I’m an avid traveler, so I’ve always wondered how people managed when they took their little ones on big trips. Here’s a snapshot of how a recent trip to Las Vegas went for us.
7 a.m. Check in at the airport. Thank heavens for no baggage fees on Southwest, because it looks like we’re going somewhere for a month. The ticket agent demands proof of Baby Y’s age since he’s flying as a lap child. We brought his birth certificate … but it’s in a bag that we’ve already checked. D’oh. The agent says she’ll do us a favor and take our word for it that he’s under 2. I try to be as gracious as possible … he’s big for 7 months, but he’s no 2-year-old!
7:15 a.m. Security. We use the family line for obvious reasons, but it still feels like a small military operation as we juggle the baby, stroller, car seat, laptops, carry-ons, shoes, coats, and various liquids. I don’t know how people do this alone.
Our gate is close by, and I set out a blanket and a few toys for Baby Y to burn some energy before the flight. An older couple stares as I entertain the kiddo and Papa Y shoves the stroller and car seat into their gate-check bags.
“Is it worth it?” the woman asks.
“Jury’s still out,” I say. She smiles, but I detect a healthy amount of pity.
8 a.m. Time to board. We line up with the other families, exchanging sympathetic looks. I try to keep Baby Y from squirming out of my arms and dive-bombing a pair of little girls in front of us. We head for the back of the plane as everyone who is already on board averts their gaze. I know exactly what they’re thinking: Please not beside me oh please oh please oh please not beside me. I can’t hold it against them … I would have been thinking the same thing not so long ago!
8:30 a.m. Take off. We sandwich Baby Y between us and cocoon him in a blanket. He fights us for a few minutes, then drops off to sleep. Success …
9:15 a.m. … but not for long. Commence bouncing on laps, chewing of safety information cards, playing with water bottles, mauling of faces, and gazing at iPhones. When all else fails, I nurse him. I’ve worn old maternity jeans to avoid flashing much midriff and enlist Papa Y to act as a human shield. A nursing cover just isn’t an option in such a tight space.
Eventually, we get another 40-minute nap, but it’s clear he’s not comfy enough to sleep any longer than that. Time for more bouncing, chewing, and peering.
9:30 a.m. (12:30 p.m. eastern) Landing. We meet up with Papa Y’s parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece and nephew, who have flown in from Denver. Papa Y and his brother will be golfing in a tournament while the rest of us hang out. After about an hour, we pick out our super swank and stylish rented minivan. Oh, how times have changed!
11:30 a.m. After lunch, we drive Baby Y out into the desert so that he can get a much-needed nap while Papa Y and his brother register for the tournament. He’s still asleep when we make it back into the city, so we cruise the Strip to give him more time. I’ve somehow never been to Vegas before and have to chuckle – who’d of thought my first time on the Strip would be with a napping baby?
2:30 p.m. Check in at the hotel. The room is big and has a tub – a pro with a baby. There’s no refrigerator, though, so I can only keep pumped bottles of milk good for 24 hours. Drat.
After unpacking a bit, we head out with the stroller to explore. Wheeling a 7-month-old through a smoky casino doesn’t exactly make me feel like mother of the year, and I wonder what in the world I’m going to do with him for the next few days, especially since it’s too cold to swim.
4:45 p.m. I nurse Baby Y and put him down in his travel crib, wondering if he’ll sleep through until morning. After a 10-minute round of overtired fussing, he’s out, and it’s soon clear that it’s for good.
Papa Y heads out for some night golf with his brother and nephew. I stew a little bit about sitting in a dark hotel room in Vegas while everyone else has fun. To add salt to the wound, there’s no WiFi – obviously, I’m supposed to be gambling instead of surfing the ‘net and supervising a sleeping baby. Alas, it will be my first of many stints in that dark room … and my first of many times wishing we’d paid for a suite.
11 p.m. He’s up. I nurse him back to sleep.
2:30 a.m. Up again. He’s not going back down without a fight. I claim the extra bed and cosleep with him – the nuclear option at home, but I don’t want to be that person with the screaming baby at a hotel.
4:45 a.m. Up for good. Ugh. Thanks, jet lag! I find Papa Y working away on his laptop in the bathroom in order to avoid disturbing us. “Welcome to my office,” he grins. Ah, travel with a baby.
We get dressed and head downstairs for a quick bite to eat. We have time to kill, so we explore the hotel a bit more before Papa Y heads out for golf. Baby Y is pretty content to take in all the new sights and sounds, so I keep him up for a bit longer than I normally would in hopes that he’ll go to bed a bit later tonight.
8:15 a.m. Back in the room. I draw the shades, change Baby Y’s diaper, nurse him, and put him down, hoping that the long morning wake time won’t backfire with a ton of crying or a super-short nap. He protests LOUDLY for a few minutes, and I’m afraid I’ve miscalculated – but then, suddenly, conks out.
9:45 a.m. LOUD rapping at the door. “Housekeeping!” I leap from the bed as the maid enters. I’d forgotten to put out the “Do Not Disturb” sign. I must look really pissed because she practically runs back out the door. I creep over to Baby Y’s crib. Somehow, he’s still sound asleep, and remains so for over another hour. This time I mean it: Thanks, jet lag!
11 a.m. I meet up Baby Y’s grandma, aunt, and cousins. After a quick bite, we head for one of the only kid-friendly destinations within walking distance: M&M World. The kids are super excited and Baby Y is in a great mood. His cousins entertain him with funny faces and silly dance moves as we make our way through a sea of sugar-inspired paraphernalia. I get Baby Y a romper and Papa Y a “Star Wars” candy dispenser. I also treat myself to some M&Ms that cost several times what they would at the grocery store. I’m a sucker.
The Strip, as it turns out, is not stroller-friendly – shocker, right? Aside from the expected hazards of dodging revelers and street performers every 30 feet, the only way to cross in most spots is via pedestrian bridges with elevators that may or may not be in working order. Finding elevators in the hotels themselves also borders on ridiculous.
2 p.m. Back to the room for Baby Y’s afternoon nap. He conks out for another two solid hours, which is especially awesome because it means he’ll probably have a normal bedtime around 7.
5 p.m. Papa Y is back from golf. We all play a little in the room and go on another walk to kill some time before putting the kiddo to bed.
6:30 p.m. I start Baby Y’s bedtime routine by reading him a few books. Afterward, I dim the lights, change him, slather on some lotion, and put him in a sleeper and a sleep sack before nursing him – the very same routine we follow at home. When he’s asleep without protest, I breathe a sigh of relief and creep into the bathroom to make myself halfway decent – Papa Y’s parents will keep an eye on him for the next few nights while we try out some of Las Vegas’ celebrity-chef restaurants. To quote Papa Y, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except for the weight gain!”
8 p.m. We enjoy a leisurely dinner. I try to savor everything, as it’s my only real baby-free time. The lobster bisque doesn’t disappoint!
10 p.m. Much as I want to linger and take photos of the lights, mommy guilt sets in and something tells me to head back to the room. Baby Y is half-awake in his grandpa’s arms. It’s a sweet sight, but I’m afraid it won’t bode well for the rest of the night. I nurse him again, and he protests the moment I try to put him down. Sigh. I’m too tired to fight him. We co-sleep.
2 a.m. Baby Y wakes me up by clawing my face and pulling my hair. I shush him and nurse him.
I can’t help but think this is not exactly the type of nightlife I would have envisioned enjoying in Vegas a few years ago. But as he grows drowsy, I remind myself that I was never the party-till-dawn type anyway. So I smooch his chubby little cheek and settle in for a few more much-needed hours of shut-eye … before another unpredictable day on the road with a baby.
Flying With Children part 16 of 18
1. Packing Checklist for Flying with Children by Mrs. Bee2. Packing Checklist for Flying With Children - Part Two by Mrs. Bee
3. 45 Tips for Flying With Kids by Mrs. Bee
4. Best Infant and Toddler Travel Toys by Mrs. Bee
5. Travel Gear for Toddlers by Travel
6. Traveling with Children by Guides
7. Traveling With Babies: Part One by Mrs. Cake
8. Best Travel Cribs by Guides
9. How to Get an [Expedited] Passport for Your Child by Mrs. Bee
10. Packing for three kids by Mrs. Bicycle
11. Travels with Bunny by Mrs. Bicycle
12. Happy Trails Airplane Packs by Mrs. Bicycle
13. Airline Travel with an 8 month old by Mrs. Hopscotch
14. Best Tips for Traveling With Children by Travel
15. On the Road with Baby in Tow by Mrs. Yoyo
16. Vegas (with a) Baby! by Mrs. Yoyo
17. How to Protect Yourself From Bed Bugs by Mrs. Bee
18. 12 Must Haves for Flying With Children by Mrs. Bee
guest
I actually flew by myself with Sasha to a conference in San Diego when she was 7 months old. The key for air travel was checking everything possible. I carried on only her diaper bag w/ my laptop in it and carried her in a sling. Starting around 9 months we just used our convertible carseat with the GoGoKidz wheel attachment to get through the airport. The only tricky situation is what to do with the kid while putting the carseat through the x-ray machine. I’ve learned from experience that TSA gets pissy when you let babies sit on the conveyer belts.
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Good for you! I find travelling with a kid to be easy, most of the time people are totally cool.
I carry a swingpack with all of our travel documents, including my son’s passports. I like it that I can wear it during the flight and we always have our cash and docs with us.
bananas / 9227 posts
Oh wow! I’m exhausted just reading that! Someone somewhere should give you a medal for all that.
We’re tentatively planning an international trip when our baby will be approx 7 months, I’m now rethinking that =)
honeydew / 7968 posts
awww. 1. don’t blame the ticket counter lady. i’m SO bad with guessing ages of children. i really don’t know what 1 year old vs. 2 year olds look like. i do think she was really nice to let you go without proof (not many people would do that for you nowadays)…. 2. a vegas hotel without a fridge? geez! what hotel doesn’t have a minibar anymore? weird! 3. no wifi? wow that really sux. is it that you didn’t want to pay for it or they didn’t offer it at all? what hotel doesn’t have wifi nowadays?
i’m with @crumbs – exhausted reading your post haha. glad you survived your trip! since it seems like this vegas trip was more for your hubby (golf), your next trip should be spa-related and he does most of the baby-sitting!
blogger / apricot / 366 posts
This is awesome! I can only imagine how intimidating a trip like this would be, especially for the first time. You both are rock stars!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@Crumbs: Don’t rethink
At the end of the day, I’m always glad that I didn’t stay home. OK, usually glad …
@tequiero21: She was nice, ultimately. I was just a bundle of stress. Airports suck with babies. Also, yeah. Our hotel kinda sucked. And as far as Papa Y doing most of the sitting … breastfeeding makes it hard, especially on the road. I often do get spa time, though, if his parents are around.
pomegranate / 3595 posts
Thanks so much for sharing this–you are a trooper! We are planning a june trip to the grandparents when LO will be six months so this is really helpful.
How important do you think it is to have bags for the carseat and stroller when you gate check them?
hostess / eggplant / 11068 posts
Oh man. Next week, we’re travelling to Florida and I’m SO nervous! LO is 6.5 months. I want to cry. The sleeping part is what’s stressing me out the most.
guest
I love to take my kids places but long travels are truly exhausting. I try to explain to my husband that a vacation to him is not quite the same for me. I am a SAHM. So when we go on vacation I still have to do my normal 24 hour day job only with no routine, regularity, and my baby gates for corralling the kids. He just laughs at me because he knows it’s true and there is nothing he can do to change it.
Our biggest trip was driving from LA to salt lake city to visit my husband family. We spent a fair share of our time sitting in the bathroom so the kids(one was just shy of 2 years and the twins were 1) could try to have a normal bed time. At one hotel that was particularly small room we knocked on neighbors doors to tell them we were trying to put our little ones down to bed and apologize about the crying. We sat out in the hall watching DVDs on my husbands lap top while getting some very weird looks from other hotel patrons (especially when the kids were crying loud). I had one little elderly couple stop and ask us about our kids. When she found put we had three one year olds trying to get some sleep she just laughed and said well god bless ya momma for even leaving the house. I sometimes think about that little lady and wonder what she would say if she new I added one more to the mix and have to do that drive again soon with four little ones
apricot / 498 posts
I have to say, a suite is a great option. It’s the only way that we all can get some sleep and/or work and watch TV.
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@MamaCate: I think the bags are worth what little protection they can give … I’ve seen some stuff get seriously dirty/mangled.
@Rubies: Just try to keep things as close to your normal routine as possible. Does your LO nap well in the car? That helps us tremendously when we’re on the go.
@nicole: I never thought about sitting in the hall
We actually thought about putting his travel crib in the bathroom since it was pretty big, but then we’re kinda screwed if we need the toilet!
@venice4504: Yeah … I think that going forward, that’s going to need to be at least something we seriously think about. He’s just not a newborn who can snooze through anything anymore.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
We have it down to a science now. I’ve logged 20,000 miles (all with our daughter) over the last 6 months. We pack very lightly for us and check one bag. We carry on a small duffel, my computer bag and the diaper bag. We always purchase a couple of new toys for every flight. Our trip home from Hawaii will put me over 25,000 miles and I’m very proud of our little traveler. Every flight we get tons of compliments on her behavior! (And now the trip home is going to suck because I said that
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: You’ll have to share your “packing light” tips. That’s something we definitely haven’t mastered yet.
coffee bean / 45 posts
First off, congratulations on making it through your first trip! I’m sure it will get easier with practice!
Secondly, I have to ask because I’m not yet a mom, but what about wearing your baby, and/or keeping him out/up with you until he falls asleep? I mean eventually they’ll get tired and konk out on their own. I guess I don’t understand sitting in the hall until they fall asleep. And/or sticking to such a schedule for naps, etc.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
@Mrs. Yoyo: We WAY overpacked for our first couple of trips! I started taking note of the things we used, things we didn’t use and things we wished we had. We are now down to the essentials. 1) Part of what makes it easy is that each season that I shop for LJ, I pick a color or theme so that most pants go with most shirts, socks and shoes. We’re in a purple phase right now… so if she throws up on a shirt, she doesn’t need a whole outfit… just a shirt. If you need a bib, bring one. You can always rinse it in the hotel bathroom if you need to. 2) If you didn’t bring it, you can buy it. Unless you are in Borneo, you can probably buy anything you need. We usually pick up a souvenir shirt for her anyway… Last time we were in Seattle, she threw up all over an outfit and we had to go buy a sweatshirt and t-shirt. We love them both and are so glad we bought them. 3) Best place to cut down is in your own items. If I go for 3 days, I pack for 3 days… No extra shoes or shirts just in case. (I’m so bad at doing that!) Unless I’m going somewhere with a drastic climate difference, I bring one pair of shoes (and maybe one workout pair only if I’m sure I’m going to work out). 4) Buy diapers when you arrive. No need to haul all your diapers all the way across the country. Sure LJ is wearing Huggies instead of Earth’s Best right now in Hawaii, but we don’t care! 5) Bring only small toys and books (and only a few). Right now, we’re playing with the small Thomas trains and we have 3 books with us (all favorites). We brought 1 puppet and one stuffed animal as well.
Those are the tips that I can think of off the top of my head, but for 2 weeks in Hawaii, we brought one 28 inch checked bag, 1 overhead bin duffle (which held an extra outfit for each of us and toys/books). Diaper bag and my red work bag. We have 2 laptops with us and winter coats so we can go up Mauna Kea. We’ve been here a week and haven’t needed to re-wear anything… but I do think we’ll wear everything by the time we come home!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@lola2011: Not our first trip! We’re actually on the go a lot. But it was only our second airplane trip, and the first involving a time change.
You can absolutely wear your baby around and let him go to sleep by himself … if he/she is still fairly small. But there comes a point, probably around 3 months or so for us, that a baby becomes a lot more aware of their surroundings, can’t sleep through just anything anymore, and will actively fight going to sleep. Yeah, they still may conk out eventually, but probably not for long and not as easily, and then will become a cranky mess. And that’s when most people need to institute a naptime/bedtime routine so that baby gets the sleep he/she needs.
We’re actually fairly flexible in that we don’t have set naptimes (I just put him down after a certain period of wakefulness or if he seems sleepy) and his bedtime moves a bit each night depending on how he napped. And we’re pretty proud that he can sleep at all in another environment — some babies aren’t that flexible.
Believe me, I would love it if I could still just carry him around and let him sleep when he needed to, but at almost 8 months, it’s a recipe for disaster! And plus, he’s HEAVY!
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@Mrs. Jacks: Thank you! I overpack clothing for him (he used to explode diapers ALL THE TIME … old habits die hard) and I bring way too many toiletries/medicine type things “just in case.” That’s what I really need to break myself of. Because you’re right, we can always buy it.
cherry / 207 posts
DD first trip was a 5 hours flight to Maui at 4 months old. She was OK on the plane but did not sleep much. Her second trip was a 2 hours flight to Seattle at 9 months old and that was a breeze. Then we brought our 18 month old on a 14 hours flight to Hong Kong @_@ and we didn’t learn our lesson, we took her on a 17 hours flight to Singapore soon after!!!!!
She was a trooper and jet lag wasn’t an issue. The first day in Hong Kong, she fell asleep at 1pm in her stroller. At 5pm we we were wondering if we should wake her but the old saying if never waking a sleeping baby dies hard so we let her sleep while we kept on shopping and even had dinner out too. Transferred her from stroller to cribs and she slept through it all. Woke up at 5am the next day!!
Our challenge was getting her to sleep on.the.plane. She was way too excited to sleep. For the first trip, we took the red eye, we were so sleepy and yet had to deal with her wanting to walk up and down the aisles. So the next trip, we took a day flight. At least we were awake enough to deal with her. Sleep still eluded us. I parked toys, markers, her lovies, let her watch music videos on the iPhone but she was still very hyper and above all, could.not.sleep!!! Drove us and everyone on the plane insane when she got overtired and cried and cried cos she simply could not fall asleep
So I swore not to get on another long haul flight with her and I don’t think I am heading anywhere anytime soon since I have newborn twins now, haha! Just try to imagine 3 under 3 on a long haul flight *shudder* Long haul flights are just so hard if you do not have good sleepers.
pomegranate / 3053 posts
Congrats on surviving your first trip! It’s definitely a challenge. I took my son when he was 10 months-old by myself on a 24-hour (flight time only) trip with two stops and, oh boy, it was an experience! I found that having a lightweight carrier works well when you can’t use a stroller. Thankfully, my husband joined us on our trip back so I had some help. Sleeping on the plane was the hardest for both of us b/c he wasn’t used to sleeping on me and he was pretty much at the weight limit of the bassinet so it wasn’t super comfortable. On the 24-hour flight he probably slept like 4 hours. Fun. Haha! But I totally lucked out with the jet lag. He had ZERO jet lag going and coming back with the 15-hour time difference. Super lucky, I tell you! I think the lack of rest on the flights helped, actually. Both ways our flight arrived close to dinner time so bed time was shortly after we arrived so it all worked out well.
GOLD / apricot / 341 posts
I actually think your baby sounds like a dream! Hello nice looong naps! We flew from the US to Europe and back when our little one was 6-8 months. And I went from Atlanta to Vancouver, Canada (with a connection!) with him by myself when he was 9 months old. The younger the better for air travel but I also find that people are so understanding and helpful when you are traveling alone with an infant. I am actually more nervous about traveling with him now that he is 14 months old and wanst to be up and around all the time…
blogger / pomelo / 5400 posts
@Mini Piccolini: Yeah, people were pretty understanding. The woman who sat beside us on the way had adopted from China, so she was very sympathetic!