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Karla
I will be carrying my 1 month old on an international flight, he will not have his own seat. Am I allowed to bring an infant car seat/carrier?
Anyone who has been in this situation, would you rather not have the car seat with you? Are you allowed to bring the seat on the plane?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant who flies a lot now with my own children. My youngest, age 3 1/2, just finished her 6th round-trip trans-Atlantic flight. She has had her car seat on all but one of those flights, when Air France wouldn't let me use my U.S. carseat. I even used it on this last flight. Each and every time it's been a very good idea!!
Most airlines allow seats. Some low-cost carriers, like Ryan Air (Irish) actually ban all car seats for children. By contrast, all American companies accept them if your seat is FAA certified;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
Most car seats sold in the U.S. are certified.
If you are not flying a U.S. company, check with your individual airlines to find out about their policy and whether your seat will be accepted.
Actually, having a car seat is the only way to fly safely with a baby. Lap held children are allowed because there's so little chance of anything happening. If anything does, the child is not protected.
Using the car seat onboard is great because you can move around in your own seat without having the baby in your arms all the time. When she or he slept, I'd slide them into their familiar seat and get a little snooze (or bathroom, or cup of tea) myself. Most of my trans-Atlantics have been me alone with three kids for 11 1/2 and 10 1/2 hours. Having the seat saved my sanity!
Also, using the seat onboard virtually guarentees that it will reach your destination in good shape. Checking them risks the seat being lost or damaged (or both!). I hate seeing seats with lost luggage!
If you have not purchased a ticket, ask that the seat next to you be held, if the flight isn't full. They often do this for families.
If you do manage to be able to use the seat on board, make sure your baby is in it for take-off and landing. These are the (hate using this wording but...) the most dangerous parts of the flight. It's very important that she or he is strapped in.
Many flying tips will say to make the baby suck during take-off and landing to help their ears. This is inaccurate. The baby can drink during ascent (after take-off) or even when he or she wakes up inflight. ENT specialists recommend that the baby be awake about an hour before landing (not necessarily drinking). Landing is too late.
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
If you seat is part of a travel system, bring that or get a stroller frame. Both work fine and both can be left at the door of the aircraft.
Still try to get a bulkhead seat. Bassinets are great but rare, especially on U.S. companies.
Just some extra tips;
-Bring about 1/3 more supplies than you think you'll need, formula, diapers, wipes, etc.
-Bring a change of clothes for both of you (at least a T and shorts for you)
-wrap everything bulky, like clothes and extra diapers in plastic bags, and use rubber bands to reduce the bulk and save space in your carry-on
-If you formula feed, use the kind of bottles with plastic liners. Premeasure the powder, roll them up and put them in a ziplock bag. Airplane bathrooms have bad sinks for washing traditional bottles.
-Make sure you baby is used to a room-temperature bottle. I warmed many a bottle in my career but I saw first-hand what a pain it is. The baby isn't getting any health-advantage to the warmed bottle and no one will do this task while you're in the security or check-in line.
-Get a really good carrier like a pouch, wrap or sling. Leave any "front packs" like the Bjorn at home. Killer for the back, even for a small baby. Plus, a good carrier (which should go to at least 2 years by definition) can double as a blanket, suncover and baby changer! They are also magical for calming a baby during the flight.
I have to say I have both breast and bottlefed my kids. I worked for 13 years and had many, many breastfeeding women, of various levels of descretion. I have never, ever had a problem with a breastfeeding woman on any of our flights, nor have I heard of any. I have breastfed all three of mine, two of which never had bottles or formula and who did nurse into toddlerhood. Both the airlines and my fellow passengers were cool about it so don't let anyone tell you differently!
Besides, those baby carriers I just recommended make great cover-ups for breastfeeding too ;)
About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed, both on line and in Real Life. I put it on a blog so there would be non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
It's a great age to travel. He or she will probably mostly sleep and even if she or he cries, it's kind of quiet so it wont disturb people. My little fliers did great, including my own 4 month olds the first time. I wish it were so simple now...
Have a great trip!
I'm a former Flight Attendant who flies a lot now with my own children. My youngest, age 3 1/2, just finished her 6th round-trip trans-Atlantic flight. She has had her car seat on all but one of those flights, when Air France wouldn't let me use my U.S. carseat. I even used it on this last flight. Each and every time it's been a very good idea!!
Most airlines allow seats. Some low-cost carriers, like Ryan Air (Irish) actually ban all car seats for children. By contrast, all American companies accept them if your seat is FAA certified;
http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/
Most car seats sold in the U.S. are certified.
If you are not flying a U.S. company, check with your individual airlines to find out about their policy and whether your seat will be accepted.
Actually, having a car seat is the only way to fly safely with a baby. Lap held children are allowed because there's so little chance of anything happening. If anything does, the child is not protected.
Using the car seat onboard is great because you can move around in your own seat without having the baby in your arms all the time. When she or he slept, I'd slide them into their familiar seat and get a little snooze (or bathroom, or cup of tea) myself. Most of my trans-Atlantics have been me alone with three kids for 11 1/2 and 10 1/2 hours. Having the seat saved my sanity!
Also, using the seat onboard virtually guarentees that it will reach your destination in good shape. Checking them risks the seat being lost or damaged (or both!). I hate seeing seats with lost luggage!
If you have not purchased a ticket, ask that the seat next to you be held, if the flight isn't full. They often do this for families.
If you do manage to be able to use the seat on board, make sure your baby is in it for take-off and landing. These are the (hate using this wording but...) the most dangerous parts of the flight. It's very important that she or he is strapped in.
Many flying tips will say to make the baby suck during take-off and landing to help their ears. This is inaccurate. The baby can drink during ascent (after take-off) or even when he or she wakes up inflight. ENT specialists recommend that the baby be awake about an hour before landing (not necessarily drinking). Landing is too late.
http://www.entcda.com/AAOHNSF/earsandaltitude.htm
If you seat is part of a travel system, bring that or get a stroller frame. Both work fine and both can be left at the door of the aircraft.
Still try to get a bulkhead seat. Bassinets are great but rare, especially on U.S. companies.
Just some extra tips;
-Bring about 1/3 more supplies than you think you'll need, formula, diapers, wipes, etc.
-Bring a change of clothes for both of you (at least a T and shorts for you)
-wrap everything bulky, like clothes and extra diapers in plastic bags, and use rubber bands to reduce the bulk and save space in your carry-on
-If you formula feed, use the kind of bottles with plastic liners. Premeasure the powder, roll them up and put them in a ziplock bag. Airplane bathrooms have bad sinks for washing traditional bottles.
-Make sure you baby is used to a room-temperature bottle. I warmed many a bottle in my career but I saw first-hand what a pain it is. The baby isn't getting any health-advantage to the warmed bottle and no one will do this task while you're in the security or check-in line.
-Get a really good carrier like a pouch, wrap or sling. Leave any "front packs" like the Bjorn at home. Killer for the back, even for a small baby. Plus, a good carrier (which should go to at least 2 years by definition) can double as a blanket, suncover and baby changer! They are also magical for calming a baby during the flight.
I have to say I have both breast and bottlefed my kids. I worked for 13 years and had many, many breastfeeding women, of various levels of descretion. I have never, ever had a problem with a breastfeeding woman on any of our flights, nor have I heard of any. I have breastfed all three of mine, two of which never had bottles or formula and who did nurse into toddlerhood. Both the airlines and my fellow passengers were cool about it so don't let anyone tell you differently!
Besides, those baby carriers I just recommended make great cover-ups for breastfeeding too ;)
About 8 years ago, I wrote an article on flying with children for an expat newsletter. Over the years many parents have contributed, both on line and in Real Life. I put it on a blog so there would be non-commercial information from someone with both practical and professional experience on the web. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
It's a great age to travel. He or she will probably mostly sleep and even if she or he cries, it's kind of quiet so it wont disturb people. My little fliers did great, including my own 4 month olds the first time. I wish it were so simple now...
Have a great trip!
Are you a mom who's older and so overjoyed by it?
Tally
My son is 7 months and while watching tv last night he started clapping on his own. He says, "mama", "hi", "dada" and my hubby and I are just so excited by everything he does.
We waited such a long time (I'm 36 and my hubby is 44) to have our little baby and now everything is so amazing.
Thanks for answering my question. :)
Answer
Not sure what your definition of 'older' is but I I had my child at 28 which I believe its older than the average. Anyway, but I'm elated to have waited this long. I feel a lot more prepared, more mature and can easily tackle any problem that has to do with my daughter. I have absolutely enjoyed my daughter to my fullest so far (I was able to get all my partying and traveling out of my system!)
Not sure what your definition of 'older' is but I I had my child at 28 which I believe its older than the average. Anyway, but I'm elated to have waited this long. I feel a lot more prepared, more mature and can easily tackle any problem that has to do with my daughter. I have absolutely enjoyed my daughter to my fullest so far (I was able to get all my partying and traveling out of my system!)
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