Airport Already?! Travels with Baby

By Charity Brockman 
Originally written for TheCradle.com

You’ve patiently awaited your baby’s birth, and now that your little bundle of joy has finally arrived, you can’t wait to show him off! Or you have a family commitment that you can’t get out of. In either case, with travel season upon us, you are probably full of questions about the trip ahead. Here are some answers to help make flying with your newborn to six-month-old easier:

How young is too young to take my baby on an airplane? 
Although the airline may allow it, air travel with an infant younger than 14 days is not advisable. In fact, you are better off waiting until the baby is at least 6 weeks old, according to Dr. John Struthers, a Kaiser Permanente pediatrician in South Sacramento. At that point, your baby's immune system is more likely to be able to handle exposures.

Some doctors recommend waiting, if possible, until after an infant's 2 month pediatrician visit, when babies receive their first vaccinations. Your baby's chance of getting sick with travel doesn't decrease once they turn 2 months old, but he or she is less likely to get seriously ill. In making travel plans, remember to check with your child's health insurance about where to go if your baby needs to see a doctor.

Should I buy a separate seat or keep the baby on my lap? 
This is a loaded question, considering safety, cost and ease of travel. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says the safest way to go is to secure the infant into a child restraint device (CRD) in their own seat. If you choose this option, you should know the following:

• Not all car seats qualify as a CRD. Any CRD must have both of the following labels: "This child restraint device conforms to all applicable federal motor vehicle safety standards" and "This restraint is certified for use in motor vehicles and aircraft."¹ If your car seat is larger that 16” across the back, you should check its appropriateness with your airline.

• The FAA has certain seating requirements. Safety seats must occupy the window seat only and cannot occupy the emergency exit aisle, so you’ll want a window seat and the seat next to it. If you are flying an airline that doesn’t assign seats, arrive in time for early boarding.

• The “child seat discount” may not get you the best fare. If you decide to purchase a separate seat for your baby, many airlines offer a “child seat discount” off full coach fare, but since full coach fare can be more than twice the cost of a discounted ticket found online, you might get a better deal just purchasing a discount ticket and making sure the airline knows the seat is for a child.

If you want to skip the cost of an extra seat, you can board your baby as a “lap child.” A lap child is under 2 years old and sits on your lap instead of taking up a designated seat (thus the name). They travel free on most airlines that operate domestically. Using a baby carrier can make traveling this way much easier. You will be hands-free to get yourself settled, and the child is more likely to sleep. You also won’t have as many worries about strapping in a bulky car seat.

For longer flights (international flights especially), there is another option. Some airlines provide a special apparatus for babies (bassinets, for example), and will seat you in the bulkhead. It is easier to care for your baby if you have space to change diapers or clothes, although the person next to you might not appreciate the smell of a diaper change. I pack about a dozen gallon-size zip top bags. They are great for sealing up smelly diapers or accidentally pooped-on clothes! 

What about a stroller? 
Plan on taking a lightweight stroller. Traveling without one is risky. There may be long lines or delays, and you’ll want a place to put your baby down. Airlines recommend travel with the umbrella stroller, but infants are too young for that. Instead, you should plan on taking your car seat and a frame stroller (like a Baby Trend Snap-N-Go). This method has three benefits:

• First, it’s best to travel with your own car seat. You’ll be familiar with it and the baby will be exposed to fewer new germs. (You can rent car seats from rental car agencies, but they can be pretty gross!) 

• Second, you can gate check these items and keep them with you most of the time you are in the airport. 

• Third, the airline gives you the opportunity to occupy an unsold seat if one is available. That’s right – you could get a separate seat for the baby, gratis, if the flight isn’t full!

What should I take on the plane? 
Although many airlines don’t count your diaper bag against you in the normal carry-on allowance, you are better off repacking your diaper bag and any other separate carry-ons into a single bag, so you can have your hands free. I recommend a backpack. Sure, you may feel a little like a pack donkey if you are traveling with a backpack and a baby strapped to your chest, but it’s the best way to go – trust me!

Consider what your infant usually uses per day (in clothes, diapers, wipes, bibs, formula), then take a 1-day supply of everything in your carry-on backpack, just in case the luggage gets lost. Pack light! You can always get more supplies at your destination.

You’ll also want to be sure to pack a thermometer, infant fever reducer (like Tylenol or Motrin), and doctor's instructions on how much to give your little one in case of a fever.

How can I soothe my baby during the flight? 
To protect your infant’s delicate ears from built-up air pressure, make sure your baby is sucking (nursing or using a bottle) on both take-off and landing.

As for the time in-between take-off and landing, well, that’s the fun part. If he’s old enough to be interested in toys, you might want to bring some along. Try rotating them, one at a time, so the first one seems exciting and new after he’s played with the other three.

You might also try to score a noisy seat (yes, noisy – as in, above the engines in the back). The white noise will actually increase the chance that your baby will sleep the length of a short flight (3 hours or less).

Finally, remember to pack your patience, a sense of humor, a very loose itinerary and a flexible attitude!

Charity Brockman lives in Southern California with her husband and two kids. Avid travelers, the kids have now been on over 25 flights in three countries. She originally created this article for The Cradle (www.thecradle.com), the first-of-its-kind lifestyle destination for expectant and new moms.