Airtravel with Kids (Adendum)

I flew with a 1 and 3 yr old to Austria (12 hrs) and this is what I did. They let me have sippy cups with milk going through security and any dry snack. I took crackers and candy (really small like tic tacs). I also brought a cooler empty in my carry on. Once I got through security I went to McDonalds and bought kids milks for the plane. not all planes have milk for hte kids. you can buy juice if you want. I then filled baggies with ice and placed it all in the cooler I had. This was easy so i didn't have to keep call the flight attendant to bring me juice when the kids wanted it. You can look at the airline you buy the tickets from some of them now have on demand movies and personal screens. The best toy I took were little magnadoodles I bought at teh check out lane at target. They used these forever! The kids also like to use wipes and clean the window and backs of chairs. If you havea assigned seating and not to much carry on luggage I recommend NOT pre-boarding. Keep the kids off the plane as long as possible. ALSO!! as for the first row in the class you purchase. It has more leg room and the kids won't bother anyone kicking their seats.... Beg plead and borrow to get you guys in the front.... good luck and it won't be bad...

I know you can take breastmilk just buy one of those ice packs and it store it in a lunch bag. As for your daughter you can buy snacks and drinks after you pass security.

I flew with my toddler in October, and was able to bring all sorts of snacks through security without a problem; it was the juice that I had to buy after getting through security.

On another air travel note: Believe it or not, you will need to take off your kiddos' shoes as well as your own so try to outfit them in easy on/off shoes. Good Luck.

Hi L.. We have traveled with our now almost 2 1/2 year old several times, starting when he was 3 months old and nursing. We tried to put off paying for a ticket for our son for as long as we could, so he traveled on our laps. However, that all depends on your child. Mine wouldn't sleep well in a car seat in the car, much less on an airplane, so our choice was to hold him so he could sleep on my husband. I always travel with "tricks up my sleeve". I would grab some dollar items so I could amaze him with them for awhile since they were brand new. Or, use toys he hadn't seen or played with for a long time. But, if she is a real mover, you can get up and move if your flight has little turbulance. They tend to keep the seat belt sign on longer these days, but I have even gone to the back to put/keep him asleep. The stewardess' have been very good about it on the flights I have done this. Though pre-boarding works for some, you may want to not board until the end so the two kids are not cooped up on the plane any longer than they have to be. Also, some airlines will allow your spouse to board with all the "stuff" and you can hang behind with the kids until boarding is almost complete. That way you have room and are settled with all your bags, but your kids can move around longer.
As for the food, anything for babies is a definite okay. I have been nit picking about what I can and can't take ever since the rules tightened even more. But, after our last flight at Christmas I found out that anything you need to take for kids is okay (fruit cups, yogurt, etc.). The man we spoke to said ice packs to keep food cold were fine as well. All he said was you can't take water bottles and things on. As for juice, you may want to count on using the juice on the plane or picking something up in the airport before boarding. You can always try at security and the worst that will happen is that they take it.
Good luck!

Yes, snacks are no problem at all, it's the liquids that you can't get through security (unless unopened cans of ready-to-drink formula). I suggest calling the airline (I personally went to the airport and spoke to someone at the desk) to make sure I had all my ducks in a row. Rules change every time someone (even if it's not in the USA) does something stupid at the airport.

I just flew with my 10 month old this last weekend. They let me have ice packs and I carried food snacks, apples and yogurt. I also got some of the premixed formula and brought it on the return. But no water. I had the powder in the bottle ready to mix and she made me combine it before she'd let me go through security. They say formula is fine if it's mixed... silly silly rules! Oh at LAX the security guy took my diaper cream because it was over 3.6 ozs.