Would like Suggestions for Traveling Cross Country by Plane with 9 Month Old

My son and I traveled alone to South Africa when he was 9 mo. old and have flown domestically a handful of times.
These would be my recommendations:
1)Take the travel system and carseat to the gate. Even if you didn't buy a seat for the baby, if there is an open one on the plane, you'll get priority and be able to bring you carseat on board. Though my son didn't stay in his seat the whole time, it was nice to have a safe place to lay him when he was asleep rather than having to hold him the whole. If you aren't able to take the seat on the plane they will either gate check it and you'll have it as soon as you get off. Just ask when you check in if the plane if full and the mention again that you have a baby when you get to the gate. There should be something marked on your ticket that you have a baby in tow and the flight attendants/ ticket counter agents will be extra helpful in securing you an extra seat if at all possible.
2)Be forewarned that you have to put the stroller through the x-ray machine at security. It's a bit difficult to fold up the stroller, hold the baby and take your shoes off at the same time so if you have someone to help you that's great. If not, definitely take some sort of sling or baby carrier with you. You won't be able to wear the baby through the x-ray but you can at least hold her while you fold up the stroller. Sometimes the security people are helpful and sometimes they stare at you like you have six-heads so plan for the worse. They make you take off the baby's shoes too at security so don't bother putting her in any until after you're gone through.
3)Though I packed a bag full of small toys for my son, he was more content to play with the airplane magazine and folding table than anything else. A straw kept him occupied for most of our flight home over the Atlantic so don't be too stressed about keeping her busy. Don't take toys you love because they are often lost under the seats and roll to the back of the plane never to be seen again.
4)Don't sit in the bulkhead, particularly if you're by yourself. Though the extra leg room is nice, not having ready access to your bag isn't worth the trouble. Blow-outs always seem to happen when you can't reach your stuff and it's difficult to keep an eye on the baby and reach into the overhead bin. Pack a carry-on/diaper bag of all the stuff she'll need (toys, bib, finger foods, diapers) plus a book/magazine for you.
5)If you have the trunk space in the car you'll have in LA, the bigger stroller, the better. Should the baby want to be carried in the airport rather than ride in the stroller, a big stroller can double as a luggage cart, nothing seems to fit right in the umbrella stroller. Plus if you're taking the carseat to the gate, the bigger stroller will make it easier to lug around.
6) Take lots of puffs and other finger foods and a good bib (like one that covers her whole body). If you have a fussy seat mate, the small snacks will keep her busy and quiet if necessary. The bib is vital- there will no doubt be food and/or drink spilled on her and you at some point during the trip. Pack a few changes of clothes for you and her in your carry-on.
7) Forget any worries you've had about germs and let her crawl, cruise, or how ever she gets around whenever she can. Bring wipes to wash off her hands after she's been roaming around but let her move as much as possible. You'll both go crazy if you try to keep her still and chances are she'll get a cold from the flight regardless of how much you try to stop it so just let her play.
8) Unless your daughter has a history of ear infections or screams during take-off and/ or landing, don't worry about feeding her or giving her something to suck on during those times. My son has never seemed affected by the change in pressure and I never fed him during those times unless it was his normal time to eat. If she's sleeping, don't wake her up to feed her because you're worried about it, she'll wake up if her ears hurt and the nap is much more valuable.
9) Though some people will recommend you give the baby Benadryl to help her sleep, unless you've tried it before on a plane and it worked, don't risk it. Kids often have the opposite reaction to the medicine, particularly in the air. I'd recommend taking some with you but more because if she had an allergic reaction to something on the plane you'd want it handy and there aren't a lot of drug stores in sky :) If on the flight there she seems to have trouble with her ears, you can give her Tylenol before take-off and about an hour before landing to help with the pain.
10) Enjoy your flight. I had a great time flying with my son. He's a very social little guy and made friends with everyone we met. The flight attendants and other passengers with remarkably helpful.

My suggestion is to take the infant seat/stroller combo (yes, I know it's bulky). You can check the infant seat base with luggage (just put in a labeled trash bag.) If there are extra seats, you can request to carry on the infant seat so that at least your daughter has a chance at a nap on the plane. If there aren't extra seats, they'll check it at the gate as they will gladly do with the stroller. The larger stroller makes it easier to get through the airport toting all the other goodies and nicer for naps while you're out and about in CA. And I never liked the idea of renting car seats at the destination; always liked having my own. I know it's a lot to schlep but as someone who just did that same route with 3 kids and yes, 3 carseats and a double stroller, just having some tipping singles ready. And don't forget the bottle/sippy cups and snacks during takeoff and landing to equalize the ear pressure. Good luck and have fun!

Hi B.,
We just flew for the first time with our 18 month old daughter. My suggestions are bring LOTS of snacks The "treats" we brought for me daughter really helped when she was getting bored on the plane. We didn't bring things that were really sugary, but made sure the snacks were her favorites.

Also buy her some new toys and books for the plane. Don't show them to her ahead of time, just pack them in your carry on and bring them out one at a time on the plane. When she appears to be getting bored, pull out a new toy or book. If you need to keep her quiet, use the books.

My daughter also liked walking the aisles and talking with the flight staff.

Give her a sippy cup or something to drink at take off and landing to help with her ears.

We didn't need a car seat where we were, so I have no suggestions for that. I do know that you can rent a car seat from some car rental companies. We went to Disney and used Disney transportation.

We purchased a small, lightweight umbrella stroller (Chicco) for the trip and that worked well. It was easier to carry and it was cheaper than our other stroller so if the Chicco got destroyed on the plane, we didn't care. If you still use the infant car seat, you probably want to bring your travel system so you can snap the car seat into the stroller. Less to carry and juggle in the airport.

One other suggestion, bring a sweater or something on the plane for your daughter. The plane was chilly.

Also, we only brought our daughter's stuff on the plane, no carry on stuff for us, made it easier that way.

Have fun!

First of all, good luck on the trip. My daughter is almost two and has been on 5 plane trips, the shortest being from Baltimore to Miami and the longest being to Arizona and California, when she was ranging in age from 10 months to 22 months. You are actually probably going at a bit of an easier time since your daughter probably in not too mobile yet and may be more content to sit with you for a longer period of time. One suggestion about the carseat is to gate check it instead of checking it immediately when you get to BWI -- that way if your plane isn't totally full you may have the option to use it on the plane to give you a break from holding her. I'd bring a few of her favorite toys/books on the plane and if she snacks on anything like puffs or cheerios I'd bring those as well and a bottle or sippy cup. She should drink (or breastfeed if you are doing that) or suck on a pacifier during take-off and landing to help equalize the pressure in her ears.
Once the seatbelt sign is off you can walk up and down the aisles for a change of scenery. Maybe you will get lucky and she will sleep for part of the flight.
My daughter was entertained by flipping through the magazines provided in the seatback pockets (and occassionally ripping the pages!) :)
In terms of the stroller, on various trips we've done all the different options and each had its pros and cons. If you need a stroller once you get there then it may be worth taking it through the airport (and sometimes strollers get to go through a faster security line) and then gate check it. Also if you have the bigger stroller sometimes it can double as a luggage cart. If you don't need a stroller, you may do better just taking her in a carrier if she uses them. We did great with our Ergo Baby Carrier on all the trips, even when we had the stroller.
I hope your trip goes very smoothly!

Take the backpack. I use the Ergo Baby and love it! I can carry her with my hands free for hours in that thing because her weight sits mainly on my hips and not on my shoulders. I have my hands free for the luggage cart.

I would take the car seat and check it at curbside with the rest of the luggage. Check it all the way through so you don't have to worry about it. If possible, it would be better to borrow/rent one in LA. You can check the umbrella stroller at the gate but again, I preferred to carry her on the backpack and carry one over the shoulder bag. Pack as light as possible for your handbag and check as much baggage as soon as you can to keep your hands free.

As far as entertainment, go to the dollar store. I filled my handbag with small interesting things that would be new to her. Sounds a little old for her but silly putty works great...you have to watch her with it but babies love the feel of it. Try a tiny bottle of bubbles, a new soft doll, new snacks and old favorites, a wooden/cardboard puzzle (the kind with four pieces and little knobs), toys that krinkle and light up (but not make a lot of sound), books. At nine months they are just learning the pincer grasp...try pompon balls in a small bathroom cups, and other things with small pieces that are light weight and virtually disposable. I also made a photo album of the people we were leaving behind and the people we would see. They sell plastic ones that hold about 6-8 photos. They are soft and squishy and hold up well to mouthy infants' teeth. There is always the old favorites that don't require packing, peek-a-boo, blankie it the face etc. I got one toy for each hour on the plane. There is enough stuff at the airport to look at and places to crawl.

Bring something to drink for landing. It helps with equalizing the ears. Also, use small bathroom cups or just cup your hands over her ears if she has a hard time with the pressure. If she has the slightest cold, runny nose, etc, ask the doctor about taking Benedryl in an emergency. I was horrified when someone suggested I "drug" my infant to help her sleep in order to make my travel time more convenient. However, she did have a runny nose and could not equalize the pressure in her ears. She screamed non stop through a 20minute landing and I wish I had given her some relief 30minutes before we began the descent.

Try to keep her schedule as best as possible to help her through the difficulties. She probably won't stick to it but it will help you to know why she is crying if you go by the hours since she last ate/slept vs going by the clock or what is convenient at the moment.

Hope this helps...Sorry its so long. These are things that got me through a trip overseas and 12hour car rides. Good Luck...you can do it!

Hi B.. I can completely understand your concerns. I recently traveled with my family which included a 10-year old, 7-year old, and my very active 1 1/2 year old son last April, via plane, for the first time from Baltimore to San Diego, so the kids can visit their grandpa. We had to bring his car seat as well, howver, I had to buy him a seat b/c he is so active he would not have stayed on my lap for that length of time. On the way there the flight was non-stop, which I found excellent b/c it was at night. So all I needed for that flight for the most part was his bottle and he slept the majority of the flight. The return flight was a connecting flight, which was also pretty good since those flights were during the day the layover gave the perfect break up time to not have the baby sitting for too long and getting frustrated. Howver, on those flights we did need a little more to keep him preoccupied, even with the interruption between each flight which was about 2-2 1/2 hours each. I brought couple of his favorite books, my husband has his PSP which he likes to play with sometime. I had planety of snacks (he is a huge fan of snacking!), and I brought his coloring books and crayons. Between that and his naps it worked out pretty well.

With regards to bringing the stroller system, I would suggest it. In my opinion it makes it easier to travel and you can stow the stroller and the car seat right on the plane, which the check in counter will check for you when you get to the gate, and when you get to your destination, they have it waiting for you at the door when you get off the plane. So if you have any carry on bags, I think it is easier to carry and push the stroller. My son is in a booster seat so, we did not even have the convenience of being able to snap it into the stroller, but I was still very glad to have the stroller.

Sorry I know, this is lengthy, hope it helps!

J.

We have flown so many times with our daughter, I've lost count, including to Europe. I disagree about trying to take the entire carseat on board the plane, since you aren't likely to find a spare seat. Also if it is only rearfacing you cannot use it on a plane. That being said, take the travel system. If you keep the base and the rear facing carseat connected, you can check them with your luggage, they count as one piece. You can keep the stroller with you all the way down the jetway, the airline will check it at the gate and give it back to you when you arrive at your destination. Plus the stroller is more comfortable than the umbrella stroller. Be sure to bring lots of snacks, books, toys, a change of clothes for her AND FOR YOU. (I learned the hard way, my daughter threw up on me on our last flight). Good luck with your travel.