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Xanadu
And "don't" is not a tip or a trick...it's an opinion.
Can we bring a stroller on the plane?
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant. I fly with my kids long haul about twice a year, since each was 4 months old plus other flights.
First of all, the stroller; you will get a "gate-check" tag put on it when you check in. While they'll take your other bags, you get to keep your stroller. If you have a car seat with you, do NOT check it as luggage. Throw it on your stroller and either use it on board or check it at the gate with the stroller. Car seats are often lost and/or broken in transit and you never should use a rental car company seat (old, dirty, yukky, missing parts, wrong size, need I go on??) Take your own, but don't check it!
Actually, using the car seat on board is the only way to fly safely with a baby. But air travel itself is so safe, there is little chance of anything going wrong. If you have your car seat on board, ask nicely at check-in if you can get an extra seat for the car seat if you didn't buy a seat for your baby. They often do this for families but be nice! It's a big favor.
Bring your gang to through security and push the stroller (with perhaps the car seat) to the gate. When you get to the door of the plane, pop the baby into your baby carrier (a must for traveling with your baby!) and fold the stroller. Bring a bungee cord to double secure it because it can get damaged if it pops open en route. Don't make some baggage guy try to refold your stroller. Most only have flimsy latches so bind the bungee cord around it, bag it if you want (good idea if it's raining) and leave it at the door of the plane, with the tag showing.
When you check-in, be sure to ask about how your stroller will be returned to you. Most put them at the jetway or air stairs as you left them when you arrive. Some make you go to baggage claim (remember the baby carrier!) If it's a big plane, they'll use more than one exit door so ask which one has the strollers. If you go out the wrong door, you might have a long walk back to retrieve it.
Bring extra clothes and consider dressing him in a sleep suit. More comfortable and easier to pack! Pack about 1/3 more diapers than he usually needs in that period of time. Some parents like "nighttime" diapers for travel, to reduce changes. Lots of diaper cream!! Wrap bulky diapers and clothes in plastic bags and bind with rubber bands to give you more space in your diaper bag.
Use a backpack as a diaper bag so that you can keep your hands free. I even skip a purse and put a little bag with the essentials around my neck. The diaper bag doubles as my purse for the rest.
On board, if you brought the car seat, the baby must be in it for take-off and landing but you can hold him at most other times. If you don't manage it, make sure he's loose in your lap during those times and not attached to you in any way (if he's in the baby carrier, just unhook it). Don't worry about his ears. It's a myth that they have to suck on something during take-off and landing. The AAP simply suggests that the baby be awake at the top of descent (landing is too late). I took my children to the doctor's before flying (just scheduled a well-baby visit this way) and had their ears checked. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I never do anything and my kids have always been fine during those times.
Since you didn't mention the baby's age, I wont talk about food and entertainment. I did write an article about 9 years ago, going into more detail on all aspects of flying with children, which goes into detail on these subjects too. It's totally non-commercial (no ads even) and parents from around the world have contributed. It's appeared on several websites but this is the latest version;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
I'm a former Flight Attendant. I fly with my kids long haul about twice a year, since each was 4 months old plus other flights.
First of all, the stroller; you will get a "gate-check" tag put on it when you check in. While they'll take your other bags, you get to keep your stroller. If you have a car seat with you, do NOT check it as luggage. Throw it on your stroller and either use it on board or check it at the gate with the stroller. Car seats are often lost and/or broken in transit and you never should use a rental car company seat (old, dirty, yukky, missing parts, wrong size, need I go on??) Take your own, but don't check it!
Actually, using the car seat on board is the only way to fly safely with a baby. But air travel itself is so safe, there is little chance of anything going wrong. If you have your car seat on board, ask nicely at check-in if you can get an extra seat for the car seat if you didn't buy a seat for your baby. They often do this for families but be nice! It's a big favor.
Bring your gang to through security and push the stroller (with perhaps the car seat) to the gate. When you get to the door of the plane, pop the baby into your baby carrier (a must for traveling with your baby!) and fold the stroller. Bring a bungee cord to double secure it because it can get damaged if it pops open en route. Don't make some baggage guy try to refold your stroller. Most only have flimsy latches so bind the bungee cord around it, bag it if you want (good idea if it's raining) and leave it at the door of the plane, with the tag showing.
When you check-in, be sure to ask about how your stroller will be returned to you. Most put them at the jetway or air stairs as you left them when you arrive. Some make you go to baggage claim (remember the baby carrier!) If it's a big plane, they'll use more than one exit door so ask which one has the strollers. If you go out the wrong door, you might have a long walk back to retrieve it.
Bring extra clothes and consider dressing him in a sleep suit. More comfortable and easier to pack! Pack about 1/3 more diapers than he usually needs in that period of time. Some parents like "nighttime" diapers for travel, to reduce changes. Lots of diaper cream!! Wrap bulky diapers and clothes in plastic bags and bind with rubber bands to give you more space in your diaper bag.
Use a backpack as a diaper bag so that you can keep your hands free. I even skip a purse and put a little bag with the essentials around my neck. The diaper bag doubles as my purse for the rest.
On board, if you brought the car seat, the baby must be in it for take-off and landing but you can hold him at most other times. If you don't manage it, make sure he's loose in your lap during those times and not attached to you in any way (if he's in the baby carrier, just unhook it). Don't worry about his ears. It's a myth that they have to suck on something during take-off and landing. The AAP simply suggests that the baby be awake at the top of descent (landing is too late). I took my children to the doctor's before flying (just scheduled a well-baby visit this way) and had their ears checked. Healthy ears can handle pressurization changes. I never do anything and my kids have always been fine during those times.
Since you didn't mention the baby's age, I wont talk about food and entertainment. I did write an article about 9 years ago, going into more detail on all aspects of flying with children, which goes into detail on these subjects too. It's totally non-commercial (no ads even) and parents from around the world have contributed. It's appeared on several websites but this is the latest version;
http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com
Have a good trip!
Best Baby/Infant carrier for pluz size parent?
Sam's mom
Looking at a hiking-style framed backpack for when we go to Disneyworld in March. Have seen a few on Amazon (we live in Dubai), however, don't know how much 'give' the waist belt etc. has and neither of us are on the small side! H wears a XXXL tee, so is concerned that it will not fit. Any advice from those with experience in this area (unfortunately diet is not an option as there isn't long enough!).
Answer
I'm very plus sized. I have a sling...an "over the shoulder baby holder" to be exact. Very comfortable. You can order them online. To be more comfortable you should get the custom made size. I just got the Long one instead of the custom size and my sling could actually be bigger to fit me better but it still works and isn't uncomfortable (I wear a XXXL). there are tons of other brands out there too. I like slings so much better than carriers or backpacks (had both). You can sit the baby up, you can lay the baby down, The baby can face forward (just cross their legs indian style inside the sling), the baby can face your chest (let the legs dangle out), you can hold the baby on your hip, you can put the baby on your back...all with the same sling...and it can be used on toddlers too.
But, to be honest, you'd be much more comfortable using a rental stroller at the park than a carrier. I just looked it up...stroller rentals at Disney World are $10 a day for single passenger and $18 per day for double passenger strollers. You get a discount if you need to rent a stroller for more than one day. The rentals I have seen at parks are usually roomy and have a place to hold water bottles in the back for parents. You'd probably have to place the diaper bag in the stroller. The ones I saw at Six Flags looked different than traditional strollers....they were oval in shape, wide, low to the ground, with sides and a top and had bottle/cup holders in the back under the push handle. Not sure what Disney's strollers look like. Have fun.
I'm very plus sized. I have a sling...an "over the shoulder baby holder" to be exact. Very comfortable. You can order them online. To be more comfortable you should get the custom made size. I just got the Long one instead of the custom size and my sling could actually be bigger to fit me better but it still works and isn't uncomfortable (I wear a XXXL). there are tons of other brands out there too. I like slings so much better than carriers or backpacks (had both). You can sit the baby up, you can lay the baby down, The baby can face forward (just cross their legs indian style inside the sling), the baby can face your chest (let the legs dangle out), you can hold the baby on your hip, you can put the baby on your back...all with the same sling...and it can be used on toddlers too.
But, to be honest, you'd be much more comfortable using a rental stroller at the park than a carrier. I just looked it up...stroller rentals at Disney World are $10 a day for single passenger and $18 per day for double passenger strollers. You get a discount if you need to rent a stroller for more than one day. The rentals I have seen at parks are usually roomy and have a place to hold water bottles in the back for parents. You'd probably have to place the diaper bag in the stroller. The ones I saw at Six Flags looked different than traditional strollers....they were oval in shape, wide, low to the ground, with sides and a top and had bottle/cup holders in the back under the push handle. Not sure what Disney's strollers look like. Have fun.
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