talk to me about flying with kids

[katespade]

I have not taken my kids on a plane before. DH flew with DD (8) one time, one way from Boston to Dulles so it was like, an hour flight. This may be me, DD, and DS (almost 4) flying from Dulles to LAX 🫠

I think I need a car seat for DS, and I’d feel more comfortable with DD in her booster, because I think we have like an hour Uber ride from there. Do I gate check them? Do I have DS sit in his car seat on the airplane? My friend has a rolling thing she can lend me to put the seat on to get through the airport at least. The car seat Id bring is our Graco Tranzitions since it is lightweight.

I know to bring snacks and iPads and coloring. Any other fun suggestions? DD is not a big reader so I definitely need to bring her plenty to stay occupied.

I am sort of an anxious flyer (surprisingly so considering my last FT job involved a period of time where i flew 1-2x a month for over a year) so while rationally i know im overthinking and people do this all the time, please help me not feel like this about it

[leahcar]

I'd check your bags if possible so you don't have as much within the airport with you. You can also check a booster for your 8 yo for free.

Stick with a backpack for everyone within the airport and let your 4 yo ride in the wheeling carseat.

[goldenbird]

I'm following this. DS turned 6 a month ago and we'll be flying with him at some point in the next six months.

[Sweetjane]

Definitely gate check your seats, trying to wrangle all that would be terrible.
Bring over the war headphones to plug into the TV screens on the plane. That way you always have a game or movie if the WiFi is spotty or nonexistent.
I think there are some better travel options than a traditional booster, consider getting one of those. I've seen them mentioned on here.
Depending on your Uber, you may not get 3 across with a booster and a CS.

[jaidit]

I pack a bag per kid with lots of snacks and don’t care about screen time. I also have a set of headphones per kid that kind of also cancel noise. Also, chewing gum for their ears if they are old enough for it.

[joy]

Buy a RideSafer vest for the younger kid. Can you bring a BubbleBum for the older one?

You have to carry all this stuff around the entire trip - make it lighter. You may end up carrying a sleeping four year old at some point because travel is a wild ride.

My (as of yesterday) 8 year old watches her iPad or plays games on the flight.

[elle]

We just did a cross country flight (Boston to SF, so 6 hours out and ariund 5 back) with our 7 and 4 yo. We rented car seats from our car rental company (Avis, but I'm sure they all have them available). It was much more convenient than the last time when we gate checked them (I was also concerned about rough handling and how that might affect the safety, etc, possibly paranoid, but still). So that would be my recommendation for a booster and car seat.

Can I ask who you are flying with? Because we booked Jet Blue and it was legitimately the best flight experience I've had in the last decade + both directions. More leg room than any other airline outside of business or first class, really acommadating with children, etc. Plus their planes are airbuses not Boeing. Win win.

Oh and yes, we let both girls use their tablets as much as they wanted but there was a surprising amount of getting out their coloring books and other activities in between. I figured that not letting them use devices the rest of the trip would somewhat make up for the excessive tablet use.

[babybean]

I give each kid a backpack that they carry. I put an extra outfit, water bottle, headphones, book(s), colouring material, stickers, snacks, treats and a new toy to use once we get settled on the plane. I download their favourite shows/movies and rotate through what they use so they’re less bored. The treats include gum or lollipops to help with their ears popping.

The less you have to bring the better. Beyond baby stage I wouldn’t personally lug car seats unless you absolutely have to so I’m not sure about gate checking and such.

[peachesncream]

This will be an unpopular opinion, but if my children are not flying in their car seats then I check them. I have yet to find a car seat manual that advises against this and have never had an issue. The exception is once my kids are old enough to ride in a regular booster, then I use Bubble Bums that they carry in their backpacks. I regularly fly alone with all 4 kids and find the lighter we can travel through the airport the better. We also check all luggage and only carry on backpacks.

If you choose to use the Graco Tranzitions on the airplane, read the FAA sticker carefully - it says something like "not approved for FAA use in booster configuration", then a few lines down "approved for FAA use in 5 point harness mode". We have received pushback on this. That particular seat can also be annoying to travel with on one of those carts, one of ours every time we tip the cart back the bottom of the seat pops out of place and drags, moreso when there is a kid sitting in it.

[coffeecake]

Aug 30, 2024 21:25:26 GMT -6 babybean said:

I give each kid a backpack that they carry. I put an extra outfit, water bottle, headphones, book(s), colouring material, stickers, snacks, treats and a new toy to use once we get settled on the plane. I download their favourite shows/movies and rotate through what they use so they’re less bored. The treats include gum or lollipops to help with their ears popping.

The less you have to bring the better. Beyond baby stage I wouldn’t personally lug car seats unless you absolutely have to so I’m not sure about gate checking and such.

All of this. I would usually get a new coloring or activity book for each kid when they were little. I pack snacks, but also let them each pick one snack or bag of candy at the airport. They can get whatever they want.

[roselab]

I would make sure each kid has a screen they are comfortable navigating, headphones, and plenty of content they like downloaded onto the device in case wifi/in flight entertainment is not working).

I would not want to deal with even checking car seats so would rent or use travel friendly ones if possible like bubble gum or the best one, but my kids are teens so it's been a while since I've had to worry about car seats.

[addymac]

I would bring a lightweight travel CS for your DS and get a bumblebum for your DD if you really want her to have one. On my last trip I just released DS (7) on using a booster but he’s also big for his age.

Checking CSs is one of my things so I won’t do it. I also refuse to rent them from a rental car company bc there are plenty of horror stories about wrong or inappropriate CS being offered and then you’re stuck with no CS, not to mention you have no clue the history of it re: accidents or how it was cleaned, etc. My anxiety won’t let me do that.

Check all bags and each kid gets a backpack with activities and screen time and snacks. All the snacks. If DS still would enjoy a stroller I’d get a lightweight travel one to help keep him contained. If he is fine walking I usually toss the car seat on the stroller for one less thing to carry.

[Cher]

I just took my 3 kids on the longest commercial flight in the world and we have a 14.5 hour flight this weekend so I feel like I’m pretty well-versed in this. I personally don’t bring a car seat for my 7 yo, but if you want to, skip the booster. Do a Bubble Bum. For the younger one, I personally wouldn’t do a car seat on the plane if they will sit. I would get a Ride Safer vest or a Wayb Pico for travel.

For shorter flights (under 8 hours), I try to keep it as simple as possible. The less stuff, the better. I have my kids pack a backpack that they carry on the plane. Typically, an iPad with a ton of shit downloaded, headphones, and a few dumb toys that they swear they’re going to play with but never do because iPads. I buy the same snacks they’re obsessed with at home, Cliff Bars and applesauce pouches and throw them in my bag. They usually snack on them throughout vacation.

For the younger one, I would pack a change of clothes (even if potty trained) because spills happen. And, I would buy some take and toss cups for the younger one for the same exact reason.

It will be great. Don’t overthink it!

[FlightView]

elle for a moment I was like ah yes the old Boeing vs AirBus conversation. Then remembered Boeing has had a lot of bad press recently (justifiably so) and was like dang it.

But if by chance if it is arguing their performance and design, I’d throw my hat in Boeing’s ring.

[elle]

Aug 31, 2024 10:54:56 GMT -6 FlightView said:

elle for a moment I was like ah yes the old Boeing vs AirBus conversation. Then remembered Boeing has had a lot of bad press recently (justifiably so) and was like dang it.

But if by chance if it is arguing their performance and design, I’d throw my hat in Boeing’s ring.

Oh agreed. I'm just not at all enthused about their steel and maintenance issues of late.

[trueblue]

If you only need the seats for transportation from and to the airport, I would see if private transportation from LAX with a company that provides car seats is do-able.

[jorkzy]

BYO screens if you have them, not all planes have them in seats anymore.
Rent car seats/boosters at your destination if possible. I just flew with my 3 kids and rented a booster for my 5yo from the car rental place, super easy. Maybe call or book ahead to make sure they have them on hand.
Backpacks for everyone, I’d include a change of clothes for each kid (even older ones, and myself) bc who knows about spills or lost luggage. I put everyone’s liquids/gels in the plastic bag in my backpack/carryon so I can pull it out quickly at security without everyone needing to hunt things down.
For the younger ones: run them at the airport if you have time.
Good luck! It’s def easier and less overwhelming than it sounds

[flippinchica]

Definitely make sure you have a tablet with headphones and content downloaded that can be used without Wifi. If you travel with the tranzitions, buckle the harness and pull it tight to keep the 2 parts from coming apart

[katespade]

Sept 2, 2024 12:48:50 GMT -6 flippinchica said:

Definitely make sure you have a tablet with headphones and content downloaded that can be used without Wifi. If you travel with the tranzitions, buckle the harness and pull it tight to keep the 2 parts from coming apart

Thank you that last bit is very helpful.

[katespade]

And thank you everyone!

My friend is lending me the rolly thing for it and another friend offered her bubble bum.

I was feeling a little less anxious about it all and then we realized there’s a possibility DH won’t be on our flight coming back 😳 I think we will either be on United or Alaska. The Alaska flight is better timing on both ends but that probably means I’m flying solo both ways.

I’m terrible with spontaneity and not over planning stuff (no surprise I have an autistic child, I probably am on the spectrum too) so this feels like a bigger challenge than it probably will be. But again, thank you all for the advice!!

[Eagles]

Sept 3, 2024 9:41:32 GMT -6 katespade said:

And thank you everyone!

My friend is lending me the rolly thing for it and another friend offered her bubble bum.

I was feeling a little less anxious about it all and then we realized there’s a possibility DH won’t be on our flight coming back 😳 I think we will either be on United or Alaska. The Alaska flight is better timing on both ends but that probably means I’m flying solo both ways.

I’m terrible with spontaneity and not over planning stuff (no surprise I have an autistic child, I probably am on the spectrum too) so this feels like a bigger challenge than it probably will be. But again, thank you all for the advice!!

You'll be great! Pack your Zofran. And do basically everything Cher said.