Packing Guide: Airplane Carryon for Babies Toddlers and Kids

Comments

1. Jen on December 10, 2007 at 9:08 p.m.
   

   I LOVE your useful articles! There is one item that caught my eye in particular though... having a child with food allergies, recommending peanut butter sandwiches isn't always a good idea. Allergies can be so severe and are becoming very common. Many people with allergies can react from the smell or particles in the air or on the seats, etc. Just thought it was worth mentioning. Thanks. :-)

2. Debbie on December 10, 2007 at 10:03 p.m.
   

   Good point Jen, this hadn't occurred to me, but you are right.

   With more airports adding children's play areas and airlines considering putting all the kids in one area on a plane, the chance of exposing another child to allergens is greater than it used to be & just like I wouldn't encourage my runny-nosed toddler to kiss a stranger's baby (as someone did to us on our outbound trip to Spain) I'd feel terrible if my child's snack made someone else's child sick (or worse).

   So... I've updated the post to remove the peanut butter reference (there are lots of other options) and I'll refrain from bringing them in the future.

3. Leslie on April 8, 2008 at 2:21 p.m.
   

   I am flying to Boston in early July with my 2.5 year old son. Do you know of any places that rent car seats in that city? Or perhaps, do car rental agencies rent out car seats as well?

4. Debbie on April 9, 2008 at 3 p.m.
   

   Have a great time in Boston. What a lovely city to explore with a 2 year old.

   Here are the names of two baby gear rental companies serving Boston:

   Baby’s Away: http://www.babysawaynewengland.com/

   Basic Baby Rentals http://www.basicbabyrentals.com/

   Car Rental companies also rent car seats (usually for about $10 per day), and you should call ahead to make sure that they will have seats available for your arrival.

   Whenever you rent a car seat, you need to inspect it thoroughly to make sure it is safe (and you are always taking a leap of faith because you don't know whether it has been in an accident or not). Check out our tips for renting a car seat at: http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

   Have a great trip! I hope this information is helpful.

   Debbie

5. Charity on April 24, 2008 at 2:03 p.m.
   

   In July 2007 I went through security in Seattle without a problem with a grocery bag filled with 10 or so jarred baby foods. Also no problem on the way back home from Hawaii - the same trip. I wonder if I happened to get the nice security guys, or maybe it was because it was just a domestic flight?

6. Debbie on April 24, 2008 at 2:05 p.m.
   

   The problem is that there is no set restriction on the amount of baby food that you are allowed, it is left to the TSA agent's discretion. The best you can do is to pack what you think you need, be prepared to justify it (politely) and be a little bit scrappy about bringing things like bananas and dry cereal that are not restricted.

7. soraya on May 22, 2008 at 6:26 p.m.
   

   Hi Debbie
   My husband and I will be traveling w/a toddler(22 months) and a new born (40 days app.) by the end of August, from Tallahassee to Beirut. We want to use CARES for the td, but we find it very expensive as we will be using it just for one trip. Do you know of any place/person that sales an used CARES at a more affordable price? Do you have any other suggestion that does not include the car seat?. Thanks in advance.

8. Debbie on May 27, 2008 at 3:53 p.m.
   

   The CARES is the only FAA approved harness that is not a car seat. I'm not aware of a discounter for CARES, but if there is a baby gear rental company in Tallahassee, you could contact them and see whether they will rent you one.

   It is unfortunate that the airlines haven't been willing to purchase CARES for use by their customers (they've had approval to do it for years). It puts parents like you in the position of having to either spend lots of money on a harness you'll only need once, or travel with your child not safely secured. Now that folks in DC are taking a hard look at airline safety, I'm planning to write a letter to my state senator about this issue, and I hope you will consider doing the same.

   Hope you have a great trip!

9. Sophia on May 28, 2008 at 9:28 p.m.
   

   As a mom of a child with life threatening peanut allergies, I'd warn other mommies that in the bulkhead area where we always try to sit, I find that nuts rolling on the floor always end up here. I make sure to inspect the floor before allowing my 2 yar old to play on the floor there...

10. Shannon on June 15, 2008 at 8:51 a.m.
    

    I just read the comment about the Cares Harness. They are expensive especially if you do not fly a lot. Just as an FYI there are several people on Ebay that rent them for as little as $15.00 a trip (if less than 30 days) I am renting 2 of them since I am traveling with my twins by myself in July.

11. Jessica on July 1, 2008 at 6:03 p.m.
    

    Hi Debbie!

    My sister just emailed me your website and I'm enternally thankful. I'm a new mom that has only taken one flight so far with my infant son, but my husband and I are flying out to San Francisco in August to visit my sister and her husband. My son is 8.5 months, and will be 10 months at the time of the trip. Any suggestions of where we can rent a car seat would be greatly appreaciated.

    Thanks again for all your tips and advice. This is great!

    Sincerely,
    Jessica

12. Debbie on July 1, 2008 at 11:17 p.m.
    

    I'm delighted to hear that you liked my website. In San Francisco you can rent a car seat with a rental car at the airport (all the major agencies have them) or from a baby rental company.

    http://www.littleluggage.com/
    and
    http://www.babysaway.com

    are two local baby gear rental companies.

    Unfortunately, I'm hearing such terrible reports from parents renting cars with child safety seats this summer that I am no longer recommending that parents rent car seats at all. If at all possible, you should bring your car seat with you or find out whether your sister can borrow one from a trusted friend. If not, it might actually be cheaper to buy an inexpensive seat than to rent one

    If you absolutely have to rent, please check out my safety tips at:
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

    I wish I had more positive advice to give. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

    Debbie Dubrow
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com

13. Ayshea on July 11, 2008 at 8:37 p.m.
    

    In November myself,eight yr old daughter and 21 month old son will be traveling back to the UK. Which i am so looking forward too.

    Although my son will be sharing a seat with me for the duration and he also has nut,egg and soy allergies. Which i am sure you can imagine is rather difficult. I have to prepare his food and be very careful as to what i feed him. Given this problem he will be unable to eat anything from the Airline. Therefore i need to take everything in my hand luggage which i am concerned this will cause a problem.

    My little boy i s a joy although he doesn't stop. He is very head strong and i am concerned this is going to annoy a lot of passengers.

    I am already beginning to have nightmares about this journey so if you have any advice i would greatly appreciate it.

    We are traveling with Etihad.

    Kind regards

    Ayshea

14. Debbie on July 13, 2008 at 3:11 p.m.
    

    First of all, have a great trip!

    I wrote a comprehensive article about a month ago about traveling with food allergies, and I hope you will check it out
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/f...

    With respect to his food, make sure that you bring a doctor's note saying that you need to bring all his food with you, and that should help if there are any questions at the security checkpoint. Try to avoid bringing liquid or gel based foods.

    Try to tire your son out before you get on the plane so that you have a better chance of getting him to sleep once you are on board. If you anticipate him annoying other passengers, try bringing some sort of a treat onboard the flight for them... scrip for a free drink, packets of cookies, or something else that is small and would be welcome on a long flight. Have your son give it to his neighbors on the plane. It's harder for people to be annoyed once they have seen him at his cutest.

    Hope this helps,
    Debbie

15. Amy on November 15, 2008 at 7:07 p.m.
    

    Our 26 hour journey to South Africa with a 19 month old doesn't seem quite so daunting now, thanks for your great ideas; the blue tape and pipe-cleaners might very well save our sanity!

16. Mark on December 15, 2008 at 4:12 a.m.
    

    Great advise here! I'm traveling from ORD to RSW this week and as a father, we don't always no what's best for our little ones while flying. Since it'll be three of of us on a 3 hour hmm hmm journey, I'm sure I'll use all tricks and tips here in your Q&A as well as forums. Wish me luck, and provide some more last minute tricks, thanks!

17. Bridget on January 3, 2009 at 9:41 a.m.
    

    Thanks for an awesome website. We are travelling from South Africa to New Zealand in a month and my biggest stress so far has been how my 2 yr old will behave on the plane. I was amazed at some of the simple ideas (such as playing with pipe cleaners!) that I found on your site. I will definitely be taking your advice.
    Thanks again,
    Bridget

18. Trish Borg on May 17, 2009 at 5:08 a.m.
    

    I have travled to Australia and back to the USA a majority of times with my now 3 year old son. It can be a bit of a hassle, but I feel like an old pro now. I highly recommend their own carseat, because it is something they are familar with, and a cheap small fold-up stroller that your carseat can also fit into and be secured, so you don't have to cart it through the airport, but in a pinch you can pull the straps through the back and wear the carseat like a backpack. I have found that the small hooded towels are wonderful, they act as a jacket with a hood, a blanket, and if your little one is shy, a cozy place for them to hide and peek out. An armstrap I think is a must in an airport, and comfy clothing for both parents and children, On a long flight portable DVD players, and pipe cleaners, crayons, small washable markers, paper baking cups to doodle on, along with paper bags for making puppets, sticker books or the clingy books, and small mini toys or games, choose accordingly by your child's interests. Healthy low sugar snacks are wonderful, and something that entertained my son for hours was stringing cheerios or frootloops onto twine, an edible activity. 4-5 yr.old children are occupied with small plastic child scissors and a magazine, or lace up cards. The best part is everything fits easily into his small backpack which he carries or hangs on the stroller handle. My biggest problem has been him kicking the seat in front of him, if the flight isn't full I usually try to be moved to an empty area of the plane or just try to keep him busy or play this lil piggy. I've found when I focus my attention on my son and his needs, instead of worrying about everyone else, things go so much smoother and everyone is happier:) I also have a packet of ballons for soft ball play at the airports, gives him a chance to run and play without having to worry about him hurting anyone. I also advise letting them walk through the airport if you aren't pressed for time, since they will be sitting for so long.

19. chrissy on December 27, 2009 at 6:34 p.m.
    

    Thank god for this site. I am so concerned about time zone changes! I am flying back to the UK from Canada with a 9month old who is teething. Now my fears are calmed. I was just wondering though, as my 9month old is suprisingly hyper and all he wants to do is walk around, he WILL NOT sit still...are we allowed to walk up and down the aisles in flight? Also, is there a changing area for babies in the washrooms on board????

20. Debbie on December 27, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.
    

    chrissy,

    Good luck with your flight! Yes, you are allowed to walk around if the fasten seatbelt light is turned off. Most planes (and I think all large planes) have a diaper changing tray in the bathroom.

21. anasuya on March 10, 2010 at 2:05 a.m.
    

    hi Debbie,
    i am going to travel with my one year old baby,she is very naughty and will not sit quite for even 5 mins.how can i manage her on a 24hours journey from India to Newyork.

22. Karen on April 28, 2010 at 8:47 a.m.
    

    Hi,

    I travel to Malaysia, Hong Kong & Macau when my little monkey was 10 months old from New York. He was really good on the plane. He whine alittle off the plane cause it hot,time change & not enough sleep cause we went out all week. Overall he was good on the plane. Just rememeber dont drink tap water in asia. Cause the baby is use to you own country water use bottol water. it safer.

23. connie on June 7, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
    

    Can you take a umbrella stroller on the plane

24. Debbie on June 8, 2010 at 12:35 p.m.
    

    @connie

    Some airlines will allow you to take an umbrella stroller on the plane if the flight is not full. Others will gate check it and bring it back to the gate when you land. If the flight is full, however, your stroller might be checked through to your destination.

    Most airlines do not charge to check a stroller as baggage, but you would want to put the stroller in a sturdy bag to protect it from damage.

    It's best to confirm the airline policy in advance and to ask again about bringing the stroller on board when you check in.

25. amiria morehu on July 27, 2010 at 6:44 p.m.
    

    Hi im a mother to a 16 month old toodler we will b travellinq to newzealand can the air liner that you are with supply a carseat on the plane for your baby to seat in durinq the flight...

26. Debbie on July 27, 2010 at 6:50 p.m.
    

    Amiria,

    In theory the airline could supply carseats or CARES harnesses to help keep infants and children safer onboard, but I have never heard of an airline that does.

27. Ashton Deibert on September 7, 2010 at 3 p.m.
    

    I am traveling with my 3 month old and 22 month old to Paris, Italy and Santorini (my husband and his family will all be there as well). What is the most convenient and comfortable(without over packing) way to do sightseeing with my wee ones? I have a moby wrap and am looking into a child carrier.

28. Debbie on September 7, 2010 at 10:13 p.m.
    

    In Paris, it would be easy to use either a stroller or a sling (though you'll need to carry the stroller on the subway stairs). The moby works well, but I found that at about three months, I wanted something that was a bit easier to put on - perhaps you can find a place to try on the Ergo or Freehand and see how that works for you?

29. Abi on September 8, 2010 at 5:10 p.m.
    

    Hi Debbie, my husband and i will be flying with our 1yr old girl from sanfrancisco to arizona in october. We plan for her to be on my laps, how does the seat belt hold us both. Or am i the only one that will be belted?

30. Debbie on September 8, 2010 at 9:44 p.m.
    

    When you fly with a lap infant within the US, only the adult is belted. Regulations for international carriers vary based on where their home base is, but some do give you a seatbelt for baby that straps on to your own seatbelt.

    If there's space available on the flight, you might consider bringing along your carseat and trying to get an empty seat next to you for baby.

31. Rebecca on September 26, 2010 at 1:31 p.m.
    

    Hi Debbie

    Thanks for all these great tips. I didn't realize tap water from a plane may not be good for cleaning bottles. If I don't have quick wipes what else can I use???

32. Debbie on September 26, 2010 at 1:48 p.m.
    

    Rebecca,

    You can use bottled water instead.

33. Jami on December 26, 2010 at 9:25 p.m.
    

    My husband and I are taking a plane to Seattle from nashville and are wondering if we should take the pre-made 8ounce bottles of formula with us instead of hauling big water bottles and big boxes of powder formula. Thank you for your time.

34. Debbie Dubrow on December 26, 2010 at 10:43 p.m.
    

    My personal opinion is that it would be easier to carry powdered formula and buy (or fill) a couple of water bottles after you clear security. You can also get bottled water on board the plane - but be sure not to use airplane tap water to prepare your child's bottle as it is not suitable for drinking.

35. Linda Clark on February 8, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
    

    In March, I will be travelling from NYC to Ireland with my 5 month old.It will be his first flight. just trying to get organised with everything right now. I was thinking about making up a couple of bottles and bringing them in a cooler bag on board, but i have read that security officials may throw out the coolant in the bag..just want the most stress free way to feed while we wait to board and on the plane. i see alot of people suggesting using bottled water after clearing security, but is 5 months too young not to have cooled,boiled water? all advice and tips welcome..thank you

36. kim shirley on February 10, 2011 at 3:05 p.m.
    

    Hi, im traveling with my 8 month old to spain from england and cannot find info anywhere on how and where i pack his tub of formula milk to last the week. There is loads of stuff on milk for the plane in hand luggage. can i just pack it in the suitcase?

37. Paula salomos on July 11, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
    

    Hi
    I'm flying with my 3 yr old daughter i'm concerned about security checks, how can i go thru security with her? does she go ahead of me or after me, How can i orevent her from having amelt down from not having her suther while going thru security? has anyone flew Air Transat with kids?
    Thanks
    

38. Jennaca Bainwohl on July 16, 2011 at 7:06 a.m.
    

    This is a good webiste for all the stuff I need for traveling!!
    LOL! thnx

39. Zai Floyd on August 13, 2011 at 9:14 p.m.
    

    Question - My 16-month old son cannot drink regular milk only soy or goat milk. He still drinks 4 oz with every meal. How do we pack this on the carry on since airport restaurants do not sell soy milk? We will be on a 10+ hour flight to Hawaii.

40. Debbie on August 15, 2011 at 10:10 p.m.
    

    Zai,

    Baby milk and baby food are generally exempted from the liquid bans. To be doubly safe, you could get a Dr. note saying that your son must have soy milk, and then buy the milk packaged in small containers for your flight.

    The second (and easier) option is to buy powdered soy milk and mix it on board. Here's a link: http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&x=0&r...

41. Anne on November 9, 2011 at 11:48 a.m.
    

    Hi Debbie,
    I enjoyed reading your helpful tips. This is the first time i am travelling with my son on a plane alone. I am always accompanied by my husband which made things much easier. I am looking for a Cares Harness but I live in Bermuda which makes it hard for me. Bermuda is very small with very limited shopping. Do you know of a company that can ship internationally? Thanks in advance.

42. Tasha on November 17, 2011 at 6:59 p.m.
    

    This is exactly what I was looking for. I'm going to be traveling with my 15 month old daughter on a plane, and I have so much anxiety about what to bring, what not to bring, and one I can't bring. This really helps. Thanks!

43. Rosy on December 5, 2011 at 12:20 p.m.
    

    Hi Debbie, I am travelling with my 13 month old daughter. It will be around 22 hours trip including transit. My hand luggage is already 8 Kgs and i have to add baby's food, water and bottles to it. Could you suggest me how many diapers, wipes packet and formula container should i take?

44. kaitlin on December 8, 2011 at 3:02 p.m.
    

    Thanks for the article! I'm traveling to the UK with my husband and our 15 month old daughter in less than a week. (Of course this is the week her molars have decided to come through :S) Since it's Christmas I don't think we'll have the luxury of an empty area on the plane so this could be very interesting.
    Quick question. None of us has ever done a flight this long before, any tips on beating jetlag not only for kids but adults too? We've flown from BC to Onatrio numerous times but the UK is an 8 hours time change for us.

45. Kaitlin on December 8, 2011 at 3:05 p.m.
    

    @ Paula salamos
    We've flown in the states a bunch of times. Your daughter can go through the detectors with you. Most likely you'll carry her through or she can hold your hand. She'll have to remove her shoes and any coats or sweaters she's wearing just like you do. She should still be allowed her pacifier. If you're bringing a sippy cup for her don't fill it with water until after you've gone through security (we made that mistake...)

46. Debbie on December 8, 2011 at 10:35 p.m.
    

    @kaitlin

    Good luck on your trip! Here's a link to my advice on Jetlag
    http://www.deliciousbaby.com/travel/f...

47. Debbie on December 8, 2011 at 10:38 p.m.
    

    @Rosy I usually plan on one diaper for every 2 hours of travel - that's too many, but sometimes there's an accident, or a flight delay & diapers are one thing you'd rather have too many of than too few of!

    Bring along 2x as much formula as you think you need in order to allow for flight delays. In a pinch, you can also serve baby milk.

48. Amy on December 21, 2011 at 4 p.m.
    

    I'll soon be flying internationally (~28 hr trip) with my 16-month old. I couldn't find TSA guidelines specifically for whole milk on their site <http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtrave...>. Do you know if that falls under the same rules as breastmilk and ready-made (liquid) formula? She still mostly drinks milk gives all other foods mere tastes (ie doesn't really eat much). I haven't given her any other form of milk since she turned 1 and I'm afraid she won't accept powdered/packaged formula. I don't want to mess around too much with what she's used to on this long fight. Also, are the Plum Organics, Happy Tots, and other pouch pureed fruits and blends allowed as stated under, "You are allowed to bring gel or liquid-filled teethers, canned, jarred, or processed baby food in your carry-on baggage and aboard your plane."?
    Your tips are all very thoughtful and insightful. Thank you!

49. Jill on January 9, 2012 at 12:37 p.m.
    

    I will be flying with my 16 month old on a 10+ hour flight to Hawaii soon and am wondering what suggestions people have for food to bring on the plane that is allowed by TSA. I've looked at their website and all I can find are what is allowed for infants. Can I bring meals like sandwiches cut up and other fruit cut up for her on board, or do I need to buy all that stuff after security? Also, what about those Plum Organic pouches are they allowed? Thank you so much! Your website has been the most useful of any that I have seen! Thank you!

50. Debbie on January 11, 2012 at 9:15 p.m.
    

    @Amy and @Jill

    Currently you can bring babyfood onboard, but TSA may open and test it when you clear security. The same goes for milk.

    Some snacks that work well are crackers, cut or dried fruit, whole bananas and yogurt melters, and sandwiches

    Good luck!

51. Josephine Sullivan on January 24, 2012 at 10:06 a.m.
    

    I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF I NEED A PASSPORT TO FLY TO LONDON WITH MY 3MONTH OLD BABY.

52. Debbie on January 30, 2012 at 9:37 p.m.
    

    @Josephine In general, if an adult would be required to have a passport, a baby or child would too. You can check with immigration for more information and details

53. sam avet on February 9, 2012 at 9:20 p.m.
    

    hi debbie, i was wonder if you knew how much baby formula & purified water i can take with me on the flight from la to hawaii (6hr flight). Also my son will be 4 months flying does he need anything other than a birth certificate to fly? thank you

54. Amanda on March 4, 2012 at 6:54 p.m.
    

    I just wanted to say thanks for this website. I have gotten so many ideas from you. We will be taking our 2 1/2 year old on his first airplane ride in June. We will be visiting my in-laws in Australia. Thanks for putting this site up and taking away some of my anxiety about traveling with my toddler.
    

55. Debbie on March 5, 2012 at 1:27 p.m.
    

    @Sam

    In terms of documentation, a birth certificate is sufficient for domestic flights (and it is unlikely that you would be asked for it)

    You can bring any amount of powdered baby formula, or liquid formula in "reasonable quantities" the twist is that TSA may ask you to open the formula at the airport so that they can check it - that makes it difficult to keep it sterile.

    @Amanda Thank you! I'm so glad that DeliciousBaby was a help!

56. Rebecca on March 8, 2012 at 11:24 a.m.
    

    Hi. I love your posts. I'm travelling with my 2 year old and 5 month old in a few weeks alone. We are going to fly into fort Myers from Detroit. We are staying at a rental house that doesn't have any baby gear. Any ideas if their are rental places near there for high chairs and pack n plays or cribs and other essentials? Im so nervous. Also I was planning on holdings infant once we got onboard the plane and getting my 2 year old her own seat. Is it a good idea to just bring her car seat onboard since I will need it in Florida. Thank you for your help. I'm so nervous to travel alone.

57. Tayler on April 18, 2012 at 2:14 a.m.
    

    Hi! My husband and I are traveling with our squirmy three month old baby boy in a couple of weeks from Hawaii to Georgia to visit our family! We didn't pay for a third seat therefore we won't be able to bring his carseat. Any tips on how to keep him calm? Just take turns holding him? Also, I breastfeed, it's hard for me to pump a lot of milk out, so I just plan on using my nursing wrap, would that bother people on the plane?

58. Crystal on June 11, 2012 at 3:59 p.m.
    

    Hi, this saturday my son and i are flying out of Nashville TN, he is almost 21 months old and he is a hyper lil boy. I was wondering what i could do to keep him entertained when he always wants to run around and play.

59. Natasha on June 17, 2012 at 1:44 a.m.
    

    Hi there, on Wednesday we fly to Perth from auckland(8 hours) with our 6 month old baby girl and didn't book an extra seat to bring the carseat on board, can we put the carseat with the stroller with the checked luggage??

60. Betty on June 21, 2012 at 8:56 p.m.
    

    Hi, first of all, thank you for all your advice. I'm going to hawaii in July with a 4yr, 6yr, and 9 yr. old. I'm worried about the 4yr. old. What do you recomend me taking aboard to intertain her. She doesn't like to color!! Thanks

61. Debbie on June 25, 2012 at 1:47 p.m.
    

    Natasha
    Yes, you can check the carseat. Be sure to pack it in protective packaging or a car seat bag.

    Betty,

    Here are some great busy bag ideas that might work http://www.deliciousbaby.com/journal/...

62. Anu on August 16, 2012 at 8:45 p.m.
    

    Debbie,
    am going travel a long trip with my 15 months old. I would like to know what are the food item will be offered for him on the flight? also can I take some cereal and fruit by myself is that allowed? at the same time can I bring his stoller in to the flight? looking forward ur suggestion
    Anu

63. Debbie on August 17, 2012 at 10:51 a.m.
    

    Anu,

    Every airline's food offerings are different, so it is best to check with the airline for that information. For young kids, though, you are best off bringing along food that they will enjoy. You can bring pureed babyfood (look for containers under 100ml) and any other food that they might need.

    Some airlines require that you check the stroller while others will allow you to stow a small stroller onboard.

    Good luck!
    Debbie

64. Elisa on August 21, 2012 at 1:59 a.m.
    

    We are going to vacation with our 10 month old boy on a plane. We have so much anxiety and stress. Now I have some idea at least about the things to bring, thanks for your tips.

65. Marcy on September 11, 2012 at 8:49 a.m.
    

    Hi Debbie,

    Thanks for your site! It has been very useful for many trips for us, including our adventure to Italy with our oldest when he was 15 mo. He is now 3 years I was thinking of purchasing the cares system for our trip to Seattle this week. One concern I have is that i have read it covers the tray table of the person behind you so that they cannot lower it.. Do you know if this is true and how has this worked out for you with your travels?

    Thanks!

    Marcy

66. Debbie on September 11, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.
    

    Marcy,

    If you open the tray table of the person behind you while you are installing CARES (and then shut it once you have CARES installed) it does not interfere with the operation of the tray table in any way.

    Good luck on your trip!

67. Christina Stevens on December 9, 2012 at 4:24 p.m.
    

    I want to thank you for your wonderful advise. I am traveling with my 2 1/2 year old for the first time. I am flying out of Denver to St. Louis, Mo. It is only a 2 hour flight, but my one fear is security. I am afraid of letting him walk through and then me following. He loves to run off or he will be scared. I was just wondering can I carry him through?

68. Jennifer on December 13, 2012 at 12:56 a.m.
    

    Hi Christina, we fly frequently with our little ones and my experience has been that typically the security person has the child walk with you through the detector. It is fine for you to hold his hand. We have been flying with our kids since my first son (now 5y) was a few months old; it seems like he was about 4 when they started asking him to walk through individually. I think whether they let you carry the child is at their discretion, so you can always try and they'll let you know if they need him to walk through. Going through security is nerve-wracking but goes by quickly. Good luck and happy travels!

69. Shaea on December 20, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.
    

    Hi All!

    I just thought I would update with some of the things we noticed on our latest trip. Our baby was only drinking formula, and we were trying to figure out what to do. While shopping at our local WalMart, I found a soft plastic water bottle with a filter, by Brita. (I've seen the sam stlye at Target and KMart as well. Near the workout stuff or other water bottles.)

    We took this with us, empty through the checkpoints of course, and filled it again on the other side. One added advantage to this is that warm water can be put into it so it will be baby ready as you pour it into baby's bottle. LIFESAVER!

70. Sara on March 18, 2013 at 5:16 a.m.
    

    We have used the Cares hareness on several domestic flights. It is great. . When we first got ours they were new to the market and we found we had to educate even the flight attendants that they were FAA approved. Very easy to install, but remember to open the tray in the back so the person can still use it. Well worth the investment so you do not have to lug around a large car seat

71. Cori on March 31, 2013 at 7:08 p.m.
    

    Your articles are so great and so very helpful! I am traveling to Kauai in May with a 10 month old and have a few questions. I am a breast feeding mom, do you have any advice on how to handle a 10 month old during take off and landing? Should I bottle feed? Or try to breast feed during these times? (My son doesn't take a pacifier) I'd also like to take some Plum Organics pouches for my son, I was thinking 2 or 3, and also some Puff snacks. Do you know what the TSA says about that?

    Thanks in advance for your advice!!

72. Charlie Hendricks on April 11, 2013 at 12:19 p.m.
    

    I agree that you should BYOC (bring your own carseat). I made the mistake of getting the rental car company's version once...never again.

73. Life of a Carry Bag on January 8, 2014 at 3:46 a.m.
    

    Thanks for your information about packaging! They will guide us when we take our air flight journey.

74. BRIDGET on March 29, 2014 at 1:49 p.m.
    

    Have you ever tried to take a fruit pouch (like a juice box, but with applesauce ect) through security? Was it allowed like baby food? What about plastic fruit cups, since they don't say 'baby.'

75. Srimanta Ghosh on April 29, 2014 at 1:57 a.m.
    

    Great article with very informative travel tips for kids, Everyone should follow these tips who are planning to travel with their Kids.
    http://www.tourplan2india.com/guide-t...

76. Lauren on June 9, 2014 at 12:17 p.m.
    

    HI,
    We are traveling late July to Amsterdam and I like some others have some serious stress going on about it. We are traveling with our daughter who is 4 1/2 y/o and our son who is 2 1/2 y/o, while i dont fear the plane near as much with our daughter i worry with our son who cannot and will not sit still. Our daughter you can give her her kindle and she will play for hours but our son could care less for technology he is all about his toy tractors and toy cars with very loud noises any quiet ideas for a busy little boy? Secondly I really worry about them sleeping on the plane as we do have a ten hour flight over the ocean and there is like an 8 hour time difference i think. Any tips to helping them sleep on the plane and adjusting to the time change? and any other tips would be greatly appreciated as this is my first time flying with kids at all

77. Debbie Oreizy on June 15, 2014 at 8:08 p.m.
    

    Lauren,

    Good luck with your flight! Your best hope for your son is to try to wear him out before he gets on the plane. You can also bring along some small toy cars, and try using blue painters tape to make tracks on the tray table.

    Good luck!
    Debbie

78. Kelly on July 3, 2014 at 6:38 p.m.
    

    To all wondering about car seats they can be checked at the gate along with a carriage free of charge for most airplane company's I'm taking jet blue from Boston to Huston by myself with my 9 month old she's a lap child though so they told me I can check my carriage and seat and carriage at the fare free of charge

79. Melissa on July 8, 2014 at 5:49 a.m.
    

    Hi Debbie,

    I will be flying with 21 month old twins in October. Any additional advice for someone who will need 2 of everything? This will be our first flight and it will be a long flight. Do babies usually fall asleep during the flight? We tried to schedule our flights during their naptime/sleeptime to hopefully avoid any breakdowns!
    

80. Jen De Guzman-Hannaberry on October 10, 2014 at 2:07 a.m.
    

    Hi!
    I'm travelling to the Philippines from NYC with my 1yr 10 month old son. Duration of the trip is 19 hrs. How much regular whole milk can I bring? So confused regarding bringing milk for a toddler with all these rules abt liquid. He drinks 3 8 oz bottle a day. Please shed some light abt my dilemma. Thank you

81. Chele and Maye on October 21, 2015 at 3:50 a.m.
    

    Great tips!
    Definitely check with the airline for specifics and restrictions.
    Most importantly pack a change of clothes and a light blanket in case they get cold in the aircon.

82. babybottles on January 8, 2016 at 12:11 a.m.
    

    thanks for your great ideas;