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Walking into this Wednesday with an extra pep in o Walking into this Wednesday with an extra pep in our step.  While we’ve always raised our girls to know they can be or do anything we couldn’t be more excited for them to have witnessed #HERstory themselves today. How y’all feeling on this glorious Wednesday? #representationmatters #thefutureisfemale
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My dream for America would be for it to get its shit together. For the many Americans in denial of what is actually happening in this country to wake up. For allies to be loud all the time, not just on #blackouttuesday. The work Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. helped start is not done and I’m afraid it never will be. 

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Wow, so many new faces in our tiny corner of IG! I Wow, so many new faces in our tiny corner of IG! I am so happy our “how we afford to travel so much” series and photography tips have been helpful, more coming soon! Just wanted to share a little more about us. We’re Monet, James, Jordyn and Kennedy and we live in South Florida. I started The Traveling Child in 2016 to inspire parents to travel the world with their kids while providing tips to make it easier and affordable. Our motto is if kids live there, kids can visit and you’ll often find us exploring destinations most don’t consider “kid friendly”. 

Hubby and I met at the one and only University of Florida #gogators. We’ve been together for 14yrs and have our 8yr wedding anniversary coming up soon. Our love for travel isn’t new, 2 months into our relationship we studied abroad together in China.

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James works in sales in Corporate America in an office setting so while I have my own business now we do have tips on traveling frequently with a full time job as well.

I’m Jamaican and well that means I’m a hustler lol. I’m the author of the children’s book, The Traveling Child Goes to Rio de Janeiro (available on Amazon), a freelance writer for The Points Guy and wannabe photographer.  I also write for our own blog/website www.thetravelingchild.co where we share our tips on affordable travel, traveling with kids and providing the itineraries for all the places we’ve traveled to.

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How we flew to Singapore for free! We got a flight How we flew to Singapore for free! We got a flight deal for $395RT (tip from our how we afford to travel so much part 1 reel) and coupled that with points earned from a sign up bonus from a travel card. That cards bonus was 100,000 points which was redeemable for $1,250 in travel purchases. $395x3 plus only the taxes for Kennedy’s lap infant ticket meant we paid nothing out of pocket for the fights there! (Save and share this post.)

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P.S. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to using points and miles and 60 seconds is def not enough to go in depth. So I’m hosting a webinar on Saturday, January 23rd at 1pm EST where I’ll tell and show you how to find and book flight deals, go over travel credit cards and the other tools we use to afford travel so much. You will be able to ask all the questions you want and because of that it’s an intimate event with only 30 tickets available. Can’t wait to help you learn the tools to afford travel now so when the world is completely open you’re prepared! #traveltipsandtricks
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5 Tips for a Smooth Airport Experience With Kids

June 30, 2016      Tips on Traveling with Kids

You finally booked that trip with your child and made it to the airport, hopefully on time. We all know getting through security as an adult is a pain and now you’re adding on a child! Find out the best car seat carrier to use and four other tips for a smooth airport experience with young kids.

Documents Needed When Flying with Kids

Before you head to the ticket counter to check in make sure you have the proper documentation for your children.

Domestic Flights: For unpaid lap infants you will need to carry proof of age in the form of a birth certificate, immunization records, or passport. I personally have never been asked to show it but I have seen firsthand a father, who didn’t have proof of age, denied boarding for his flight unless he paid for a seat for his daughter. Buying a ticket at the gate is no small fee so better to be safe than sorry.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips on Flying with Babies or Tips on Flying with Toddlers

International Flights: All passengers regardless of age require a passport to travel internationally (read how to apply for a child one here). If both parents or legal guardian(s) are not traveling with the child you are required to have a notarized document giving you permission to take the child out of the country alone or proof that you have sole custody. Although only required for entry to some countries, airlines, cruises, and immigration officers have the right to ask you for this documentation as they try to reduce kidnappings and human trafficking of children. Throughout our travels I have been asked for this form twice, once by Royal Caribbean and another by Delta Airlines. We’ve always gone to our bank to get the forms notarized. Although it can be a pain, I’m glad we took the precaution to get it done so we didn’t miss out on those two trips.

You May Be Interested in Reading: Surviving Long-Haul Flights with Kids

All passengers require a boarding pass, even non-ticketed infants. Some airlines such as Delta will have a notification like “Infant in Arms” on the adults boarding pass that they are linked to, others like JetBlue have separate boarding passes for the infant. Some airline apps allow you to access the infant boarding pass from it just like your own but others will only show the adults so you will have to stop by the check-in kiosk or ticket counter so allow extra time!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you.

Kids Luggage Allowance

On most airlines parents of lap infants will be allowed to check in both a car seat and a stroller at the ticket counter or at the gate, free of charge. You will also be able to bring a diaper bag on board in addition to your carry-on allowance. If you purchased a ticket for your child they will have the same luggage allowances as an adult. Airline rules vary, especially when traveling budget airlines, so be sure to check the website of the airline you’re traveling. Print a copy of what’s allowed and keep it with you in case you are challenged by an uninformed gate agent or flight attendant.


Getting Through Airport Security with Kids

Children under 12 do not have to remove their shoes, light jackets or headwear when going through the metal detectors, thank God! Unfortunately you still have to remove yours. I recommend wearing easy slip on and off shoes as you will likely be juggling with a car seat, stroller, and/or carrier or a combination of the three.

Traveling with Food and Breast Milk

Can you take food through airport security? Yes you can bring food through airport security as long as it isn’t restricted from being brought from the country you are leaving to the one you are heading to. Don’t worry there will be plenty of signs letting you know what those are.

What about bringing drinks through airport security with kids? When traveling with an infant or toddler you are allowed to carry milk and juice for them and these liquids do not have to follow the 3.4oz. Keep in mind these liquids will be subject to additional screening so give yourself an extra 15-20mins for this.  Pack these items in a separate bag to make it easier. Once at the x-ray machine take them out or your luggage and put it through the machine separately.  There is no limit on the amount of breast milk or formula you can bring on the plane. Do not let a TSA agent tell you otherwise, some of them unfortunately just don’t know the rules. Ask to speak with a supervisor if you get push back and read more on traveling with breast milk here.

You are allowed to have ice packs, freezer packs, etc. to keep these items cool. However, if your ice packs are not frozen TSA can make you toss them as they are now liquid so be sure they are frozen. To avoid this altogether consider traveling with a gallon sized zip lock bag. Once you get through security you can ask someone at a food counter or the flight attendants to fill it with ice.


Gate Checking Strollers and Car Seats

If you are gate checking your stroller or car seat they will also have to go through the x-ray machine. If they do not fit, they will be hand searched. When using a baby carrier TSA agents are supposed to have you remove your child from the carrier, put your carrier through the x-ray machine and have you hold your baby while you walk through the metal detector. I’ve learned while your child always has to come out of the car seat or stroller, TSA seems to be more lenient with the carrier.

Some agents have made me take my kids out of the carrier while others just let me walk through the metal detector. Whether you carry your baby in the carrier or in your arms you will have to have your hands tested for certain particles. If you aren’t traveling with your infant car seat I recommend using your baby carrier through the airport and checking your stroller at the ticket counter. I love my Ergobaby 360 and highly recommend it. You can read more TSA rules and tips on flying with children here.


Getting To the Gate with Kids: The Best Carrier For Car Seats in the Airport

Being hands free and having your children confined is the fastest way to get through the airport. I like to carry as little as possible so my infant is always in the carrier. When traveling with a car seat the easiest way to get it to the gate is to use a car seat carrier for the airport. We have the SmartMove by Brica and it is absolutely a lifesaver.

The car seat carrier we use in the airport

​
If you have an infant you can use the Brica Cover Guard Car Seat Tote to either carry your infant car seat like a backpack or roll it. It’s also fits convertible car seats so if you’re not using your car seat on the plane you can use this to protect your car seat. You’ll want to do this before gate checking it so it doesn’t get dirty and filled with germs.

mom with baby in carrier and pushing other child in the stroller
Best carrier for infant car seats in airport


If you aren’t traveling with a car seat using a carrier or Mountain Buggy Bagrider is the perfect option for getting your infant and toddlers to the gate. You’ll easily be able to carry your luggage and other items since you don’t have to hold anyone’s hand.

dad pulling suitcase with toddler sitting on top of it


​Killing Time Before Your Flight with Kids

Before getting to the airport check if there are any play areas for kids. This will keep you sane, especially if there are any unexpected delays.  If not, lounges have saved our lives! Lounges offer free food, drinks, wifi and comfortable seating. We get lounge access via our Priority Pass, which was free from one of our credit cards. Learn more about Priority Pass here and which credit cards offer a free membership here.

kids playing in play area at airport

I hope these tips prepare you for smooth sailing through the airport with your kids in tow. If you found this article helpful please share it!

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Comments

  1. Alison says

    July 4, 2016 at 1:53 pm

    Make sure your ice packs are frozen solid! I made that mistake flying back with breast milk. The freezer in my hotel didn’t work and I forgot to ask the hotel to let me keep my Medela ice packs in their freezer. At security the TSA agent said my breast milk was fine but I couldn’t’ leave the ice packs because they were now liquid. Luckily I always keep a gallon storage bag with me so I asked someone at a food counter to fill it with ice for my cooler which saved my milk.

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Hey, I’m Monet!

Hey, I’m Monet!

A full time working woman, wife and mama of two. I use every last one of my vacation days traveling with my kids, hubby, friends or solo. Join me as I share my travel experiences and tips to make travel affordable and easier with the little ones. You can read more about me here.

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