air travel by myself with 14 week old

[Anonymous]

What was I thinking?? I'm taking DD down to meet her great grandparents and am flying by myself. Any tips from more seasoned travelers? Can I wear her through security in my moby wrap or will they make me take it off. My plan is to nurse her to sleep once we get on the plane. She's usually good for a 2 hr nap that time of day. If that goes as planned the only problem is her waking as we land. I just don't want to be "that" person with the screaming infant.

thanks in advance for your help

[Anonymous]

you should be fine. I travelled with my little guy at that age and he was a dream. my grandparents loved seeing him and it was well worth the trip. I've always been able to wear my little one through security, wear slip on shoes and I never needed the stroller (but mine was a direct flight). the only thing that might be a problem is that not all airplanes have changing tables in the lavatories. be sure to change baby before boarding the plane.

good luck and enjoy your flight.

[Anonymous]

Totally do-able. Don't even worry.

Whether or not you can wear the baby in the wrap through the metal detector will depend on the security person. Some are ok with it, some not. But everything else will go through the x-ray, so it's not like you'll be juggling the diaper bag and stroller and wrap. I've found that there's usually one nice TSA person who will help you get situated, and in general, your fellow travelers are more patient if you've got a baby.

As for the plane itself, you're already on the right track. Be prepared to nurse as much as needed, but especially on takeoff and landing. If you see that you're seated next to someone who you're uncomfortable nursing 5 inches away from, ask to be reseated right away.

My baby always nursed on takeoff, then fell asleep and slept even through landing, no problem. This was a fantastic age to travel with the tot. It gets much harder in just a few months, so enjoy it now!

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the tips

One other quesyion. I know airlines let you board early with an infant but don't I want to minimize her time on the plane? Right now she always wants the person olding her to be standing up doing the baby sway. Should I be one of the last to board or is that a stupid idea?

thanks again

[Anonymous]

First, don't worry about "being that person with the screaming infant;" you can't control your child's crying at that age, if fellow travelers think you can they are ignorant, and worrying about it will just make things a lot more stressful. So go with the flow, I say. Be prepared for the baby to poop right before or after you board the airplane or soak through her outfit, be prepared for the baby to throw up on you, be prepared for the baby to cry at any given time, be prepared that TSA will make you take her our of the sling, and that people will be pushing you to move through security while you're trying to hold your infant while taking off the sling. Then, when none or few of these things happen, the trip will seem like a breeze.

So - bring extra outfits for the baby and you in your carry on, bring a handful of paper towels and extra wipes for any clean ups, bring some plastic bags to wrap up dirty nasty stuff, bring a thin blanket to lay baby on to change and cover you if breastfeeding . . . you'll be fine..

[Anonymous]

sit in the back of the plane, my DS cried a little and you could barely hear him because of the engine noise. Bring lots of exrta shirts, mine spit up through the whole return flight for some reason. Bring a pacifier so they have something to suck on if they are not interested in nursing

[Anonymous]

I agree w/ the back of the plane suggestion. I traveled w/ my son to FL when he was that age and we sat in the back. The noise lulled him to sleep and it drowned out the crying for the 10 mins of so that he did cry.

[Anonymous]

I'm flying home for Christmas - my DD will be 8 weeks old. I'm not exactly psyched for a 2.5 hour plane ride with a kid that young, but we drove to Ohio for Thanksgiving and a 2.5 hour plane trip beats a 7-hour car ride any day, if you ask me. I think she'll be all right since she'll be able to see me the whole time and I can hold her instead of her being isolated in the back seat of the car. (I shelled out for a seat of her own, so if she goes to sleep, I don't have to hold her the whole time.)