Car Seat & Air Travel with Infant

Hi A.,

We flew with our son when he was 4 months old from Long Beach to New York and the best decision we made was to take the red eye, leaving at midnight. He slept the whole way! I nursed him to sleep as we took off and again when we landed. We did not use the carseat, but since it fit on his stroller, they allowed us to check it right at the gate and it was ready and waiting when we got off the plane. On the flight, I held him in a soft front carrier (the "ultimate baby wrap" that I used all the time. You can buy it at Babies R Us, I believe). By having him strapped to me in a wrap allowed me to sleep away most of the flight as well.

My son also hated his carseat and screamed whenever we went anywhere in the car. I was frantic to find a way to calm him down. On the Internet, I found a lot of people having the same problem and most of them said that their child just kind of grew out of it by about five months. And that is exactly what happened. At about five months, my son just started to accept it and the crying lessened. Now he is great in the car (most of the time!) In the meantime, I tried different kinds of music and that helped A LOT. Anytime I wanted to calm my son down, I'd put on his "favorite" CD (John Jorgenson "Ultraspontane" You can youtube him.) and he'd calm down immediately! It was like magic! I also taped up some pictures on the back of the backseat for him to look at.

Have fun in New York and I hope you enjoy your flight. And hopefully in another month or so your son will stop being so miserable in the carseat.

Lori

About the baby disliking his car seat, here are a few ideas. Is it adjusted properly to fit him? Is it fitted properly in your car? If not, it could be uncomfortable. (To find out how to adjust it and fit it properly, take it to your local Sherriff or police station -they will check it out for you).
Maybe the baby wants more stimulation - mirrors set up so the baby can see you in the rearview mirror may help, or a toy attached to the handle of the infant seat.
Good luck.

I've traveled with my son a 5 1/2 months to Chicago and at 7 1/2 months to Hawaii. Both times I held my son on my lap. Most important thing to remember when flying is that babies can't equalize their ears on their own, so you have to help them with take-off and landing by nursing/bottle/pacifier. On take-off, I hold off until we are at the end of the runway and I see the flight attendants buckle in. (If you start nursing/bottle too son then you might run out before you even take-off.) I continue until the pilot clears the seatbelt light. On landing, I start as soon as I feel or they announce descent and continue until landing. My son slept for a good portion of the flight. Traveling at these ages is very easy.

I don't know what to tell you about the car seat. My son has gone through periods where he loves it and then fights it. I think it has to do with the confinement when they are starting to move around more. Have you tried taking it apart and washing it? Maybe there is some smell or stiff part that is bothering him. You can also try neck wings to make the straps softer and support his head when he sleeps. (They attach to the car seat straps and I bought mine at Babies R Us.)

If you want any other travel tips, send me an email. I'll be happy to share.

I have flown to Mexico many times with both of my children when they were very young. The first time we brought the car seat, and never again after that. It's a pain to carry and the baby would rather sit in your lap anyway. I suggest you check the car seat with the rest of your luggage and hold your baby on the plane. I'm not sure if you are breast-feeding or not, but as the plane is taking off you want to feed him so that he is sucking and his ears will adjust to the pressure change more easily. I found that my kids always fell asleep at this point and slept through most of the flight, especially if there is a little bit of turbulence. It kind of rocked them to sleep. Another good idea is to bring a portable DVD player with Baby Einstein or something of that nature to keep him entertained if he wakes up, and some toys that don't make too much noise. It may be less comfortable for you to keep him in your arms through the flight, but he will probably sleep better, and other people on the flight are always appreciative of parents who keep their babies quiet and happy :) Good luck and have fun!

I recommend NOT flying w/ the carseat. Just hold him or even use a front carrier. How long will you be in NYC? Are you visiting family? If possible borrow or rent a seat when you get there. Airplane seats are not made for carseats and most don't even fit. Your son will be happier in your arms anyway. I would fly to NY w/ my kids since 6mos every summer. I only tried a carseat once when I had a 5 and 2 yr old -- my 2 yr old was too hyper (turns out she's majorly ADHD) and I needed a carseat to strap her in so she wouldn't run away, but after that one time I just left a seat in NY w/ family.

I traveled on vacation to Mexico with my son when he was 6 months old and I just held him during the the flight. At 3 1/2 months, I would recommend you take advantage of being able to just hold him, if you put him in his car seat you will have to pay for a seat on the flight for him, and you'll most likely end up just holding him anyway, especially if he isn't happy in the car seat.

You can check your car seat as baggage, that way you will still have it with you as soon as you arrive at the airport and get your luggage. Or, most rental car companies will rent you a car seat, and then you won't have to deal with traveling with it.

Good luck, I hope you ahve a good trip!

Don't pay for the extra seat just bring the carseat and check it in at the gate if the flight is full otherwise bring it on and hold him. If he fall asleep then put him in the seat. I brought sugar packets and a pacifer. I dipped the pacifer in the sugar for my lil one to take during takeoff and landing to ensure no pain with ear popping. It was worked great!!!

I flew with a 5 wk old from LGB to DCA and held her the whole time. It was great. She was a rockstar. If he hates the carseat, I definitely wouldn't use it. Also, when you check in at the airport, tell them you have an infant and hopefully they'll hold any seat open next to you (ask them too). They did for me one way and I laid her on my neck pillow (sort of like the boppy) and she slept. The way back, every seat was full so bummer... but if you use the carseat, you have to pay for a seat.

I wouldn't deal with a car seat on the plane. It only made things worse. I always wear my son in a sling when we fly from LGB to NYC (at least twice a year).
My son always needed to pee before getting into the car. Once I let him pee, he would get into his seat happily (from 2 or 3 months old, on).
Good luck!!