Flying alone with 6 months old

[Anonymous]

We have a trip planned when baby is 6 mths and DH wants us to drive 16 hours split between two days. That sounds like a nightmare to me. I'm suggesting baby and I fly down with essentials and he can drive the dogs and big stuff if he really wants to. He wants freedom and flexibility of driving and having the dogs and car with us. Once we get to where we are going we can stay for 2-4 weeks.

For flying - do I need to bring the car seat? Or can I just have someone pick us up that has one? Or use a car service with infant car seat? Can I get by with her as a lap baby for a 3.5hr flight?

This is how I'm imagining it but pls tell me if I'm delusional?

Pack carry-on with essentials for the flight only (change of clothes, diapers, toys, pump, bottles)

Check a small bag with our stuff for a few days

Bring travel stroller? Or not? I plan to wear baby but would it be helpful in the airport? It's just one more thing for me to carry but if it's will be helpful I can bring it. Ours folds down and can go in cabin.

Get through security - find out gate- pump/feed baby before the flight in the mamava pod. Get on flight - sit near the back? Or front? Bring extra food and plan to have baby nap in the carrier? Walk around while we can. Land- pump in the mamava pod again, call a car or get picked up.

I feel like even if she screams the whole flight and I miss one or two pumps still better than driving so long with her in the car?

What's the easiest way to do this? And best way to pack

[Anonymous]

When I flew by myself I brought a car seat travel system (car seat plus wheels), gate checked it, held the baby on lap. I had a diaper bag and a backpack. You can ask flight attendants to hold the baby while you go to the bathroom. I liked the stroller in the airport, this way I could get coffee and had my hands free from baby.

[Anonymous]

We used a car service that provided a car seat and drove us from airport to hotel. Less to lug around at the airport.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When I flew by myself I brought a car seat travel system (car seat plus wheels), gate checked it, held the baby on lap. I had a diaper bag and a backpack. You can ask flight attendants to hold the baby while you go to the bathroom. I liked the stroller in the airport, this way I could get coffee and had my hands free from baby.

On which airline will flight attendants hold your baby while you use the restroom?

[Anonymous]

I travelled a ton when my child was a baby and always booked a separate seat. If you can afford to do it, it will really help you out. 3.5 hour flight including taxiing, any delays on the runway. I was just on a four hour flight where the baby was so fussy and upset being held the entire time that he was actually covered in sweat from crying and trying to escape his Mom’s arms for most of the trip. The separate seat gives them the opportunity to nap in their own car seat and be held by you when they want and need. There are always some hiccups, no matter how you prepare, but if you can do this it is a huge help.

[Anonymous]

Sit in the front so you can deplane A LOT sooner. This is especially critical if baby happens to be distressed and is screaming.

[Anonymous]

I traveled alone frequently with infants. A couple times with an infant and a toddler, which requires a bit more planning.

For 3.5hr flight, I would probably do (and did) lap baby, but that's me. If you can swing business class, for me that was a better option than two seats.

I recommend a travel baby carrier, because it makes it easier to board after you gate check the carrier. I had a travel ErgoBaby. Looks like this is the current version: https://ergobaby.com/the-away-baby-carrier

Unless the person picking you up has a carseat that you've shipped to them/approved, I would not rely on having someone else in charge of a carseat. Car services that come with a carseat might not have something appropriate for your child. We always checked our carseat.

If you are planning now, your baby is much younger than 6 mos. Things like scheduling feeding etc will feel much less overwhelming at that age than for a younger newborn. So I would wait to worry too much about that.

[Anonymous]

One more thing. In your carryon make sure you have a ziplock bag to contain clothes if there is a blowout or spit up mess. Also, have at least a change of shirt for yourself.

[Anonymous]

I traveled a lot with mine. I always booked a second seat and installed the car seat in it. Mine would sleep the whole flight in the car seat which was a dream! If finances don’t allow that send the car seat with DH. Absolutely bring your stroller and gate check it. You will want it in the airport for getting around and storing your carry on bag. Bring lots of diapers and 1-2 changes of clothes in case your flight is delayed. Baby will be bf less at that point. I would plan a bottle and baby food and skip be on the airport if you can.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! Yes we are two months out from this trip but as a ftm with anxiety I'm so stressed already. I just know I don't want to drive down to FL with this baby in a car seat all day stopping every 2-4 hrs.

We have the pipa lite car seat and libelle travel stroller. TBH the car seat with baby is hefty for me. But from what I'm understanding - keep the car seat on the stroller until we board. Then install in second seat ( we would use points so I think can buy two seats) how to asy is it to install? Fold stroller store up top. And have Carrier as a back up.

Will definitely bring bottles. I exclusively pump minus latching overnight and for snacks but baby doesn't transfer a full meal from me.. ideally I can pump in a pod at the airport and if I have to skip one I'm sure it's fine once I just need to empty when we get to my in laws. Or in the car or something. I can't use wearables unfortunately.

Is there a scenario where y'all would do the drive with DH instead??

And what else would you bring or have him bring? At home we have loveevery playmat but I thought of buying a soft one and shipping it to my in laws. Packing toys from home and the plane. Skipping tub since she will be sitting up by then, we can use my nephews high chair. And we will use travel changing pad/mat. I'll Amazon diapers. We usually cloth but will send diapers and wipes and bring on the plane

[Anonymous]

Is your stroller one of those car seat/stroller combos? If so, use that until you get thru security. Then put the baby in a baby carrier when boarding and carry the seat, install it, then put the baby in the seat. Gate check the stroller frame.

Have multiple changes of clothes and make a few diaper changing kits with disposable changing pads (puppy pad), two diapers and some wipes. Just take that into the bathroom to change the baby.

I did a few solo flights with an infant and it’s much better than with a toddler! But I was nervous until I did it. She slept the whole time and the person across the aisle didn’t even realize I had a baby with me until we deplaned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is your stroller one of those car seat/stroller combos? If so, use that until you get thru security. Then put the baby in a baby carrier when boarding and carry the seat, install it, then put the baby in the seat. Gate check the stroller frame.

Have multiple changes of clothes and make a few diaper changing kits with disposable changing pads (puppy pad), two diapers and some wipes. Just take that into the bathroom to change the baby.

I did a few solo flights with an infant and it’s much better than with a toddler! But I was nervous until I did it. She slept the whole time and the person across the aisle didn’t even realize I had a baby with me until we deplaned.

Thank you! Yes we have the cybex libelle that has adapters for the nuna pipa lite. The libelle folds to fit under the plane seat or in the overhead with the adapters. I just worry about carrying the car seat but I guess I won't be carrying car seat and baby. She will be in the carrier while I set up the seat. Is it hard to install to the plane seat? Also I'm bigger since giving birth and haven't lost any weight. I'm 210 so I already feel obese sitting next to someone. Let alone with a baby strapped to me. Now that I think we will be most comfortable with the extra seat even if she doesn't use it. I can toss our stuff there and have it in case. She does fall asleep in the car seat and likes to sleep there in the car when moving. But imagining I can feed her until drowsy then Buckle her in and finish feeding. I might be lucky to get a break on the flight

[Anonymous]

Mine screamed bloody murder any time he was in the car seat for more then 5 minutes from 3 months to over a year (yes, it was awful). We ended up flying everywhere, including a "memorable" trip that involved me breaking my foot 2 days before, a five hour layover at O'Hare that turned into 8 hours, and then hobbling across O'Hare on that broken foot with a six month old in an umbrella stroller when they changed the gate at the last second. And honestly, baby was the least stressful part of that day!

You could have a very basic convertible car seat sent to your in-laws to install in their car. The Cosco Scenera is inexpensive. This why you don't have to drag a car seat through the airport.

Since you cloth diaper, I highly recommend putting cloth diaper covers over disposables! Covers contain blowouts far better than disposables alone. Saved so many outfits that way.

Bring a nursing cover, since baby does latch. Feeding on takeoff and landing helps alleviate ear pain from the pressure changes. Giving a bottle works, too, but baby might want to be snugged up against you for comfort.

[Anonymous]

I can not imagine any scenario where I would not buy the baby a seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can not imagine any scenario where I would not buy the baby a seat.

You can't imagine some people don't have enough money to go for that? I was in grad school when I had my DS, definitely was a lap baby for the first two years.