Vecchio Venerdì... Baby as Carry-on?

Before your child turns 2 years old, you do not need to pay for a seat on the plane...

They don't really meet the dimension requirements for storing under the seat in front of you....

So it is really best to try and board early so that you can find them a spot in the overhead bin!

Big G upon arrival in Paris... March 2000

do not dwell on my greasy hair and shiny face... 

we'd been on a plane forever... 

with a 6-month old who knew how to crawl

Baby X upon arrival in Florence... March 2003

I chose to play photographer this time because

i probably looked even worse than the last time...

traveling with a nearly-walking 11-month old

and a cranky 3-year old

Q-Man upon arrival in Paris... August 2005

i think he was trying to get out :P

but i look pretty happy (even in my glasses)

so i doubt he was trying very hard

Miss C upon arrival in Boston... October 2009

the girl has not yet flown internationally :(

but she'll get her chance soon!

We used to do a lot of traveling with the kids. What do I mean by 'a lot' ? Well, Big G's passport was full before it expired when he turned 5 years old. Travel used to be pretty cheap. The deals were not hard to find.

It was a challenge. 

And you know me and challenges ;-)

The "baby in the overhead bin" photo is obviously a tradition in our family :P  No, we didn't ever close a child in there!  And no coercion was ever used.

And the flight attendants never got pissy, either :)  they always thought it was cool!  Even after things got really 'secure' on planes.

What's the oddest thing you've ever put in the overhead bin?

How about under the seat in front of you?