Plane advice

Our lucky little boy Stanley has been on at least 12-13 different plane trips in his short little 18 months life (I'd guess over 35+ flights). And almost all have seemed to go remarkably smoothly. We did both end up with poop on us after one flight when he was 5 weeks old...but it comes with the territory.

Last week, Stanley and my trip out to Denver was very easy (Steve was already there). Stanley walked the airport since I had too much luggage to also carry him. Our only big holdup was that he was infatuated with the light-up airport map and wanted to point and talk about it rather than go meet up with Danielle and Casey.

In all of our trips, other mother's, and a great pediatric nurse,  I have picked up on some great advice. But after yesterday's adventurous flight home, I have some more to add to the list.

Yesterday at Lele's house Stanley threw up his breakfast. I was pretty sure it was a bad sign for the trip ahead. At least Stanley and I got up graded to first class. Just as the wheels were coming off the ground on take off, Stanley threw up again..multiple times. And, because we were still taking off, both of us had to sit covered in throw up. And, I proceeded to nurse him a bit more to help his ears. That came up a few minutes after being nursed. (But at least his ears were ok) It was a mess (thank gosh the seat was pleather!) Finally after the flight attendants could come help, they gave us a napkin with warm water on it, a plastic garbage bag and  lots of paper towel. I changed Stanley out of his soaked clothes and then had to change all of my clothes after the seat belt sign when off. I needed new everything, even my socks.Stanley puked a second time later in the flight. Thankfully, the flight attendant told me to use a clean garbage bag as a blanket over him and when he goes to puke it will end up in the bag. It worked like a charm! We did not need to use a 3rd set of clothes. So, my new advice added to the list is:

- Have multiple sets of clothes for parents and child in your carry-on accessible. It is hard to dig when you are holding a puke covered baby while you are also covered in puke. Also take a spare of everything even underwear and socks for the parent. I highly recommend shorts or exercise pants because they are easier to put on in a small bathroom.

- I had always been told keep a gallon sized ziplock for dirty clothes. Stanley clothes fit in a gallon sized ziplock, but mine definitely do not! Ask for a garbage bag from a flight attendant or just have a big garbage bag with you.

- Hope you sit next to a parent who is not completely disgusted by baby vomit all over the place. (I got lucky yesterday)

 Other advice for those with kids:
- You can wear your baby threw security and do not need to take them out of their carriers. (Changed as of Aug 2011). Do not wear them over a jacket or sweater because they may ask you to take off your sweater which means taking off the baby.
- Ask if there is a family line for security. In most all cases it is faster than the premier line. (And usually they are hidden).
- Call your preferred parking establishment because some require car seats on the shuttles and some don't and some don't even let infants on etc.
- It is better to gate check strollers and car seats rather than check them earlier. More likely they will actually end up at your destination then checked baggage.
- Do not put random stuff in the stroller. Have everything already in a bag. They will ask you to fold down the stroller and car seat and you do not want to be collecting toys/diapers etc out of the stroller pockets
- Our nurse told us to always have Tylenol and Motrin with you and do not be afraid to use it for ears or if the kids are really uneasy. 
- Nurse or feed your kid on the way up and on the way down. BTW, landing goes WAY slower, so if possible, feed them...stop...feed them...stop etc. Otherwise they will be done far before the pressure is released. And, don't start feeding them till you are actually taking off. Once I waited an hour after we started taxiing before we actually took off. Stanley was done eating by the time we took off. And also, at least for Stanley, if he is asleep, don't bother waking him, but have the milk ready for if he wakes up crying because his ears need popping.
- Have toys and books with you. Danielle's advice is to get cheap toys from the Dollar store so if they get lost it doesn't matter.
- United 757s and really small planes do not have changing tables in them. If your kid is small enough, use your lap to change them as you sit on the toilet in the bathroom or put the kid on the toilet seat if they are too big for your lap. In either case, have very big disposable changing pads with you.You are not allowed to change them in the galley areas of the plane. 
- Do not take your diaper bag to the bathroom--it is gross and there is no place to put it. Have 2 diapers, wipes, and changing pad in a gallon sized ziplock and just take that with you to change them.
- The back of the plane is a great place to go if you need to bounce your baby to sleep. It is a great white noise maker.
- Certain planes only have extra air masks on one side of the plane or every other aisle etc. (CRJ's have them on the CD side) Be ready to move when the flight attendant asks you. Or ask as you enter a small plane. And most planes do not allow 2 lap babies in 1 row.
- This is advice from Captain Flounder: Do NOT put your seat belt around you and your lap baby! If the plane stops fast or there is bad turbulence, your body weight will smoosh your baby very badly against the seat belt. Just hold them tight and know that your instinct is to grab the seat. The seat belt will hold you and you just concentrate on holding your baby.

Sorry for the long post, I think that is all of the advice I can think of. Hope it might be useful to someone with little kids.