“That One Flight”

January 17, 2017February 9, 2017 / babyflyerblog

Happy New Year! We hope your 2017 is off to a good start. We’ve been staying local so far, and getting ready for Baby Flyer’s first birthday. Well, not getting ready so much as preparing ourselves, and marveling at how quickly the year has gone.

After a year of writing about family travel, we’ve had many flights and learned plenty of lessons. For the most part, we’ve been pleasantly surprised at how enjoyable and rewarding it has been However, as with anything about being new parents, there’s the exception to the rule. We knew it had to happen at some point- A flight where Baby Flyer just wasn’t feeling her happy traveler self.

Of course it happened during our last transcontinental flight of 2016, our 26th of the year, when we were on a nonstop flight from Massachusetts to California with a long flight time (just over 6 hours) for that flight path. Even more telling, before take off we had an additional hour ground delay due to the number of passengers on the plane not aligning with the number the gate agents had. This made it 7 hours of being in that seat on that plane, but we survived. Fortunately, I had an extra set of hands with me to help hold, settle, and entertain a fussy Baby Flyer.

We had an early morning flight out of Hartford, CT. It was cold (0 degrees) and still dark when we drove to the airport. Our flight was on a Thursday, and earlier that week Baby Flyer had started to get sick. We took her to the doctor before flying, convinced she had an ear infection, but luckily she didn’t. It was a virus that was taking its time to run its course. I’ve been known to be a worrier, so wanted to get the ‘A-OK’ from a doctor before flying.

Even after being cleared to fly, her symptoms seemed to be worse the night before out flight. She was clingy and you could tell she wasn’t feeling well. I had CET calling the AA Executive Platinum desk (a phone line for high mileage flyers- to learn more about elite benefits you can read our post here) seeing what our options would be if we changed our flights. There weren’t many, and the options that were available would have been $1,000 to change. Of course, Baby Flyer would have been worth it, but we decided to see how the night went and decide in the morning. Fortunately, even though it was a short night, Baby Flyer slept well and woke up much better than she was the night before.

During this flight, the early morning flight worked to our advantage and she was exhausted and slept on me for the first 4.5 hours (including the 1 hour ground delay). She woke up and cried a couple of times but I was able to quickly nurse or rock her back to sleep. However, this couldn’t last the full flight at this age, and once she was awake she went through the toys and books I packed pretty quickly. We moved on to the plastic cups and exploring the seat belt, looking out the window, basically anything we could think of to keep her entertained. Then we would periodically briefly go back to her toys or books. She didn’t want to nurse anymore and was happiest when being held while one of us stood in the front of the plane.

Fortunately, we had very friendly flight attendants and a smooth flight, so the seat belt sign was off for most of it. We would try to sit with Baby Flyer and she made it clear that she wanted to be held standing again. This behavior is atypical for Baby Flyer but we understood since she wasn’t feeling great. We were glad when we landed. But we all survived and a couple of days and another doctor’s visit later, Baby Flyer was feeling better. We learned she had a common virus and besides Tylenol and comforting her, there was little we could do but wait it out.

Flying’s never easy when your little one isn’t feeling themselves, whether it’s being sick, or just not having the best day. Feeding often, encouraging naps, standing to rock, or walking down the aisle (as long as you’re not impeding the flight attendants), and trying distraction techniques can all help. In any case, remember that most flights are (relatively) short, and you’ll get there! It happens to all of us at one time or another.

~CAR

Going Elite: Mileage Programs & Family Travel

January 4, 2017January 4, 2017 / babyflyerblog / 1 Comment

Baby Flyer ‘inspects’ CET’s AA Executive Platinum Tags. Bag by Briggs & Riley, Baby Flyer’s outfit by Tea

As I write about at great length, and CAR might say painful detail, in my mileage running blog Cruising Altitude, airlines go out of their way to compete for frequent travelers’ loyalty, sometimes to their passengers’ great benefit. These frequent travelers attain ‘status’ with their chosen airline(s) depending on how many miles, or flights they fly in a year, and in many cases also based on how much they spend.

Nearly every airline, hotel chain, and car rental agency in the world has a loyalty program of some kind. They are all free to join, and the benefits range from minimal, to extremely lucrative.

Clearly, this is a large topic that we can’t possibly cover in one post. However, I wanted to highlight a few ways loyalty programs can benefit the whole family, as well as some tips based on your travel style.

With award programs you can get more (or better) for your money.

Free Travel

This is the most obvious benefit of frequent traveler programs. If you collect enough miles or points, you can redeem them for free flights, hotel nights, car rentals, etc. However, for most families, unless you have a high mileage earner in the household, it may be hard to collect enough miles to fly the family for free. If you’re in this category, there’s a few other options to consider:

-Book with a mix of miles and cash. If you’re traveling with family, consider booking one or more of the tickets with miles, and the others with cash. This cuts down on the amount of both miles and cash the trip requires, and you can call the airline after booking to link the itineraries so they show up together in the airline’s system. Also think about booking the trip as two one way flights, using miles for one direction. I’ve used this trick many times to redeem miles for the most expensive portion of the trip.

-Use your miles for other freebees. Many miles and points can be redeemed for things other than tickets, often at amounts much less than an airline ticket would cost. Check out portals like American Airlines’ Hotel Booking Site, where you can find free hotel nights for as little as 10-12k miles, or even less if you have high status with the airline. If you have some credit card points stacking up, American Express’s Membership Rewards, or Chase’s Ultimate Rewards. Credit card points in general are particularly flexible. I’ve used them in the past for everything from free flights, to Crate & Barrel gift cards.

Baby Flyer ‘borrows’ CET’s Bose headphones to check out the in flight entertainment in the bulkhead row (for a few seconds, anyway.)

Upgrades & Better Seats

This is another big perk of having at least one person in your family paying attention to their elite status. It’s even more important to us now that we have Baby Flyer that we have the most comfortable seats possible. Most airline programs allow elites to secure upgrades, or upgraded seats in economy, for a companion or other people on the same reservation as well.

With airlines now routinely charging from $20 up to $100 one way per person to pick a comfortable economy seat, elite status that makes these free is a big benefit. As a family we save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars yearly by not having to pay these fees.

Free Checked Baggage & Shorter Security Lines

Checking baggage was something we almost never did, pre-Baby Flyer. We were known to take 10 day trips, all packed in a carry-on. Sadly, with the extra gear and clothes needed to travel as a family, we generally have to check a bag or two. Thankfully, our family elite status keeps the extra fees away. Here again, we probably save hundreds a year with this benefit.

Elite status also gives you access to ‘priority’ TSA screening lanes, which can save you time, as well as early boarding. For more information on TSA issues, see our Resources page.

Other Fringe Benefits

Depending on the airline, there are many other benefits to being an elite member of their loyalty program. Special phone lines that skip the long wait times, fees waived for phone ticketing, more availability for award tickets, and partnerships with hotel chains, to name a few.

To learn more about particular programs, see the links to some of the major airlines:

American AAdvantage

Delta Medallion

United MileagePlus

Southwest Rapid Rewards

Alaska Mileage Plan

Loyalty programs can be complicated, especially with the many recent changes that the airlines and hotels have put into place. If you want to know more about how to get the most out of your miles, or just more about the programs, we’d love to help. Send us a message, or check out Altitude Consulting for more info.

~CET

Baby Flyer’s 2016 In Review

January 1, 2017 / babyflyerblog

The last flight of 2016 has been taken here at Baby Flyer Blog. All in all, Baby Flyer has flown 25 flights, totaling 34,500 flight miles. We’ve had so many great trips to visit family, attend events, see some of our favorite places, and also to just enjoy being together. She’s been a pro flyer overall, even ‘helping’ her Mommy complete American Airlines’ platinum challenge by flying 12,500 miles in just three months, qualifying them for AA’s 50k status level through January 2018. Our combined family flight miles this year came in at just over 135,000! (We’ll be posting more on elite status and family flying soon, and you can see CET’s travel photos from the year at Cruising Altitude).

We feel so lucky to be able to travel as a family, and have so many wonderful experiences. With this in mind, it seems like a good time to look back chronologically on our year of traveling by putting together some of our favorite travel pictures, and a couple from home life as well.

Starting close to home with a walk along the beach- Long Beach, CA

New England in the Spring with a walk on the Robert Frost Trail- Amherst, MA

All smiles in Burlington, VT at her second cousin’s graduation.

Even more smiles at another cousin’s graduation- Dallas, TX

Sleepy arrivals at LAX after a long day of travel- Los Angeles, CA

Summertime at the Cape- Wellfleet, MA

And more Summer fun back east- Amherst, MA

Afternoon hiking- Whidbey Island, WA

Summer views- Mount Ranier, Seattle, WA

Baby Flyer enjoying our spacious Airbnb in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Cabana baby!! Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Her first 777 ‘Flagship 1st’ flight to finish the Platinum Challenge- Enroute to Dallas, TX

Getting some altitude- Boulder, CO

Walks in the fall leaves- Amherst, MA

Friends, fun & architecture- Chicago, IL

Brief stop at home for a hike in Griffith Park- Los Angeles, CA

Checking out her first snow- Amherst, MA

Ending the year up North- Whidbey Island, WA

Thanks everyone for reading Baby Flyer Blog this year! We’re looking forward to posting plenty more family travel resources, reports, and inspiration in 2017.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and adventurous new year!

~CAR, CET, & Baby Flyer

One Week of Green Chef

December 19, 2016December 19, 2016 / babyflyerblog

A week’s worth of dinner, Green Chef style.

We tried Green Chef for the first time a few weeks ago. I’ve heard about various online meal services but this was the first time trying one. My sister and brother in law, recent empty-nesters, have been using this service all fall and rave about it. They love the quality of the food and feel like they are eating in a restaurant multiple nights a week. I will say it makes meal planning a breeze.

We were flying back from Chicago late in the day on Monday and I wasn’t sure if I was going to have time to go to the grocery store during the week so I thought that it would be a perfect time to try it. Live and learn, but I didn’t know the delivery days for our area and that you needed to order at least a week ahead, so when I placed my order on Wednesday, the earliest I could get it was Thursday of the following week.

The Basics:

Green Chef is certified organic by CCOF and provides fresh and sustainably sourced food. The food has no synthetic pesticides, genetically modified organisms, artificial ingredients, and growth hormones or antibiotics. There’s no commitment and you can skip a delivery at any point. The food is sent in insulated, refrigerated boxes.

They have two person and family-style meal plans and you can choose a menu that fits your diet including omnivore, carnivore, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and paleo options. What’s great is that you can further refine omnivore after placing your order to select which meats you want. I’m a pescatarian and do not like most shellfish, so I only selected fish for the meat for our order.

The selection of meals for each week are posted the week before. It gives you an idea of what could be sent but since there are more options than the three, you don’t know which specific dishes you’ll get. You can’t individually select which meals you want.

The three meals we received were (photographs courtesy of Green Chef)-

salmon-pic-1-copy

Chinese BBQ Salmon with black rice, bok choy, bell pepper, and carrots.

mac-n-cheese-pic-1-copy

Cauliflower Mac & Cheese with kale, breadcrumbs, and sun-dried tomato tapenade.

stuffed-pepper-pic1-copy

Picadillo-Stuffed Peppers with cotija and rice, olives, capers, beans, and almonds.

What You Get:

One box with all the ingredients for the three meals, minus some basic items like olive oil, salt, and pepper. Everything else that you need is included. The packaging is biodegradable, and the ice packs are reusable. Everything stayed very cold and I wasn’t worried that anything had spoiled.

green-chef-3

The recipe card tells you the ingredients, items you’ll need from your own kitchen, a description of the dish, nutritional information, length of time for cooking, and how to make the meal.

mac-n-cheese-ingredients-copy

Each recipe has a color and the ingredients have a sticker that corresponds to the recipe color. This was really helpful and kept everything organized.

Experience:

The recipes take anywhere from 30-40 minutes to make. I found some of the dishes took longer than the recipe states and used some new to me multi-step cooking methods so I had to reference the instructions multiple times while cooking. CET loved the two-part method for cooking the salmon. First, I fried it on the stove top skin side up then I flipped it over, topped it with some sauce, and put it in the oven to finish cooking. The recipes seemed to call for more olive oil than I typically cook with so I used less when I could.

salmon-pic-2

The servings were very generous! Each recipe says it serves two, but we never finished it all in one night. We typically had enough left over for at least one lunch the following day. For instance, this serving was about a quarter of what we made.

mac-n-cheese-pic-2

It’s fun being surprised by what you’re sent. It got us out of our cooking rut and encouraged us to try new dishes that I probably wouldn’t have selected otherwise. For instance, CET doesn’t like peppers so I tend to stay away from stuffed pepper recipes. In this case, I’m glad I didn’t because it was one of my favorite dishes they sent. The rice and filling was plenty as a standalone meal and the roasted pepper was really just an addition. CET enjoyed it as well and Baby Flyer liked the rice and loved the green olives.

Tips I Learned Along the Way:

At least in our area, they only deliver on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Check to see if you are on the same delivery schedule.
You need to place your order a week before the day you want your meal delivered. Likewise, when you want to cancel it, they need a week’s notice.
You can easily select your own dietary preferences by signing up for the omnivore plan and opting-out of the meat options you don’t want. To do this, you log intoGreenChef.com, go to your Account Info (https://greenchef.com/#/my-account/account-info) and click “Edit” next to “My Plan”.
If you want to select which meat you want, choose omnivore and after you have completed your order you have the chance to refine your selection further. I knew this was an option but it took me a while to figure out how to do it. I thought I needed to do it before placing my order.
To cancel your order for an extended period of time, you can do it by logging into your account then clicking this link- https://greenchef.com/#/cancel before the weekly cutoff time (7 days prior to your delivery at noon EST). You can reactivate your account anytime by logging into your account and selecting the reactivation button.

Overall, we really enjoyed our experience and were impressed with the quality of the food. The produce was fresh, directions clear, and dishes tasty. To us, it seemed like a treat. We probably won’t be doing it weekly but think it would be fun to do once a month, or a perfect idea for after a trip when you’re still settling back in. Or, perhaps, for those post-holiday burn out weeks when coming up with a meal plan is just about the last thing you want to be doing.

If you want to try Green Chef for yourself, you can get 4 free meals by using BabyFlyerBlog’s link. Let us know in the comments if you’ve tried this, or other meal services. We’d love to hear your experience!

~CAR

Family Destinations: New England

December 19, 2016December 22, 2016 / babyflyerblog / 1 Comment

puffers-pond

There’s no denying it, Fall in New England is perfect- the air is crisp, the leaves are brilliant, and the flavors are delicious. It’s truly beautiful, and probably the season I miss the most since moving to Southern California. ‘Fall weather’ in Southern California may surprise you a day or two during any time of the year, but it doesn’t go much farther than an overcast day, or maybe a few rain showers. There aren’t any big piles of crunchy leaves to play in, it’s hard to find fresh apple cider in the grocery store, and you can’t count on being able to wear a sweater and boots.

It was time to get some real authentic fall in our lives, so this year Baby Flyer and I were lucky enough to spend almost three weeks in Massachusetts’ Pioneer Valley during the peak of the season, and boy did we soak it up!

Our favorite baby hiking gear! Baby Flyer hangs out in the Ergo 360 carrier wearing her moccasins by Freshly Picked in “birch.”

We hit the highlights- apple picking at Cold Spring Orchard, made apple crisp and crazy crust apple pie, drank pumpkin beer (just me on this one, not Baby Flyer) and apple cider, visited a pumpkin patch, went on multiple hikes through the woods, drove to the top of Skinner Mountain to view the foliage, enjoyed the cooler temperatures; perfect running weather, went on a farm tour, stepped on as many crunchy leaves as we could, and wore sweaters and boots as often as possible. We planned to go on a hayride, but we ran out of time. Next year!

Next up- what to do with all those apples from our apple picking? If you love apple pie but don’t have the time to make the crust, this Crazy Crust Apple Pie is a perfect option. You essentially put the crust on top of the apples. Very easy and equally as delicious. We got this recipe from the apple farm and I thought it was too good not to share.

crazy-crust-pie

Crazy Crust Apple Pie

Ingredients

Approximately 3lbs or 5-6 medium sized apples; peeled, cored, and thinly sliced (*See note below)

Cinnamon/sugar mixture

¾ cup butter (melted)

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 egg (beaten)

Nuts (if desired)

Method:

Fill pie plate 2/3 of the way full with apples then sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar. Add nuts, if desired.

Melt butter then add sugar, flour, and beaten egg.

Pour over apples

Bake at 350 for 45 minutes, until browned.

* Using a variety of apples and even adding one pear make for a nice flavor. Empire, Macoun, and Cortland are all good if they are available where you are. Otherwise, a combination of Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, Gala, and Fuji is an option. I don’t recommend using Granny Smith apples as they are too tart. Adding one pear can be a nice addition.

On top of the fun activities the weather was amazing, with only two rainy days during our whole visit. I probably commented on the beauty daily, and it was perfect to be able to get outside with BabyFlyer as much as possible.

pumpkin-beer-at-judies

The Pioneer Valley is also a great place to eat any time of year. For a special night out, we get a table at Chez Albert, one of our current favorites. I’m probably late to the party, but I had my first pumpkin beer with a brown sugar rim at Judie’s in Amherst. Holy yum (and decadent). I’ve tried to replicate it at home out here but it hasn’t been quite as good. I’m still looking for the perfect pumpkin beer. The one I had in New England-Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale- was local and isn’t carried ‘out west.’

Baby Flyer seemed to really enjoy our walks in the woods. She was so peaceful, both in the Ergo 360 and the BOB Revolution Stroller. She barely made a peep, and spent the time looking around. You could tell she was taking it all in. We tried to get outside in the woods daily to enjoy the trees.

bob-on-hike

Living in the city, there’s little things you don’t realize you get unaccustomed to. It’s odd but since living in Southern California I’m not as used to hearing (or seeing) squirrels. Whenever we would be out on a walk, I would get startled when I’d hear ‘something,’ which was always a squirrel, rustling in the leaves. This might have something to do with the prevalence of lizards and rattlesnakes in SoCal. We certainly have squirrels here too, but I don’t come across them in the same frequency as I do in the woods in New England.

There are a few iconic fall things that it just seems like you ‘need’ to do with family. When we booked our tickets for this trip, I imagined visiting a pumpkin patch and taking some fall themed pictures of Baby Flyer among the pumpkins. We did in fact, visit a pumpkin patch, but it was later in the day and Baby Flyer wasn’t in one of her moods where she smiles all the time but was still very interested and curious about the pumpkins. So, while they may not be perfectly posed, they are real life and this is what we captured-

pumpkins-1

pumpkins-3

Baby Flyer’s Fall outfit- Jacket from Patagonia, leggings from Tea

Overall, we feel so lucky were able to enjoy so much of the fall season this year on this trip. It is by far the longest I’ve been back during that time of year since moving to Southern California.

last-walk

No better way to end than a shot of the woods on our last walk in the woods before flying back home!

Thanks for reading!

~CR

This post is linked-up! We’re joining Budget Traveler’s Sandbox for Travel Photo Thursday this week. Be sure to head over there and check out some great end of the year travel posts!

2016 Gift Guide for the Frequent Flyer

December 6, 2016 / babyflyerblog

Believe it or not, the holidays are quickly approaching. I’ve already seen a few holiday lights and Christmas trees in our neighborhood, which means it’s time to get moving on the holiday planning- flights, and otherwise. With the off and on warm temps we typically have in SoCal, it always feels like the holidays sneak up.

We’ve already posted our ‘Gift Guide for Baby Traveler,’ so here’s the follow up holiday gift guide for the frequent traveler in your life, with or without a baby along for the ride. If you’re in the market for luggage, in addition to travel accessories, you can check out CET’s full rundown on her luggage picks over at Cruising Altitude.

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones

bose-headphones

These headphones don’t need much of an explanation or recommendation. They’ve been the gold standard in the noise-canceling industry for years, through several incarnations. They block a lot of the ambient cabin noise, making it easy to listen to music or hear your television. One downside is they can be bulky when trying to sleep, so luckily, they now also offer an earbud style.

Sockwell Compression Socks

compression-socks

Whether you ascribe to the idea that compression helps prevent DVT or not, these socks are great for flying! They aren’t as tight as some athletic compression socks which makes them comfortable to wear all day, and they provide support, as well as keep your feet comfortably warm. CET loves them for long flights and will typically pack a couple pairs if she is traveling for multiple days.

Barefoot Running Shoe

packable-running-shoe

What’s great about these shoes is that they are undeniably pack-able. They’re light, and flatten so they don’t take up much space in your suitcase. While they aren’t making the exact pair CET has anymore, these are the ‘new model.’

Cocoon Grid It Cord Organizer

cocoon-organizer

CET has used this for years, and finds it’s great for keeping all her cords organized. Her SmartCharger fits in it, as well as phone chargers, extra usb cords, power strips, converters, and anything else. If you don’t have enough electronics in your carry-on to need all the space, you can also pack just about anything you can think of in the elastic straps, and they’ll keep it organized and accessible for you. Fits easily in the seatback pocket.

SmartCharger

smart-charger

This little brick comes in handy all the time while traveling when you don’t have easy access to an outlet. It will charge any device with a USB cord, and has about enough in it to charge up your phone. We’ve used it to charge our phones and CET’s wireless headphones, among other things. It also works as a back up charger in the stroller at home when you forget to plug in your phone before a long walk.

Power Strip/Surge Protector

power-strip

Once again, we use this on just about every trip. It’s great for when we want to charge both our phones at the same time and there is only one free outlet, both in the airport, and hotels. It charges plenty of things at once, since it has 3 regular plugs, and two USBs in addition.

Packing Cubes

packing-cubes

We love them! At first I was skeptical when CET started using them, but after seeing how organized her suitcase stayed and how easy it was for her to unpack at our destination, I asked for a set for myself. We’re planning on giving a few sets of these as presents this year.

Ginger candy

gin-gins

Last and maybe least in price, but not popularity, Ginger candy is a sweet treat when flying. They can help sooth an upset stomach and even warm you up if you get a tad chilly on the plane. We usually have a bag of it in our carry-on.

Happy Shopping & Safe Travels!

~CR

Monday Layovers

December 5, 2016December 21, 2016 / babyflyerblog

Baby Flyer hit the road again this week & enjoyed a stop along the way at the Centurion Lounge‘s kids’ room in DFW. It’s a great space for the little ones, and parents can enjoy free food, drinks, and spa services. Her traveling outfit for the day is by Tea who’s styles we LOVE! Happy travels!

2016 Gift Guide for the Baby Traveler

November 30, 2016 / babyflyerblog / 1 Comment

It’s almost the holidays, so we thought it would be a good time to post our current favorites for the baby (and family) on the go. Just a few tried and tested gifts for easier family travel. Have a look!

baby-peekaboo-book

1. Indestructibles Book: Baby Peekaboo

These books are indestructible, hence the name. Your baby can fold them, chew them, roll them up, crinkle them, and they can even get wet. Perfect for stuffing in the carry-on bag.

baby-paper

2. Baby paper

Oh baby paper, how much do we love thee! It’s the perfect crinkly sound that almost every baby loves, and it doesn’t take up as much space as bigger stuffed or rattle toys would.

apple-teether

3. Oli and Carol Apple Teether

This apple teether is a favorite around here. So much so that it was a staple for every trip until we left it behind on our last flight! I need to learn not to put her toys in the seat pocket, because they become very easy to forget when you’re in a rush to get off the plane. Because of the shape this toy can also be attached to a toy leash, so it doesn’t get dropped.

ringley-teether

4. Ringley Natural Teething Toy

We’ve had this teether for a while now and Baby Flyer loves it. She likes to chew on the maple ring, but she also likes to feel the fabric and has been known to play peekaboo with it. The fabric comes of easily, and can be thrown in the washing machine.

sophie-giraffe-teether Sophie la Giraffe

Sophie is ubiquitous, Sophie is expensive, but boy does Baby Flyer loves her! The natural rubber makes for a perfect chewing surface. But to be honest, some days she seems to prefers her apple teether and Ringley toy even better.

green-sprouts-sippy-cup Green Sprouts Glass Cup

This cup is wonderful because it has a glass insert which holds the liquid if you’re trying to avoid plastics, but it’s protected so you don’t have to worry about it breaking. It comes apart, and is dishwasher safe. It’s been great on the go, no leaks or breaking.

cosco-car-seat

Cosco Scenera NEXT Convertible Car Seat

We’ve written about this car seat before, but it’s great for travelling. It’s light weight, uses a regular seat belt for installation, has a 5 point adjustable harness, and depending on the age of the child, can be rear or forward facing. The cup holder comes off, so it fits in snug airplane seats.

car-seat-backpack

Car Seat Backpack

We’ve also written about this before but we bring it on every trip. It makes it relatively easy to transport the car seat and provides protection for the car seat, and keeps it clean. Travel tip- you can put extra items in the bag with the car seat. We like to put our package of diapers, or bulky coats.

babyzen-stroller

Babyzen YOYO Stroller

While we do not have his stroller (yet), we’ve heard very positive reviews, and seen it around the airports. It is light weight, has tight steering, and most importantly can be folded down so it fits within the carry-on size restrictions so you can bring it onto the plane instead of gate checking. Personally, I think it’s a genius idea.

summer-infant-stroller

Summer Infant 3Dlite Stroller

We have this stroller for travel and it fulfills all of our needs. It steers surprisingly well (most of the time we use our BOB Revolution stroller which has amazing steering but we haven’t wanted to risk it getting damaged while travelling so we leave it at home), is lightweight, has a storage area under the seat, and the seat back can be reclined. It comes with a cup holder, but it seemed flimsy. However, we’ve found that either of our cup holders/stroller organizers work with it (this or this). One complaint we have is that the canopy doesn’t provide much sun protection since Baby Flyer isn’t tall enough yet.

gate-check-bag Stroller Gate Check Bag

We use a bag like this for both the stroller and the Pack N Play. The extra handle and strap help when transporting the Pack N Play, since it can get heavy.

summer-infant-jumper

Summer Infant Pop N’ Jump Portable Activity Center

Baby Flyer went through a stage where she loved to jump. We used this on a couple of trips over the summer. It folds down into a relatively small carrier, and it was nice to have a safe place to let her play on her own for a few minutes. When we were in Cabo, we set it up on the balcony so Baby Flyer could take in the views!

pack-n-play

Graco Pack N Play

When Baby Flyer was younger, this was a traveling staple. Now it is hit or miss if she will sleep well in it, so we’ve been leaving it home more lately. If you were mainly going to use your Pack N Play for travelling, I would recommend buying one of the lightest one that still meets all of your needs. Hotels also provide cribs or pack n plays on request, so if you’re going for a short trip, it may be easier to borrow. When we do this, we do bring our own crib sheet that’s familiar to her.

Thanks for reading & Happy Travels!

-CR

Getting to the Gate – Gate Passes

November 27, 2016November 27, 2016 / babyflyerblog

The first time CR set out with Baby Flyer alone, it felt overwhelming all over again for both of us. I set out to see what I could do about helping her for as long as possible through the airport. Since you can’t go to the gate without clearing security, and you can’t clear security without being a ticket passenger, this proves to be a bit of a problem.

Luckily, there are a couple ways to work around it. The most standard way is to plan ahead and ask for a “gate pass.” A gate pass is basically a ticket that allows you to pass security, but not to actually take a flight. I recommend calling a few days before the flight to explain the situation, and then arriving early for the flight and asking again at check in. It will be at check in that they’ll actually be able to issue the pass. Ask politely, let them know it’s your partner/spouse’s first time flying alone with baby. If there are any other special circumstances that might weigh in your favor, go ahead and let them know these as well.

Remember that you will have to go through the full security process even though you’re not flying, so be prepared for that.

The other way is to purchase a ticket you don’t intend to use. Generally speaking, a ticket allows you to access the airport on ‘the day of travel.’ So, if you have a ticket for 5pm, you can arrive first thing in the morning, clear security, and hang out in the airport all day. (Not that I want to admit that I’ve done that….but I’ve done that)

This means if your family is flying, at say, 8am, you can book a ticket that departs at noon, and cancel it after you send them off safely, but well before ‘your’ flight is set to depart.

Airport Selfies! Taking CR & Baby Flyer to the gate for their first solo flight.

The key to doing this is to find a reasonable refundable flight. If you have airline miles, you can also book an award ticket for this purpose, as long as the fare rules say it is refundable as well. Be sure to call the airline to cancel well in advance of the time your ‘flight’ leaves, and if you can, book with a credit card that has good customer service, in the event you have to deny the charge. American Express, especially their charge cards, are good for this.

Most importantly, however, is to not exploit this process. I’ve only done it one time this year, because you don’t want the airline to see a pattern, especially if you’re a frequent flyer and have a mileage account at stake. A time or two per year likely won’t raise eyebrows, but I wouldn’t do much more than that. Asking for a gate pass is the safer option, though they’re not guaranteed to give you one.

Happy flying!

-CT

Flying Solo With Baby

November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 / babyflyerblog

Good Morning, LAX.

The first time I flew alone with Baby Flyer I was nervous. It was a whole new ball game, and having just started flying as a family, I honestly wasn’t sure how it would go. I had plenty of unaswered questions- how would boarding work? Putting my things up? And last but definitely not least- how does one use the airplane restroom when flying alone with a 5 month old?!?

The task seemed overwhelming. It was her third trip, the second time flying from coast to coast. It feels like a long day of flying without a baby, so I imagined it would feel even longer with a baby in tow.

I got slightly misty as I said goodbye to CT and boarded the plane, but I reminded myself that I could do this. I had the same tools as I have on the ground to sooth, comfort, and entertain her. This continues to be my mantra before every flight. Luckily, CT had managed to accompany us to the gate for our first flight alone, so I had help through the airport.

We’ve since flown numerous times just the two of us and we’ve been just fine. It can be a decent amount of work, but I may even venture to say it’s been enjoyable. The key I’ve found is to stay relaxed and be organized.

ergo-360-on-the-plane1

First Things First: Boarding and getting settled in.

A few first tips- I like to change her diaper prior to boarding where I have more space. I either stop by an airport lounge, if there’s one we have access to, or look for a family bathroom in the terminal. It’s nice to start the flight with a clean diaper since you never know if it will be a bumpy take off, and how long you’ll have to stay in your seat.

I always wear Baby Flyer when boarding, and I keep her in the Ergo 360 while I get organized at my seat. I start by wiping my seat, seat belt buckle, and tray with a Dr. Brown’s Pacifier and Bottle wipe then I take out whatever I think I will need for the beginning part of the flight. This typically includes: Aden and Anais swaddle blanket (multipurpose- blanket, nursing cover, and prop for my arm if she falls asleep), headphones if my seat has a personal television, gum, a baby toy, a book or magazine, my cell phone (I use it to check the time) and her American Airlines ‘Junior Aviator Logbook.’

Once we are settled, Baby Flyer typically wants to watch boarding. She loves attention and people. She stares as people walk by, just waiting for someone to notice her. This is one thing that hasn’t changed from her early flights. She’s always been fascinated by being on a plane. When boarding is almost over, I take Baby Flyer out of the Ergo and put it in the overhead bin.

We’ll do a separate diaper bag post, but I always bring two bags. My regular diaper bag with all the necessities, and an additional small bag with the swaddle blanket and her toys. I find keeping her toys separate makes my diaper bag stay more organized.

Silly babies like to watch boarding upside-down. (For a few seconds, anyway)

Onwards and Upwards: Ready for Takeoff.

My goal is to feed Baby Flyer during take off and landing to help keep her calm and adjust the pressure in her ears. Sometimes she will be fussy, hungry, or tired and I’ll have to feed her prior to take off, but I try to hold her off for as long as possible. I get organized when we push back, so I’m set once the plane starts to roll down the runway.

I nurse her as much as she wants throughout the flight. Very rarely will she nurse for the whole take off or landing, sometimes she will want her pacifier instead and other times she won’t want anything. The first few times this happened, I worried about her ears. I thought since she wasn’t sucking on anything she was going to get fussy, but I have since learned she will suck when she needs to, and so I stay attentive and trust her natural instinct.

Baby Flyer Peruses the Inflight Menu Options

Up in the Air: Passing the Time In Flight

Baby Flyer only slept for the majority of the flight on her first few trips. That’s the beauty of flying with very young babies. At 6-7 months, she typically dozes off and on throughout the flight, so I like to be prepared with a toy or two for when she wakes up. When she does fall asleep on me I make sure my swaddle blanket is nearby to prop up my arm, and try to have something accessible that I can read or do with one hand.

Sometimes her toy is of no interest and she prefers the plastic beverage cup, the emergency landing pamphlet, the seatbelt buckle, I could go on. If I’m feeling like I’ve run out of options and the fasten seat belt light is off, I let her sit in my seat and play, and I squat in front of her. This will usually keep her entertained for a while. Creativity and patience is key.

If you’re in first class, eating during the meal service while holding a baby is tricky, but possible. Usually I’ll ask to time my meal service for when Baby Flyer is sleeping, and I’ll eat what I can with one hand. It’s hit or miss if it’s my dominant hand that’s free.

Bulkhead seats can be a great option for little ones- More legroom for you, and more play room for them.

When it’s time to change her diaper mid-flight, I take only what’s necessary with me. Airplane bathrooms tend to be small. I take our changing pad that came with our Skip Hop diaper bag, and a changing pad liner, wipes, and a clean diaper. As an FYI, at least one bathroom on each plane has a changing table, that typically folds down from the wall. After I change her diaper, I’ll go to the bathroom myself while holding her (yes, this is how one does this when flying alone.) It’s a bit awkward and rushed but is certainly doable, especially if you really need to go. If you really luck out, I’ve had a flight attendant on occasion be smitten enough with Baby Flyer to offer to hold her while I eat or use the restroom, but they can be busy and you can’t count on this.

On Approach: Happy Landings

I try to nurse her again for landing, and have a pacifier ready in case she’s not in the mood. When I first started flying, I wore a nursing wrap scarf for privacy, but now that Baby Flyer is older, she spends half of the time playing with any nursing cover, and pushing it away, so I’ve stopped trying to use one. Instead I wear clothes that I’m able to comfortably and discretely nurse her in. Typically it’s a long sleeve shirt or a t-shirt with a tank top underneath. So when I’m nursing her I can pull my shirt up and tank top down. Sitting by the window I feel like I have more privacy, but being on the aisle makes getting up and down easier. There’s benefits with each. If you’re in first class, the window seats are easier to get up and down from without disturbing the person next to you, since there is more space between rows.

I will admit that after a predawn wake up, followed by a solo cross country flight, I looked and felt a bit tired, but that’s about par for the course with any flight like this, baby or no baby.

As we recently shared with a friend who was about to embark on her first flight with her new baby, my main takeaways are to arrive at the airport early so you’re not rushed, change their diaper before boarding, go one step at a time, and relax. You’ve got this, and in any case it’s just a couple hours.

Happy Travels!

~CR & Baby Flyer

Baby Flyer Blog

Family Travel – Well Planned

Author: babyflyerblog