Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

So, I'm still debating on whether to shell out the extra money for a ticket for my son, who will be 13 months old in September, or have him sit on our laps.

If we go with the lap thing, how does the luggage work? We're flying Southwest, so DH and I will get 2 bags free each.

How would we get everything we need on the flight if DS doesn't have his own seat? Would anything incur an extra fee? Of the following, what would be checked and what would be carried on?

Stroller
Pack N Play (still iffy if we're bringing this)
Car Seat

What about our carry-ons? I would normally bring my pocketbook AND another bag (like a camera bag or something). DH would bring a backpack and the laptop. Can we bring all that PLUS the diaper bag? Car seat?

If he doesn't have his own seat, can we bring the car seat onboard with us and will it fit in the overhead compartment?

Regarding liquids, how do we get his baby food on the flight with the ounce limit on liquids and ban on outside foods?

Finally (and forgive my ignorance on this one), would my 13 month old need a high chair still? Would I need to bring one on a 10 day trip to Florida? Restaurants aren't an issue, but we're planning to eat a lot of meals in our hotel living area, so where would he sit and how would we get that down there?

Any info you can share would be very much appreciated! If I have to pay to have anything we need fly with us or shipped down in advance, I may just suck it up and buy DS his own ticket so we get that much more luggage allowances.

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

You should be fine baggage wise without your son's baggage allowance if you buy him a seat. You don't get "charged" for strollers and car seats (i.e. they don't count towards your baggage claim- I've only flown Jet Blue though so not sure if it's different for other airlines). I don't know about a pack and play. Both times I've flown I carried on a diaper bag and a large purse (a longchamp bag) and My husband carried on a backpack. I plan on doing the same when we go this weekend.

Could you use a crib or pack and play from the hotel? I probably would not want to deal with lugging that.

Honestly, I would NOT carry on that much, you are going to have your stroller, car seat, and son, You can use all the extra hands you can get, haha. I felt like I was trying to keep up with so much with just our two bags + stroller + car seat.

As far as high chairs maybe a BTDT mom knows better, but DD is 10.5 months and I can't imagine her not using a high chair in 3 months. I have one of those travel high chairs that clip on the to table like this. It folds up pretty flat you could totally bring it in your luggage. You could also feed him in his stroller seat if he's a relatively neat eater. We've done that when we are out to eat and there isn't a highchair available.

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

I would try to consolidate as many bags as you can. Put your personal items in the diaper bag for double duty. Even with one child it gets tiring.

If you don't use the seat, they will put it under the plane for you. It doesn't quite go with the luggage, so it's a bit safer. You pick it up as soon as you get off the plane.

you cannot bring liquid - if you are still using breast milk or formula, it must be prepared in the bottle. and you must declare it before you put your bags to be scanned. I have also gotten juice boxes through, but some agents are stricter than others. I have brought baby food as well. Water is a no-no. They will tell you to get it on the plane. They took mine and before we even took off I told the flight attendant and she got me water right away.


We travel with this chair - it's awesome! and it folds up flat, so you just put it in your suitcase.

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

Do your best to minimize. You will deeply regret it if you don't. Bring the minimum of what you need. You can buy diapers, wipes, food, etc. wherever you are.

Diaper bags go with the baby as his carry on. The infant seat gets checked at the gate with the stroller unless you buy him a seat. It will not fit in the overhead and they make you check it.

I brought one premade bottle for DS and had no problems going through security. I just bought a bottle of water for the rest of the bottles after we went through security.

Check with your hotel and see if they have high chairs. They might.

I have to say that the American airline staff/crew as well as the people at Laguardia could not have been more helpful and accomodating to me. Granted, I was travelling with a 5 month old by myself, but everyone was really helpful going through security and getting us situated on the plane. Hopefully you will have the same type of experience.

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

I would not buy a seat for a flight to FL with a 13 month old. Everyone has their own opinion on this but its a short-ish flight and you and your DH can take turns holding him.
I also would not bring the PnP. pretty much every hotel has PnPs for guests. Maybe call them ahead of time and request it early so you are sure that it is reserved for you.
I would also not bring the highchair. Not sure of a good alternative to that except, ask the hotel.

Any baby food/formula/milk/juice etc...that you need for the flight, just alert the TSA agent before you go through security that it is for the baby and it should be fine. I have never had a problem with liquids/food for the baby going through security but I guess with all things, it depends on who you get as you go through.

have fun!

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

We just went to Florida than Aruba recently.

Here's what I think is best when traveling...
Personally, wouldn't get your DS a seat. It's expensive. My toddler had his own seat and spent the majority of the time on our laps anyway.
Gate check the stroller and carseat
you're allowed 2 liquid bottles for babies. WE had 2 water bottles with formula powder in dispesers. They did a test on the water and let us through
any other liquids like juice, milk, etc you can buy at the airport after you go through security
no need to bring a PnP or highchair. Call the hotel. I'm sure they'll have and they give you clean sheets.
Luggage - diapers, babyshampoo, lotion, sunscreen, hat, clothes, some toys, bottles, sippy cups, formula (we wrapped in saran wrap then put in bags just incase), spoons, bibs, babywipes, etc
I no longer take a purse. My diaper bag is the purse.
DH and I both took backpacks as our carryon - Ipad (had kid movies and games downloaded in it), filled up all the dispensers with formula powder, 3 bottles, 2 water bottles, baby wipes, bibs (plastic & cloth), extra clothes, little toys, purell wipes, organic babyfood pouches for food, spoons, etc
Between 2 carryon's you should have more than enough room. Diapers take up the most room. We buy the babyfood when we're there, but take enough pouches for an extra day incase. We also buy milk or juice when we get there.
Remember you can buy stuff their too

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

Re: Flying with infants - luggage and "liquids" questions

Bring what ever liquids you want for a child but put them in a diaper bag.

we just flew round trip to hawaii - we brough sippy of juice, milk, bottled water to make bottles all through security with no problem.

i was even allowed after sun lotion ofr my after i showed my son's burn - so if it is for a kid they check it but allow it

just a note - the insulated sippy cups require you to open them for the TSA agent to hold a paper above - also the papers give a lot of false positives just ask nicely to retest on a different machine

i had a cream in another bag and was not allowed to have it because it was for me

car seats are considered free to check by most airlines. either check it at the gate or when you check baggage

check with your hotel. My last hotel provided high chairs and pack plays- i just my own sheet because they fit better


also there are rental companies like baby away that rent you things and that is sometimes easier then flyign with everything