We Are Flying to Los Angeles with My 6 Week Old infant....HELP!

Hey R.,
I have not yet flwon with my little girl but have had quite a few friends fly with their babies (everywhere from an hour trip to Boston to a 9 hour trip to Hawaii). First, check out this link and print it out when you go: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/formula.shtm
It is from the TSA's webiste and it states that you are allowed to bring along formula etc, but quite often the screeners are not up to date, so bring the article with you.
Also, a friend of mine brought about ten pairs of ear plugs with her and handed them out to the passengers around her as a "nice gesture" saying I don't know what she will be like but just in case I wanted to pass these out. Sometimes that is all it takes because you are at least admitting that there may be a crying baby and not just bringing a baby on the plane.
Good luck with flying and I am sorry to hear about your relative.
~J.

I flew (alone)with my almost 2 year old and his 7 week old brother. I must say that LaGuardia is the worst of the airports (security-wise) to fly out of.

1. Bottles can be taken past security as long as they are ready-to-go. Powdered formula must be pre-mixed.

2a. If your airline allows it, use online check-in the night before your flight. It drastically reduces your waiting time at the airport. If memory serves me, they don't let you through security more than 90 minutes before your flight, and with a baby you want to try to time it so you clear security, go straight to the gate, and board.

2b. Pre-board and get yourself settled.

3. Pack 2 carry-ons: 1 diaper bag with all baby's necessities, and a bag with enough to get each person through 24-36 hours in the event the airline loses yhour luggage. (I NEVER check-in my breast pump!)

I don't remember if baby needs ID to board the plane; I was flying international so we had passports.

I just flew for the first time with my 8 month old. she did great. i followed alot of the tips from moms on this site. just search travel tips.

you can get through security with bottles already made up. just tell them you have them and they will make you put it in a bin and through the scanner.

I put my daughter in an infant carrier (must have no metal on it...i use an ergo) and we walked through security together.

wear easy to slip on and off shoes too.

take with you a neck pillow or a boppy to lean your arm and your baby's head on when you are feeding her and you will want to do that on take off and landing.

The changing tables in the plane bathrooms are fine but there is NO ROOM FOR A DIAPER BAG, YOU AND A BABY so try and change the baby on your lap if you can and try to request Bulk head seats. Much more room there...you can put down a changing pad right there in front of you on the floor.

Carry on the baby's suitcase that way you will have all of the clothes etc. you need.

I think that's it....if I think of anything else I will post again. you will all be fine and your baby will do great....just remain calm.

Don't be nervous! We've flown with our now 2 year old numerous times with barely and incident. A few points/thoughts:
Security won't give you any trouble about liquids for the baby.
Give him Baby Tylenol about an hour before flying. This helps prevent ear pain and will keep him calm (he might even sleep!)
On ascent and decent feed him a bottle. To make sure he's thirsty, avoid feeding him beforehand.

Good luck!

6 weeks does'nt sound soo bad. i travelled from australia to nyc with an 10 month old AND without my husband. i traveleled with tons of food and bottles but i was international . i would call and confirm what you can travel with. i would think at that age they would sleep with the motion and just make sure you are feeding when you take off and land. don't worry. people drug their babies but i wouldn't dare esp a 6 week old. be strong. do u have a baby bjorn. mybe the closeness would/will help.
is he not sleeping bc he's colic?? M.

Hello,

I traveled with my baby to orlando when he was 3 months old and it was just fine. you can get through with your formula. i would ask the flight attendant to give me a cup of real hot water and dip the bottle in to warm it up or they would do it for me just so it wouldnt spill on me. right before the plane takes off make sure you give your baby a bottle so he can suck on to relieve any ear discomfort. do the same right before you are going to land. make sur eyou have some colorful toys with you. good luck

I flew from NYC to SF with my daughter when she was 10 months old. I think at 6weeks, it's probably going to be pretty easy for you. Just make sure he's feeding or sucking a paci at take off and landing, it will help with any air pressure issues him his ears. As far as formula, bottles, etc. They are pretty good about this now. Their rule is that you're allowed to bring as much as you reasonably need for the flight. So, it's a 6 hour flight, if your son feeds 4 ounces every 2 hours, then that is 8 ounces of formula you need. I packed the powerded stuff, made one full bottle and asked for water as I needed it. I only brought one bottle aboard, and washed it in the bathroom. Yes, you can get it past security. If you are traveling with a baby and have a bottle of formula or breastmilk, they let you. I'd bring plenty of diapers and wipes. Dress him in layers. I find planes are too hot or too cold. Probably 1 change of clothes too, in case of a 6wk explosive poop or major spit up. Then, of course, all your usual stuff. Hope that helps! Oh, and I borrowed this idea from another mom. I bought a kid travel pillow. She laid her child across her lap while he slept. I used it for my daughter and it worked great. She's now 19 months and LOVES it. She wont let anyone else put their head on it. one more thing, I forget the website, but if you call your airline, they'll give it to you and it has all the traveling with children rules. I think it is tsa.gov?

Hi R.,

Try to breastfeed or bottle feed the baby at take off and landing so that he is sucking as the plane shifts altitude, and he won't experience the wierd ear popping that could really frighten him and set him into a crying jag. Otherwise, such a little one should be relatively happy just being held. Bring enough diapers and change of clothes for the actual flight and for a few more hours in the event there is some delay with the luggage.

The airline should have information about what amount of liquid you can bring. In my recent travels, there were stringent limitations at security but no limitation on what was purchased in the shops right before embarkation.

Good luck,
Ana M.

I flew with my daughter at 6 weeks old. I brought powdered formula and brought 4 oz of water until we got through the gate . Then I bought two large bottles of water and asked them to give it to me not refrigerated at the magazine stand. It was not a problem. The baby did well on the way out but cried on the way home but I tried using the pacifier during take off and landing. We managed..it will be ok.

R. Mother of now 8 month old Maya

Do not worry, babies travel just the way adults do. If your ears are popping and you feel babies might be as well, give baby a bottle or pacifier to suck on. Just as you would chew gum, babies can suckle. Try not to worry, it really is not a bad experience. As for baby bottles and formulas, they should be fine through security and you can carry them on.

I had a very colicky baby, and my daughter was actually easier when she was a toddler on the plane than as an infant (when she screamed for quite a while). There are two of you so it should be fine. Bring extra shirts for any adults flying - I end up with spit up, etc. etc. on me every trip and you will be glad you had it. I think they let you take formula now, but you can also bring a ton of plain empty bottles as back up and a bottle brush just in case. I flew to Australia and I had to clean bottles on the layover. Pack a ton of diapers (ask the airline which bathroom has a changing table, no passengers want to see you changing diapers), some extra onesie outfits, and possibly something in the sling family (even if you borrow it). You can bring your stroller right up to the gate. They take it away and bring it back to you. You might want to bring a carseat with the wheels so that if there is an extra seat you can bring it onboard and so you always have a carseat the whole trip. And think ahead about where you are putting everything. In the bulkhead seats you can't keep anything under your chair. In regular seats you can.

We breastfed my 3 year old son exclusively until 8 months, so i can't answer about formula, but i know that sucking anything helps. we flew to spain from nyc when he was 8 weeks old and he just nursed and slept, so keep sucking things very handy, and extras in case they fall out of your bag!