Red alert

Daniel and I are flying to Boston this weekend to see his uncle Joe (my little bro'), who has an internship there for the summer. I have been to New England once before, but never to Boston, so I'm excited about visiting a new city. I'm looking forward to having little D visit his uncle, who's only met him once before, and I'm pumped about seeing my friend Pam, who will also be in Boston for the weekend.

Have the rest of you been listening to the news this morning, though? A major terrorist plot has been foiled in Britain, a plot that was to involve liquid explosives on international flights. Of course, I'm not flying internationally, but I will be flying into Logan airport, and I will have to deal with all the extra security measures and heightened anxiety surrounding this situation. I'm fine with the extra security, as long as they don't try to x-ray my kid. But I have to admit that even though I'm not taking any high-risk (re: trans-Atlantic) flights, I'm a little nervous.

I heard on NPR this morning that U.S. flights aren't allowing electronic devices or liquids of any kind in carry-on luggage. The exceptions are prescription medicine and infant formula (what if you're taking pumped breastmilk with you? I guess if you watch Michael Moore documentaries you know the answer to that one...) I guess I'll either leave my cell phone at home or pack it in the suitcase. Ditto Daniel's sunscreen, infant tylenol, bath soap and baby lotion. Thank goodness they're still allowing carry-ons here, unlike in Britain. I mean, what happens if you're stuck in Heathroe and your kid takes a big old crap in his pants and you weren't allowed to have a diaper bag with you and your next flight doesn't leave for 2 hours? I guess I'm as anxious about Daniel taking a poo in public as much as I'm anxious about anything else.

Comments

They probably will do a search of Daniel. When Jamie was three, we flew for a mini vacation to visit friends in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Jamie freaked out because they made him take off his socks and shoes and "patted him down" and everything. Well, I had taught Jamie to never let a stranger touch him, so you can imagine the screaming and histrionics that went on! I was so mad at the security people! It wasn't just that they did what they did (that was just their job), but the fact that they were so mean when Jamie started freaking out. They spoke harshly to him, jerked him about as they searched him and all! I mean, when a little kid is scared, you're supposed to speak soothingly, don't make sudden moves, etc. They definitely needed a lesson in pre-K 101!

Love you and be careful! Have fun!
Pam said…
SUSAN!! Don't leave your cell phone at home! (It will be a little hard to call you if you do...) I was listening to NPR this morning, too, and I could swear they said you could bring baby milk bottles on the plane, but you'd have to drink some of it first! Good luck! I will be thinking about you and hoping you don't have too many airport hassles!
Suze said…
OMG Pam - good point!! Since Daniel breastfeeds I won't have to take anything for him to drink in bottles, and I certainly won't bring pumped milk. yech.
ann said…
good--i was just thinking, "I hope she doesn't use the pump and then have to drink her own milk." I don't think I would want to do that.
Steph said…
As David Sedaris says, "That's why sperm donors have taken to traveling by Greyhound."
LOL! Steph, you cracked me up this morning! I really needed a good laugh today, so thanks!
Becca said…
If you pumped your own milk and had to drink it, but you're lactose intolerant, what would happen?
Becca said…
Oh, I did have some practical stuff, too.

Suze, getting through security with a baby is tough. The diaper bag goes on the belt, baby comes ouf of the stroller, the stroller goes on the belt, the car seat goes on the belt, and baby goes through the machine thing with you.

If you use a Snuggli instead of the stroller, same thing. And don't bother putting shoes on Daniel--they'll have to come off.

People will make faces and mumble when they see you in line because it takes time to get that stuff cleared. Ignore them. And make sure when you go through security you have everything you need--you don't want to go through that process any more than you need to. Give yourself plenty of time. We just went through Logan last month, and they're pretty strict, but the TSA people there seemed to understand the frustrations that arise. It was one of the better experiences I've had going through security.

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