Air travel with infants. What's your experience?

[E_7]

How old is your baby? I traveled with my baby from the US to Eastern Europe when he was about 2 months and then back to the US a couple of months later. He is now 6 and despite the fact that the trip was 15+ hours, it was one of the easiest trips ever with him. I didn’t get an extra seat to use a car seat with. I held him the entire time, although I did use a baby carrier so I could use both hands at times.

All pediatricians will tell you to get an extra seat and use a car seat on an airplane, but I don’t think it is necessary, especially when the baby is immobile. I would fly with an immobile infant any day over a toddler or even small child who can walk.

He is 8 months old. Yes, the pediatrician did mention that baby on lap is done and that not many do the extra seat (car seat) option because of how much it costs. That’s why she told me to check with the airline. After the encouragement here and the pediatrician’s green light, I have an open mind now on traveling with our son. I called my husband in the middle of work and told him about the doc’s response, but we will discuss it at home.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

What’s your experience with Air traveling with a baby in terms of health (including ears), and weather/season.

Traveling with an infant has been quite easy for us. toddlers are ok too but different. If there are multiple stops at airports that is a little harder but still doable. If your infant is breastfeeding then it is even easier. We went from the northwest to phoenix AZ once with a 2 month old and my wife used a cover for breastfeeding. When we arrived the stewardess did not even know we had a baby on board the whole time. (so much for security right?)

We have also traveled to places without the carseats. It makes the airports better. We then either use family or friends carseats or rent one from a rental car place. (you don’t even have to rent a car) I think it was like 5 dollars a day. totally worth not having to lug one around.

 

[Magdalen2013]

Ok – I’ll weigh in on the “don’t do it” side:

I’m retired, but I used to travel for my job, and the most miserable thing for everyone involved is a crying unhushable baby or a toddler in a tantrum on an airplane.

I’m sure your pediatrician means well, but I worked for HHS, and I would not take a baby on a plane during flu season. You’re risking exposure everywhere you go, but most especially the airport – and flu isn’t the only thing you have to worry about, pertussis (whooping cough) is also a possibility.

Remember flu kills as many as 50,000 people each year.

If you MUST travel, drive – you have more control over your child’s environment. Frankly, I wouldn’t do air travel with a child until they are old enough to go to school and have had ALL their vaccinations.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Ok – I’ll weigh in on the “don’t do it” side:

I’m retired, but I used to travel for my job, and the most miserable thing for everyone involved is a crying unhushable baby or a toddler in a tantrum on an airplane.

I’m sure your pediatrician means well, but I worked for HHS, and I would not take a baby on a plane during flu season. You’re risking exposure everywhere you go, but most especially the airport – and flu isn’t the only thing you have to worry about, pertussis (whooping cough) is also a possibility.

Remember flu kills as many as 50,000 people each year.

If you MUST travel, drive – you have more control over your child’s environment. Frankly, I wouldn’t do air travel with a child until they are old enough to go to school and have had ALL their vaccinations.

why school age? Did you travel with your children? Most infants have the flu shot these days…

 

[iepuras]

I recently flew and there was a crying baby and a small barking dog on the flight. The crying baby’s sounds were far more muffled and much easier to ignore than the dog’s barking. I will take the baby over the dog any day.

 

[E_7]

Traveling with an infant has been quite easy for us. toddlers are ok too but different. If there are multiple stops at airports that is a little harder but still doable. If your infant is breastfeeding then it is even easier. We went from the northwest to phoenix AZ once with a 2 month old and my wife used a cover for breastfeeding. When we arrived the stewardess did not even know we had a baby on board the whole time. (so much for security right?)

We have also traveled to places without the carseats. It makes the airports better. We then either use family or friends carseats or rent one from a rental car place. (you don’t even have to rent a car) I think it was like 5 dollars a day. totally worth not having to lug one around.

Rent a car seat? How convenient! I understand that your wife does baby-wearing, is a baby carrier like the Beco Gemini permissible past TSA? do you know?

Ok – I’ll weigh in on the “don’t do it” side:

I’m retired, but I used to travel for my job, and the most miserable thing for everyone involved is a crying unhushable baby or a toddler in a tantrum on an airplane.

I’m sure your pediatrician means well, but I worked for HHS, and I would not take a baby on a plane during flu season. You’re risking exposure everywhere you go, but most especially the airport – and flu isn’t the only thing you have to worry about, pertussis (whooping cough) is also a possibility.

Remember flu kills as many as 50,000 people each year.

If you MUST travel, drive – you have more control over your child’s environment. Frankly, I wouldn’t do air travel with a child until they are old enough to go to school and have had ALL their vaccinations.

OK, now I’m not unsure, but serious and sure on not flying. I don’t know when is the flu season. Better not fly. And my son doesn’t have the flu shot yet.

 

[UbiCaritas]

Rent a car seat? How convenient! I understand that your wife does baby-wearing, is a baby carrier like the Beco Gemini permissible past TSA? do you know?

OK, now I’m not unsure, but serious and sure on not flying. I don’t know when is the flu season. Better not fly. And my son doesn’t have the flu shot yet.

Yep, baby carriers are fine through security. I didn’t even have to take DD out of it at that age; we just walked through the metal detector with her in it.

 

[UbiCaritas]

Traveling with an infant has been quite easy for us. toddlers are ok too but different. If there are multiple stops at airports that is a little harder but still doable. If your infant is breastfeeding then it is even easier. We went from the northwest to phoenix AZ once with a 2 month old and my wife used a cover for breastfeeding. When we arrived the stewardess did not even know we had a baby on board the whole time. (so much for security right?)

We have also traveled to places without the carseats. It makes the airports better. We then either use family or friends carseats or rent one from a rental car place. (you don’t even have to rent a car) I think it was like 5 dollars a day. totally worth not having to lug one around.

I had NO idea that rental car places also rented carseats!!! Thank you SO much for this information; it’s going to make future trips infinitely simpler! Of course, I’ll check with the rental car company to make sure they have one/I can reserve it, but seriously…that’s genius.

 

[Xantippe]

I had NO idea that rental car places also rented carseats!!! Thank you SO much for this information; it’s going to make future trips infinitely simpler! Of course, I’ll check with the rental car company to make sure they have one/I can reserve it, but seriously…that’s genius.

Here’s some rain for that parade.

“Avis was out of car seats when Lori Philips landed in Orlando — despite her calling three times ahead to confirm availability. The car rental agency told her they would refund her purchase if she bought one nearby at Walmart, which would have required her driving there without her three-year-old son in a car seat.”

today.com/parents/flying-family-dilemma-lug-car-seat-or-pay-rental-counter-8C11009960

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Here’s some rain for that parade.

“Avis was out of car seats when Lori Philips landed in Orlando — despite her calling three times ahead to confirm availability. The car rental agency told her they would refund her purchase if she bought one nearby at Walmart, which would have required her driving there without her three-year-old son in a car seat.”

today.com/parents/flying-family-dilemma-lug-car-seat-or-pay-rental-counter-8C11009960

Probably happens at about the same frequency as the airlines losing one you check…

 

[Burt_Macklin]

I had NO idea that rental car places also rented carseats!!! Thank you SO much for this information; it’s going to make future trips infinitely simpler! Of course, I’ll check with the rental car company to make sure they have one/I can reserve it, but seriously…that’s genius.

It’s easier to just bring one with you. Most airlines will check a car seat for free and it doesn’t count towards your checked baggage allowance.

 

[Convert_in_99]

OK, now I’m not unsure, but serious and sure on not flying. I don’t know when is the flu season. Better not fly. And my son doesn’t have the flu shot yet.

You are in flu season now! Here in the USA the “Flu Season” lasts from October through April. Technically you can contract the Flu virus anytime throughout the year, but October-April poses the greatest risk of contracting it.

Also you can get Flu shots (and sometimes Flu Mist…a shot-free vaccine taken through the nose) at most any Pharmacy. But I’d obtain your son’s through the pediatrician as they are more experienced with babies.

Most insurance plans allow one free Flu Shot per person per year!

 

[pensmama87]

Probably happens at about the same frequency as the airlines losing one you check…

If you have a “travel system” stroller, you can check it with the bucket seat at the gate. Stroller was also handy for lugging around diaper bag/carry-on etc.

You are in flu season now! Here in the USA the “Flu Season” lasts from October through April. Technically you can contract the Flu virus anytime throughout the year, but October-April poses the greatest risk of contracting it.

Also you can get Flu shots (and sometimes Flu Mist…a shot-free vaccine taken through the nose) at most any Pharmacy. But I’d obtain your son’s through the pediatrician as they are more experienced with babies.

Most insurance plans allow one free Flu Shot per person per year!

I know our pediatrician offers flu vaccine clinics in the fall . He recommends the vaccine for any child six months and up. I think only children over 2 can do the mist, though.

 

[pensmama87]

You are in flu season now! Here in the USA the “Flu Season” lasts from October through April. Technically you can contract the Flu virus anytime throughout the year, but October-April poses the greatest risk of contracting it.

Also you can get Flu shots (and sometimes Flu Mist…a shot-free vaccine taken through the nose) at most any Pharmacy. But I’d obtain your son’s through the pediatrician as they are more experienced with babies.

Most insurance plans allow one free Flu Shot per person per year!

I know our pediatrician offers flu vaccine clinics in the fall . He recommends the vaccine for any child six months and up. I think only children over 2 can do the mist, though.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If you have a “travel system” stroller, you can check it with the bucket seat at the gate. Stroller was also handy for lugging around diaper bag/carry-on etc.

I know our pediatrician offers flu vaccine clinics in the fall . He recommends the vaccine for any child six months and up. I think only children over 2 can do the mist, though.

I’ve lost two strollers. A rolling luggage and a kids backpack at the “gate check”

 

[nodito]

We have two young children (now 4 and 2) and have flown loads of time, including several transatlantic flights with a child about your child’s age.

Can they get sick from someone at the airport or on board? Sure, but my thought is it’s just as likely to happen at the YMCA or local park. Get his a flu shot first and don’t sweat it.

It’s always awesome to have extra space on the plane but I’ve had most success keeping babies happy and quiet on the plane when I could hold and nurse them, and you can’t do that if you have a car seat with them (they are either lap children or not, and if they aren’t they have to be buckled the whole time).

Another option is to bring your car seat to the airport and if they aren’t overbooked you can sometimes request that they give you the empty seat next to you. If there aren’t any extra seats you can gate check the car seat and carry little one on as a lap child. Either way you have your car seat when you get to your destination so you don’t have to worry about gross car seats at the car rental place.

Good luck!

 

[pensmama87]

I’ve lost two strollers. A rolling luggage and a kids backpack at the “gate check”

OK, yeah, that’s bad.

You wonder if the airline lost them or if someone just decided they looked nice…

ETA: Oh, one nice thing is if you fly one of the airlines where you get to pick your own seats, having a child with you is a great way to ensure that you get an empty seat next to you if the flight isn’t full.

 

[Kelfa28]

Here’s some rain for that parade.

“Avis was out of car seats when Lori Philips landed in Orlando — despite her calling three times ahead to confirm availability. The car rental agency told her they would refund her purchase if she bought one nearby at Walmart, which would have required her driving there without her three-year-old son in a car seat.”

today.com/parents/flying-family-dilemma-lug-car-seat-or-pay-rental-counter-8C11009960

That is bad.

When we went to Florida my nephew’s car seat was badly damaged by the airline. My BIL was PO’d to say the least.

They had to rent a car seat for the whole stay and figure out a way to make $200 appear to buy a brand new one…then spend an entire vacation day at the airport trying to get them to refund the money.
The airline just wanted to give them vouchers…it took awhile to get them to issue them a refund.

 

[Burt_Macklin]

Here’s some rain for that parade.

“Avis was out of car seats when Lori Philips landed in Orlando — despite her calling three times ahead to confirm availability. The car rental agency told her they would refund her purchase if she bought one nearby at Walmart, which would have required her driving there without her three-year-old son in a car seat.”

today.com/parents/flying-family-dilemma-lug-car-seat-or-pay-rental-counter-8C11009960

Car rental companies typically don’t charge a cancellation fee. I’d probably have just found another rental with a car seat. As it is I usually do two reservations anyway. One at national so I can take a minivan while only paying for a car and one at Avis reserving a minivan in case national is out. I save about half not having to pay for the upgrade.

 

[UbiCaritas]

It’s easier to just bring one with you. Most airlines will check a car seat for free and it doesn’t count towards your checked baggage allowance.

With our current one kid, we’ve done that, and probably will again. It wasn’t too bad lugging it through the airport or checking it at the baggage check–we’ve done it both ways. However, I’m thinking of when we hit 3-4 kids, all of whom will likely still need car seats. (Given DH’s build, I expect that our kids won’t be out of boosters until they’re at least 10, but that’s a rant for another day.) Hauling two carseats apiece plus herding a couple of kids and carrying the other two ain’t my idea of fun. At the very least, bringing two and renting two would cut down on the general annoyance, and in the worst-case scenario of the rental agency not having the appropriate seats (eh, I figure everyone screws up sometimes), one adult can go get the seats while the other one kid-chases.