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Momma2Be
Mommy of an angel
Member since 10/09 5911 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
So after procrastinating until the last possible minute, I finally booked my flight! I'm flying to Greece with 7 month old DS (alone!) so that he can finally meet his grandfather and I can see my dad for the first time in almost 10 years 
I leave in a little over a week and am clueless! Thanks Michelle (munchkinfacemama) for the tips about nursing DS during take-off and landing to help with his ears and to gate check the stroller. What else do I need to know? I have so many concerns/questions. Like:
Do I bring the carseat base or can I use the carseat without the base? I have the Graco Snugride 32.
I've been using the Maclaren umbrella stroller for the past few weeks. Do you think I should bring the Snap-N-Go instead so I don't have to carry the carseat, my luggage, and wheel his stroller?
How do I handle his sleep/naps in regards to the time difference (Greece is 7 hours ahead)? Is there anything I can do now to help with the transition?
What do I do if he screams the whole flight? Can I give him Benadryl so that he'll go to sleep? Do you think I should even do something like that? I would feel bad 
What seat would be best (he'll be in my lap, I didn't purchase him a seat)....window? Aisle? Emergency Exit?
Any other tips or suggestions for things I haven't thought of would be greatly appreciated!! I'm sure I'll be posting a "what do I pack???" post sometime before I leave too so stay tuned... 
ETA: another question I just thought of....the rep at Delta said I don't need a passport for DS and that I am his identification. So basically I can just show up with an unidentified infant and just travel abroad?  I'm thinking I should just bring his original birth certificate and maybe SS card to be safe?
Message edited 10/29/2010 11:50:25 PM.
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Posted 10/29/10 11:43 PM  |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
First of all, take a deep breath. Its not going to be as bad as you think. Its only 7 hours out of your life, and you guys will be fine!
Firstly, lets see...you can nurse during take off and landing, thats no problem, they will probably let you have your stroller up until you actually get on the plane. I don't know about your car seat, so you will have toa sk someone else about that. It might be easier to bring a snap and go, for me its always easiest to bring my car seat that snaps onto my bugaboo frog.
As for the time difference, just keep the baby up for as long as you can, and when he falls asleep, let him sleep. Its going to take a few days to get normalised, but it will all fall into place. Just be relaxed and everything will work out!
You absolutely will need a passport...do not attempt to travel without one! PLease heed my advice on this one...
This is from the US State Department
Benedry often makes kids hyperactive, so I wouldn't risk drugging your kid unless he needed drugs.
Message edited 10/30/2010 4:59:53 AM.
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| Posted 10/30/10 4:58 AM |
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usuk2004
I'm ONE!
Member since 5/05 5150 total posts
Name:
Farah
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
Posted by yankinmanc
You absolutely will need a passport...do not attempt to travel without one! PLease heed my advice on this one...
DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY!!!
I can't believe a Delta rep would've told you that! 
Are you getting a ride to the airport and a pick up on the other side? I don't travel with my carseat because my parents have one, but I also usually take public transportation to the aiport. I like to take my Bugaboo Bee because it's got a good sized basket. Does your snap and go have a better basket than a Maclaren? Do you think you'll do a lot of walking once you get there? Will DS nap in his stroller better than the snap and go? Just think about what you will use it for once you get there - you'll want him to be comfortable for the majority of the trip instead of just the two days of actual travel.
I'll see if I can dig out my list of what I usually pack in my carry-on, but I know at 7 months I still brought the Baby Bjorn with me in my carryon. I flew BA once and they took my stroller at the gate and we had to board on the tarmac, and then apparently it wouldn't fit on board so they had to put it in the hold, which meant it came out with the luggage, which meant that I had to go through immigration holding DS (luckily I had the BB with me).
I usually tried to nurse on take off and landing as well, but I always brought pacifiers with me just in case - even though DS didn't use one.
You will probably be sat in the bulk head row, and usually they have some type of seat or bassinet for the baby that attaches to the wall in front of you. I think they usually go up to about 24lbs or so. Bring a few new toys that he's never seen before, plus a few old favorites. When DS was smaller and not so mobile, I used to tie string to the toys so that if he dropped them I didn't have to bend down to pick them up. I had a few books, lift the flap and sound ones that really kept him busy during take off and landing. Also, my make-up bag keeps him entertained for ages. This last flight I was smart enough to take a "decoy" - not really my real make-up bag with a few old things in it that I didn't mind if he messed up - ie old, empty compact, old mascara, etc. Plus you'll want any kind of lovey and a light blanket.
Ella's Kitchen type pouches of babyfood are great for travelling and snacks always keep them busy. Make sure you have something for you to eat as well I find it difficult to eat with DS on my lap and if he's not in the mood to sit there when they're serving, you'll probably miss the meal altogether, so make sure you eat!
You should be able to use your carseat without the base. I'm not familiar with your particular one, but look on the instructions if you still have them, they should tell you how to strap in using the car's seat belt.
Are you travelling on a night flight? If you are, you'll probably find that DS sleeps most, if not all of the way there. Mine always wakes on landing and then is up for immigration, luggage, etc. Has a nap in the car on the way home. When you get in, try to keep to his nap schedule during the day, but don't fight him. We try to start off DS with a really late bedtime the first ight - like 10:30/11 and then make it a bit earlier each night after. It usually takes us 4-5 days to get on schedule. It's much easier going back to the US.
I hope that helps. Please FM if you have any specific questions. I've flown with DS from London to NY four times now, the majority (I think 5 out of 8 individual flights) on my own. Good luck! And like Rachel said, deep breaths! It's only a short amount of time in the great scheme of things, and smile 'cause you'll never see those people on that plane ever again! 
Message edited 10/30/2010 8:06:48 AM.
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| Posted 10/30/10 8:04 AM |
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Diana1215
Living on a prayer!!!
Member since 10/05 29450 total posts
Name:
Diana
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
I agree - you need a passport, for sure!
At 7 months, it's honestly a piece of cake. Feed the baby during landing and takeoff. If you need your carseat in Greece then I would bring the snap and go since it's so much easier. You don't need the base and can just lock it down with the seatbelt.
Most airlines have the bassinet available for babies. Request that seat if it's not already taken and once the baby is asleep you can put them down.
Also, travel at night if possible that way the baby isn't that thrown off.
Good luck - it's really not that bad at all.
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| Posted 10/30/10 8:07 AM |
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usuk2004
I'm ONE!
Member since 5/05 5150 total posts
Name:
Farah
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
I found the list! In my carryon, I usually take:
change of clothes for Tristan
extra clothes for me
two muslins
about 10 diapers
wipes
small changing mat
a few toys he's never seen before
a few old favorites
pacifier
tylenol
light blanket (which I don't think I've ever actually used!)
plastic bags for any dirty clothes
Also meant to say I tried an antihistamine on T last time and it didn't seem to do anything at all. So not sure I'd risk it to be honest.
Oh, in addition to what I said in my last post about trying to get on schedule fairly quickly, it helps if you wake them at their usual wake up time. So if yours usually waks around 7 at home, do the same in Greece. When I would go to the US (so when you return) I would usually sleep with DS the first night and nurse him back to sleep whenever he woke (when I was still BFing)
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| Posted 10/30/10 8:15 AM |
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pickles16
Real Estate Professional
Member since 11/07 17227 total posts
Name:
Jen
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
You DEF need a passport for him!! That rep from Delta is a moron...sorry!!
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| Posted 10/30/10 8:21 AM |
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Cpt2007
A new love!
Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
agreed with everyone else, you MUST have a passport for your DS. That Delta rep should be fired.
Couple of links and phone #s:
http://travel.state.gov
this is the Passport Services office at the State Department. You can find all of the forms and info you need about getting passports and visas.
Process and forms for minors under the age of 16
Please note that if your spouse cannot be with you when you bring your DS in to apply for the passport, you must have a separate form of consent singed and notarized by your spouse. This is Form DS-3053. This is necessary b/c it proves that both parents consent to allowing a child to have a passport and a way to leave the country (in response to parents kidnapping children and leaving the country without the other parent knowing).
Finally, the phone # for Passport Services is 1-877-4USAPPT.
You are going to need to go into the City likely and get this done on a rush. There's not enough time to get this done via the normal Post Office way if you are leaving in a week.
Good luck!!!
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| Posted 10/30/10 9:14 AM |
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Ladybug3
Two is better than one!!!
Member since 12/07 4474 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
You 100 percent need a passport. My SIL flew to France with my nephew who was 3 months old and he needed a passport. Everyone requires one. There are places in Manhattan where you can go to get your passport in one day.
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| Posted 10/30/10 9:29 AM |
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Momma2Be
Mommy of an angel
Member since 10/09 5911 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
Thank you all so much!!! I had a nagging suspicion that he would need a passport! I figure I can take him to the Passport Center in the city and get it done quickly. Good thing I double checked with you guys! I would have been FURIOUS if I got to the airport and they wouldn't let DS fly! I had no idea planes had bassinets, that's awesome to know thank you!! I thought of another question last night, do they have changing tables in the bathroom? If not, where did you change DC if there weren't any spare seats available to lay him across? On the floor?
Message edited 10/30/2010 11:12:05 AM.
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| Posted 10/30/10 11:11 AM |
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yankinmanc
Happy Days!
Member since 8/05 18208 total posts
Name:
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Re: Flying to Europe alone with 7 month old....need advice!
There are changing tables on planes, they come down over the toilets.
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| Posted 10/30/10 11:55 AM |
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