First time flying ever, and flying with a baby?

For thanksgiving i'm taking my first plane ride to fort sill oklahoma to visit my husband who is in schooling up there. I dont know anything about flying. (I'm still fairly new to military life. ) Anyway he was supposed to be able to meet me at the airport but all his thanksgiving leave got denied and he wont be able to leave the base.

So anyway i'm still coming up there because we bought the tickets, although i wont get as much time with him as we had hoped, but i am unsure about how i'm going to get all of the stuff off the plane and into a cab. I dont know if i can bring a stroller on the plane, or anything like that. When my husband took the plane up to his mct i went to the terminal gate with him to say goodbye and took my baby and the security actually confiscated her bottle because there was more than 3 oz of liquid in it and held up the line for 20 minutes trying to make sure it wasnt explosive or something lol. Anyway if i cant even take a bottle to the gate without causing trouble, how can i get a bottle on the plane??

My family will be helping me to the airport but i have a two hour layover in dallas and then another flight to oklahoma and i'm so worried how i'm supposed to get all off my luggage and lilly and her luggage by myself off the plane and on and off another and then into a cab and to the hotel. I've been to the area last month so i am familiar with the place a little bit but not much. Can anyone help?

Minimize as much as possible. The milk you CAN take on, just make sure to tell the security people at the security area. They will allow it through but you've GOTTA tell them. If the water for the bottle needs to be warmed- the airplane attendants are usually more than willing to help.

Check your bag at the ticket counter. (make sure you have cash because the majority of all airline companies are charging for bags)

bring the baby in either a wrap or in the stroller- you can gate check the stroller at the gate for free and you'll get it when you get off the plane. You can do a car seat if you want too.

At the lay over, you don't need to get your luggage, it'll be forwarded on by itself. Just make sure you have $ and enough milk/formula for the baby.

Make sure you have enough diapers & wipes, and you can bring baby food if your baby is on solids. Just bring the little jars unopened, and declare those to the security checkpoint too.

you can take the car seat and stroller and check them in when you're about to go in the plane...i don't recommend you take them both with you because you're by yourself...maybe buy a baby wrap or sling? you can check the stroller and car seat with your bags so you don't have to worry about them....take everything and anything you think you may need...toys, extra change of clothes, extra formula...remember you can buy water anywhere but not formula! so carry extra formula because you never know what may happen....we flew with Alex about 2 months ago and they didn't even check my diaper bag and his 8oz bottles were full! all 3 of them! so idk if we just got lucky...my best advice would be to just take with you on the plane the things that are absolutely necessary....it will make it easier than having to drag extra stuff!

TIA for all the answers-i may not be able to respond right away, it sounds like my little girl is waking up

I think you can check in your stroller and then they will have it ready for you as you get off the plane so you can use it to get your baggage and what not. As for the bottle just bring them empty and then when you get past security I'm pretty sure you can fill it up with water you buy at the little stores and fill it with water they give on the plane. as your luggage, they will automatically transfer it to your next flight so no need to worry about that! just make sure you have a backpack or small carry on with anything, like extra clothes and stuff you may need during your layover.. I've flown quite a bit so hopefully this will help you!

invest in one of these



you can get it at walmart,target etc. it holds 3 8oz servings of formula and buy 2 bottles of water once your pass security at the airport. You can check your stroller at the boarding gate as well.

I don't know about having to lug around a car seat, whenever I took cabs with my LO a car seat wasn't needed.

yeah the stroller can be gate checked right as you board the plane.. that wasa lifesave when i flew because i could put my purse and carry-on bag in the stroller as well as baby for layovers. i checked my car seat with my luggage and so i didnt have to worry about it until i was at my destination. And yes you can take babys milk. .. so rediculous they would let me take pumped milk but confiscated my lip gloss! As far as getting your luggage at your final stop to the cab.. you could either pile it on your stroller and use a sling or wrap for baby or maybe get someone at the airport to help you?

Quoting Fongifrogs_315:“ yeah the stroller can be gate checked right as you board the plane.. that wasa lifesave when i flew because ... [snip!] ... you could either pile it on your stroller and use a sling or wrap for baby or maybe get someone at the airport to help you?”

luggage cart  

You can do it! I just flew by myself with my son! It was a little aggravating, but we made it. I don't know what airline you're flying, but I flew with Southwest and you're allowed to check a stroller and a carseat for free when flying with a baby. You can take the stroller to the gate & gate check it so it's easier to carry your baby & the carry ons/ diaper bag to the gate. As far as the bottles go, you have to go ahead and mix the formula powder with water before getting through security. You tell them that you have formula, but they don't make you take it out. I made 2five oz bottles and got through and had some extra formula in the container which you can always get water on the plane to mix with if you need to. As far as getting your luggage and stroller/baby to a cab, they have carts you can rent to put everything on & they also have guys that work there to help customers get there luggage to their vehicles. Just be sure to take a little cash for a tip! I'm a military wife too, but I'm still new to the military life as well! But if you have any more questions about flying let me know!

Thank you all SO MUCH!!!! This helps me so much.
One more question, i cant afford to buy two seats so i'm carrying her on my lap. Is this hard to do?? She is very active but loves to play in my lap for a long time but is hard to put down for a nap with a lot of people around and gets cranky when tired

Quoting Jen ♥ Stan ♥:“ Thank you all SO MUCH!!!! This helps me so much. One more question, i cant afford to buy two seats so ... [snip!] ... to play in my lap for a long time but is hard to put down for a nap with a lot of people around and gets cranky when tired”

I never had a problem with it, and I flew when my daughter was 14m and very active.

She'll be fine, and the chances of there being an open seat are decent because not many people are flying because of the cost. If she takes a pacifier, bring that too, or have her sucking something when the plane takes off, btw. It can make her ears pop.

Quoting ☮LoveAndSerenity:“ I never had a problem with it, and I flew when my daughter was 14m and very active. She'll be fine, ... [snip!] ... If she takes a pacifier, bring that too, or have her sucking something when the plane takes off, btw. It can make her ears pop.”

unfortunately she wont take a paci but i'll try to time her feedings to when it takes off or bring some juice as a special treat to encourage her to drink

Quoting Jen ♥ Stan ♥:“ Thank you all SO MUCH!!!! This helps me so much. One more question, i cant afford to buy two seats so ... [snip!] ... to play in my lap for a long time but is hard to put down for a nap with a lot of people around and gets cranky when tired”

My son did really well flying in my lap. I made sure to get a window seat, (Southwest has open seating though!) Noah looked out the window & watched us take off & then snuggled up in my arms & went to sleep! I was soo happy! I also gave him tylenol before each flight, just in case his ears bothered him as well as trying to get him to take a bottle while we were taking off. He slept through the landing, but that's another good time to offer a bottle or paci! Bring a few small toys that she'd be interested in, anything that she likes to distract her. You'll do fine though!

Quoting Noah Ethan's Mama~:“ My son did really well flying in my lap. I made sure to get a window seat, (Southwest has open seating ... [snip!] ... or paci! Bring a few small toys that she'd be interested in, anything that she likes to distract her. You'll do fine though!”

New toys too! New toys will keep her attention better than toys she's used to playing with daily, BUT bring something so she has a sense of familiarity

Quoting Jen ♥ Stan ♥:“ unfortunately she wont take a paci but i'll try to time her feedings to when it takes off or bring some juice as a special treat to encourage her to drink”

definitely, even if it's just an ounce or so of formula to drink then. some kids don't get bugged by it, some do. better to be safe than sorry