he never did have a poopie diaper. I did however bring little Walgreens scented diaper disposal bags just in case. (forgot what they are called, but they have a bunny on them) Hope this helps. Good Luck and have fun!

M.

M... why didnt you call me? you can check the car seat.. thats what we did.. it was just a lot to carry into the airport.. you change the diaper in the restroom... its fun flying aint it!! haha! hope she is good this time!

I've done quite a bit of flying alone with both my kids when they were little. You can check the carseat. It counts as a piece of luggage. I got one of those bags for the carseat, and it was a big help in lugging it from baggage to wherever. If it is an infant carrier that attaches to your stroller, you may be able to put it in the overhead bin on the plane (check to see if it meets the allowable carry on size), but then you have to carry it from stroller, thru the aisles and to your seat (unless you have a nice flight attendant who is willing to help). The stroller though is a wonderful thing to bring if you can, and they will stow it under the plane for you after you roll it and the baby up to the plane. You might want to check with the airline, they may be willing to do the same with the car seat. Since you are not buying a seat for her, you would be unable to put it in a seat on the plane though.

As for diaper changing, some planes actually have changing tables in the bathroom. I usually changed her on my lap if just a pee diaper, and hoped for no poopies. And it's awkword, but it can be done in the cramped space of the bathroom - either next to the sink, in the sink, or on the toilet lid. Just bring a changing pad, and lots of wipes. In a pinch, you can put down the tray in front of you (you may get some strange looks, but who cares!) and lay her on that if she is small enough.

Good luck:)

Lucy

Flying with her on your lap shouldn't be too difficult. I have flown with my children several times. The big key, I think, is to take as little to the airport and on the plane as possible. I would suggest that checking the carseat is probably the best decision but do take a stroller. You will be able to check that just before you board the plane. Don't forget a change of clothes for her and maybe a shirt for you. Changing a baby on the plane can be tricky! American Airlines has a changing table in the bathroom. I have gotten a blanket from the attendants and put it on the floor of the bathroom under my changing pad and just left the door open. If you can get away with it you might have to just do it on your lap. Most importantly, keep calm, even when the old lady next to you tries you give you 100 year old advice. Good luck!

When I flew with my son, I took his stroller and his car seat along with me, and did not check them in. This way, IF by chance there was a place where we could sit in two seats, I had the car seat. If there wasn't, there is a place to drop off bigger things, like strollers and car seats that were too big to carry on but not checked. It is kind of the joys of flying with kids. But this was 3 and half years ago, so I would call the airport and ask a few questions or get on their website, sometimes that has information.
Diapers, I didn't have to change one on the plane, I changed him right before we got on, and right after we got off.
Best of luck!

Hi M.. I recommend calling the airline to see if the type of plane you are flying on has a changing table. Many of the smaller regional jets do NOT have them. Which means changing a baby in your lap. You can also look at the seating chart for your flight on the airline's website. Then you can see if there is an empty seat next to you or not. Right before you board the plane, ask the gate clerk to check once more for two empty seats together where you might be able to let your daughter ride in her carseat. So much just depends on where you are flying and the size of the plane taking you there. Good luck and have a safe trip.
L.

Hi M.!

Yes - you can check the carseat. My advice is to take it all the way to the gate with you. I believe it's law that they have to give you an open seat for the carseat if there is one on the plane ... even if you don't have a ticket for said seat. If no open seat - then just check the carseat as you board.

As for changing diapers ... that is tricky. We always just did it on top of the toilet in the restroom. Close the lid, lay down the changing pad (make sure you bring one on the plane) and lay baby up there ... carefully, of course!

You can check the car seat when you check your luggage or you can gate check it. You can't bring it on the plane if you don't buy a seat. They will also gate check strollers so you can roll her up to the plane and take her out.

We just flew with our 18 month old. I checked the car seat (make sure they put it in a plastic bag or it will get dirty). It was too much to carry the car seat and stroller and diaper bag etc. all the way to the plane.

They usually have a dropdown changing table in the airplane restroom. It drops down over the toilet.

They will let you bring bottles of formula through security but you have to tell them about and show them where the bottles are.

Good luck!

yes you can check the car seat. also the bathrooms on the plane have a changing table in them above the toilet. if you take the car seat you will have to check it though. which i would recommend anyway. good luck.

we just checked carseat like luggage and i changed my baby in my lap. kind of sucks but ole well