Seeking Flying Advice for 9 Month Old

The best thing I did when I traveled with my daughter various times age 3 months-9 months was to carry her in her baby bjorn with her shoes off.

That way your hands are free, and you dont have to waste time at the metal detectors taking off her shoes.

With my free arm I wheeled her umbrella stroller with one hand, and my carry on, with the other hand.

Good Luck

Okay, so I've only done this once -- when my little boy was 2 1/2 months. It was a shorter flight -- just over an hour -- but maybe some of this will be helpful anyway. Check with your airline about policies regarding infant travel. My little guy did fine on take off and landing (pediatrician said most do) as he nursed during the take offs. We checked our stroller/carseat combo at the gate with no trouble. Our only issue arose during the flight when my boy needed a diaper change (new diaper brand -- didn't do the job -- we had a major blowout). As soon as the seatbelt light went off my husband and I (new eager parents we are) jumped up to take care of it. A flight attendant (woman) was sitting at the back of the plan between the two stalls and looked up at us to say (in the most negative way possible), "You know that there's no changing station in there." I said (confused), "um, I figured there wouldn't be," and she just stared us down like we'd be crazy to continue. My husband, who was holding the diaper bag outside the stall said the woman kept saying that I'd "better put something down on that seat" before changing my baby. Seriously, as if I wouldn't. So, besides what seemed to be odd behavior on her part, the flight went well. As for time of day, etc. We flew out of Atlanta on a Thursday afternoon (midday) before Memorial Day weekend. We didn't have any trouble with crowds despite the holiday, and security went pretty easy -- they opened up a lane for us when they saw us coming. I'd say it is more about what time of day is better for your baby. Maybe even get a flight that corresponds with her naptime.

Our 11 month old has been on 6 trips (12 flights) and has done fine on all of them. We have always flown direct and if your daughter doesn't mind the car, then I would recommend taking a direct flight and then driving. I always nurse her during takeoff and she usually falls asleep for a good part of the flight. Take a few quiet toys to play with while she is awake. While at the airport, I would put a blanket down and have her roll around. My daughter is now too active to stay on the blanket, but she needs to move around, so I just keep an eye on her. Instead of taking the stroller, I often carry my daughter in a wrap (or if you have a Baby Bjorn-like carrier with no metal) so that I can just go through security without taking her off. And if you are traveling with a little one, the security at Atlanta airport usually lets you cut the line a bit. Also, even though many airlines have limits to the number of bags you can check in, most do not count baby gear (carseats and strollers) as one of your official check in items. As for times, if your daughter has very specific naptimes, then I would try to plan the flight around that. It helps a lot when they sleep during the flight. Oh, and try to travel with your husband. He can help cover you up to have privacy while nursing. Good luck! Like I said, we've traveled a ton with our daughter and have another trip over Labor Day weekend...it's not that hard at all!!

I think the biggest thing is just being sure you have the baby suck on a pacifier or drink a bottle on the ascent and descent. The sucking / swallowing will help her pop her ears so they don't cause her pain. You will not be able to make up bottles ahead of time since they won't let that much liquid through security. Just have powdered formula ready and fill the bottles once you get to the gate. If you're nursing, you'll still want to take bottles just in case. Airports are terrible for finding quiet places to nurse and most don't have any facilities for it. Pumping is even worse. You'll never find an outlet, so you'll have to have a battery operated pump and try it in a bathroom stall. Yikes! I'd say take a blanket to cover yourself and just nurse the best you can wherever you are. It's tough. Years ago, when I was nursing my first -- then four months old, we flew out west. We had so many delays, and I wasn't very experienced and comfortable with nursing, especially with the crowds, etc., that I ended up so engorged and couldn't get the baby to ever nurse again. He'd enjoyed having the bottles all day long. Other than that, he actually did quite well with the traveling. We've traveled with our other children as well, and it's gone really well. We just took a trip to Orlando with our five children (including a 10 month old), and it went really smoothly. Taking a stroller and checking it at the gate helps. Good luck.

Greetings D.!
I'm a mom of 4 (soon to be 5) and I have traveled with all when they were babies. I've flown from CA to NY at least 4 time with babies when they were between 7 and 10 mos. I have one question? Are you nursing? If so, nurse baby at take off and landing to avoid or reduce ear issues. I always had the usual wipes and diapers...a toy or two to entertain/distract,a blankie, teething tables if babe is teething (Hylands homeopathic teething tables or Chamomila 30X work well to calm babe also) and take a walk in the aisles if necessary. The direct flight with a connection vs. a non-stop with a 1.5 hour drive...hmmm, does babe like to take long car trips? All-in-all, don't worry cause you will make it, just make sure you are calm (as possible). Believe me peace of mind will get you through all sorts of exciting mommy days. I traveled alone to Jamaica from SF with my 4 babes (7,5,3,and 8 mos at the time). We all got really sick at the end of of our 2 month stay and by the time we flew home we all had high fevers and our flight was canceled, had to stay overnight at the Montego Bay airport, then had to transfer to FL before arriving in CA. We made it and it was actually a beautiful experience, because we were all calm and working together to make it through. Peace

We flew to London w/ my daughter who was 18 mo at the time. I discussed w/ our pediatrician if there was something we could give her to help her sleep. She said a dose of benadryl would be fine (as long as it doesn't make her hyper like it does some kids). It does make her sleepy and it actually did help. Luckily the flight over was almost her night night time. The flight back was a little harder being as it was during the day. She did take a 2hr nap thanks to the one dose of benadryl. However, we had 6hrs left. She walked up and down the isles alot which didn't seem to bother too many people. She had toys w/ her and her little movie player. It wasn't too bad. My advice for flight is trying that and making sure she has a bottle or sippycup while you are taking off and landing to help w/ her ears popping. As far as the airport, we bought a little $10 stroller at walmart and were allowed to take it on the plane as a carry on. That way she could ride anound in the stroller at the airport and we didn't have to carry her.
Good Luck!

Unfortunately, I did not find security at Atlanta to be anywhere close to helpful.
Ditto on the new toys, extras of everything, food and drink for ears.
But I highly recommend buying a ticket for the baby!! First, the safety issue. You can't possibly hold a baby safely in your lap if your plane's bouncing around in turbulence or a rough landing, or if, God forbid, you have an emergency landing for some reason.
Second, the comfort issue. Your baby is familiar with her car seat and should go to sleep easily. You'll be able to move, use your tray to eat, etc.
Put the car seat on the window because it's impossible to climb over it. Make sure you know how to attach it with a lap belt. It will probably have to be forward facing, depending on the height of your car seat, it could bump the seat in front if you try to do it rear facing.
I bought a car seat carry bag with wheels so I could pull it through the airport.
Depedning on the lenght of the flight, I like flying after lunch. We eat at the airport, after checking in and getting through securtiy. Then it's easier for the children to sleep. But if something goes wrong and your flight is delayed a bit, then you're not arriving so late in the day that normal bedtime is missed.
Good luck!

I now have 3 kids, and we fly quite a bit. Unfortunatly most of the time I'm by myself with the kids. Just know it won't be that bad!! You are bound to run into some rude people, but just ignore them, or it might get to you. And when your little one is actually good on the flight then it'll be them that feels dumb.

As mentioned, make sure to have her sucking on SOMETHING during take off and landing. Otherwise it could be pretty painful. My kids at that age always seemed to fall asleep on the planes. They just lulled them right out. If it doesn't, just make sure to have toys to play with. I always try to bring something new they haven't seen before, just to keep them interested a little bit longer.

If you girl will watch any type of video or listen to music on the ipod, it doesn't hurt to have that handy just in case.

Bring those extra diapers, clothes, wipes and bottles (even if nursing) because you never know what they will do, or if the airline is going to leave you delayed sitting in that plane for a while.

Thursdays as the least traveled day, so if you can leave then, do it. It will make it easier. And the earlier in the morning the better. I found it doesn't matter when your kids naptime is, they are going to fall asleep or stay awake no matter what. They are in a new siutation, so that won't help. I actually like to take the red eye, so it is over bed time, and usually the flights are pretty empty (atleast that used to be the case, but who knows now days). I could even lay the baby down on the seat next to me to sleep most times. It was wonderful.

MUST DO: if your husband is traveling with you book an isle and window seat on the same row. That seat in between you is going to be one of the last ones taken, and if for some reason it fills up, you can check at the gate to see if there are any empty seats. If there are they will usually move that person in the middle to another seat. If not, you know that person is going to switch you to have you sit in the middle. They won't want to be there! It's worked every time for us.. but one. ;)

Definitely take the stroller, you'll want it. And check with the car seat/baggage now; some airlines aren't allowing that without a charge, and others are. You can ask about gate checking it (if regular checking isn't free, they may allow this which would be free). If there happens to be an extra seat and you were going to gate check the car seat, you can just take the car seat on with you and put her in that. That is actually the easiest way, since they know the car seat means they are buckled in and "Stuck" they don't get as whiny. Either that or fork out for another ticket for her. But I wouldn't do that with prices right now.

Layover or not is up to you. How does your little one travel in the car? I would rather drive, because then if my kid breaks down, it's just the person driving to has to tolerate it. Otherwise it's the whole plane. But on the other hand, that second flight is going to be so short it shouldn't be that big of a deal. So you'll just have to think about how good your little one is in the car!

I think that about takes care of it. Good luck. And remember, they can feel your stress, so if you stay calm.. chances are so will they!

I flew with my daughter when she was nine months old, from Atlanta to PA, and our trip went really smoothly. We brought her stroller, which made traveling through the airport easier. You check the stroller at the gate, so you can wheel her from the parking lot right out to the gate. They let us go to the front of the line with the stroller in security. You have to take her out of the stroller to go through security and put the stroller through the machine that x-rays the luggage. That was a little bit overwhelming, but they send all the strollers to the line for people in wheelchairs, which meant the people in that line were a little more understanding.

We flew at her nap time. We got to the airport early to give us plenty of time to get to the gate, but since they let us go to the front of the security line, we got to the gate over an hour before the plane boarded. We let her crawl around, and walked with her to wear her out before boarding. You have to check in at the gate. You go up to the counter, and they give you a pink tag to attach to the stroller. Then when you board the plane, you leave the stroller right at the door to the plane (at the end of the walkway). The crew puts it down in the luggage compartment, and when you get off the plane it is waiting for you at the door of the plane.

We did not buy her her own seat. She rode in our laps. I gave her a bottle during takeoff, to help alleviate any discomfort she might feel in her ears. We brought a bag of 7 or 8 new toys, and let her play with some of those once she finished her bottle. When they brought the snacks around, I got her one of those Biscoff cookies. She had never had a cookie before, and she really enjoyed it. She fell asleep sucking on it. I placed a thin receiving blanket over her head, so the lights and noise wouldn't bother her, and she slept the rest of the way.

It really couldn't have gone better. The return trip went about the same, except it took a little longer for her to fall asleep, and she did fuss a little when she couldn't get comfortable, and was so tired. Everyone was really understanding (luckily), and she only fussed for 10 minutes before she fell asleep.

Also, both times, I changed her diaper ten minutes before boarding was due to board, and then changed her immediately after we got off the plane. I was really worried that she would poop on the plane, and I would have to try to change her in the plane bathrooms. Thankfully, that was never an issue.

I've flown w/ my son several times since he was born in 2006 and most of those times, I was alone. Even though I was nervous each time, the trips went very smoothly. I was always surprised at how helpful people around me were. When my son was 10 months old, we had a layover so I brought an umbrella stroller. Most flights allow an umbrella stroller as a carry-on so I had it folded up when we got on the plane and when we had the hour layover, I could wheel my son around the airport to keep him happy (plus I didn't have to carry him everywhere). I thought the layover was easier than a long car ride. I kept a very stocked diaper bag - lots of snacks (cheerios, trix, fruit loops, animal crackers, fruit snacks), change of clothes (including socks and shoes), lots of diapers, wipes, a small blanket to change him on, several pacifiers, books and some toys (my son loved stacking and opening and closing so I bought little boxes w/ lids (like for jewelry) that he could open and close over and over). I also have a video ipod and he was mesmerized at watching videos of himself. I nursed and never had a problem feeding him at the airport or on the plane. I used a small blanket to cover up and no one even noticed. He usually fell asleep after I fed him on the plane - the noise and motion makes them sleepy. For the most part, people understand that it's hard to travel with an infant and are helpful, as well as tolerant of a fussy baby. Some may not be, but you likely won't have to see them again so who cares :) Good luck!!

times, direct or with connections, JUST make sure she is sucking on a bottle, going up and coming down. Have fun!