Travel with 4 Mo Old

I think a stroller is a perfect and quick idea. It will be easier also. Or you can get one of those baby babjorn carriers. It is like a baby pouch that will keep baby close to you and it will normally comfort the baby.I did everthing around the house hands free. Then when you get on the plane you wont have extra luggage. however they are good about tagging it right before you get on as a carrier on and they will put it on the plane until you get off. Both might be nice though. I definetly suggest the baby bajorn carrier. Walmart or Kmart, Target and other stores carry this item. GOOD LUCK

I just received this today in my email. Seems like it has some good tips. It's called 'Seven secrets to successful travel with a young child'

http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babytravel/6991.html

I once flew by myself with my 3yo and 1yo. I would take the stroller. I had a layover in Atlanta and that place is a madhouse. It was just much easier to strap them in and take off. And if your first flight is a little late, you'll have to rush to make it to the next one with just a 20 min. layover. A stroller will make that much easier.

As far as the boppy, if you think you'll need it, take it. Just be sure you can keep up with all of it since you'll be by yourself. I just never used mine that much.

If your little girl is anything like mine, the noise from the plane itself will put her to sleep. That's what my 1yo did when I traveled. He woke up during the layover and slept on both flights.

I would make sure you defentily have enough milk and tylenol. Their ears will pop on the plane, also bring a pacifier.

bring the stroller for sure! they let you check it right before you get on the plane and when you get off it is waiting for you again. also, try to only bring one bag with all of your essentials in it for your carryon. otherwise, you will have some difficulty lugging everything around. little babies usually do well on planes..it's when they get older and get bored that you have the problems on a plane. i would bring a pacifier for her for when you are landing and taking off so that she has something to suck on to help with the whole ears popping thing. also, call ahead of time and check what baby items(formulas, food,creams,etc.) are allowed in your carryon bag. they recently changed it to allow so many ounces of baby essentials...before they were making you throw everything out. i hope that you have a safe trip!

I would suggest using a sling or baby bjorn. It's safer then in your arms during the flight and easier then a stroller. My son always slept very well in a sling so that would be another bonus. Get one ASAP if your don't already have one so that you can get use to wearing your daughter before the flight. Good luck.

I have traveled numerous times with my children, first of all make sure to bring her a bottle and whatever blanket or doll she may like. Try giving her something she's never had before like maybe cheerios or some kind of baby snack, she's old enough to have those mushy snacks. Get a few new books, and toys and don't give them to her until she gets crazy on the plane. Bring an Ipod or portable dvd player,that works great! I would not bring the bobby as the seats are small and if you don't have a seat next to you that is open, then you will have to find a place to store it. Most of all remember, she's a baby, and take care of her and don't worry what others think, they've probably been there too!! Good luck!!

I have 3 suggestions for you.
1) Bring enough supplies that you will not panic if you get stuck in a hotel overnight and your flight gets cancelled the next day.
2) Use one of those cheap $10.00 strollers; they fit in the isle of the airplane.
3) Make sure she is sucking on something for takeoff and landing, this will help her ears pop.

Hi J.,
First...don't worry....you will be fine!

Little ones that age usually do pretty well. If you are bottle feeding, make sure you have one ready to go. You won't want to be trying to mix anything if she is screaming! You won't want a boppy...takes up too much space. A stroller is a good idea - they will check it at the bottom of the jetway - so you can roll her all the way down then just take her out as you get on the plane. Might be a good idea to bring her car seat if it attaches to her stroller - sometimes if the plane is not full they will let you take a seat for her even if you did not buy one. She will sleep great if you can strap her in her baby seat. And if they don't have any extra room - they will just check it for you when they check your stroller. If she is teething or anything - give her tylenol before you get on the plane....again, you don't want to be trying to do anything while she is screaming. Check your luggage - leave plenty of time - and have all of your babies things (bottles, books, blankies, whatever, at your fingertips. Good luck!

Hi J.,
I have traveled alone many times with my boys and I have found that less is more. I would bring the bare nessesities. Bottles (only 1 or 2 depending on feedings), passifier (anything soothing), 3 diapers (you never know what will happen), a little travel pack of wipes (huggies makes the disposible packs), 1 change of clothes and one or two little toys. Try to pack anything else in your checked luggage. Don't bother bringing books or magazines or any entertainment for yourself. You won't get to it. If you bring anything for yourself I would suggest an ipod. I would say your goal should be to have one small/medium size carry on, stroller and baby. Pack for the plane like you would pack for a short outing around town. Anything else you think you will need for your vacation should go in your checked bags. Also, pack a small enough purse that will fit inside your carry-on. The less bags/items you have to keep track of the better. A stroller is always a nice thing to have. You will be able to check it right at the jet way and then you will have it as soon as you de-plane. The baggage guys will bring it up to the jetway after landing. The other option would be a "baby bjorn" or some kind of carrier. Which ever is easier on you. The baby bjorn is nice because you strap them to you and your hands are free. If you are going to need a stroller where you are going I would go ahead and bring it but you may consider bringing both. This way you do not have to depend on others (flight attendants/personel) to watch your baby. You can even go to the bathroom with the baby strapped to you. It's a little tricky but this way you never loose sight of your baby. If you are taking a stroller w/ carseat I would suggest getting a carseat bag for when they store it under the plane. The airlines just trash your stuff if it's not bagged. The main thing to remember is that the airline personel are there to help you. If you need anything, just ask. 99% of the time they are very helpfull. You may want to call the airlines ahead of time just to get a list of rules and regulations. You don't want to get there and have problems. Remember, no open bottles of liquid and nothing over 3oz of liquid. Sealed pre-made formula should be okay though. Your bag also needs to be under 50 lbs.
Good luck and happy travels.
-S.

Hi J.. My name is R. I am a mother of a very active 15mth old ;)! And we have flown a few times beginning when she was only 5 weeks old! I was also traveling alone and I don't think I had ever been so nervous! Anyhow... I would suggest (as it was suggested to me) to try an make sure your baby is sucking as the plane is taking off and landing...if you can! (if she's not sleeping) and make sure you cover both ears. I did this by holdin one ear with my hand while having the other pushed up against me while feeding her a bottle! Mine did not take a pacifer other wise that would have been pretty easy so just have her suck on a pacifer! That is to help the popping of her ears!
Also I would def bring the stroller! We had one of the ones that the infant seat hooked right onto the stroller! Two great reasons...you can easy push her through the airport and wait for your plane and then when he get off you have your car seat with you to go in the car! The airlines are very wonderful about it also! You take your stroller and car seat with you right until you are about to board and then they will load it under the plane for you and have it waiting for you when you get off!!
Good luck to you and im sure everything will work out wonderful for you both!
Best wishes

she is small enough to carry in a front pouch..

J., the first time I took my son home to Texas to meet my family, he was just about to turn 4 months old - AND a few times, it was only me and him flying after that. I brought my boppy- only because he breastfed. I swear that's the best baby gift I ever got! It didn't bother anyone next to me. I made sure I sat by the window both ways. I nursed him just as we took off and he was fine - slept mostly. When we returned home, we had to fly at a higher altitude and I think it bothered his ears a few hours later but other than that he did great. If you bottle feed - try giving her her bottle as you take off. I always used my stroller when flying - you can bring it right up to the plane and they bring it back out when you get off. So we had a place to put my purse, diaper bag, boppy - etc... and you generally get to skip in line faster at security. Flying with infants isn't bad - it's when they reach TWO where you wanna fly in the cargo hold by yourself!! Good luck. A.

I have a 15 month old son and spent the 1st year of his life on airplanes and in aiports! I found it easier to just bring a blaket to keep them warn cause the airlines usually provides a pillow, that way you don't have to carry around a boppy. Bring a stroller! It isn't easy running through the airport in Dallas Tx with a baby strapped to your chest! The airlines will take to stroller once you board the plane and put it underneath and when you land they'll bring it back up for you. Bring a back pack carry on cause it's hard to hold a child and a shoulder strap at the same time, and pack the ready to feed formulas just in case your baby gets hungry, or hey if you breast feed its easier to just feed them!

Hi J., it has been 12 yrs since I took a baby on a plane, however... I flew from FL to SD with a 6 mth old at the time. All I took was a diaper bag full of diapers and formula. I checked the car seat and stroller so I carried him from one gate to the other. However, I would suggest that you at least take an umbrella stroller with you on board.
Good luck

Hi J.. A couple of things. I travel a lot with children. Most of the time, by myself.will be next week. I have a six year old, four year old and a one year. I travel from Florida to California, or Florida to Ohio or Florida to Kansas, so many trips with three kids by myself and a laptop. This is what i wud do. U have only a 20 minute layover? It may seem like a long time, but what if the plane is late? than u will have to wait for the stroller and put the baby in it and rush to ur next flight which is never fun and they usually board parents with infants 30 minutes b4 the schedule flight. I would get a carrier. You can check your stroller for free with most airlines. Also, i would have booked the flight during the day, only bc if this is the baby's first plane ride, u dont know how she will react to the noise and the atmosphere, she may not like it and scream, and those hours ull be up in air will be when most are trying to sleep, if it was during the day most ppl are talking away and would not notice a baby. For the diaper bag, food for the baby, maybe some of the gerber bisquits. bring enuf diapers as if u'd change her every hour..so if ur in the air for 3 hours, bring 6. Paci, if she takes it a change of clothes for her and an extra top for you..just incase. Take slip-on shoes, nothing with ties that'd ud need to put the baby down...im trying to think of what else.....anyway, if u need more let me know.

you really don't have to worry too much. At 4 months old, they sleep so much it is still easier than going with a 2 year old! Just try to time the bottles for taking off and landing to help her ears, although my son has no ear problems, so your little girl might be fine too. Bring a pacifier too if she takes one. I have always bought a seat and taken the car seat, but if you are holding her, I wouldn't think about going without the boppy! I think it will really help make things more comfortable for the both of you. With you holding her and the hum of the plane, I'm sure she will sleep most of the time. Have a safe trip!

You should have no trouble at all, except perhaps her ears on takeoff and landing (since she'll be sleeping). I always made a practice of nursing at takeoff and landing so that the baby was swallowing and relieving the pressure in the ears. Do you have a Baby Bjorn, so your arms are free? I would use that for the plane.... hardest part of having a child sleep on you in a plane seat is that you have no freedom of movement and/or you don't want to move at all once she's sleeping, so if you're arm goes to sleep, etc. you're out of luck! :) Definitely bring your stroller, if will help you even carry other items and make the transition easier for both of you.

Good luck, it'll be better than you think! Remember to change her diaper before you get on the plane and use the restroom yourself! :)

K.

I've traveled with my daughter three times now and she is 13 months. Our first trip was when she was 12 weeks old. I highly recommend a baby carrier, like a sling or Mei Tai. Strollers are a pain and something extra to lug around and keep track of. With a carrier, you can pop her in and do whatever you need to. Check out these websites for products.
www.hotslings.com
www.freehandbaby.com

Best of travels - P.

I traveled with my daugther when she was 6 weeks old. Everything went great. Holding her was not a problem at all, she slept the whole way. I nursed her when the plane took off so her ears wouldn't hurt and I was suppose to nurse her when it landed as well but she was asleep. I would make sure you either nurse her or bottle feed her when the plane takes off and lands if possible to prevent her ears from hurting. If her ears hurt then you will have a bad flight. I think strollers are a good idea but if you only have one child it might be easier to just carry her around. I never took a stroller on my trip but now that I have two I definitely will. Make sure you wear shoes that are easy to take on and off because they might ask you to take them off at the security station and you want to be able to do it easily with the baby. Bring a change of clothes for her and you (at least a shirt) in case she has an accident that gets on you. Bring a toy or two to entertain her in case she doesn’t want to sleep with the new surroundings. I would not bring a boppy. Our flight was delayed for 4 hours when I traveled with my daughter and everything went good. I didn't have a stroller but a baby is easy to carry and I entertained her in the airport so she would sleep during the flight. You will be surprised how good it will go. Just be prepared for anything, like dirty diapers and an unhappy camper (what does she like bring pacifiers, toys etc). if you stricly plan on her sleeping then you could run into trouble if she stays up and is bored. Good luck!

The biggest thing is a bottle or breastfeeding for take-offs and landings. This will get her swallowing which will alleviate any pressure in her ears. The stewardesses will gladly bring a cup of hot water or heat a bottle for you just before they prepare for both. The boppy is probably a great idea, except for if there is crowding issue. Maybe a sling or baby carrier would be easier than the worry of the stroller. If your flight runs late for the connection, it's easier to just run than it is to get the stroller ready and then broken down. We traveled when my daughter was 5 months old from Chicago to Sarasota, FL and everything went so smoothly. Good luck and happy travels.

K.