Anybody flown from DFW recently with an infant? Did they ask you to take your baby through the millimeter wave machine, or did they screen you a different way? Also, am weighing pros and cons of flying or driving. If we drive, we will be in the car for about four days each way, but will avoid airport hassle and air pressure on my son's ears. He will be about 7 months. Thoughts? I know it sounds like a no brainer, but I really am unsure of how safe the millimeter wave is for someone his age.
Thank you to those of you who shared specifics. That's more of what I was looking for. I am not 100% sure we are going or when, but will call the airport to get more info, since the TSA website isn't really very helpful.
The first time my son flew was from London to Missoula Mt, he was 5 months.
I have found that recently at most airports those with kids are allowed to go through the regular metal detector and do not have to get the full body scan.
That is a lot of driving, unless the trip was as important as the destination then I would fly and spend those extra days at the location.
Eight days in a car with an infant??? Fly.
8 days in the car with an infant vs a few hours on a plane/????? umm this is a question that needs to be asked???
its a plane.. he'll be fine...
I haven't flown from DFW, but I did fly from a Chattanooga airport.
They sent my daughter and I through a different detector. She was about 18 mos at get time, and I carried her through. The air pressure didn't bother her at all. The airline we flew with actually upgraded us to the extended seating area for free so we could have het extra space. It was really nice, and we had a great experience. :)
I have also gone on LONG car trips with her. The longest was a 3 day trip when she was 6 months old. She handled it pretty well... But it was pretty inconvenient for us. We tried to travel at night, so she would sleep most of the time. Even with that, we still had to stop every few hours for feeding, diapers, etc. we also had a surprise tornado come through... We thought it was just a bad storm and hung out in the Walmart parking lot for a few hours until we thought it would be safe. (The forecast was for a slight chance of showers. Lol.) We also wound up with a flat tire on that trip too. It was really annoying.
I would fly in your situation... Save yourself the mileage and time. Lol.
We went through DFW in January. I carried our then 8 month old in a Moby wrap and they sent me, my DH, and our 3-yo through the old style security detector and then tested my hands for explosives. Even out of IAD here in DC it was the same. You will need to be prepared to put the stroller and car seat, if your gate checking them, through the X-ray machine and they will also want to test any formula you carry on. Feed him as the plane takes off and lands and that will help the pressure ... Bring a pacifier too. Our 8-mo did fine this time ... She slept most of the way. The 3-yo .... That's another story (though he, too, did fine younger ... At 18-mos we flew to HI from VA.)
Fly ... 4 days rear-facing in a car seat will make for a VERY unhappy baby.
We just flew (but not through DFW) with a 4 year old and 6 year old. Both times we went through security they routed the kids and me through the normal metal detector. The only people I saw going through the millimeter wave were adults.
Personally, I'd rather fly than spend that many days in the car. Get all the pain and suffering over quicker. ;) Yes, flying is a hassle with a baby, but in the long run, I think it would be easier than spending 8 days in the car. If your schedule is flexible, try to fly mid-week when the airport won't be as busy.
Our daughter flew for the first time when she was 4 months. Try to time your flight during a normal sleep time. Nurse or have bottles and that will help with ears.
Definitely fly. I've flown many times international flights over 15 hours with my son so I am familiar with air travel. They will not take you through that new scanner because you have a child. Children and their family are exempt. So just make sure you get routed around the machine. Here's my 2 cents about preparing for the flight. Nurse your baby during take off and landings. Nursing will help keep the ear canal open and travel with as little as possible. Less is more for air travel. If you have a stroller you want yo gate check you can pack that stroller bag with extra diapers to save you on luggage space. Also most important keep you baby healthy before travel. Try to avoid play dates or any other ways to get sick about a week before travel. Good luck!
Ditto Christy B, this is a no brainer, FLY.
Haven't been through DFW, but just recently flew pregnant with a 6 year old. They did not make ANY young children (I would say approx. under 12 years, there were several in line with us) go through the scanners. Neither did they ask me to do it (I am visibly pregnant). Kids also no longer needed to remove their shoes.
We walked through the regular metal detector and were on our way.
And remember you can always ask for a patdown if for some odd reason or another they should ask you to go through the scanner with your son.
Good luck.
When you have infant formula you can take it on board after showing it to the TSA agent. Check with the airline to know the procedure. I've flown recently and it was not a hassle. The airline and airport have a routine that they follow. There are signs to follow and TSA agents to help. The line moves quickly. The agents are moving quickly and may not seem helpful but I saw travelers having difficulty and they were helpful.
Ask the airline to outline the procedure for you so that you feel less anxious.
i started flying with my twins when they were 2 weeks old. they have been on international flights almost every year since their birth. no problem at all.
we have done one road trip that took 13 hrs drive and i was ready to strangle my husband. flying is much easier.
You'll be fine and much safer with air travel a few hours vs car travel a few days.
We fly in and out of DFW all the time. Just allow extra time to go through security if your not a frequent flyer and check the TSA site for guidelines.
No brainier!! Good luck
We flew with our 2 year old last year, from Tulsa to DC and each time I was directed to take DS through the regular metal detectors. For what it's worth, 4 days in the car each way is much more dangerous than potential exposure to the millimeter wave machine.
I'm just trying to figure out where in the world you could possibly be going that would take 4 days of driving each way... it's really not a big deal to fly. you can ASK the TSA folks to hand pat/wand you and/or your child if you're concerned about the risk of other methods. ear pressure can be alleviated by nursing/bottle feeding/pacifier. if you do travel by air, be SURE to carry your car seat onto the plane or at the very least gate check, do not baggage check your car seat(and def don't rent one with a rental car company). have a great trip!
We travel with our 3 year old and 11 month old without a problem. Just breast or bottle feed on take off and landing. We also schedule flights around bed time, so they sleep a little on the plane
My daughter and I fly a lot. She is 8 and has never been through a full body scan. They don't put children through them. And since I never travel without her (sigh) so I've never been through one either since I must accompany her.
Take the flight. Four days in a car each way - that is nuts. You and your baby will be much less miserable in a plane.
Car would be way more dangerous than the airplane, even assuming that the millimeter wave machine might be harmful.
Air pressure is a bigger issue, but make sure you can breast or bottle feed him, and it should be okay.
You can ALWAYS request an alternate form of screening.
