How to Travel by Plane with an Infant or Toddler

The following suggestions will hopefully make traveling with an infant or toddler under the age of 2 a bit easier. Traveling by plane with your little one can be especially stressful if you are not comfortable with flying yourself. Getting away should be a stress reliever and the grandparents may really want to see their precious grand-baby before he grows up/ Go ahead and take that flight. People do it everyday.
Do not feel obligated to purchase a seat for your child. Children under two fly free or for a nominal fee when you hold them on your lap. Unlike a car, your lap is safe & comforting to your child.
Purchase a giant diaper bag, lap children are not entitled to a piece of luggage, only a diaper bag.
Plan to breastfeed if you can. Attendants do not warm bottles or formula.
Consider dressing your child in a once piece footed pajama. It's comfortable, less items to loose, and if a child decides to kick the seat in front he can't kick as hard as with shoes.
Pack your diaper bag with a change of clothes or two, diapers, toys (stickers, crayons & paper for toddlers), baby wipes, changing pad, snacks, juice, and spoons & baby food if necessary.
Considering buying some new toys to surprise your child, they will keep his or her attention longer. You may choose to hold onto these toys until well into the flight, when your child gets antsy or to distract from a temper tantrum. If the flight goes well, save the toys for the flight home.
Surprise your child with a piece of candy or treat you have refused in the past. Tiny lollipops are a good choice as the sucking can help with ear pressure.
Bring earplugs. Not for you or your baby, for the people around you. If your child cries uncontrollably, you can show your concern by handing your neighbors an inexpensive pair of foam earplugs with a kind smile.
Remember you cannot bring liquids, even water, through security on US flights. You must declare baby food, formula & medicines. You may purchase items like bottles of water, after clearing security.
Arrive early at your gate. Ask the attendant for a "Gate Check Tag" for your stroller. They will stow your stroller with the luggage in the belly of the plane, but bring it to you when you exit it the plane, so you don't have to carry your child to baggage claim.
While you are at the gate, ask the attendant if they will board families with small children first. This is usually a common practice, but not always. You can relax a bit if the answer is yes.
Serve your toddler juice or water by bringing a "reuse or toss" cup with lid & straw. Attendants will provide drinks on most flights, but they do not provide straws or lids. You could have a spill that wets you, him or the stranger next to him when he accidently bumps his tray-table. Consider picking up a cup, straw & lid from a concession stand before boarding your flight in a pinch.
Bring a blanket to cover your baby, but as soon as you sit down in your seat, request extra pillows & blankets. Pillows are not items you will want to pack, as they are bulky. If you don't like the idea of your child's face on the airline pillow, cover it with your blanket from home. Your arms will need extra cushioning, if your child takes a long nap and you can't move.
Do not try to carry everything on board you will possibly need. You cannot quickly or easily get to things under your seat or in the over-head. They will go unused and be a useless burden to carry. Think minimalist.
Travel during nap time. Some children fall asleep in a plane, no different than while riding in a car.

Be prepared to remove a sleeping baby from the stroller to pass through security. Strollers must be x-rayed without babies.
Use a baby carrier like a Baby Bjorn or Snuggly, so you have your hands free to carry your luggage.
Nurse or bottle feed the baby during take-off and landing. This helps prevent ear pain.
Don't forget to take a car seat unless you have arranged to have one at your destination.
Flight magazines and catalogs are free. No one should complain if you use them for origami, I-Spy, or scribble scrabbling.
Visit www.tsa.gov and your airline's website for more travel advice. Some oversea flights provide bassinets for infants.

Stroller
Stroller
Stroller collapses to car seat.
Stroller collapses to car seat.
If you plan to travel more than 3 or 4 times a year by airplane, you may want to invest in a stroller that converts to a car seat, like this product called "Sit-n-stroll". The stroller wheels pull up into the bottom of the seat and the handles collapse. It is FAA approved to use in flight, but remember you must pay for a seat then, and surprisingly, FAA approval does not guarantee the chair will fit into the seat you purchase!
Ask about using an antihistamine. Using an antihistamine may help prevent the ears from popping and aching. Follow your medical provider's recommendations.