Family Travel & Vacations Blog

Every time that you go to get into the car with your babies or young children, you go through the routine of putting them into their car seats. It’s not something that you even think twice about; it’s just what you do. It’s the law, and it’s the law because it’s what keeps kids safe in the car. So, have you ever thought about the fact that this routine, which is so second nature to you, isn’t something that you do when engaging in other kinds of travel besides car travel? Don’t you think it’s just a little bit odd? More and more parents are realizing the oddity of this and taking action, making sure to bring airplane-compatible car seats with them on their flights.

 

For many, strapping their children into car seats on the plane has become as routine as strapping the kids into their car seats before getting in to the car. For others, use of car seats on the plane is a new thing. If you fall in to the latter category, you might have some questions about using car seats on the plane. Here are some of the basics things that you need to know about car seat use for your flights:

• Neither airlines nor the law require parents to use car seats during plane travel. However, use of them has been recommended by child safety experts.
• Children weighing forty pounds or more can safely use plane seatbelts. Children under forty pounds are much safer if they are in a car seat. As with your car seat in your car, you can choose to use a rear-facing car seat or forward-facing car seat, with the latter being better for kids who weigh under twenty pounds.
• There are car seats which are made specifically to be used in both cars and on planes. These are called airplane-compatible and should be something that you look for when purchasing your normal car seats if you think that you will be doing any plane travel with your children.
• Most airlines will let an adult board the airplane at the start of boarding in order to secure the car seat in place before the plane begins to get filled up. You should ask about this when you are waiting for boarding to begin. Note that car seats should be placed in the seat closest to the window.
• The purpose of car seat use in planes is safety for your child. Some parents worry that trying to get a child out of a car seat in the rare case of an airline emergency could be problematic. This is an unwarranted fear; removing your child from the car seat is no more dangerous in a plane than in a car and keeping your children appropriately strapped in during flight could help save them if there are problems in the air.

It may not be the most common thing in the world to see parents strapping their children in to car seats on the plane. And you might think that it’s not necessary or that the hassles of carrying a car seat on board with you as you travel are not worth the effort. But it really is recommended that you use a car seat on the plane for your children and if you get used to the idea, it will soon just be second nature. Having your child’s safety be second nature is always a good thing!

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…………………………………………….. SIMILAR PAGES …………………………………………….. Air Plane Travel with Baby or Toddler Air Plane Travel and Car Seats for Baby or Toddler Air Plane Travel with Kids ……………………………………………..

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Advice for Traveling on an Airplane with Your Baby: How to Keep Your Baby Happy On Flight

 

 

 

 

The new airline regulations which keep getting more and more stringent as the years go on can be trying for even the more practiced and calm of travelers. They can be absolutely harrowing for new parents who are already overwhelmed with taking their infant on a plane. On top of worrying about how well your infant will do in the air, whether or not you’ve packed all that you need for your infant during the trip and what you are going to do if everyone starts glaring at you because your infant is the one crying throughout the flight, you now have to worry about what you can and can’t pack for your infant to have on the plane. Take a deep breath, get your mind settled and get ready to learn the latest news in airline travel with your infant.

Food for your infant

The number one concern for most new parents traveling by air with an infant is the consideration of bringing baby formula or breast milk on the plane. With the rules about bringing liquids on your flight getting tighter and tighter, you might be wondering if you’re going to be able to bring what your baby needs to drink on the plane. And if you’re like most new parents, you’ve thought ahead to concerns about delays and long layovers and you want to make sure that you’ve over-packed the formula, not under-packed it, in case something goes wrong and your infant needs to eat.

Don’t worry; the creators of airline regulations may be tough but nobody wants to hear your infant cry throughout a flight so they accept that baby formula is coming on board. Here are the rules you need to know:

• Baby formula and breast milk can be packed in your carry-on luggage but only if you are traveling with your infant. If you are meeting your partner and infant en route, you will not be able to carry the milk on board.
• You are allowed to bring any amount of milk or formula that your baby might need. As long as it fits in your allotted carry-on luggage, you’re good to over-pack the formula as much as you see fit.
• Your packed breast milk may be checked by security. Packing formula or milk in amounts smaller than three ounces each makes the security check of them go much more smoothly.

Medical concerns

Food is the primary concern for most people traveling with an infant, but running a close second is the concern about the safety of taking an infant on a plane. The most common issue which affects infants on planes is the pain of pressure in the ears. Unfortunately, it happens and your infant might cry as a result, but the pain is not long-lasting and the baby’s ears will not be damaged. Pain of this kind can be reduced by making sure that the baby has a bottle to enjoy during the take-off and landing of the flight which are the times when the pressure will have the greatest effect on the ears.

The other medical concern which comes up for parents traveling with infants is that of already-sick kids. Can you travel with your infant on a plane if he or she is sick? Yes, but the flight itself is already going to be stressful so if you can change your plans until a time when your infant is healthy, you should do so. If you must travel with a sick infant, make sure that you check with security about the regulations of taking your infant’s medicine with you on the plane.

Secondary concerns

Food and medicine are the big issues to worry about when you travel with an infant. However, it is sometimes all of the other little things in life that can drive us craziest. Pack well in advance of your trip to be sure that you’ve covered all your bases and you’ll be better prepared to deal with these little concerns. Things to think about when packing include making sure that you have a blanket, any teeth items, changes of clothing, diapers and a toy or stuffed animal for your infant. If you travel frequently with your infant, you may consider having a baby bag packed at all times so you don’t have to worry about these things when it is actually time to do your travel.

Finally, you should remember that a calm parent makes for a happier baby. This is particularly true for when you are traveling with your infant. Don’t let the stress of travel get to you; accept that there will be ups and downs of traveling with your baby and just try to go with the flow. You will have a more relaxed flight and your baby will benefit from your patience.

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