First time flying with baby

As I mentioned, a weekend in April we traveled for the first time with Liam.  I learned that flying with a baby takes a lot of organization, but very doable!

The short version? I think I was about as prepared and organized as I could have been and wouldn't change a thing (that I could affect).  Traveling went pretty well and we'd totally do it again.

The longer version, recommendations for traveling with a wee-one:

Do you airline research!
We looked at airline policies on their websites, called customer service with questions and talked to other people who've flown with babies for information to consider. We then weighted the pros and cons of our airline options and found that Southwest was going to work for us. Even though they didn't have a direct flight to where we were going (a definite con), you can check your baggage for free, they allow you to gate check BOTH the car seat and stroller, super friendly and good family boarding protocol (the pros).

And our check-in, boarding and flight was fine.  Even the lay-overs (on the way to CA we didn't have to get off the plane, on the way home we did) both went fine/Liam did great.

Talk to your Pediatrician!
At Liam's 4-month check up (a week before our flight) we told him about our up coming travels and he had some advice for us.  If you don't have an appointment - you could definately call your ped to ask for tips and advice for your baby!

What our Pediatrician told us!
- Take disinfectant wipes.  The time to be those overly cautious parents that worry about germs is on a plane.  The minute we sat down, we used the to-go Clorox Disinfecting Wipes we stocked our baby bag with to wipe down the backs of the seats, arms rests, window and trays with the wipes to try to control some of the germs around us.

- Get your baby sucking.  If you can line up your feeding with take off and landing, great.  If not - don't fret - get them sucking on a pacifier.  This helps their ears to pop and release pressure.  Since we had a lay over both ways, we had double the take offs/landings and had him eating and pacifier sucking for each.  We had no problems.  Sometimes he'd get lazy sucking on his pacifier (especially if he was sleeping), so I'd just wiggle it in his mouth to remind him.

Organize your diaper bag/baby suitcase for easy access to things!
We chose to check (with Southwest's free checked luggage) Liam's main suitcase (filled with a bajillion diapers, formula, lots of extra clothes, some toys & books, sleepwear options for all kinds of  tempatures, etc) and carry on a well-stocked diaper bag.

In our diaper bag we packed:
Pre-measured formula (more than we'd think we need - you never know with possible delays) and bottles
Two extra outfits/clothing pieces
Diapers and wipes (again, more than you think you'll need)
Burp cloth, bib, blanket, extra pacifiers and toys/entertainment
Pacifier cleaning wipes & Boogie wipes (more germ-control and helping dry nose)
We kept the disinfectant wipes on the outside pocket for easy and immediate access after we boarded


*One thing I learned, we need a bigger diaper bag.

I used big Ziplock bags to organize everything inside the bag:
Put diapers in one (to keep them from getting smashed to the bottom
Put all the cloth items (bib, burp cloth, toys) in another
Wet items that could possibly leak in another: baby wipes, boogie wipes, pacifier cleaner wipes and butt cream

Everything else was in the front zipper sections on the front, books were in the back slot of the bag and the blanket was stuff in on top.

Then roll with it.
There isn't a ton you can do when/if the baby gets upset.  You just have to have all your tools and resources in line as best as possible and roll with the ups and downs.  When Liam did get a little upset on a flight home there wasn't much we could do, he was well-fed and diaper clean - he was just tired and wanted his crib and own space.  Who can blame him?  We just had to smile and apologize at our neighboring passengers and bounce him in the back of the place when the flight attendants allowed.

As with life, do the best you can and don't worry about the onlookers, mean looks nor naysayers and carry on.  Let me know if you have any questions or if I missed something you're curious about! :)

How Liam did on his first trip!

This past weekend we traveled half way across the country to sunny California for a whirlwind weekend and Liam's first time out of the Kansas City area.  His first plane ride.  His first hotel stay. His first time meeting his great-great-grandparents.  Our first time traveling with a baby. A lot of firsts.  Here is how it went...

 Liam checks in and gets his own ticket!
After careful consideration - we flew Southwest.  We were required to show his birth certificate at the front desk (where we also checked 2 bags) and he even got his own ticket.

Before getting on the plane!
With Southwest, we were allowed to keep Liam's stroller and car seat (two-piece system) until right before we got on the plane. We left the stroller compacted down and the car seat with the straps pulled tight and void of toys right outside the plane door at the gate.

BUT! Before you can do that, after you get through security, you must check in with the gate attendant to get proper gate-check tags.  We saw numerous families have to get our of boarding line to go do this that hadn't gotten that memo first. 


Liam on the plane, his first plane ride out to CA!
Our flight out to San Francisco, CA included a touch down at LAX.  Thankfully for our first plane ride with baby, we didn't have to get off the plane.  However, this did mean double the take offs/landings.  Clearly he couldn't eat for all of them, so we made sure he was sucking on his pacifier good!

Liam did great.  He slept some, but was mostly up and playing with toys, talking to us, watching out the window or looking at all the new faces around us.  

Liam in a hotel!

We stayed at a hotel that provided a baby crib/pack n' play, so we didn't have to lug ours!  Huge bonus.   Otherwise, it was business as normal - except no dishwasher meant lots of hand washing of bottles! I brought out (in our checked luggage) the bottle brush, dish soap and our own towel (I didn't want to use a hotel towel).

Liam in a rental car/out and about!

We had his car seat and stroller, so walked around with him as usual.  When we went in a car (rental car), we buckled him the old fashioned way (without the base) as directed on our car seat (the seat belt went through slots and across him).  We took the blanket with us when we were walking around for weather changes (and extra layers in the baby bag)!

 
On the way home, where hiccups happened!
We were bound to cross a hurdle or two.  After a very packed weekend in California, we boarded the plane.  It was great timing, because we were taking off right in time for little man to be hungry. So he ate on the way up. Then he got sleepy and was trying to fall asleep.  He just couldn't get comfy.  We passed him back and forth - you try, now you try. Eventually, about half way to Phoenix, he lost it. He was tired and wanted to sleep.  I thought maybe his diaper is bugging him.



Have you ever changed a babies diaper on a plane?

It's terrible. Avoid at all costs (change right before you get on the plane/avoid long flights). The front lavatory has a flip down board* that takes up 2/3 of the already small bathroom.  Me, the babe and the diaper bag just barely fit and even then, it felt like a coffin.  Even worse, he was screaming in there - totally pissed.

*Bring changing pad

Once I picked him back up - he was ok, but still fussy.  We stood in the back of the plane, where the nice flight attendant turned off the lights back there and I was able to rock little man to sleep.   He slept until we landed and got off the plane. Phew.

We only received a few death stares and one so very helpful piece advice (try a bottle).

Layover in Phoenix:
This was supposed to be a 40 minute layover, so we had our stroller and car seat gate checked all the way to KC.  But we know how that goes... flight delayed due to earlier mechanical problems.  So we had new found time on our hands... 3.5 hours of time, and no stroller or car seat.

Liam was awake for a new bottle and wanted to play (was in a good mood now post nap).  So we laid out the blanket and used his toys from his car seat (you have to remove those and we carried with us in our carry on bags for entertainment) to provide a makeshift activity gym.

This entertainment him for awhile, before he got tired again (this time for the night). I walked around the airport with him until he fell asleep.  He slept in my arms while we boarded, through the flight, back to KC, into his car seat, on the ride home and into his crib.  He slept until I had to wake him up at 7:45am to get him ready for daycare.

Us on the other hand got home at about 3am and got little sleep before getting up for work.

Next post will be our flying with baby recommendations! Stay tuned!