Vacation W/ 6 Month Old

Hi M.,
I took my son to Florida when he was barely six months old. I can gladly report no catastrophes other than the airport breaking our stroller (they did replace it--a month later). I read and printed out all of the TSA and specific airline rules, studied them and carried them in my luggage. I also called the airport to verify certain things I wasn't sure of. In the end, I found out that airport security and really everyone is so sympathetic to parents of babies. The flight attendants were falling all over us. When I approached security, I made sure I had his formula and food out separately for them to scan (I also had water with me). For the first two flights, I gave him a bottle just before/as we were taking off, then some Tylenol. He slept the whole two hours on each flight. On the two flights home, I ditched the Tylenol altogether and just gave him a bottle. I fed him his jar food in the airport while waiting to board and let him play on the floor if he wanted to (got some energy out). It was a cinch--I hope your trip is, too!

Lieca

I have flown twice with my daughter who is now 16 months old. The first time she was 11 months.. It takes a lot of planning and preparation- and Ihad my husband to help on the first trip and my husband and her nanny with us on the second trip. Going it alone would be tougher.

I took two bottles of prepared formula with us. And two 8 oz cans of ready to feed formula. I would suggest buying some formual in small cans that you can bring- the formula will not spoil in the can- and you have to be ready for any delays...there is no place to buy formula at the airport.

I basicly figured out the amount of food and diapers that we would need for the flight and the waiting time at the airport -and then I doubled that amount.. that is what I packed for carryon... You need to have extra supplies for any delays.

You can buy diapers and formula once youget to your destimation- so you wont have too much to carry. WE checked her carseat at the front... but kept the stroller and gate checked the stroller. So we had the stroller until the very last minute gettin on the plane.

TSA may want to see the formula -sometimes they want you to bring it out of your bag and sometimes they dont... I wouldnt bring any creams or ointments in your carry on- put that in your checked bag.

I picked our flight times around my daughters sleep schedule.. I made sure that our flight left after she was normally up for the day- and that our return flight in the afternoon got us home in time for her normal bedtime. But my daughter is a bed sleeper... She does not like to sleep in carseats or stroller or be held to sleep- she likes to sleep in her bed. She did fall asleep on the plane on each trip and got a good 1 hour nap while we were flying- once she woke up when we were starting to descend- and I think it was the pressure in her ears that woke her.

do your best to keep your son on his normal schedule. a tired baby is a cranky baby..

Ps.. there is no such thing as a vacation with a baby. you will be taking your son with you- so all of his care with still be there while you are traveling... and it is harder to care for him cause you dont have all of the stuff you do at home..

Hello M.,
I have flown with my 3 yr old when he was 6 weeks old,6months old and again when my twins were 3months old, they are now 21 months. You can take formula and baby food even things like cereal or fruit puffs on board (small package or in quart size bag), they were pretty strict with butt cream and things like that. They need to be as small as possible and put all the things in a quart size zipper bag,or you may not get to take them. The web site for the TSA spells it out and they will not deviate much from what you read, pack as light as possible and be patient, getting through security is the worst, they make you take everything apart like stroller, car seat, baby carrier and depending on who you get they wont help much.
On the plane make sure the baby is sucking at take off and landing. Otherwise we have flown probably 7 times since my 3 year old was born and the twins have flown about 3 times, they love to be on the plane and the people were pretty helpful from the flight attendent to people sitting around us, so good luck and enjoy your trip. It should not mess up the schedule too bad. Take some of the babies favorite small toys or books, that helps. They can be pretty active.
K.

Hi M. when my daughter was 4 months old and again now at 8 months old we had early (5 am) and coming home around 1 am flights with long layovers in between. Take your stroller with you! especially if you have a layover, you will be able to take it right to the plane and get it when you get off and it will be a godsend! They don't have a prob. with bottles if they are juice or mixed already but formula is only good for 1 hr so that don't really work, however I've gone a few times with bottles with water in the diaper bag on the inside, they really don't check the diaper bags, they will basically let anything go as long as it is for the baby including food, lotion, etc. take plenty of toys and blankets and ask for a seat where the other 2 are empty if at all possible that way you can lay him down in the seat next to you. Make sure he has a bottle or binky in his mouth when going up and coming down so his ears dont pop unless he is sleeping then don't wake him for it haha. If he does get cranky oh well, it happens. My daughter has flown 3 round trips to FL already and she is only 8 months old so I feel I have it down pat. And she has gotten cranky from being tired but don't worry, if people don't understand who cares. Also if you have a portable dvd player with a cartoon movie that may help. Our trip that we just came back from I gave her some motrin before take off and I think that helped. Sorry to go on and on, but I know how nervous it can be.

we went to vegas when dd was about a year old and she did great she did get up a lil early for there time and wentto bed later but she really got back on her schedule pritty quickly. some good friend of mine moved to vegas last year and there two girls ( 1 and 6 mo.) didnt bat a lash in the new time zone cuz they really dont go by time just instinct so you should be fine for that one hope you have a great time

make sure you have at least 2 bottles one for take off and one for landing, that will help with their ears. i have found it easier for my son to have his own seat. he sleeps almost the entire flight to florida and then all i have to do is pick up the car seat and not wake him.

Traveling with your kids can be really great or really horrible, it just depends on how prepared you are for the trip :) First of all, I suggest booking a seat for your child so that he can sleep in his car seat and not in your arms~ believe me it makes a HUGE difference! He'll be much more comfortable and sleep longer and your arms won't fall asleep :) Second, plan on using his stroller in the airport and you can check it at the gate, that way you can grab it as you're walking off the plane and have somewhere to stick him. Third, pack the diaper bag as efficiently as possible~ think about what you'll really need mid flight and about what can go in the actual suitcase and you can transfer after you get to your destination. Bottle bottles bottles, have plenty so that you don't have to deal with him crying and hungry. Also~ be prepared to changed his diaper mid flight, this was my one mistake (flying from Hawaii) and she soaked her carseat and it wasn't a very comfortable flight after that~ as far as his adjusting to the time zone, don't worry about it too much, kids are great at adapting, just let him sleep when he's tired and he'll wake up when he needs to :)

We took our son on a cruise at 6 months and his first flight at 3 months. He actually travelled better at these ages. YOU cannot carry on any liquid. But milk, formula, baby needs ie tylenol, sanitizer okay. You'll have to put sanitzer tylenol any carry on liquids in a baggie at security to be checked so be ready ahead of time with these items together. Strollers are cool the Security people have you take baby out pass stroller through screening belt and walk through with baby in your arms. Be sure to pack things that smell like home a crib sheet (hopefully you requested one) tiny blankie, small stuffed animal even an item of yours that doesn't present a choking or respiratory hazard. Place these in the crib and he will sleep better. Try and have him sucking on bottle or pacifier during take off and landing helps his ears adjust. If its appropriate take a sling or baby bjorn. You'll get stroller back after security and leave it at the gate when you board. Airline will have it right there for you when you land. I've seen Moms take infant care seat (rear facing) not sure if you have to have second seat for that....Try to get routine as normal as possible feed at normal times (you'll have to add some for early and late days) naps may be more frequent at first. Let the baby set your pace. Remember he can sense your tension! Good Luck, let us know how it goes!