best infant toys for air travel
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max's mamm
My 7 month old is preparing to fly to his uncles wedding in Key west. So we'll be on a puddle jumper too. I'd love to know any tricks on getting an extra seat or any savvy advice. I've heard about benedryl and would prefer not to use it. Any other must knows?
Answer
Using Benedryl on a child who doesn't need it is dangerous, all antihistamines and that is what Benedryl is has the potential to cause nerve damage, especially when used off label. It's a drug, again DRUG. Also drinking alcohol and then breast feeding is so harmful, so don't take that adivce I saw you'd already been given.
If you are relaxed your child will be more relaxed. Make sure he has nursed if you can or been bottle feed as close to your departing time, so he'll be satisfied that way. If he has three or four very small toys he really likes, the day before don't allow him to play with them if you can. Put them in your boarding bag for him, so he'll be happy to see them in flight.
If he eats anything yet, like Cheerio's, then save them for when he's getting tired on the plain, so it will be a treat, something to distract him.
Be patient and stop worrying about what others on the plane will think. You do your best for you and your son and don't drug him and risk harming him just so others won't be inconvenienced. Make sure to have him wear something he's comfortable in, not dress him up to go out. If fact putting him in comfortable jama's, so he'll feel comfortable would be wise. Also, using two peice Jama's so it's easy to change him in flight if you have to, makes doing so easier.
Make sure to have small things for him and don't bring them out until he begins to get bored.
If you are patient and calm yourself, are prepared to meet his needs, then you and him will be just fine.
If you bottle feed, contact the airlines you are traveling on about formula limits. Becuase for a while at least there were restrictions. I know a while back mothers literally had to pour out the formula, because of security issues that had come up. The story about while is too long for here. I think now you can take empty bottles on, a one leter bottle of water and powdered formula and ask the flight attendant to warm up the water for you. I think the water has to be purchased at the airport and still be sealed.
The restrictions may have been lifted, but so you don't run into problems at the airport and then end up with a hungry baby and nothing to feed him, CHECK with the air lines you are flying with to see restrictions that exist, because I know you can't take several bottles already filled with formula anymore as you once could.
Even if you take others advice and not let him sleep until just before the flight, it often doesn't work, because unless a baby or child is use to flying, it will be a new experience and as tired as they are they'll want to stay awake and look around. Then all you have is a tired active child, most likely a grumpy one. Let him keep to his sleep schedule as naturally as possible.
It's all just part of being a good mom, you do your best to be prepared to meet his in flight needs, then do you best wtih what comes up. That's what motherhood is.
Good luck and just enjoy the trip whatever comes your way and allow him to be unmediated and experience this new adventure as well.
Before going to the air port, for a day or two, he may be only seven months, but I've found that by talking about an upcoming new event, making it sound excisting even to little babies, seems to keep them happy when they are in the middle of a noisy new experience. If all the noise upsets him. In a calm and firm voice, just say, You are just fine. I find saying it firmly, with control and not getting upset myself, some how seems reassuring to little one's that can't talk yet.
You'll do fine!
Taking a Car Seat on the Plane?
kay l
How does that work. I'm planning a vacation and I want to take my child's carseat with me. Am I allowed to take it on the plane if it fits inside that small square. It's really small (infant seat).
If not how do you transport your child while on vacation (8 month old)? I also want to take her stroller but I don't want it to get smashed to bits with the airplane cargo. How does that work.
I'll be renting a car and I need at least a carseat!
Answer
If you're flying with a U.S. air company, you can take any FAA approved carseat with you onboard. If you bought a seat for your child, it's your right to use it. If you haven't, talk to them in check-in about seeing if there's a free seat they can put next to you if the flight isn't full. Be nice and diplomatic but it's in their interest to do so since it's better for the other passengers too to give whatever free seats available to those with little ones on their lap.
This link will show you what the FAA sticker looks like;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
Check the car seat manual but many function without the base. No, it's not as convenient so you can decide if the inconvenience of packing the base is as bad as strapping the seat in each time. If it's a short visit, skipping on the base might be easier. But ONLY do this if it's an option the manufacturer mentions in the instructions.
Do you have a "Snap & Go" or can you put the carseat on the stroller? I'm hoping that's the case.
http://www.amazon.com/Snap-N-Go-Infant-Carrier/dp/B00008XL2W
I suggest not pfaffing with bringing both!
By the way, I am commending you for NOT using a rental car seat. I had a bad experience with one once and it's not recommended by car seat techs. Bravo for bringing your own. Your child is also safer in his or her own seat than in your lap but the "real" danger is more on the road than in the air, statistically speaking (commercial air travel is safe).
As far as the stroller goes, don't expect to take it onboard (hard to safely stow them, never in overhead bins please!) but the good news is that if you take it to the gate, it supposedly gets treated a little gentlier than if you check it in at the counter right away. They'll tag it but you get to keep it with you until you board the aircraft. At that moment, you fold it up and put it by the door of the plane, if using a jetway, or at the bottom of the stairs if boarding directly outside. It'll be boarded with the wheelchairs and other specially handled items.
This is the procedure for non-U.S. airlines too, just in case that's relevent to know.
Here are some tips to keeping it from being bashed;
1. Remove all "extras" (toys, cup holders, etc.)
2. Attach all straps so nothing dangles.
3. Consider bringing a bag for it, although this could interfere with the luggage tag. I actually skip this myself but I've never had a very expensive or delicate stroller.
4. A great tip someone else gave me was to bring an extra bungee cord and after it's folded up, double-secure it with the cord. That way, if it pops open en route, you wont be at the mercy of the "baggage monkeys" trying to figure out how to refold it and smashing it together.
I fly about every six months between Europe and California usually alone with my three children but I was also a long-haul international flight attendant for 10 years before I had them. I get a lot of questions on the subject so I wrote an article about 7 years ago, which I expanded and put on a blog. A lot of other parents have helped me out over the years adding to it and it's totally non-commercial.
I go into more details on feeding and changing in the airports and on the plane, etc. It's too long to copy and paste here but skim to the parts that apply to your situation.
Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
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