I'm realizing with Tom in the airline/travel industry I kinda take travelling with kids/babies for granted. Well, to be honest I've taken all travel for granted. Not just with kids. I have travelled with Bear since he was just a month old. Some trips have been by car but most have been by air. I have also usually flown by myself with Bear. This does make it more difficult in the fact that one person can only carry so much. It seems with babies one wants to take everything but the kitchen sink. Not really possible when you are only one person. To make it even more interesting Bear and I usually (maybe always) have flown stand-by. It isn't difficult so long as you keep a few things in mind.
Travel light: Like I said one person can only carry so much, and if the kid is young enough you have to remember you are carrying the kid too. A backpack/diaper bag to me is the way to go. I do my best to keep both Bear and I in one bag. That includes consolidating the diaper bag and my purse.
Umbrella strollers are awsome: These little, inexpensive things are a travellers savior. Especially if you have to make plane changes and walk all over the airport.
Convertable stroller/carseat: We got one of these for a trip to Austria. Expensive but so worth it. I don't have to worry about locating a carseat at the end of the trip and the seat fits on the airplane. One downfall to this one is that it is kinda difficult to travel by yourself with it. I am too short to pick this one up, with Bear in it, and carry it over peoples' heads. I gate-check this one if I'm by myself. Also, it is heavy. Especially if you add Bear.
Slings/backpacks/carriers: With little guys slings are great for travelling. I loved when Bear fit in a pouch. Next time we travel I'm going to try our new kid backpack and a roller bag. The backpack (this one converts from a front pack, to hip carrier, to backpack) is supposed to be good up to 40 pounds. Not sure I want to pack Bear around at that weight. Soon he'll be able to walk himself around but for now we find creative ways to get around.
Entertainment: This is key while on the airplane. Some kids sure don't like to sit still. Especially if they are up and moving. Bear wasn't bad at all while little. Now that he can move around he doesn't really care for sitting in one place for long. I've found that the overhead reading light is great entertainment. "Off. On" Skymall is another good way to entertain Bear. He likes tearing up magazines and since you are supposed to take the Skymall with you I don't make a fuss if he tears this one up. He loves to look at the emergency seat cards too. I really don't worry too much about bringing a lot of our own toys or books. One I pack light and two, you can't have much out during take off and landing.
In the airport: I make sure to let Bear run around if we have the time. That way he isn't cooped up all day long. Some airports have play areas. Salt Lake City is the one I'm thinking of. Right at the top of the escalators that go to the E concorse. I don't think I've ever seen the area not busy.
Eating and sleeping: Making sure everyone eats is key when travelling. I'm bad about this one for myself. I get just as grumpy as any kid. Bear can take just about any situation so long as his pants are clean, he has a full belly, and has had a nap. I also find that for getting Bear to nap while we are travelling it has to be on the plane. If we have a choice I pick the noisiest seat possible. It seems the white noise from the engines just zonk Bear out. Another thing is that I try to plan enough time between flights to sit and eat at least a snack of some sort. This makes us both happier.
Relax: Last but not least don't worry too much about what might happen. It won't be the end of the world. Bear and I flying stand-by have even been pulled from a flight. It just meant we got to go have coffee with Grammy and Grandpa while we waited for the next flight. I don't mind being stuck at all. You can wander the airport, check out all the shops that you normally blow by, eat, play, people watch, and all sorts of things. I'm sure this has to do with the fact that I love airports too. Biggest thing is that (if you're a paying customer) the airline will do their best to take care of things. Sometimes it is totally out of their hands though. And if you are like me and flying stand-by you really don't get any help from the airline. They have no contract with you if you didn't purchase a confirmed ticket. Both situations have their own unique set of challenges, but if you sit back, relax, and smile things usually go smoothly. It is amazing how much a smile, please, and thank you will get you. Take it from some one who is married to an agent. The nicer you are to them, the more likely they are to help you out. If you are onery to them help goes right out the window. And if you cuss at them? You are liable to be escorted out by the police. Then you don't get your flight at all.
Here's Bear playing in the mud. He was helping Tom dig post holes for the fence we are puting in. With all of our clay we've found it much easier to soak the ground and then dig the hole. Apparently the other day in the 90 degree heat Bear decided it would be fun to play in said mud. Tom couldn't say no to mud and sprinkler.:)
