Not Safe to Nurse on Plane?

[russtwinsmom]

DH is a commercial airline captain and he recommends that you absolutely, positively do not nurse during take-off and landing, or anytime when the seatbelt lights are on. The risk is just too high, especially in warm weather areas like Orlando. Thermals can result from differential heating in the air which in lay terms are massive bubbles of hot air that can cause airplane to dip or jump suddenly - the turbulence that you often feel at low altitudes. Pump and use a bottle, postpone the nursing, use a pacifier, try to get your child to sleep before these times or just let the baby cry. A few minutes delay is well worth it.

Another important note is to make sure that you do not overfeed your baby while you are at cruising altitude. At high altitudes your baby's stomach will expand. As you descend, his stomach will "deflate" which means he and probably you are going to have milk all over you. I have first hand seen many moms pay for this by making the mistake of giving their child a bottle during descent to avoid air pressure changes. Opt for a pacifier during descent.

On the original note, DH would also would NEVER let us fly with our twins without their having their own seats, even when it meant our buying full fare tickets to Europe and they were still tiny babies. He was on a flight as a passenger one time when a mother injured her child by crushing her when the plane lurched forward during a landing. A sling is a no-no and he says he wouldn't allow the use of one on his aircraft. I think having his own babies and his experience seeing an infant injured made him such a grump about baby safety!

Hope this helps.

 

[minkydog]

I absolutely agree. As awful as it feels to have your baby crying, regret feels worse. I well remember the days when carseats were not mandatory, in fact, not even available. Many, many children's lives are saved every year by carseats and seatbelts.

I know we don't like the think about "the worst" but really, if your plane hits turbulence and drops 5,000 ft, your baby will fly out of your arms--how awful would that be, baby sailing through the air? Let alone evacuating a plane with baby in a sling.<shudder>

As a pediatric nurse, i feel I must caution you to do the harder thing--use the car seat. I am a full supporter of breastfeeding, but not when it endangers a child. A little (or a lotta!)screaming is a small thing to bear. If people around you don't like it, tough...

 

[Gillian]

I appreciate hearing the different viewpoints and experiences. My baby is eating solids now for snacks -- he'll turn 8 months this week. So sucking/nursing/drinking is not necessary to alleviate the pressure and ear pain caused by take off and landing? Eating pureed babyfood works as well?

I'm not sure! I'm not the person who used baby food, but I'd think you could try it. I think that both chewing & swallowing help. If it doesn't work, take the baby out of the car seat when the plane is in the air.

Did anyone suggest earplanes?

 

[DisneyPhD]

If you feel like a bad mother for nursing your child on an airplane, then I am too. I have done it a number of times with my 1st daughter, it always helped comfort her and put her to sleep for the rest of the trip. I plan to do it with DD#2 on our next trip.

 

[swilphil]

My pediatrician told me to nurse my baby during take off and landing because he has "bad" ears. The idea of him getting injured because of turbulence never even came up. This has been a very interesting thread to read. My kids are past the nursing stage, but they want to be held a lot during a flight. I'll be extra careful about that in the future.

 

[Ahrizel]

While I have not idea if these are useable for infants, I do know they make earplanes for kids. Leave them in the ears and they are supposed to help equalize the air pressure. The main concern is ear pain, correct? If they could be used it might help til it's safe to take them out of the carseat to nurse. Don't know what to tell you beyond that. Tough choices.

 

[alisonbestford]

Hi there,
In the UK children under the age of 2 years are given seat belts, by the airline staff, which are an extension of their mothers'/ fathers' seat belt.
Is there nothing like that available?
I guess, in a way, you could say that these are little different from using a sling but these are what are advised here.
You can pay for a seat for a child under 2 and bring along a seat but I've only ever seen it happen a handful of times.
My DD (now 6) used to suffer dreadfully from painful ears when she was small and she flew several times, always on my knee, using the airline restraint, and nursing wherever necessary.
Hope you have a great trip anyway. As children grow they often literally 'outgrow', to some extent, this kind of discomfort and it becomes less distressing - saying that, knowing your child is in pain is dreadful at anytime and no amount of reasoning helps you stop being upset
Alison

 

[seashoreCM]

Breast feeding an infant during flight is unsafe but no more unsafe than having the infant on your lap because you did not buy a seat for him at all.

They make separate child seat belts (I don't know where to get them) that attach to the main seat belt where the main seat belt stays tight over the adult's waist. These child seat belts keep the child from becoming a projectile but do not protect the child from being crushed if the parent's body is thrown forward. Do not just use a seat belt extender that passengers with large waistlines sometimes use.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Last trip: Jan. '05, Pop Century
_____________________________________

<small>Never put soda pop in a baby bottle.</small>

 

[djm99]

I nursed my daughter during take off on a plane - when she was maybe 7 or 8 months. I didn't pay extra for her to sit in car seat so we held her. The plane was packed and my DH was seated a row ahead of me - when my DH handed me our DD to nurse her (my husband made a very quiet - yet made sure the guy seated next to me heard that statement) - the gentlemen asked my DH did he want to switch and I nursed her as we took off - I was always uncomfortable about exposing myself - so of course I had a very generous receiving blanket!) She fell asleep and I continued to nurse her until the captain made the annoucement that the plane had leveled (turned off the seat belt light).

I heard (which may or may not be true - or worth a hill of beans) not givng a baby so young something to prevent ear blockage could give other passengers a less than pleasant ride.

 

[NotUrsula]

In the UK children under the age of 2 years are given seat belts, by the airline staff, which are an extension of their mothers'/ fathers' seat belt. Is there nothing like that available?

These are called belly-belts, and they are actually illegal on US-based aircraft.
Specifically banned by Federal law. The reason is the "airbag" argument; they will hold the child in position to be crushed against the seatback by the adult's weight.

Use of slings and front-pouches is not allowed on US aircraft during takeoff and landing, and it is at the captain's discretion to let you use one at any time. If the FA tells you to remove it, you will have to do it. If you refuse, you can be charged.