traveling with a newborn

So DH is presenting at ASA in San Francisco and we decided last minute that my baby (who will be 8 weeks then) and I are tagging along. My FIL who lives in SF cannot fly out to the east coast because of health problems and he is paying for me and the baby to come. Though I’m excited to go back to California and see my friends and family, I’m also nervous about flying my baby at such a young age. We are driving from Baltimore to Washington DC (one hour drive) and flying out from there. He is going to be sitting on our laps and I don’t know how that will go because its such a long flight. Any feedback or tips from those of you who have flown with infants?

[Michele]

Re: traveling with a newborn

I flew with my son when he was 11 months old....not quite the same as a newborn, but my advice is to have a food source readily available. If you aren't nursing, make sure to have formula for the plane...you can buy water after you pass security, or you could have it in 3 oz allotments or whatever the rules are. A mom on the plane didn't do that and her child screamed until the stewardess could get out of her seat and bring a bottle of water to her (until we hit a decent altitude). I felt bad for her, but thought she could've planned better.

I wore Daegan in the wrap and didn't have to take him out for security...made it much easier to take my shoes off, check my bags and load stuff on the conveyor belt. I even walked through the beeper thing while wearing him.

He sat on my lap and I gate-checked the carseat.

Re: traveling with a newborn

We've travelled with an 8wk baby before. We took the infant carrier on the plane and strapped it to the chair. This way, the baby can sleep comfortably in a long flight and you have your arms free. The carrier has to be in a window seat so that it doesn't block access-way. This only works if the flight isn't full and you can change seats to accomodate this if your seats don't already work. We always tried to reserve the aisle and window seats and the middle seat stayed empty. This way, we had an extra seat for the carrier.

I've always had to take the baby out the Baby Bjorn, carseat, stroller for security.

[Amiens]

Re: traveling with a newborn

I have flown a lot with our kiddos. My second child was the youngest to make a flight at 5 weeks old. I made a 6 hour flight including lay-over. I made sure to nurse him on the ascent and descent of each flight- it helps with the pressure and their ears. I had a pacifier for back up in case he didn't want to nurse. Other things that were handy to have- Baby Bjorn/Sling, Stroller (gate check it), car seat (checked as luggage). I traveled with him in my lap, and upon arriving at the gate I talked with the gate agent to see if it was possible to change my seat to an aisle if I wasn't assigned one or see if I could be seated next to an empty seat. Southwest Airlines, Frontier, and Delta are really accomodating when traveling with an infant or children-- they allow pre-boarding with infants.

At 8 weeks he will still be pretty young that you won't have to entertain all that much. At 6 almost 7 weeks my daughter is still sleeping quite a bit. If you are traveling alone the Curb Side (Sky Cap) service is a good thing to utilize, so you won't have to drag your luggage in to ticket desk. Also, in my experience, the TSA has been really helpful- opened up another security lane to accomodate all of our junk- it was probably because we had three kids flying.

Hope this helps, and it all works our. I'm a bit jealous you get to go to ASA in SF. We had planned to attend ASA this year, but dh switched his vacation schedule around so he could help out with the new baby.

Re: traveling with a newborn

I honestly think that flying with a newborn is the easiest age of child to fly with (until they're school-age). Unless it's a particularly fussy baby, they usually sleep through most of the flight.

Good luck.

Re: traveling with a newborn

Some airlines will give you a half-price seat for a child under 2. We have done that on United.

Re: traveling with a newborn

So glad I came back to this site. I knew you guys would be helpful. Can I check in the stroller and car seat separately from my luggage? We are flying jet blue and it looks like it will be a full flight. I guess he will have to be sitting on our laps. Too bad I never thought of booking an aisle and window seat because there are a few middle seats left. I feel sorry for whoever has to sit next to us. This may be TMI but I've been having a problem with too much milk supply and that poor person might just get sprayed!

[Rapunzel]

Re: traveling with a newborn

Completely agree with Jane - an 8 week old is the absolute easiest age which you will ever fly with.

I also agree with everyone else to try to get that extra seat for the infant carseat.

The beauty of such a young age is that you can nurse, nurse, nurse. If their mouth is plugged up they can't cry! And, babies that age just want to be held - that's all. They are so very "logical" - they fuss because of just a handful of reasons that are usually easy to take care of: poopy/wet, hungry, sleepy, lonely (want to be held).

[samssugarmomma]

Re: traveling with a newborn

Everyone has given great advice so far. I flew with DD when she was 10 weeks old by myself and it was much easier than I thought it would be. She basically nursed and slept for the entire flight. Things that helped:

- I had a diaper bag that opens like a doctor bag - you unzip the zipper and the bag stays open. As soon as I got to my seat, I opened up the bag and put it under the seat in front of me. That way if I needed something - a blanket, a burp cloth, etc - I could just reach down and grab it out of the bag and not have to fiddle with opening the bag and balancing the baby.
- I brought my boppy/nursing pillow on the plane and even though it was kind of bluky in the seat it saved my arms/back
- DD got a little cranky so I took her into the bathroom and let her lay on the changing table for a few minutes to give her some space. Note - DO NOT LET GO of your baby if you do this. I did and we hit some turbulence and DD nearly fell off of the changing table (I've never seen one with straps on a plane).
- Bring several blankets to help cover yourself if you plan to nurse.
- I had to take DD out of the bjorn to get through security. If you have to do this and you are by yourself, don't be shy about asking for help. No one offered to help me and I had to put DD down on the ground to get my shoes back on. Afterwards I was mad at myself for not insisting on having someone help me.
- Wait until the last possible minute to get on the plane. This is probably more for older kids but for me, the less time sitting cramped on a plane, the better.

[JaneDoe]

Re: traveling with a newborn

I honestly think that flying with a newborn is the easiest age of child to fly with (until they're school-age). Unless it's a particularly fussy baby, they usually sleep through most of the flight.

Good luck.

Totally agree!!!! If she gets fussy, usually nursing will solve the problem. We flew with my kids at two months (Dd) and one month (Ds) and at various other ages. IMO, newborns so far are the easiest.

[Cumberland]

Re: traveling with a newborn

I read some where that the TSA changed the rules - you now do not have to take the baby out of the bjorn or sling.

Also, just to clarify, you are allowed your two pieces of checked luggage PLUS a car seat and a stroller. The pack n play doesnt count Both of those items can be checked with your luggage or checked at planeside, your preference.

[peggyfromwastate]

Re: traveling with a newborn

The only thing is that I would advise NOT bringing any toys onto the plane. They'll just get in the way and won't distract the baby.

I traveled with a 6 w.o. By far the easiest of my kid-traveling adventures.

[Auspicious]

Re: traveling with a newborn

Is it true you don't have to show any ID/documentation for the baby? My husband called the airline (American) and they added her to the ticket as a lap baby and said just show up with her, but that seems dubious--like she's luggage. I hope not, as we haven't gotten a copy of her birth cert. yet. (But on the other hand, babies don't have photo ID, and any non-photo ID seems pretty useless for their purposes anyway.)

We're flying to New England with her at the end of January, when she'll be 11 weeks, heaven help us.

Re: traveling with a newborn

As of last June, no photo ID for any of the kids, ticketed or not. Oh and I went to San Antonio in October and did not need photo ID (or any ID for that matter) for TenE.

[migirl]

Re: traveling with a newborn

We flew w/ DS in October (he was almost 2 yo at the time) and he didn't require any ID.