Any tips for flying with an Infant?

[aynt79]

I was wondering if anyone had any tips or words of wisdom for flying (especially alone) with an infant?

My sister-in-law and niece (7 months) will be flying from Maine to Florida to visit us the end of January. There is one stop each way in Boston with 1 1/2 - 2 hour layovers. I would appreciate any info I can pass on to make the flight as easy and smooth as possible. I'm experienced with flying, just not with a baby and all the stuff that goes with them

 

[da disney fans]

Try to pack the carry-on bag as efficiently and compactly as possible. You don't want to be lugging around a bunch of needless junk when you have a baby to deal with.

For the changes in cabin pressure, have a bottle or pacifier available, or be ready to nurse. I cringe when I hear babies screaming bloody murder because their ears are killing them, and most parents don't think about giving the child something to suck on to relieve the pressure.

Be sure to have a blanket to wrap the baby in -- planes are almost always cold, and trust me when I say you don't want to use the airline's blanket. I used to be a flight attendant, and I saw some funky things go on with those blankets, and they don't get washed as often as you'd like to think.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

I would buy a seat for the infant and have the car seat with me, children seem to fly better in a car seat/restraint.
Sucking is not as important as swallowing, that is what clears the ears. The advice about the blanket is excellent, the planes are always cold and the blankets are not very warming. Bring a stroller also, and gate check it. MCO is a BIG airport and it is difficult to lug a baby and etc. through it.

 

[disneymom3]

First off, I second everything Gail has said. Most airlines will sell an under 2 seat for half of the current fare and it is more than worth it. If she has one of those travel systems where you click the infant seat into the stroller then she's in great shape. If not, i would suggest she try to borrow one.

Also, be sure to have a change of clothes--not only for baby but for mom as well. My sister's kids used to get kind of sick on airplanes and if they get sick at 7 months, it generally gets on you too. My kids have never been sick, but we have had leaky diapers etc. Mom will be a lot more comfortable if her shirt is not icky!

During her lay over, try to keep the baby awake and play with her. Get her out of her carseat/stroller and spread a blanket on the floor to play and strech out on. Bring more bottles and more diapers than she thinks she will need. And in the airplane, take advantage of the kindness of strangers. As long as someone doesn't creep you out, let them hold the baby while you go to the bathroom or whatever. Where are they going to go? I learned this attitude after flying by myself with three kids and the oldest had to go potty 15 minutes before the youngest had a leaky diaper. What a day.

 

[rsschneck]

When my daughter was an infant I used to put benadryl either in her bottle or just gave it to her before the flight.

Two reasons for the benadryl: It dries out their mucus membranes, ie. ears stay clear. Less fluid in the ears helps with pressure. Second, benadryl will help put the baby to sleep which is a nice thing. That way you do not have to entertain them, you can rest, and it makes the time go quicker.

Good luck!

 

[bethnburke]

I second the benadryl. I have used it with my DS and it really helped - he was able to sleep and it made the trip go by much quicker.

My other piece of advice is start giving your baby the bottle when the plane starts to descend - around a half hour before you land. If they can equalize their ears gradually they will have an easier time with the landing. Then when the plane starts its obvious descent give them the bottle again and try to have them drink until the plane lands.

Also with the current security try to limit the toys you take with you. I had my baby bag searched the last time I traveled alone with DS because they saw something in there they couldnt identify. The bag was so stuffed it took them 15 minutes to go through it - they never found the suspicious object - and I could barely get everything back in. Plus DS spotted a few things he had forgotten about and needed to carry them all with him!

 

[tjmw2727]

I second (third or fourth?) the suggestion to buy the baby a seat and use the carseat. Not only is it safer but familiar and comfortable for both baby and mom. I also used a stroller and did the gate check. This helped so much as we could just snap the carseat into the stroller, stow the bag and off we went. If your not familiar with gate checking the stroller just ask and I will offer more details.

Binky or bottle will help during take off and landing as well as some new and some familiar toys. If the baby has a lovey that's helpful as well. I brought some of the toys with the "string" attachment mostly used for the stroller but once something hits the floor of the airplaine we "consider it gone". Not only can't you retreive it easily but you would want to steralize it good if you find it. We used the binky attacher thing as well.

I beg to differ on the benyadryl, a healthy baby should be able to fly without using unnecessary medicine. You need to be very careful when giving babies medicine even when ill, so I personally would never give it to a baby unless absolutely necessary. If you need more reason, read the label for possible side effects. Not all children become sleepy, and do you really want to do that to your child? Some become very active and aggitated and sufer other ill effects.

Plan ahead, take what's needed but no more, buy a seat and take the stroller. Then relax and enjoy the vacation!

TJ

oh and...

Lots of liquids (adults and kids) to avoid dehydration a common result of flying.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by tjmw2727
I second (third or fourth?) the suggestion to buy the baby a seat and use the carseat. Not only is it safer but familiar and comfortable for both baby and mom. I also used a stroller and did the gate check. This helped so much as we could just snap the carseat into the stroller, stow the bag and off we went. If your not familiar with gate checking the stroller just ask and I will offer more details.

Binky or bottle will help during take off and landing as well as some new and some familiar toys. If the baby has a lovey that's helpful as well. I brought some of the toys with the "string" attachment mostly used for the stroller but once something hits the floor of the airplaine we "consider it gone". Not only can't you retreive it easily but you would want to steralize it good if you find it. We used the binky attacher thing as well.

I beg to differ on the benyadryl, a healthy baby should be able to fly without using unnecessary medicine. You need to be very careful when giving babies medicine even when ill, so I personally would never give it to a baby unless absolutely necessary. If you need more reason, read the label for possible side effects. Not all children become sleepy, and do you really want to do that to your child? Some become very active and aggitated and sufer other ill effects.

Plan ahead, take what's needed but no more, buy a seat and take the stroller. Then relax and enjoy the vacation!

TJ

oh and...

Lots of liquids (adults and kids) to avoid dehydration a common result of flying.

I second you on the benyadryl, I don't advise giving medication unless it is necessary. What you do with your kids is fine, but, I would think twice about advising it for someone else's child.

 

[bethnburke]

I realize everyone has different thoughts on giving medications to their kids. I also prefer not to give my kids meds they dont need. The benadryl was actually a recommendation from my pediatrician - my DS had tubes put in his ears 2 weeks before this trip. With the Benadryl he slept instead of screamed which was better for everyone involved.

 

[tjmw2727]

Originally posted by bethnburke
I realize everyone has different thoughts on giving medications to their kids. I also prefer not to give my kids meds they dont need. The benadryl was actually a recommendation from my pediatrician - my DS had tubes put in his ears 2 weeks before this trip. With the Benadryl he slept instead of screamed which was better for everyone involved.

Which has nothing to do with the OP, iirc there was no mention of an ill baby. We are ALL assuming a healthy baby, not a baby with tubes who's ped recommended medicine. Totally different circumstance.

In our area there is a very sick little girl who was given the proper dosage of a common OTC childrens medicine and suffered a little known side effect. May she recover fully and may we all gain a healthy respect for OTC medicine.

/rant

Tj

 

[rsschneck]

Our daughter was very healthy when given the medication. Our pediatrician recommended giving the benadryl and actually figured the dosage needed.

We used this stategy on more than one flight and it worked wonders for us.

I do not tell people how to raise/handle their children.

The OP asked for suggestions on flying with an infant. Mine is mearly a suggestion. I do not have a problem giving medications to my child, especially if the pediatrician says it is okay. My daughter is almost 7 and is still very healthy (thank the lord).

I am sure the OP would benefit from hearing others suggestions.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by rsschneck
Our daughter was very healthy when given the medication. Our pediatrician recommended giving the benadryl and actually figured the dosage needed.

We used this stategy on more than one flight and it worked wonders for us.

I do not tell people how to raise/handle their children.

The OP asked for suggestions on flying with an infant. Mine is mearly a suggestion. I do not have a problem giving medications to my child, especially if the pediatrician says it is okay. My daughter is almost 7 and is still very healthy (thank the lord).

I am sure the OP would benefit from hearing others suggestions.

If supported by a physician, then that is fine, but, to do it without consulting one is advice/suggestion that could prove dangerous to the child. Maybe if someone said "check with your ped. and see what she/he suggests about benadryl" would be better advice. Some people, believe it or not, take everything they read here as gospel.

 

[tjmw2727]

Again - neither of the original posts about giving benadryl mentioned that it was advised or even ok'd by the pediatrician. Even if they had I would still suggest trying to fly without using medication first. That would be my suggestion, not better or worse than anyone else's suggestions, just different.

Many of us are not aware of the potential side effects of so many commonly used OTC and prescription medicines. I think lately we are seeing more of the down side and bad effects that some of these commonly used meds are having on adults and children. Its a difficult risk when your child is sick - not a risk I want to take when my kids are healthy.

Just to clarify my earlier post in case it was worded to judmentally, not my intention.

TJ

 

[Hawk]

Geez - and maybe they believe everything on TV is true! Oh yes, we are being invaded from Mars because it was in the National Inquirer!

I would hope that all information on this board is given the proper level of scrutiny by the readers.

Hawk.

P.S. We all know that the bright light in the sky wasn't a Martian or some other invader from space - IT WAS TINKERBELL!!!!

 

[BCV23]

Just another warning about benedryl...two of mine had what I guess are paradoxical reactions to it.

Our oldest became really hyper when we gave it to him per Drs. suggestion when he had chicken pox....giggling, running around, etc..

When our daughter had spinal surgery and was on morphine post-op, she was given benedryl to help with the itching from the morphine. First dose, she seem agitated....second dose, she went nuts. She was yelling at the nurse and especially me, thrashing, etc.. Not a pretty sight until she was sedated.

So I wouldn't assume it would calm a baby. Personally, I'm in the camp of never using OTC drugs unless necessary anyway.

Lots of good advice...blanket, stroller, wellpacked bag, change of clothes. I would also add that I always tried to have my kids well rested so they could handle all the hubbub. Even so they sometimes slept...I think the sounds lulled them. But if babies are overly tired, it can be so hard. Did anyone mention having nonmessy snacks...raisins worked for my kids at that age I think? As long as the mom keeps track of them!

Also totally agree about starting to nurse or a bottle well before landing. I alwys used the blanket to give us privacy for nursing, too.

 

[RamseyTrio]

I would suggest taking a flight that is during the baby's sleeping time - that way they will hopefully sleep on the ride down!

We flew NYC-SEA when our oldest DS was 4. The flight was at 9pm our time and he slept most of the way there. Coming homw was a redeye and again, he slept.

Our youngest DS was 8 months when we went to WDW back in May. We chose a NYC-MCO flight that corresponded with his naptime and a flight home during his bedtime.

I agree that it's worth it to get a seat just for the baby. "lockdown" in a car seat is a wonderful things!

Also have them check the stroller at the gate for easy transport to the baggage area.