Tips on traveling with babies

[PA-22]

Hi,
I am planning my first trip with my 4 month old baby (my first). We are going to South America. I was wondering if anybody knows how does Continental Airlines in particular handle strollers on international flights. Can we send them downstairs at the gate and they'll bring them back up at the other end if it's international? If I know I'll have an empty seat for him, can I take his carseat aboard?
Any other useful tips will be welcome,
Thank you in advance.

 

[MQAAord]

If you're planning on carrying baby as a lap child, be very sure you check regulations regarding lap children on international flights. You may not have the option of travelling with him as a lap child going international. Also, consider whether or not you want to leave having a seat for him as a 'maybe'! Do you really want to have to deal with a baby's squirminess the entire way to South America, with no where to set him down? I wouldn't! No to mention that a baby is far, far safer in a car seat than just being held. I won't go off in a tanget, but I strongly encourage you to make the purchase of the additional seat for him, if it is not already required per international requirements.

As for the stroller, I assume you can gate check it just like domestic travel, but I have no personal experience with gate checking a stroller internationally.

Best of luck to you!

 

[Birddog]

Buy a seat for the baby. It is safer and both of you will be happier. I still cannot understand why it is acceptable to hold babies up to 24 months in an airplane, yet in a car we put them in restraints suitable for Hannibal Lector.

 

[PA-22]

I never understood either why you have to have, by law, a car seat in your car, but in an airplane you can carry them in your lap. You have to make a millon PAs about keeping your seat belt secured even when the seat belt sign is off, and still the baby can be in your arms without a seat belt!!!! Who knows.
Anyway, thanks for the help, I'll have a ticket for my baby, sounds like a much better idea.

 

[PSPFAWILL]

1. Sit carefully. Many parents of infants favor the bulkhead row because it can accommodate a bassinet. The second-best place is near any engine. The hum of the engine will work like audio Ambien. Even if you don’t like the sound of it, you are more apt to sleep if your baby does.
2. Zip it up. Bring lots of large zippable plastic bags. They are good for food, but most of all they are good for baby blowout. I was tempted to throw away many items that couldn’t be washed up on the airplane, but saved them by zipping them up instead.
3. Feeding time. Plan for your baby to eat upon take-off and during the descent for landing. It will relieve the discomfort of changing air pressure in the ears and will distract the baby from strange noises or turbulence.
4. Packing list. Never depend on your airline to have any baby amenities. I haven’t seen an onboard diaper for years. The following are just a few of the items that proved helpful to me: toys with a tether, a diaper for every hour we were gone, extra outfits for both baby and me, a big travel pack of wet wipes, hand sanitizer, baby Tylenol and infant gas relief medication.
5. Proof of age required. No, not yours, the baby’s. Babies under 2 fly free if they are held in someone’s lap instead of occupying a seat of their own. The person holding the baby must be at least 16 years old. Recently, airlines started cracking down on the 2-year-old baby that looks to be more like 4, demanding a birth certificate or passport to verify age.
6. Get some space. If you are taking an extremely long flight, or you are shepherding older children as well, it might behoove you to buy an extra seat for the baby. Many airlines have infant fares available, and the extra money you spend could save your sanity. As a flight attendant, I’ve talked to many parents with lap-held children, and the universal comment after a sold-out, nine-hour flight is: “Never again.”
7. Safety first. Pay new attention to the safety briefing, for you are handling precious cargo and want to be prepared for all circumstances. If the flight attendant does not bring you an infant life vest before take-off, ask for one. Do not, and I repeat, do not buckle the seat belt over you and the child. If the pilot hits the brakes for any reason, your weight could crush the baby.
8. Courtesy is a two-way street.If your baby cries and cries, get up and go to the back of the airplane and try to calm him down. If you are unsuccessful, at least you tried. People will be annoyed — true — but they’ll get over it. They were once babies, too, and some of them still are. Note to more understanding passengers: If you see a parent in distress, offer a hand and cut the pour soul some slack.

 

[pgcfii2002]

Will he fit in the overhead bin?

 

[wms]

1. Sit carefully. Many parents of infants favor the bulkhead row because it can accommodate a bassinet. The second-best place is near any engine. The hum of the engine will work like audio Ambien. Even if you don’t like the sound of it, you are more apt to sleep if your baby does.
2. Zip it up. Bring lots of large zippable plastic bags. They are good for food, but most of all they are good for baby blowout. I was tempted to throw away many items that couldn’t be washed up on the airplane, but saved them by zipping them up instead.
3. Feeding time. Plan for your baby to eat upon take-off and during the descent for landing. It will relieve the discomfort of changing air pressure in the ears and will distract the baby from strange noises or turbulence.
4. Packing list. Never depend on your airline to have any baby amenities. I haven’t seen an onboard diaper for years. The following are just a few of the items that proved helpful to me: toys with a tether, a diaper for every hour we were gone, extra outfits for both baby and me, a big travel pack of wet wipes, hand sanitizer, baby Tylenol and infant gas relief medication.
5. Proof of age required. No, not yours, the baby’s. Babies under 2 fly free if they are held in someone’s lap instead of occupying a seat of their own. The person holding the baby must be at least 16 years old. Recently, airlines started cracking down on the 2-year-old baby that looks to be more like 4, demanding a birth certificate or passport to verify age.
6. Get some space. If you are taking an extremely long flight, or you are shepherding older children as well, it might behoove you to buy an extra seat for the baby. Many airlines have infant fares available, and the extra money you spend could save your sanity. As a flight attendant, I’ve talked to many parents with lap-held children, and the universal comment after a sold-out, nine-hour flight is: “Never again.”
7. Safety first. Pay new attention to the safety briefing, for you are handling precious cargo and want to be prepared for all circumstances. If the flight attendant does not bring you an infant life vest before take-off, ask for one. Do not, and I repeat, do not buckle the seat belt over you and the child. If the pilot hits the brakes for any reason, your weight could crush the baby.
8. Courtesy is a two-way street.If your baby cries and cries, get up and go to the back of the airplane and try to calm him down. If you are unsuccessful, at least you tried. People will be annoyed — true — but they’ll get over it. They were once babies, too, and some of them still are. Note to more understanding passengers: If you see a parent in distress, offer a hand and cut the pour soul some slack.

Great advice except I don't like the bulk head because you can't have the diaper bag at your feet. Everytime you need something you gotta put the baby down and get up. Get the baby used to sitting for the as much of the flight as possible the first flight, even at 4 months. The first flight for all our kids was rough on them, us and the people around us. But they learned quick that they weren't going get up when they fussed, and even at a very young age they learned to sit quietly. However on a long flight like that you're gonna need to get them up to stretch. Do it before they start fussing so they don't think getting up is a reward for crying. On the way to the airport and in the terminal try to keep them awake and don't feed them too much (but don't turture them). That way during the flight they'll be occupied with sleeping and eating and not screaming.

 

[MissKittyKat]

This is an older thread but always buy a seat for your baby! This way you have a seat to put the baby in the carseat in the plane. I'm sorry I missed this earlier, but I traveled all around Europe with my baby at 5 months, I always had a carseat. Your child should always be protected. Take every precaution that a parent would do for their child. Otherwise good thread, lots of good information for parents.

 

[G100driver]

Hi,
I am planning my first trip with my 4 month old baby (my first). We are going to South America. I was wondering if anybody knows how does Continental Airlines in particular handle strollers on international flights. Can we send them downstairs at the gate and they'll bring them back up at the other end if it's international? If I know I'll have an empty seat for him, can I take his carseat aboard?
Any other useful tips will be welcome,
Thank you in advance.

As a professional pilot I have ALWAYS purchased seats for both of my little girls when they were under 2.

I know all too well what can happen in the rear of an airplane.

Besides that, both you and your spouse will be able to relax in the airplane a lot more.

 

[olympus593]

Leave your F**K TROPHY home!!!