My daughter had her first flight (to Vegas!) when she was 4 months old. My husband had flown out to Chicago on business and then was flying from there to Vegas for a conference and I was tagging along, so I flew alone from Baltimore Washington Int'l (BWI). Back then, the hardest part of traveling was getting the stroller and all of our stuff through security. Since then, my girl has been to Detroit, Atlanta, Miami, on a cruise (with ports in Cozumel, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios) and to Orlando. Travel has become significantly more difficult since that first trip, but we try to keep her satisfied so that she doesn't disturb other travelers too much.
Here are a few tips to make your traveling smoother:
1) Be sure to bring proof of your child's age. Especially when you are flying with a lap child. You may not even think of it if you have a young infant. I wasn't expecting the airline to ask me for proof she was under 2 when she was only 4 months old. But they did. Luckily, I was prepared. I didn't have her actual birth certificate, but I had a document from the hospital stating her birthday and other vital statistics.
2) Be sure to have snacks, preferably from home. The airport is full of junk food and sugary snacks. Save yourself the trouble and bring some healthy snacks from home. Maybe a sandwich and some veggie sticks. In my case, I bring whatever my daughter will eat. Yogurt is her favorite, but because of the liquid restrictions at the airport, I usually buy it at one of the stands in the airport. But I bring other little things from home that I know she will eat.
3) Bring an easy to fold stroller and (if your child is young enough to be carried in one), a handsfree carrier. I tried several carriers, but my favorite is the ErgoBaby Carrier. It is more expensive than some carriers, but it will last you a long time. It can used from infancy (with a special insert) and has been tested up to 90 pounds (not that I would EVER carry a 90 pound person...lol).
4) Bring a small stash of items to entertain your child. Toys that do not make noise, crayons and coloring books, and dvd players (with headphones and favorite dvds) all make good choices. My daughter won't listen with headphones on yet, so I haven't been able to use that one yet.
Next Friday, my girl and I fly out (alone again) to St. Maarten/Sint Martin. We are meeting my mother there for a little weekend vacation. We haven't flown since May, and I'm sure that since she's much more mobile, it will be a challenge, but with some planning and a little luck, it should be a blast!
3) Bring an easy to fold stroller and (if your child is young enough to be carried in one), a handsfree carrier. I tried several carriers, but my favorite is the ErgoBaby Carrier. It is more expensive than some carriers, but it will last you a long time. It can used from infancy (with a special insert) and has been tested up to 90 pounds (not that I would EVER carry a 90 pound person...lol).
4) Bring a small stash of items to entertain your child. Toys that do not make noise, crayons and coloring books, and dvd players (with headphones and favorite dvds) all make good choices. My daughter won't listen with headphones on yet, so I haven't been able to use that one yet.
Next Friday, my girl and I fly out (alone again) to St. Maarten/Sint Martin. We are meeting my mother there for a little weekend vacation. We haven't flown since May, and I'm sure that since she's much more mobile, it will be a challenge, but with some planning and a little luck, it should be a blast!
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