Traveling to Canada with Baby

[Colleens 40]

Hi everyone!

We are starting to plan baby girls first trip to Canada. If all goes well, we'll be making a trip mid-February. She'll be almost 5 months then. A couple of questions for those of you with experience travelling with a youngster:

First, if i'm understanding correctly since we will be driving across the border, not flying in, she won't need a passport, correct? We will be getting her once sooner rather than later, but the fact she needs to have a photo taken makes me want to wait. A 3 month old posing for a picture can go one of two ways, one of those ways being very bad!

Regarding car seats. I know that Canadian laws differ from US laws on car seat safety. My initial plan was to check her car seat on the plane, and then install it in a rental car and drive to Canada (from the airport in Buffalo). Would this pose an issue if the car seat is not "Canada safe"? Anyway for me to know if her car seat meets Canadian standards? The alternate plan would be to have my dad pick us up from the airport and borrow a Canadian car seat from a family member.

Any tips to soothe a baby in an airplane? I was always one of those jerks that would cringe when I would see a baby board the plane, because there is nothing worse than hearing a screaming baby all flight. She is a pretty calm and happy baby, but if she is uncomfortable she lets you know! We took her to a family members house in the mountains the weekend before Christmas, and I think her ears popped... she lost it. I would like to avoid a similar melt down if possible. She won't take a soother either.

How about airport travel? Anyone bring a stroller and check at the gate? Or should I just suck it up and carry her? Another idea would be to strap her to me (or daddy) in one of those baby carriers.

That's all I can think of for now. Your advice is appreciated as always

I got Emma's passport when she was only 2 months old. I got it at the county clerks office and they did the photo there. All I had to do was kneel down facing the wall then pick her up under her arm pits, hold her up and duck my head. I was very worried about the photo after reading the passport website and all the info and restrictions about the photo but it was easy peasy. I would really suggest getting it done since it will just make everything that much easier.

You are allowed to use US carseats when travelling in Canada. If you know someone that you trust that can lend you a carseat once you get to Canada that might be a better option since it will be one less thing to pack around the airport with you. I would never check a carseat since you don't know how they are thrown around etc, and you risk it potentially being damaged without you even knowing.

Definitely try feeding during take off and landing...it will make a world of difference. If you have a few months you may be able to start to

adjust her feeding schedule little by little now so that it will fit in with your travel plans if she will not top off or take a paci. Also try to get as close to the back as possible. If you are travelling with her as a lap child that may be difficult since there are only a few rows of seats taht will have an extra oxygen mask if needed, but there is a bit more movement in the back so it tends to be soothing (and there are less people there to get upset if she should be fussy).

I travelled with Emma on my own twice and I didn't take a stroller with me. I used my moby wrap while in the airport so that I had 2 free hands. It was a lifesaver. On the plane you are not supposed to have baby in a carrier of any sort in case of an emergency so that the can get to the baby, but I did stick her in there to sleep. I have seen these infant 'slings' on pinterest that seem kind of cool My link and I think there are other brands and styles out there if you do a google search.

Do you have any connections to make or will it be a direct flight? If there are connections make sure to pack plenty of extra diapers since you never know if there may be a delay or cancellation. I once travelled to Atlanta from Syracuse NY and it took me nearly 24hrs because of delays. One lady had 1.5yr old and only packed enough diapers for what the trip was scheduled to be and a couple of extra's. By the time we got to Atl that poor baby's diaper was in a sad state Also if you use a store brand diaper (eg target) that you can't get in Canada you may want to try some of the brand names that you may be buying in Canada to ensure that she won't react with them....this goes for wipes as well.

That is all I can think of right now. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[NikLR 13,227]

Slings are awesome! I wish I'd had one for my daughter! I planned on using one with the next kid, but the next did never happened. The few times I did not travel with an umbrella stroller were the most complicated to be honest. I was travelling alone and the flight was short but with luggage, carry ons and a child etc... Large airports are just hellacious IMO on your back. I didn't use a carrier though which probably could have made a big difference. But with another human being to share the load, a stroller probably could be unnecessary I agree.

[SF2007 48]

I just got back from Canada with my 5 months old. We flew, 2 flights on our way out and 3 on our way back. He flew like a champ. I used my baby carrier (ErgoBaby) instead of a stroller and would do it again. Having 2 arms to juggle everything was a lifesaver! Husband, baby and I traveled by air and had his passport done when he was 2 months old. Oddly enough, kids passport don't list their parent's names so we also traveled with his birth certificate, just in case. It was never asked. We didn't bring our car seat as we had friends let us use theirs.

I would say pack an extra day of everything if you travel by air, and everything you would need for an overnight in an hotel should be in your carry on. That's how I pack and turns out we were stranded halfway because one of our flights was so delayed we missed our connection and ended up spending the night in an hotel (without our checked luggage because the airline didn't know where it was). Do nurse/feed/offer the pacifier for take off and landing, but my guy didn't care for it and didn't have any ear issues. He actually slept through take off AND landing twice. He loves being held, so traveling by air was oddly enough easier than a car trip for us.

I do recommend you read the ''Traveling with Children'' forum on BabyCenter.com if you haven't already: http://community.babycenter.com/groups/a10635/traveling_with_children

And check out this blog for flying with children: http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com/

Have a safe trip!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I might just go get the passport just to have it. It's just really inconvenient because you need to do it in person, both parents must be present and the office is only open during the day and hubby and I both work full time. But if that's best I can just sneak away for a couple hours.

We can't get directly flights from Denver to Buffalo so we will connect once, probably in Chicago or Detroit. Atlanta is also a possibility but I like to avoid that. I will make sure I take extra diapers and food, good thinking! You never know, especially travelling in the winter.

I think I'll just use the baby carrier. I know she likes it, and she loves to be held so I think that would be the best idea. I'll just bring a rattle, it calms her down so well, it's hilarious.

I'm not sure about the feeding schedule. I think I will work on trying to get her to take a soother, if even a little bit. I've always fed her on demand, and I think that works best. She eats around the same time everyday, just because she has developed her own pattern. But who knows what she'll be doing in 2 months, she's definitely more consistent with her eating patterns then she was a couple weeks ago.

Thanks gals, you're the best

[NikLR 13,227]

On a side note: have you checked leaving from CO Springs? I was checking online for my husband and granted it was an extra connection, but it's only another hour (which you'd spend more than that driving up to Denver anyhow) and we were going to save $300 round trip for his flight up to Canada at Christmas time. The most expensive time of the year! Only $495 roundtrip! He lives on the southern edge of Denver and it takes as long to drive to DIA as it would to drive to Fountain and leave the Jeep at a buddy's house. That saved the fee of leaving a vehicle at the airport too. CO springs airport is so much smaller too and easier to get around. Less noise and bustle than DIA.

Personally I try to stick with the simplest airports if possible and stay on the same airline as well. My last trip to Denver involved an unplanned layover in Seattle because of de-icing issues. (Pack a change of clothes, something to sleep in and other necessities in someone's carry-on!) The other airline wouldn't do anything about the missed flight either but United was awesome. They gave me a new flight, first one out, free of charge. I would have been pushed to make the flight as it was because it was clear across the airport. On the way back I had to change planes in LA. There are several terminals there and I had to go outside one and into another, get new tickets, and then back through security. I find it frustrating even when alone so I can't imagine it would be much fun with a baby.

BTW a comparison of wraps, slings and carriers:

http://www.ecobabysteps.com/2010/10/27/compare-baby-carriers-baby-wraps/

[Hugglebuggles 60]

I would say 80% of the time flights are cheaper leaving Denver. We've flown from the Springs a couple times when the prices were better, and there are advantages and disadvantages. We only live about 10-15 minutes from the airport, the parking is cheap and it's faster to get around, so that's a plus. But I hate the flight from the Springs to Denver, it's pretty awful. The plane is small and wobbly... whenever they won't let you get off the ground until some people move to the back of the plane for balance it kind of freaks me out And if you add in the wait time at the airport it's quicker just to drive up there. But I would do it if the price was right, I'm going to check both

You're right, LAX is awful, I hate it. I know the Denver airport like the back of my hand, I flew into it every 8-12 weeks for 4 years, plus all the trips back to Canada since I've been here, so it doesn't bother me... except for the blue horse with the red glowing eyes!!

You're moving to Denver when your visa is approved? Another Canadian VJer in state would be nice!

[NikLR 13,227]

Yeah I'll be in parker, just south of Denver because hubs works at the centennial airport. We travel to the springs all the time because his best friend lives there.