Flying Alone with 10 Month Old

I flew alone 4 times between Germany and the US with THREE kids. And several times before that with the older two. :) It wasn't fun or anything but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Trust me, it is much, MUCH better to have them in the car seats!! You don't want her squirming all over the place or having to hold her for 22 hours!! It will be a much better experience if you bring her car seat.

As far as you carrying all of that ... bring a stroller. You can use it all the way to the gate and then leave it right by the airplane door. You can put her in the stroller, the carry on in the bottom of the stroller and the car seat you can prop up on the back or possibly stick it in the bottom part of the stroller. Or sometimes I take the seatbelt part and put it around the handle of the stroller and lock it so that the car seat just hangs there.

You can also get a "pass" for someone to help you to the gate. On the way there I asked at the ticket counter if my husband could help me get to the gate. So they issued him a little ticket and he was able to get though and even wait with me and all that. I also told them my father's name and they were able to put it in there that he could come to the gate and meet me when I got there. It was fantastic. (I only realized this the last time I flew though so all the other times I was on my own!)

You can also ask for help from someone who works at the airport if you need it. They could probably give you a ride on one of those little airport cars.

I hope that helps! If you have any more questions feel free to email me - thelopezfamilia at yahoo.com Good luck! A.

I have flown on international flights with my infant daughter both with my husband and alone and have used the Sit-n-Stroll and it was a god-send! It is a car seat that converts to a stroller so you can roll right up to the gate (unfortunately it doesn't fit going down the narrow isles of the airplane so you have to carry it) and you use it as a car seat on the plane (on smaller planes it may not fit, depending on the width of the seats, in which case you can check it in at the gate like a stroller). It saves you from having to lug around the stroller and the car seat at the same time. I got mine through Amazon.

No she does not have to use the car seat on the plane. I was in the same situation with my son and was pleased to find out he did not have to use the car seat on the plane. I also believe that if you check your car seat it does not go against your luggage allowance. You can also gate check your stroller so it is there waiting for you when you get off the plane whether a layover or final destination. Good luck and safe travels.

Hi R.,
Those are all things you definately need to consider. The car seat inside the aircraft (in my opinion) will do no good, unless she loves it and it keeps her happy. You might want to look at airline policy to make sure. I would take her in an umbrella stroller (easy to manage and store on or off the plane!) as far as they will let you go with it, wear a back pack, and carry a diaper bag. Then when you need to take her out of the stroller (like walking down the aisle of the plane, you give the flight attendant the stroller, carry the baby and you're wearing the rest!
Be sure to let them know you have a stroller when you're checking in. When I have flown before, they let me give it to the flight attendant at the door of the aircraft, that way, right when I leave and need it again, it's right there. I know the other strollers are much better, but those umbrella strollers really know how to travel in tight spots!
If you need a car seat back in the states, whoever picks you up can always go to Salvation Army or somewhere like that, and pick it up cheap or borrow one. You'll need it when you drive away from the airport!
Be sure also to take snacks and drinks for the baby FOR take off and landing. (chewy stuff!) Those altitude adjustments are h*** o* kids! If they're eating, their ears will automatically "pop" and they won't be so crabby.
Good luck! Hopefully people will be sensitive and kind if you should need help...in my experience, they usually are!

My son was only 9 months when we flew and it wasn't as long so i would recomend letting her out to play with you and what-not but the carseat on the plane was a lifesaver for feedings, naps and keeping him from trying to get into everything he could on the plane. With carrying the seat on the plane if you use some sort of backpack as your carry-on you should be able to strap the seat to it with zipties you can cut and replace or cordlocks (they come on things like laundry bags or shorts that tighten like pt shorts and can b bought ____@____.com if you can't find any where you are) If you use something other than a backpack as your carry on you can use the straps that disconnect from a duffel bag and they can usually clip on the backside of the carseat to make it like a backpack itself. and there are plenty of baby carriers that make it so you can have your daughter on your front. Hope you have a good trip.

R.,

I think you heard it all about car seat or not. You know your child how she does in her car seat. My two boys did great at that age when they didn't walk yet. We will be flying at the end of Oct with my now 8 and almost 4 year old. I most likely will have for the little one the car seat on the plane as it does not count then against our luggage then. If you check it, it counts as one piece of luggage and sometimes you will have to pick it up at the oversized counter.

Anyhow, if you decide to take it make sure you know where the FAA approval sticker sits. (I was asked that on Delta. If I had not found the sticker they would have not allowed it to be used in the seat but put it away in one of their closets for landing and take off.).

Call Lufthansa and AA and tell them that you will be travelling on your own and you would like to know their rules with car seats and if you could get anybody to assist you with changing air planes. (I had that help one time with BA in London but I had not asked and the assistant told me that she is paid to assist passengeers but since she is human she does not know if she is needed for assistance and if the crew had not told her about me travelling alone she had not known and that in the future I should always tell these things.) Another thing you can ask for is buldhead seating (more space but harder with the food tray as it comes out of the hand rest in the seat. They will tell you that they have nothing at that moment but they will make a note. The best chance to get one then is during check-in (they often still block of these seats to be realeased during check-in time.) The key though is to be the very first one at check in time and nowadays that means to be at the airport at least 3 hours earlier. But it's a gamle and you have to decide if are willing to take that "risk."

People tend to be so much more friendly when you travel alone as a mother than when your hubby is with you, then you are just one of them--was my experience. After having it done with one/two children many times alone and with husband I have to say that my trips as "single" mom were generally a lot better with more help and conveniences.

All in all I found what Allison wrote were my experiences as well--I used my stroller the same way as she did with stuff (carry on) and car seat plus you can recline most likely the back rest for your child and therefore she might fall asleap during layover times. Now that the car seats have teather straps all the time I use that one to sling the car seat over the shoulder.

One last thing nobody has mentioned: My children always do so much better on evening/night flights because then they actually sleep. But day flights I have to be on 24/7. So make sure you are well rest when traveling during the day time hours.

You'll be fine!

R.,

Don't panic. You can do this! Take a stroller, they will check it as you get onto the plane. It's actually easier to have your child in her car seat on the plane because she won't be able to squirm out of her seat. A flight attendant will see that you need help and carry the carseat on for you. Also your fellow passengers will also be happy to assist you.

Take books in your carry-on and a new surprise toy that your daughter has NEVER seen before. Lufthansa gives you colored pencils and a coloring book on the plane. Do you have one of those small magna doodles? They are great on the plane. You can also load you IPOD with Elmo & Dora movies. Do you have alphabet or animalflash cards? They make for hours of fun. Take plenty of snacks too. Lufthansa also offers kid friendly meals on the plane.

No you don't have to use the car seat. I would check it. They will expect you to hold her on your lap during take off and landing. Some airlines have special seat belts to belt her to you during take off and landing. I traveled from Guatemala to Germany with my 10 month old and I found it much better to just have my purse and her diaper bag on the plane and have her stroller taken at the door of the plane and returned there afterward. Just make sure they understand you don't want your stroller checked or you wont get it back until your final destination.

Hi R....

I'm in the same situation as you right now. I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to manage all my luggage, carseat, stroller, carry on etc... all while managing my 17 month old daughter for our flight home (from the UK to the States) next week. I'm sure it's going to be interesting to say the least.

I have flown dozens of times with my infant daughter. The one thing I could not do without is the car seat!! When you have someone there to help manage your daughter then it's not as much of an issue. Since you're doing it on your own you need to think about things like how do you go to the bathroom? How do you feed your baby? How do you manage to juggle the food while she wiggles? The car seat is just a safe place to keep your daughter. It's essentially an extra set of hands.

Something that might be helpful is that some airlines offer a bulkhead mounted baby bassinet/seat sort of contraption. I think Lufthansa offeres these. Not sure about American Airlines though. Plus... it's probably dependent on the actual type of aircraft you'll be riding.

I would certainly call ahead and ask about this. It might enable you to end up with two seats to stretch out on/ play in. Then, if you need her to be buckled in for awhile so you can feed her... or just need a place for her to nap then you'd have a built in place to do that.

One last tip. I always use a hands free carry on (back pack). It's just one less thing to worry about. I have one with dozens of pockets for holding everything from passports to diapers... food... clothes...toys...etc.

Have a safe uneventful trip home :)
Blessings!
Janice

I definitely feel your pain. I believe (don't quote me) that she can ride in your lap up to 2 years of age but because she has her own ticket and seat, they might require that she use the car seat in her seat on takeoff and landing. You'll have to check with each airlines specific rules. Just call and they should be able to tell you if you can't find it online.

The Pac Back Car Seat Carrier by Cheeky Monkey is a lifesaver. You can conveniently carry the car seat on your back and it's actually comfortable and not bulky. That way you can still push her in an umbrella stroller and pull the carryon. I've traveled before with a small one and I have another on the way. Whew!

Good Luck

Hi! I went to the US with my 11 month old this past summer from Japan. It was about a 13 hour flight. I bought the "GoGo Kidz Travelmate" before the trip. It is a little cart with wheels that you attach your car seat to so it can wheel around easily. You can put your child in the seat (I left the stoller at home and bought a cheap umbrella stroller in the States) and then I held a large carry on bag. I also brought a baby carrier to put her in while I was going through security. The travelmate was very helpful. However, once I was on the airplane the carseat was big and bulky and it seemed like my daughter would have been happier to just be belted into the seat (because I ended up holding her a lot anyway) so when I came back from the US to Japan, I just checked her carseat at the gate and let her have her own seat. The flight attendents did not say she NEEDED to have her own seat. I kept her secure on my lap at landing and takeoff. But the GoGo Kids Travelmate was very helpful in maneuvering through the airport etc. I also bought (for future travel) a CARES restraint harness for aircraft that attaches to the airplane seat and is FAA approved. Your child has to be at least 21 pounds to use this. But it is nice because you can attach it to the airline seat and forgo the carseat (at least on the airplane.) You might want to use google for those items and check them out yourself! I hope this helps!

Hi Robin, I use a GoGo Babyz wheel attachment to my boys carseats to get them through the airport. I use it like a stroller with the boys strapped in and then I can use my other hand or back for the carry on. It works like a dream. Both my boys enjoyed it and were very comfortable in the carseat since they are used to it. Additionally, you can leave it attached when you strap the carseat into the airplane seat! Good luck! When I've traveled with my boys, I just didn't plan to get any sleep during the flights and brought lots of activities to keep them busy. They always seem to fall asleep right before we land!
Good luck!
R.

Check with the airlines about whether it is required. I have traveled quite a bit and have been under the impression that it is not a requirement but when they do have their own seat you are welcome to bring on your own FAA approved car seat. However, at your daughter's age, she would definitely need to be sitting on your lap for take off and landing, for her safety (if you opt to not take the car seat on). I have had good experience with the car seats, where my older son realized he was strapped in and behaved, and then my younger son I think really felt confined and when we had our layover, you better believe I gate checked that car seat and spent the second half of our travel without the seat and a much happier 18-month old. You just never know. It is easier to not have to haul the thing on the plane, though.

I also suggest taking the Motrin and Tylenol just for her ears sake. Give it to her right before you board the plane.

Good luck and just remember...no matter what...it will be over in 22 hours!

Hi R.,

My advice having flown with a 9 month old many years ago, make a list of things to bring that will occupy her time. Like a DVD player with her favorite movies, coloring books, story books, etc. One thing that I didn't bring and wish I had (we had a shorter flight - 9 hours) was baby tylenol and motrin. My poor little boy had an ear infection on the plane and screamed almost the entire way. I wouldn't wish that on anyone (or the people on the plane with them).

You may want to check to see if your daughters car seat is FAA approved. It doesn't sound like it has it's own strap system.

Good luck. I'm sure it'll be the adventure of a lifetime for her and that she'll talk (and talk and talk) about it for months. Take a deep breath too and ignore all those naysayers who say it won't go well. You guys will have fun! :)

A.

******Updated: I have never had the carseat and stroller count against luggage allowance, but airlines are changing policies so it is good to check. The last time I flew with a carseat and stroller was on United in March. Your chances of getting the bulkhead with a 10 month old are very slim, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Younger babies have priority, but first come first serve plays a role as well, depending on the person;s mood.

I would check the carseat. You can use the stroller and gate check it so they bring it to you for the layover. When I flew from Cairo through Frankfurt they left my stroller in Frankfurt multiple times, but at least you will have it for the long layover. I like to put my baby in a carrier like the Beco or Ergo and use the stroller to push the carry-ons. Of course, during a 6 hour layover, she may need to be in the stroller.

Whether you check your carseat or not depends on your child. At 10 months old, my son would not sit in the carseat on the plane. If your child is active, check it. You will appreciate the extra room to lay down with her or just let her play. If your child is fairly inactive and enjoys sitting and looking and doesn't try to move much, then maybe taking it is best. At 10 months, my son would have screamed in his carseat so we were much happier without it.

If you really want to bring your carseat, there is an attachment you can buy called the GoGo Kidz Travelmate. It is sold through http://www.onestepahead.com among other places. It attaches to you carseat and turns it into a wheeled bag. You can put your child in it and push her through the airport. If you do that, then I suggest you check the stroller.

http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId...

If your child is still nursing, nurse her on the way up and after you reach altitude for a few minutes to help her ears adjust. If not, use a pacifier or a bottle. There are special rules for bringing on formula and pumped breastmilk. Probably not a problem going to the States, but review the rules so you don't have a problem when you are going back to Kuwait. Bring a quart sized ziplock bag (required for security in the US, put the stuff in on your way to the States so it is ready to go back for your trip home. If it isn't in a quart sized ziplock they will throw it out and you won't get it through security on your way out) with baby tylenol, teething tablets, etc. There are prescription ear numbing drops that you can get from a doctor that are usually given to kids with ear infections. You could get those just in case she has a really bad problem with her ears. If you nurse on the way up and down, she probably will not have a problem.

Bring plenty of snacks and a sippy cup for drinks. Coming from Kuwait you can probably have it filled going through security, in Germany and the US you can't. However, you can have the flight attendants fill it with water or juice when you board or bring pre-packaged juice boxes.

Bring more than enough diapers and wipes in case there is a problem and you get stuck in Frankfurt. They don't sell diapers in airports.

Bring some small distractions and a change of clothes (or two). If you have noise-making toys, make sure they are fairly quiet so they won't be so annoying to surrounding passengers. Have a blanket or some layered clothing so you can keep yourself and the baby comfortable no matter what the temperature on the plane or in the airport. Try to limit your carry ons to what you can manage by yourself. You can sometimes get people or the airlines to help, but it is better to be able to manage yourself.

If the airline allows passengers with small children to pre-board, then pre-board. However, ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING FROM THE MIDDLE EAST: GET OFF LAST! Don't even try to get off until most of the people are off. People push grab their bags before the plane has stopped and push and shove their way out. With all the stuff you have to manage, it is better to wait. You have a 6 hour layover anyway so there is no hurry.

The last thing I would say is adjust your expectations and attitude from your pre-baby days. If you know that it is going to take you longer to get through the airport and that you will probably not get much rest on the flight, you will be less stressed out. Just take your time and it won't be as bad as you think!

Good luck! I've traveled internationally with my now, 2 year old son a lot since birth. Our next trip is in December. It is rough, especially by yourself, but you can do it.