At the airport
It is natural to be slightly worried about flying with your baby, especially if it is the first time. There are ways to reduce this stress
Get to the airport in plenty of time. For flights to Florida, you will be advised to check in three hours before departure, so aim to be on time, and leave some extra time for unexpected nappy changes or snack stops.
If you are travelling from an airport with more than one terminal, make a note of which terminal you need before you set off.
Carry a photo of your child with you just in case you get separated at the airport. It is also worth putting a note of your mobile phone number into his pocket.
Go straight to check-in and get rid of your cases. Or go straight to Bag Drop if you have been able to check in online the night before.
You will be able to keep your buggy with you through to the aircraft doors. Make sure the check-in staff realise you have a buggy with you and give you a luggage tag for it. This will be used to track it through to its final destination.
Going through security
Once you have checked in, go straight through to security. Since the heightened security measures were introduced to UK airports, there can be long queues, so have snacks, toys and drinks to hand.
Have your passports and boarding passes to hand.
Before joining the queue, make sure you do not have any liquids on you. People often forget about half drunk bottles of water, sun cream, moisturisers etc. Liquids under 100ml can be taken through, but you have to put them in a see through plastic bag and hold them as you walk through Security. You can get bags at Security, but it’s one less thing to worry about if you have organised this beforehand.
You may be asked to remove your shoes, belts and jewellery at Security. Wear easily removable shoes, and leave the jewellery at home. It can be a balancing act removing your shoes while you are also trying to manage your baby.
You will be asked to collapse your buggy at Security and place it on the conveyor to be X-rayed. So keep it free of extra ‘stuff’ which will make it difficult to collapse down. Don’t put milk in the buggy; keep it in your hand luggage and show it to the Security staff.
You will be asked to carry your baby through the X-ray machine.
The Security staff will ask you to sip any baby milk and baby juice. You may even be asked to taste ‘pasted’ baby food. You will not be allowed to take any other liquids through which are over 100ml.
Don’t forget you can not take anything sharp through security. This includes tweezers and scissors. Pack such items in your main luggage.
In the departure lounge
Once you are in the departure lounge, you can relax. Find a central bank of chairs (preferably within the line of sight of an information screen) and make camp whilst you take turns to go shopping, or go to one of the restaurants and have a meal or a snack.
Remember that, when you get to Orlando airport, you will not be given your buggy back until you get to Baggage Reclaim. You will have to carry your baby through the airport. So do not buy lots of shopping in the UK as you’ll have to carry this too.
Keep an eye on the information screens. UK airports do not make announcements about flight departures as a matter of course anymore, so look at the screens for advice to ‘Go to Gate’.
Larger airports, such as Gatwick, offer advice on how long it will take you to walk to the different Gates. Remember, it will take you longer if you have a toddler.
Before leaving the departure lounge, take your baby and change him. You will have more room at the airport than you will on board the aircraft and you can take this opportunity to repack your (by now probably dishevelled) hand luggage for the flight. This is a good time to put socks or a jumper on your baby ready for the flight if necessary.
Many airlines offer families travelling with small children the chance to board first. Make sure you take advantage of this as cabin crew will be better placed to help you and your family before the ensuing rush.
