First Trip to California in April with a 11Mth Old

hi there how are you? I took my 5 month old from pa to MN for the first time. I took an umbrella stroller and used a bck pack for carry one that way i could push the stroller and still have all my carry on stuff. then only one suitcase. pack light

Hi .. bring anything the baby will suck on .. pacifiers, bottles .. sippy cups .. teething biscuits.. anything to help equalize pressure in the inner ear. There are earplugs available, just ask at your local pharmacy about specialty earplugs for flying. I recommend an umbrella stroller for the flight .. they fold up easy and you can gate check it with no problem. Don't forget to check the car-seat unless you have one waiting for you there. Bring plenty of toys. Try to have a couple of bags with toys .. and switch them out to keep baby occupied with something new. If your daughter has a favorite blanket, bring that along and keep it in reserve to pull out if she gets fussy. Also bring small bottles of medicines such as Tylenol or Motrin. The best thing is for you to remain calm. The noise and constant motion is upsetting for little ones since they are unfamiliar with it all. It's a long flight, I've done it many times since my dd's were babies. They are now almost 11 and 8. The first time from East Coast to CA was when the oldest was 3 months old. Don't forget to pack a book or something for you in case she zonks out and you actually have a moment to yourself!! Good Luck, V

We did a flight to CA in the summer of 2005 with our 8 mo. old son. We purchased him his own seat, but he slept a good deal of the flights on Daddy. We opted for a non stop, so we wouldn't have to deal with changing planes with all his gear, like the carseat.

We had plenty for him to suck on, drink and some yo baby yogurt in a small cooler bag.

Also, we purchased a cheap umbrella stroller in CA, and then left it in CA when we went home. We purchased a exersaucer at a children's resale shop, and returned it as we left town 10 days later. We borrowed someones pack-n-play and high chair. We were staying in hotels and then also at my parents home, so we needed safe places for him to be as both places were not child proofed and he was crawling everywhere.

Have a wonderful trip.

Hey from WV! When my son was 9 months we flew to Hawaii. He did awesome! But please learn from our mistakes...
If you can get a flight with several layovers, TAKE IT! we spent 10hrs with our son on the plane.. not fun.
Also, hopefully you use powdered formula. we took the powder and just bought water once we got through security. If she's eating any sort of snacks, make sure they're in sealed packages.
Strollers aren't a problem. You can take them right up to the plane, they take it from you, and it's waiting for you when you get off!!! How great is that? Also, most airlines let families with babies board early!!! talk about service!

Hopefully this helped!!!

Hi A.!

I am from California and now reside in New Jersey. So I have travelled a few times. My advice is if you haven't purchased your tickets yet try to get a red eye flight. That way your daughter can sleep most of the way. Try to keep her hungry around take off time. This way you can pop a bottle in to help her ears and help her, hopefully, fall asleep. Note: don't premake the bottle because of the liquid rule to get through security.

Stollers are easy. Bring whichever one you are comfortable with. You can bring it all the way up to the plane and then they just take it for you before you get on. When you land they have it there for you when you get off.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

M. L.

I did the same type of trip with my daughter when she was 10 months old. After that, we travelled constantly and later with her brother. Most important, careful planning!! Lots of small toys, thin, paper books, empty sippy (for water to drink when taking off and landing, for ear pain), always more diapers than you think (change baby in advance of boarding plane in a nice, large, calm family bathroom-hubby can go in too). This worked for us: take a decent size blanket or one she already uses, if she falls asleep on plane, cover her car seat to block out lights and movements. But best of all, strollers, get a lightweight backpack stroller (InStep Backpack Stroller, discontinued now but some online stores still have and Ebay). This was unbelievably indispensable. Fits in overhead or can gate check. Super light and folded up fast AND fits between plane aisles. Has basket for kids' stuff. And just put baby on back when you need both hands for getting luggage or running through concourses. I was also able to place my carseat on the handles while still being able to push it thru the airport with my kid riding inside! Bring Baby Bjorn also! One thing that we still do, and my kids are now 8 and 5, is bring a backpack that is only for their stuff. Don't mix your diaper bag and/or purse with this backpack. And whenever we needed baby to sit with either mom or dad, backpack went b/w us and we could both grab stuff out... now they carry their own backpacks and love it. So do we! You won't believe how much stuff you'll have to use your hands for (tickets, ID, waters, your own bags)Lots of luck!!! With daughter's backpack and with backpack stroller, you could each put one of these on your backs and both have your hands free to hold each others.. ha!