**Blakely wanted to thank everyone for all the well wishes. She is feeling better now. We went to the doctor and she had strep! UGH! But she seems to be on the mend...eating better and no fever yesterday or today.**
So I need ALL of the "travel with a 10 month old" advice y'all can give. We are headed to Cape Cod in a couple of weeks. This will be her first flight. I'm not so much nervous about the flight, more about the packing and what in the heck do I need to bring? I want to pack lightly but don't want to forget something that I will wish I had.
This will be our first trip with just the three of us. We couldn't be looking forward to it more. The name of the game is relaxation. We are taking a couple of day trips to Marth.a's Vineyard and Nan.tucket, but other that that we will just be hanging out, eating, drinking, and enjoying each other.
In September we are going to Los Ange.les. Lonnie is from there and he has quite a bit of family there. We are going for vacation but also so they can meet Blakely. Lonnie's mom will be coming with on that trip.
SOOOOOO please help! We have already booked these flights and we didn't purchase her a seat. The more I think about it the more I think we might regret that decision. Too late now though.
A few questions that I have...
How do I check the car seat? Do I just take it as is and they put a tag on it or do I need a big bag over it or something?
We aren't planning on taking the pack n play. We were going to have her sleep with us (which she doesn't do at home) or see if the hotel has a crib. Are we crazy for not taking it?
What toys should I bring for the flight? Snacks?
I would like to take some breast milk. I've read that you can carry it on they will just have to check it or test it. How do they "check" it? I will need to have frozen ice packs with it to keep it cool. Are those allowed? I can't find anything about that...it mostly just talks about formula.
Do I just need her birth certificate?
Will they let me put her in the Er.go while we are in the air? I feel like she will nap better this way.
If you can't tell I am starting to freak out a little! Lonnie and I love to travel and we travel great together. But this is going to be totally different! I feel like we are going to be those people at the security checkpoint that everyone is rolling their eyes at! Help!
Do you have a post about travel tips? Please leave it in the comments!
You can check your stroller and car seat at the gate but bring one of those flight bags. My friends husband works for Jet Blue and says to ALWAYS put your stuff in those bags because the crew isn't careful with your stuff. It could end up getting dirty or greasy. I would call the hotel to see if they have a crib you can reserve. You don't want to bring more then what you have to on the plane.
ReplyDeleteWe were going to go to Disney with our kids in Sept but have decided against it. It will just be too hard with two kids. You guys will be OK with B. She is such a good girl anyways.
I am a notorious "over-packer" so I'm afraid I'm not much help. I will say, though, that being in the routine of usual life is the best for Blakely and you guys, ultimately. We just got back from the beach and the first night was awful because she fell asleep while someone was holding her and it was just not her normal routine. I would definitely call the hotel and if they don't have a crib to use, I would bring the PNP even though it would be a burden. You might also consider trying to buy things, that you usually use at home, at your destination. When my MIL buys diapers for us, it is so much easier...although this won't be a problem for you guys. Anyway, best of luck and have fun with your threesome vacay!
ReplyDeleteThey test your breastmilk by making you hold and unscrew the bottle and run this test strip on top of the bottle. It's ridiculous and takes FOREVER! Plus people hate you because you hold up the security line :-) You will have to pick up and drop off your car seat when you board/get off the plane, so I recommend buying one of those car seat wheely carrier things to save your arms. I took Aiden's birth certificate but no airline EVER asked for it...I don't think they will care if you keep B in the Ergo even when you board the plane if she is sleeping. Pack some "new" snacks like the Plums Super Puffs or yogurt melts, Aiden LOVED those and they kept him entertained on the plane. Pack some small, light up toys that B hasn't played with before. I found that the distraction of new toys/treats helped a ton when we flew a few weeks ago. Also feed B when you take off or on a bumpy landing, this worked awesome for us and Aiden didn't seem to notice either. Try to call the hotel to see if they have a PnP, but bring your own sheets and sanitize it because you never know where the PnP has been! If you have more questions email me, Aiden and I JUST went through this and I promise, it went 1,000 times better than I thought it would. I was shocked at how well he traveled! I'm sure B will do awesome and I'm glad you guys are going on vacation!
ReplyDeleteI have no advice but I will be coming back to read this when we fly home. Good luck, I know everything will go great!
ReplyDeleteAlidia is a few months younger but just in case it helps, this is my list I have written for what to take for our trip in 2 weeks (we are flying a lot and going for 2 1/2 weeks to a few different places):
ReplyDeleteFOR ALIDIA IN MAIN SUITCASE
outfits(15)
sweaters (3)
hats (2)
swim suits (2)
pajamas (5)
bibs (10)
diapers (can't decide if we are doing cloth or not for this trip with so many different stops)
wipes (same as above)
bath liquid and lotion
2 hard toys, 1 soft toy, 1 book
blankets (2)
1 sippy cup
1 spoon
breast pump and bottle
pain reliever (in case teeth arrive!)
3 pairs of socks
1 pair of sneakers
1 pair of sandals
IN CARRY- ON BAG
- 3 bibs
- 2 outfits
- 1 sweater
- 2 pacifiers
- Blossom, her cuddly donkey
- 1 hard toy
- 1 book
- 1 blanket
- travel changing pad
- diapers and wipes
- carrier or Moby wrap
OTHER INFO
We would normally take a car seat and stroller to gate check but we are getting a new stroller and car seat on this trip anyway so just getting those brought to us at the airport in New Jersey by our friends picking us up so not taking either on the way there. Will gate check on the way back and will put carseat in a big bag. Don't have a bag for stroller but it was fine last time.
We haven't booked a seat for Alidia which was fine before as we lifted the arm rest and let her lay across both our laps. On the way home this time we have a 24 hour journey so I am a bit scared! :/
We aren't taking a pack n play because it is a hassle to have the extra luggage and we hope some places we go we can borrow cribs and if not, she will sleep with us, which she doesn't at home but has snuggled and napped with us on early wake up mornings so we think she'll be fine with that.
We are doing BLW so we just plan to share our food with her on the plane. We might try to take a banana with us if they allow.
Sorry can't help with breastmilk issue. I would hope they aren't too fussy about it. I will just be nursing Alidia on the plane. Did so on take off and landing last time and she did great!
Oh and yes, you can definitely use your carrier on the plane. We didn't last time but the people next to us did. I am going to bring ours in our carry on again this time because our flights are much longer this time and it will be nice to have options.
Good luck!! I am sure you will all do just fine! :)
You can definitely use the Ergo. It was a lifesaver for me. You can board with it and use it in the air, just not during take off and landing. The other thing I loved having was the hooter hider. It helps to feed during take off and landing, and it shut out all the excitement for Mira for a little bit. I kept those things with me in the seat during take off and landing as well as some puffs.
ReplyDeleteMy experience was better than Heather's with the milk the first time I flew, but then I was walking through security by myself with a baby in a carrier and a boot on my leg. That was back when I broke my ankle and I was flying alone to MN. This time we didn't pack milk. That time I'd planned to get ice from a vending machine after security because I couldn't figure out if ice packs were allowed either. The mom next to me said they opened all her baby food. They take off the lid off breastmilk and baby food containers (even sealed jars) and wave a little strip over it. That's all. Then the food spoils though. We packed some food in our baggage to use at our destination while we figured out where to buy it.
I'd take the pack n' play. We didn't because we normally bed share, but if you guys and especially Blakely aren't used to it, it might ruin your vacation. Plus, the horrible thing about bed sharing is not having to stay close by so that she doesn't roll off the bed or wake up and decide that she must get off the bed.
Here's what we took for a month (but with access to a washing machine). Mix and match clothes instead of set outfits are easiest. Remember that you can buy diapers where you're going (unless you're planning to continue to use cloth on your trip). In the diaper bag we brought a ton of diapers and wipes and some diaper disposal bags, several toys and books, a couple of snacks, the hooter hider, a light blanket (which we didn't use), a fresh outfit, a sweater, socks, disposable changing pads, and hand sanitizer (though not until after security).
2 Dr. Brown bottles (for feeding)
3 Medela bottles (for pumping)
hand pump
bottle brush set
sterilizer bag
thermometer
Tylenol
nail clippers
sippy cup
2 bowls and lids
3 spoons
2 bibs
8 t-shirts
4 long-sleeve t-shirts
8 pairs of pants/shorts
3 sweaters
3 onesies (for sleeping)
1 sleeper (in case it's cold)
4-6 pairs of socks
shoes
2 dresses
2 sun hats
sunscreen
zinc cream
diapers and wipes for a day
selection of toys
4 books
It will be fine! And don't worry about other people at security! They can handle the extra five minutes it will take you. :)
No child travel advice to offer, but excited to hear you are heading to my neck of the woods. Where on the Cape are you heading? I'm actually on Martha's Vineyard this weekend in Oak Bluffs. Not sure where you are planning to hit the island for your day trip, but if you do go to Oak Bluffs, make sure to take a walk through the campground area. It's filled with adorable, colorful cottages. The Island Queen ferry out of Falmouth is very convenient (no cars, just people and bikes) for Oak Bluffs. Enjoy New England! It's great this time of year! And good luck with the flights!
ReplyDeleteA just got back from her first flight. It went really well and she loved it actually, since she loves people watching.
ReplyDeleteBest tips . . . .
-put her in the ergo while going through security
-go to the very back of the plane, no one wants to go back there and they don't want to be near a baby, you may get an empty seat for her back there!
-have snacks and either new toys or ones you have hidden for the last few weeks
-don't bring out the snacks and toys until she is bored with whatever is around her
Good luck!!!!!