Best way to keep an infant calm on the plane?

[TheOtherVillainess]

My SIL is attempting to orchestrate a plan that is a logistics nightmare. It involves the eight of us (DH,DS, myself, DSIL, her DH, her DS, and my DH's parents) flying to Michegan to visit DH's grandparents and various aunts,uncles,cousins, inlaws and outlaws.

We have NEVER flown with an infant before. We aren't concerned about the flight itself, only DS (and DNephew LittleBitty, who as you might recall me posting about before is the same age as DS only not really because LittleBitty was 13 wks early and therefore in 'gestational age' he's really only about 3 mos old..with me so far? )and what his reaction might be.

I want to dope him up with something to keep him calm during the flight. DH doesn't want to do that as he hates to give DS anything unless he really,truly needs it for some dire reason.

So...what's the best way to keep DS quiet on the 2 1/2 hr flight from DFW to Detroit?

Any and all advice is welcome!

TYIA.

TOV

 

[jfulcer]

If your DS (James?) is really 5 months old, I don't know if I would consider giving him anything to just quiet him down. The medicines that you give him can increase his heart rate and every time you do that, there is a 'chance' something could happen. That's why doctors are reluctant to give very small children medicine like that unless they really need it.

Do you want to have something happen when you are 20,000 feet in the air?

Bring favorite toys, a bottle to give him to drink just as you take off and land (don't feed him just before you get on the plane) and that will help equalize the pressure in his ears. A Nuk is also a possibility.

And if that fails, and you have a crying child, bring your favorite apologies for the other travelers. Most I would assume have been in the same situation, so don't sweat it. It's only 2 1/2 hours.

 

[crz4mm2]

Is your baby usually a fussy baby? Cry alot? I would just be prepared to offer him something to suck on take off and landing. If he is a breast baby, offer that. If a bottle baby offer that or a pacifier if you use them. Most babies do fine but are sometimes fussy with the air pressure difference.
I wouldn't drug him either
Have a great time. Good luck.

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Talk to your ped. My 7 month old did well on a 4 hour flight to Phoenix. I was so nervous. I know him having his own car seat made it much easier.

Lori

 

[Disney_1derland]

If so I know that is what helped my baby (now a 4 year old!) get through the flights we took her on. I just nursed her on the way up and down and other than that she was very happy to look around and see all the new things. Good Luck!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

James is 5 mos old. DNephew, LittleBitty,being a preemie is sort of not 5 mos old. I mean yes..he was born 5 mos ago about 2 wks after James was. BUT as with most preemies, we count his age in 'gestational months' not 'actual months'. That is to say...we count his age in months by how old he WOULD be if he'd been a full term baby instead of 13 wks early. I'm more worried about LittleBitty than I am about DS because I know LB is a bit more fragile than my own son. Healthy, but still fragile. IF I were DSIL, I wouldn't be taking him anywhere until he was at least a year old..but as LB is NOT my son, it is not my decision and I have to respect her decision. She knows LB and his problems far better than I do and if she thinks he's ready to handle a plane ride, then he must be ready. *shrugs*


crz4mm2--he can be fussy. He has been the last three weeks or so because we think he's teething. But it's always a guess as to whether he's going to put up a fuss or be an angel.
Last night while visiting the Gaylord to see the Mickeys, he was perfect. Today..he's been OK. Not perfect, but not overly fussy either. So..we have to roll the dice and take our chances I suppose.

A Nuk is also a possibility.

LOL...that thing goes with us everywhere we go. Yes, I know. I'm a horrible parent for giving my son an orthopaedic pacifier. But he loves it. I don't know what we'd do without it.

TOV

 

[mickeyboat]

Try to feed him on the way up and down to calm his ears. Keep him in his car seat as much as he will let you. DD slept almost the whole time on the plane when she was 4 months old.

That was a fun trip for us. We had a 16 month old and a 4 month old going to visit grandparents for Christmas. There was bad weather in Philidelphia and we had to spend the night. Luckily, the airline was gracious enough to put us up in a hotel for the night. I don't know what I would have done with two babies all night in the airport.

Denae

 

[aprincessmom]

DD traveled on airplanes a lot as an infant and toddler. She was always great. I tried to travel during her standard nap times. I always bought a seat for her...no one likes sitting on someones lap for hours and no one like holding a squirming someone on their lap for hours as well.

Take a pacifier or bottle for him to suck on during take-off and landing. Helps relieve the pressure in his ears.

Change his diaper at the last possible second before boarding and dress him in layers to help keep him comfortable for the temperature changes (hot or cold airports, warm airplanes, cold air blowing from the vents, etc).

 

[year2late]

Do folks really drug their infants for flights?

Eeek! Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.


I agree, talk with a pediatrician about different stategies.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Do folks really drug their infants for flights?

I couldn't even imagine it.

 

[Rutt and Tuke]

I've heard of pediatricians recommending pedi-benadryl or such, but this was for long international flights so the baby would sleep at least a little.

 

[spagheddie]

I've known people to have given their kids doses of Children's (Pick your drug of choice), I don't think I could.

Here's one little tip I could give you. It won't help the crying but it may ward off evil/dirty looks. Let your DH try and soothe him. People tend to be much more sympathetic with the father trying to soothe a baby than the mother.

 

[MHopkins2]

This sounds weird, but it works... If the bottle/****/binkie isn't helping with the ear pressure, yawn at the baby. Yawning is highly contagious and is the only thing that helps me when I fly.

 

[mtblujeans]

Push the pacifier and bottle ~ especially going up and coming down. Little ones ears are supposed to be so susceptible to the pressure changes of going up and down that the discomfort will even wake them from a sound sleep. When my kids were really little I would nurse them going up and down, even if it meant we were the last ones off the plane! I think most people are understanding of babies being uncomfortable during flights so don't feel bad if you cannot keep your little one totally quiet during the flight....they are just babies, after all.

 

[year2late]

My only advice would be for you.

If your baby does cry, remember it is a natural thing. If the fellow passengers are pissed because of the crying, take a breath and say to yourself "the heck with them". The more you are uncomfortable with their stares or comments, the more tense you will be....your infant will sense it and kick the wailing up a notch.

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Originally posted by year2late
Do folks really drug their infants for flights?

Eeek! Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

I agree, and this just sounds so very wrong.

I want to dope him up with something

BTW it's Michigan.

 

[Pembo]

I wouldn't go.

 

[Laurabearz]

We have flow with all of our kids since they were babies...

Wait until a few minutes after take off before giving the bottle... it takes a while for the pressure to build, and they could be done with the bottle by the time they need it 5-10 mintues into the flight... if that makes sense.

Binkys are wonderful! I firmly beleive it has saved my son's life since he prefers it over Barbie shoes, hair ponies, rocks, and dirt.

Another poster mentioned remaining calm and accepting of the situation if he does cry.... you freaking out only makes it worse.

And an old standby..... lolipops. Your son is a little young, but they really do work wonders. I would pack one (dum-dums are our fave) just in case..... call it plan D.

Games to play....

Peek a boo, eating toes, reading books, what ever you normally do during play time.... Our kids always loved having a small stuffed toy dropped on them, over and over and over again. Masking tape.. make a curl, like you were going to put a poster up, and stick it on his fingers, preferable when the above mentioned life saving Binky is in place....

It will be fine.... and your right LittleBitty is not your responsiblity, but you might wanna bring 2 lolipops along.

Oh and I suggest bringing an extra shirt for both you and DH in the carryon... I was spit up on once and it was wicked.

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

The only comfort I have if he starts crying is that I will NOT be alone. DSIL will be there with LittleBitty who will probably be crying as hard or harder as DS maybe.

Do folks really drug their infants for flights?

Yup. Heard of it being done lots of times, tbh. My parents did it with my brother when they went on their honeymoon to Hawaii and had to fly like 9 hrs nonstop from DFW to Honolulu or wherever it was they went. He was like oh..I think something like 3 mos old at the time..maybe not even that old.

Oh and I suggest bringing an extra shirt for both you and DH in the carryon... I was spit up on once and it was wicked.

Good idea..I'll have to remember that. Thanks.

. I always bought a seat for her...no one likes sitting on someones lap for hours and no one like holding a squirming someone on their lap for hours as well.

Our thoughts exactly. We're buying him his own seat and bringing his carseat and stroller (stroller will be gatechecked). We figure we have to have it for the car/van/whatever after we get off, so why not bring it on the plane and strap his little butt down while we're in flight? Makes sense,right?

I firmly beleive it has saved my son's life since he prefers it over Barbie shoes, hair ponies, rocks, and dirt.

I wish my DS were that way. He only likes his Nukkie if there's nothing else availabe. If he can't stuff his hands,feet,blanket or my hair into his mouth, then he'll take a Nuk. But not until every other possibility has been exhausted.

TOV

 

[decker96]

We've flown with all our kids when they were babies. The youngest any of them was, was our youngest DD now 11 months. We flew to Colorado from MN with her when she was 3 months. It was a 2 1/2 hour non-stop flight. I was nursing, so I nursed her when we took off, but she refused to eat when we were landing and she didn't take a pacifier so she got a little fussy when we were descending, but not too bad. She only cried for about 10 minutes, nothing I and everyone else on board couldn't handle.
As far as flying with your baby in their car seat, we've done both with and without. Our two older kids always flew in their car seats as babies, but we've flown with our youngest twice (at 3 months and 10 months) and haven't used the car seat either time because she hates it (car rides over a half hour are a real joy let me tell you!). She can't stand being confined so I knew she would do better on my lap on the plane than in her car seat. You make the call on that one.
I would buy a couple new toys and not give them to him until you're on the plane and only if he's getting fussy or bored. We do this for all three of our kids whenever we fly. It gives them something new to play with and concentrate on.
I agree with other posters. Above all, remain calm. The calmer you are, the calmer your child will be. Don't worry about any stares or dirty looks from other passengers. You'll never see them again, so who cares. Besides most are more understanding than you think.