nursing infant on plane

[amyjo]

Figured this was more appropriate here than transportation? Maybe not. Anyway, we did buy a seat for our 2-month old on the plane and will have baby's carseat. My question is, will I be able to hold him during takeoff and landing or will he have to be in the seat? To avoid ear problems (and the screaming that results) I planned to nurse him during takeoff and landing. Anyone have any idea what airline policy is on that? We're flying Midwest Express--guess I could just call and ask, but I'm too lazy to pick up the phone. Thanks.

 

[Nanu57v]

I don't know for sure, but I figure if you could hold him if you didn't buy a seat, why couldn't you since you did buy a seat?

 

[akrake]

I know people say to nurse during take offs & landings...but that is the most dangerous time during the flight. if possible, give baby a pacifier, your finger, bottle, etc & then nurse once the flight gets going if he needs it. I've always flown with nursing babes & bought them seats...but I usually waited until after the flight was going.
my hint is to nurse him in the plane before it takes off, put him in for take off...most of the time they fall asleep due to the vibrations....nurse him when he wakes & put him back in.
good luck.
akrake

 

[nemomama]

The airline will allow you to hold the baby during takeoff and landing, since a car seat isn't required for children under age 2. I always nursed during takeoff/landing and never had a problem.

 

[BBGirl]

Yes, you can hold him during these times but please remember that bumping and angles will play into your ability to nurse at both of these times. Trust me I have done it more times that I want to remember. Bring along something else to help ears incase he doesn't want to nurse. For my son it was a bottle of water with pepermint oil for DD it was a bottle of BM as neither of them like being "pushed in" on take off and "pulled away" on landings. Also if you haven't though about it I would suggest to invest in a nursing top will make your life easier on plane and in disney. I will say I have never talked to mom who has been able to nurse during these times but after always helps to calm the crying baby so it's not the WHOLE FLIGHT. I always remember that crying releases the pressure too, if this does happen DO NOT FEEL BAD IT HAPPENS!!!
Take care
Tina

 

[amyjo]

Thanks for the advice everybody!! With any luck, we'll have a sleeping baby. (And, yes, I do have nursing tops for the trip.)

 

[stacy6552]

You can, but take off and landing are the most dangerous times to have your child unsecured! Keep the baby is the seat. Use a pacifier or your finger or a bottle of breast milk. Don't make the mistake of risking your child's safety after you've taken the precaution of having a seat for him.

 

[annabelle004]

You can, but take off and landing are the most dangerous times to have your child unsecured! Keep the baby is the seat. Use a pacifier or your finger or a bottle of breast milk. Don't make the mistake of risking your child's safety after you've taken the precaution of having a seat for him.

I have to say that I agree! Chances are nothing will happen, but is can be pretty rough during takeoff and landing and those are the most 'dangerous' times on a flight. It seems silly to have the car seat available and not use it during the time when you are most likely to need it.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[TinkerbellMama]

Figured this was more appropriate here than transportation? Maybe not. Anyway, we did buy a seat for our 2-month old on the plane and will have baby's carseat. My question is, will I be able to hold him during takeoff and landing or will he have to be in the seat? To avoid ear problems (and the screaming that results) I planned to nurse him during takeoff and landing. Anyone have any idea what airline policy is on that? We're flying Midwest Express--guess I could just call and ask, but I'm too lazy to pick up the phone. Thanks.

I nursed ds when he was 2.5 mos. old, on the plane to Orlando. We bought a Baby B'Air flight vest/harness to protect him during turbulence. The nursing worked like a charm to prevent any type of ear discomfort/crying during takeoff or landing. The airline certainly doesn't prohibit you doing so...remember, some babies don't have their own seat, period! I would think they'd rather have you nurse a quiet, happy baby than not nurse a screaming one!
Anyway, I highly recommend the Baby B'Air and will be glad to send you pictures of ds wearing his, if you want!
www.babybair.com

 

[TinkerbellMama]

P.S. 90% of all injuries in-flight occur during the cruise portion of the flight, NOT takeoff or landing. Personally, I will always nurse my son during takeoff/landing for his comfort, and use the flight vest as a precaution. Then again, I am funny about letting him cry...I just don't do it if there is a reasonably safe alternative! JMO, good luck!

 

[tjmw2727]

I nursed ds when he was 2.5 mos. old, on the plane to Orlando. We bought a Baby B'Air flight vest/harness to protect him during turbulence. The nursing worked like a charm to prevent any type of ear discomfort/crying during takeoff or landing. The airline certainly doesn't prohibit you doing so...remember, some babies don't have their own seat, period! I would think they'd rather have you nurse a quiet, happy baby than not nurse a screaming one!
Anyway, I highly recommend the Baby B'Air and will be glad to send you pictures of ds wearing his, if you want!
www.babybair.com

Just FYI, most if not all, carriers prohibit the use of a vest or harness such as baby B'air during take off and landing. Depending on the airline you may be able to use one during the other times in the flight but some airlines prohibut this alltogether. And since some have questioned me in the past, yes I have seen the FA prohibit the use of the BBA. For those wondering the BBA causes the baby to act as an airbag for the the parent in the event of turbulance.

Here is the verbage from AA website - others are the same:

FAA Non-Approved Infant Seat or Child Restraint Devices
The following may not be used when an infant seat or child restraint device is required:
Any device without an approval label
Booster seats without an approval label or shoulder harness
Belt extensions that attach to the parent or the parent's restraint
Any device that positions a child on the lap or chest of an adult

Since the OP has already purchased a seat and plans to use the CRS in flight, if at all possible, its best to leave baby in the seat as much as possible especially during take off and landing. Like others have suggested, BF just prior and just before landing, use a paci if you are comfy with that and hope for the best. My kids actually did better with take off and landing before 1y then after so maybe babies are more tolerant of the pressure changes.

In any case, you will be able to BF your baby if necessary during take off and landing but you won't be able to use a harness or Baby B'Air. Again, if, when, at all possible leave baby strapped in duirng as much of the flight as possible.

Have a wonderful trip.
TJ

Here is another link I find helpful on flying with children, its from the American Academy of Pediatrics:

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;108/5/1218

 

[TinkerbellMama]

We were on four separate flights and the flight attendants on each clearly saw me using it, yet said nothing. So it is possible one might be able to use them...I did!

 

[stacy6552]

No one is suggesting she let her baby cry. In fact I've only seen safer alternatives reccommended.

That baby B'air thing is not endorsed or FAA approved for a reason.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

No one is suggesting she let her baby cry. In fact I've only seen safer alternatives reccommended.

That baby B'air thing is not endorsed or FAA approved for a reason.

I guess I'm the one endangering my child, then. I was not aware it was such a dangerous device. Thank you for correcting me. I will call the airline today to ask them why I was allowed to use it. They really should have said something to me if it was such a hazard. I don't think I will fly on that airline again.

 

[Brina]

It is a difficult choice to make. Take off and landing are actually the most dangerous portions of a flight, and the time when a baby most needs to be strapped into his or her carseat - in the same way that the seatbelt sign is always on during these times. At the same time, nursing is recommended to help prevent pain in their ears.

I was lucky. My boys switched effortlessly back and forth between breast and bottle, so when we flew I always took bottles of expressed breastmilk and gave them a bottle for takeoff and landing. A pacifier will also do the trick if your baby is used to using one (my boys never would take one). Now that my kids are older I give them each a lollipop. It is a rare treat for them, so it always works.

 

[TinkerbellMama]

It is a difficult choice to make. Take off and landing are actually the most dangerous portions of a flight, and the time when a baby most needs to be strapped into his or her carseat - in the same way that the seatbelt sign is always on during these times. At the same time, nursing is recommended to help prevent pain in their ears.

I was lucky. My boys switched effortlessly back and forth between breast and bottle, so when we flew I always took bottles of expressed breastmilk and gave them a bottle for takeoff and landing. A pacifier will also do the trick if your baby is used to using one (my boys never would take one). Now that my kids are older I give them each a lollipop. It is a rare treat for them, so it always works.

I don't know what I am going to do now that I know the Baby B'Air is so dangerous. He doesn't take a bottle or a pacifier and on the one to two hour flights I'll bet I couldn't get him to sit in the car seat without screaming for more than 15-20 minutes. What can I do? Let him scream? Buy a seat for him that I know he probably won't use? Ugh.

 

[stacy6552]

Tink. I flew alone with my son once when he was about 2 (ish). I took the red eye hoping he'd sleep and on the first leg I had to lean into him and sing the theme song to Sesame Street the entire way (or maybe it was for 5 minutes, but it was the middle of the night and it felt like the whole way).

Thomas is beautiful and I doubt he'd give you as much trouble as you fear. He's getting big enough that he can snack on cheerios and shake a rattle and shred paper or even gumm one of those teething cookies for the ear pressure. Its the swallowing that releaves it, not the sucking itself.

 

[tjmw2727]

Tink. I flew alone with my son once when he was about 2 (ish). I took the red eye hoping he'd sleep and on the first leg I had to lean into him and sing the theme song to Sesame Street the entire way (or maybe it was for 5 minutes, but it was the middle of the night and it felt like the whole way).

Thomas is beautiful and I doubt he'd give you as much trouble as you fear. He's getting big enough that he can snack on cheerios and shake a rattle and shred paper or even gumm one of those teething cookies for the ear pressure. Its the swallowing that releaves it, not the sucking itself.

Well said, and I am so sorry the links I provided stressed you -that was not my intent, I just wanted to pass along information, particularly to the OP.

The families I saw on my flights were well intended, caring parents that saw this product advertised and thought it perfect. They were very surprised when the FA explained the danger. FWIW - even on the websites that sell BBA they now have a disclaimer saying that it is not allowed for take off and landing.

That said, you got great advice from Stacy - stay calm and don't worry. I agree, if he is 7 mos now then by the time you fly next, assuming WDW is next then food works as well, if not better than drinking. A toddler cookie or even a sippie with water by then will be appropriate at 12-14 mos. Even a teething toy could work. Find a few new baby/toddler toys and save them for only in carseat times now and on the plane. If he gets used to something special he gets only when sitting in the carseat it may be easier. Plus if he hits 20 lbs he will be front facing and that for us helped ALOT.

I bet if you start a new thread with your concerns, say, "keeping a 1yo happy in the CRS on the airplane" you will get many great ideas. Then narrow the responses down to the ones that feel right for you and plan.

Finally, the fact that you are thinking about this now and planning means that you will likely have no problems!

HTH
TJ

 

[NotUrsula]

If you have an infant young enough to be rear-facing in an infant carseat, you can nurse the baby just the same way you would in a car -- leaning forward, with a lightweight blanket draped around you both for privacy if you prefer. EBM would probably be easier, but if it won't work it won't work.

 

[amyjo]

Guess I'll just play it by ear and see how things go. I have yet to have a child who will have anything to do with a pacifier--maybe this one will be different and we can go that route. I don't want to mess with a bottle, so will probably nurse before we get on the plane and hope baby doses off before take off. If I have to nurse during takeoff/landing, I will; but it's not my first choice. I really just wanted to know that it was an option I could take advantage of if I needed to. Thanks for all your replies!!!