How I travel with my 15 month old? and what do I need to bring for him?

Question

Is my first time traveling with my 15 months old and I don't know what I can bring for him in the plane? .....Can I bring a can of formula and some of his bottles fill with water in the plane? ...

Answer 1

As you are not able to bring more than a few 3oz containers on the plane. So you will have to bring concentrated formula and pay the ridiculous price of bottled water at the airport as i do not recommend using water fountains in busy airports.

Answer 2

Here is the information from the TSA on what you can bring when traveling with an infant:

When traveling with your infant or toddler, in the absence of suspicious activity or items, greater than 3 ounces of baby formula, breast milk, or juice are permitted through the security checkpoint in reasonable quantities for the duration of your itinerary, if you perform the following:

   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.

You are encouraged to travel with only as much formula, breast milk, or juice in your carry-on needed to reach your destination.

Answer 3

Yes, supplies for babies are exempt from the whole liquid gel rule.  If you are just using tap water, I would recommend not filling the bottles up til you are through security though, just in case.  If they won't let you have them they will jsut take them, no option to dump them out.  however I know with 100% certainty formula IS allowed.(powdered or liquid)

tsa.com

Answer 4

I've been flying internationally & domestically with my children since they were each 2 months (now 8&6, & 6 months). At least three trips a year are the children & I traveling internationally (14+ hours each way) alone. We do another 8-10 international & domestic flights a year as a family. I have never had any problems with my children. Here are a few tips and suggestions:

1.) Pack plenty of things to entertain your child: a few books, toys, a portable DVD player (be sure to bring extra batteries) or let him use your laptop (make sure it's fully charged) with a few movies, & one or two comfort things such as a favorite blankie or stuffed animal. I always bring a small pillow & blanket from home for my children (even now) because I know 100% that they are clean, and my children are accustomed to them.

My children bring along their own coloring books, a Doodle Pad, their Leap Pads (with a few booklets), & scrap paper that they can make their own drawings with & play games such as tic-tac-toe. My daughter used to like to bring along a doodle bear when she was younger so that she could draw on that as well, & my son likes to bring along some action figures to play with. I found that buying a Rose Art kit is great! It has crayons, markers, coloring books, coloring sheets, & stickers that they can color. It definitely keeps them entertained!

http://www.megabrands.com/en/products/de...

I take the contents of the kit out of the box & place them in something a little travel pack. Here is what my sons looks like:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamie_hasse... - outside

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamie_hasse... - inside

You can also play games like pat-a-cake, or I-spy, & tell stories to your child as well. If you tell a story, try to make it an interactive one where he has a part in it so he stays interested.

You might also consider going to the store & letting him pick out his own carry-on with a few inexpensive toys that will be used only on the plane. Be sure to pick out a few toys without him seeing so that he has an extra surprise when he opens his carry-on.

2.) Bring Snacks! just add water packets of food, cheerios, goldfish, animal crackers, dried fruit, etc. are great. New regulations also allow you to take beverages (including water) from home as long as they are less than 3oz (100ml), -OR- beverages (including water) of any size that you have purchased from inside the security area onto planes. You can also bring a limited amount of baby food, yogurt, cheese, puddings, etc. with you also as long as they are in containers less than 3oz (100ml)

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/p...

As long as your child is with you, you are able to take as much formula (any type), breast milk, regular milk, juice, and/or baby food that you will need for you child for the duration of the time you will spend in the airport and on the flight (as long as it is within reason).And no, you will NOT have to taste it - no matter what form you bring it in.

All that you must do is:

1. Separate the milk from the liquids, gels, and aerosols in your quart-size (1 liter) zip-top bag.

2. Declare you have the items to one of the 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

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/c...

Save your money when it comes to buying water though because the Flight Attendants will provide you with hot or cold water (or any other drink) free at any time that you request, no matter how many times you request it.

3.) Keep your diaper bag well stocked with plenty of diapers, wipes, ointments & other essential things. Just remember the new law regulating liquids, gels, and such and pack accordingly. http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

You can usually find travel size baby products in stores & they are wonderful for plane use. One thing I always like to carry with me is hand sanitizer! I always wipe the trays down with that (followed by a baby wipe) and use it for my kids after taking them to the bathroom (even though they wash their hands). I know that airplane bathrooms are not the cleanest, so that is why I try to be vigilant.

Be sure to pack 2-3 changes of clothes for your child. You will need this in case he gets sick, spills something on himself, or in case your luggage gets lost.

Bring any medications that you might need for your child should he get sick or that he takes regularly. Remember that if they are not prescription medications, the 3oz (100ml) rule applies to them and they must be kept in a clear plastic bag.

http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm

Do NOT give your child medicine with the hopes of it making him sleep. This is not only cruel, but dangerous as well. I have also seen where it backfires; a parent gives their child a dose of Benedryl to make them sleep, but instead it gets the child more hyper and the parents get absolutely no rest on the flight (and neither does anyone else).

Try to change your childs diaper as close to boarding as possible. This will help to make your child feel fresh and more comfortable for take-off (which could also mean less problems).

4.) Not all children have a problem with the pressure changes in their ears. If yours does however you'll want to know how to help. For take-offs and landings (the WHOLE way up, and starting from the BEGINNING, or TOP of descent - about an hour before landing), the best ways to alleviate ear pressure are to:

*Give him something to drink (formula, milk, water, juice - it doesn't matter)

*Give him a pacifier to suck on

*Pinch his nostrils shut, have him take a deep breath in through the mouth, then tell him to (gently) blow as if trying to blow his nose

*Place hot damp towels (usually like the ones distributed to first and business class before take-off and landing to freshen up with - just ask a flight attendant for them) or paper towels that have been soaked in hot water and wrung out, at the bottom of two paper or styrofoam cups, then hold the cups over the ears

*Gently but with some pressure, rub his neck repeatedly from the chin to the base of the neck. This will cause a swallowing motion that will relieve pressure build-up in the ears.

5.) If you hold your child a a "lap child", try to book a bulkhead (front) seat where you will have more room, and a bassinet. Bassinets are limited, and not available on every flight. If the bassinet is available (they can only be used in bulkhead seats) it will attach to the front wall for you to put your child in (however you can not use this during taxi, take-offs, landings, or turbulence). This is not the safest way for a child to fly and although a car seat is not mandatory, the airlines recommend children under 40lbs to have their own seat with a child safety device.

If you haven't booked a separate seat for your child, be nice on check-in & see if they can "block" the seat next to you. They will then only use it if they absolutely need it, & you get a seat for free!

In order to be certified for use on an airplane, the car seat has to met the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards. Check the labels on the side of your car restraint for a sticker (words will be printed in red) for verification that your seat is safe for airplane use. Almost all car seats pass this requirement. Booster seats are NOT approved for use in airplanes.

If you choose not to use your childs car seat for the plane ride, you will be allowed to gate check it (along with a stroller). It will not count towards your checked luggage. This means that you will need to take it with you to your boarding gate, & one of the handlers will take it from you before you depart, tag it, & put it in a special compartment for you. When you exit the plane, it will be waiting for you at the door as well.

6.) Before you travel, I suggest preparing your child for what to expect so that he is not caught off guard and scared on the day of travel. You want to make sure that you tell him what is going to happen from the time you get to the airport until the time you arrive at your destination. You don't need to go into any great detail here, but give him something that she will be able to reference when actually traveling. If you are able to, I suggest doing a dry run of the airport. This provides you with an opportunity to explain to him what is going to happen while he can see first hand what it looks like. Here are links that talk about what to expect when flying (also includes information about what to do at the airport) that may help you out a bit:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

http://jamiehassen79.angelfire.com/plane...

I wrote a small article about flying with children that goes more in-depth, gives security rules & regulations for the US, EU, UK, & Australia, offers tips & tricks for the travel, etc. http://www.angelfire.com/jamiehassen79/f...

If I can be of any more help or assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Answer 5

You can take powder formula and water in bottles (baby bottles, not waterbottles).  If you need water the flight attendents are more than happy to help out.  If you are unsure just call the airline. They will tell you everyting you need to know.

Answer 6

First of all, don't listen to Captain Jon.  He maybe a puddle jumper pilot but he doesn't know the TSA rules and inflight service at all because I have seen some of his answers online.  According to TSA, you may bring liquid formula for the infant regardless if it's more than 3oz. ; this is basic human rights for the infant because infants have special needs as far as food is concerned.  However, you cannot bring baby bottles with formula already in it.  The formula has to be unopened and sealed in order for you to go through security.  You also cannot bring bottled water to enter security.  Water bottles can be purchase though after you enter security.  I do not recommend using airplane's tap water to be mixed in the formula.

Also, because you are traveling with an infant, you may preboard  the flight.