Our family just returned from a trip to California to attend a special graduation ceremony and to visit Henry’s cousin. This also meant our first plane ride with a baby. I carefully laid out my plan of attack, strategically packed our carry-on bags and mentally prepped for the 3+ hour flight.
Carry-on Bag #1: Diapers, burp rags, wipes, wet washcloths, dry washcloths, bibs
Carry-on Bag #2: Small and new toys to entertain, Cheerios, baby food, spoons, books
We gate-checked our stroller and carried on his portable high chair.
In a moment of ignorance, we approached security at MCI like we would have if there were just the two of us. While waiting in the uncharacteristically long line, Henry started crying to be taken out of his stroller. Upon realizing that both his parents had full hands, he began to scream causing this Mama to sweat and panic. Daddy helped shove all our supplies on the x-ray conveyor belt while I carried the screaming child through security. Unfortunately, all our stuff had to be re-run through the machine because the stroller was on top of the laptop and apparently TSA x-rays cannot read through a metal stroller.
I juggled the boy while putting my shoes back on and allowing another TSA agent to test our baby food for bomb residue. We finally got on the plane in the second to last row only to have someone sit next to us who talked the entire three hours. About bowling.
Henry was a champ during the flight, though, and never cried. He didn’t play with his toys but spent most of his time smiling at fellow passengers and cramming Cheerios into his mouth. Even more importantly, he did not make his diaper smelly.
After a week of Sea World, the beach and sun, we conquered LAX security with one less carry-on and checking the stroller from the beginning. Our strategy to claim our own row worked – major wins! Henry, who has just learned to pull himself up to a standing position, has also learned to throw little tantrums when he doesn’t get to do what he wants. So there was crying and eventually a dirty, stinky diaper which caused some glares from our fellow passengers until we had the opportunity to change him in the plane bathroom (yes, it’s possible).
But he redeemed himself by playing peekaboo with the person behind us and yelling a happy hello to the Kansas fields below.
All in all, my fear of being THOSE people with the baby that screams for three hours was never realized so we’ll label this one a big success. Still, I’m glad we’re taking a car to Minnesota for Memorial Day weekend.
LWTK’s mommy blogger, Sarah, is attempting to be a good mama to little Henry, wife to Shea, full-time employee and part-time grad student all while avoiding making dinner from a box every night. In her non-existent free time, she’s running, eating popcorn and blogging about it all at The Gatsby Diaries.
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