Articles for the ‘Travel’ category

5 Plan Ahead Travel Tips – Airport & Baby

December 1st, 2009

Plan ahead.

  1. The two most important words when traveling with children:  Direct flight.
  2. Window seats are best for traveling with a baby.  You have a lot more privacy.  Nursing is very comforting for the baby which makes life so much better for you and everyone around you.  The baby may sleep and be quiet.  If you don’t nurse, have a bottle or a pacifier ready for takeoff and landing.
  3. Aisle seats may be best for an active toddler.  On a long flight, you might do a lot of pacing the aisles following the busy walker.  Never let your baby walk around a plane by herself or without proper outdoor shoes.
  4. Pick morning flights.  Everyone is well rested, baby is likely to take a nap and the flight is less likely to be delayed.
  5. Bring a copy of your child’s passport, social security card or birth certificate.  It isn’t necessary, but it could solve some major hassles, especially if you are traveling without the other parent.  Southwest says that they require it but I haven’t yet been asked for it.

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“Hello, Happy Baby!”

October 27th, 2009

A month ago, Bella and I were leaving a store and walking back to the car as I held her in my arms.  It was the middle of the day, but we were in a parking garage.  It was well lit, as parking garages go, but still a dim, dark concrete, unwelcoming structure.  As we walked down the aisle of cars, I noticed a large, muscled, broad-shouldered man walking directly toward us.  Instinctively, I looked away, stiffened my grip on my baby girl, straightened my posture and quickened my pace.  As we approached each other, I heard Bella laugh in my ear.  I looked over and this big man, twice my size, was making googly eyes and waving to my little baby.

"Hello, Happy Baby!"

"Hello, Happy Baby!"

I am often amazed at how powerfully disarming a smiling, little baby can be.  Bella laughs, waves and flirts with nearly every person she meets.  Two weeks ago, we were among the first to board a plane to DC.  I was exhausted after having trudged through security, pushed her stroller across the concourse and entertained and fed her while we waited at the gate.  Once we were seated, I was tired and stared out of the window at the baggage handlers pulling up to the side of the plane.  Bella stood in my lap and held onto the chair back in front of us.  Her laughter pulled me back from my daydreams and I looked up.  I saw a full aisle of people streaming onto the plane.  They were all exhausted travelers lugging suitcases, overcoats and laptop bags.  It now costs $20 to check your first bag on Delta and $30 for your second, so we are all our own pack mules. For the moment, however, there was something very different about this crowd. » Read more: “Hello, Happy Baby!”

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TSA: Important Info on Traveling with an Infant

October 19th, 2009

TSA

At more than one airport security checkpoint, my husband has sat on the sidelines rolling his eyes at me as I have stood my ground in discussions with TSA about my needs for bottles of water, milk or formula.  As long as we have the time, he seems to understand my deep seated need for “defending the rights of mothers everywhere”.  Well, that’s how he puts it.  Nobody likes the TSA rules and nobody feels any safer because they are in place.  They are arbitrarily followed and until recently I haven’t seen anything that addresses the particular needs of traveling with an infant.

Thanks to Maggie Norris, the Phoenix New Moms Examiner, and her great new article on her first trip traveling with an infant, she gave me a link that I had looked for many months ago, but could not find.  I don’t know how recent this update is, but I am happy to have it.  I am grateful to have had the luxury to breast feed Bella because the times that I have tried traveling with formula powder and water were unnecessarily frustrating.  It is considerably easier to travel and breast feed your baby, but that isn’t an option for all parents.

The TSA info allows mothers (curious that they specify mothers) to bring breastmilk, formula and juice in quantites larger than 3 ounces if you:

  1. Separate these items from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size and zip-top bag.
  2. Declare you have the items to one of our Security Officers at the security checkpoint.
  3. Present these items for additional inspection once reaching the X-ray. These items are subject to additional screening.

While those 3 rules above are directly copied from TSA’s website, please read the full post for all the important details.  Expect that going through security will take longer than usual as they might test your liquids, but you should be able to do it without much hassle.

So, don’t expect your TSA experience to be quick and enjoyable, but print out a copy of this page and tuck it in your carry-on bag or backpack.  You never know when you are going to need it.

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Airline Baby Travel Tip: Liquid Alternatives

August 19th, 2009

bedtime washclothsIt is more difficult to travel with a baby.  There is no doubt about that.  Sometimes, it is enough to make you reconsider the plans.  However, like everything else, all it takes is a little planning and a few new tricks and those skies will start to look pretty friendly.  I just got back a few nights ago from my sister’s house at the beach.  While Bella and I have traveled a lot this year, this was my first flight alone with her with a layover.  I was a bit nervous about this complexity, but I wasn’t going to turn down a week at the beach with my family.  Just like most things, the anticipation was worse than the actual travel. » Read more: Airline Baby Travel Tip: Liquid Alternatives

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