Advice on Flying with a Very Active 9 Month Old

Really, really, really I would try to get a seat for her as ISTM based on your description that she will be screaming during the flight - she will have to stay on your lap for well over half the flight. The least you should do is check with the agents when you get to the airport to see if it isn't possible to get an empty seat next to yours. And, then just plan on gate checking your car seat if there isn't an empty seat. If you happen to be breastfeeding then it should actually be easy - just get a window seat and nurse during take-off and landing. I did that with my sons and often my younger son would then sleep through most of the flight. Barring that, if she will at least take a bottle while you hold her, that might help, in particular she really needs to be drinking something at takeoff and landing so her ears will pop, otherwise, she may well be screaming in pain. Also, I would bring any soothies, cuddly things she uses at home at bedtime to keep her more calm.

And, one final thought is to give her benadryl as soon as you board the plane. That might help her to sleep and benadryl is actually very safe for kids this age. Personally, I wish more parents would do this as I have endured way too many flights with screaming children. And, I am not one to give my kids any medications unless they are absolutely necessary, but this seems like such a situation to me ;)

I feel your pain....just had a 9+ hour flight with our 13 month old son, luckily I also had Grandma on the flight to help out. Advice for ear popping concern, one thing I was very concerned about, give her a bottle/sippy cup as your are taking off and landing if possible so she is sucking while changing altitude so fast. If you can buy 2 new toys, ones without tiny parts and introduce to her while flying and the books and snacks you are bringing are a great idea too. When you get to the airport and check in ask them to put you in an row where there will be an empty seat next to you and they will usually block that seat off to give you more room.
Good luck!

Try a portable DVD player with a Baby Einstein DVD or maybe an Elmo dvd. You can't watch it durring take off and landing, but by the time you are up in the air it could be a life saver. We bring one with us and only use it at the end when my son gets really restless. Sort of a last resort for us, but a really good one!

I have travelled often with both of my boys, and around the time they begin to walk is honestly about the most difficult time to fly with them. I also recommend getting her a seat if you can. I flew by myself with my oldest son when he was 14 months old, and he was almost walking (very late walker), and I didn't get him his own seat. It was a long, miserable flight from here to Chicago, then we changed planes and flew to North Carolina. He screamed, "Down, down" over and over again while arching his back while I struggled to hold him. Luckily he loved people and we were sitting near the restroom, so he would stop screaming occassionally to chat with people waiting to use the restroom (he was very verbal - probably why he waited so long to walk). Anyway, it was rough. He finally passed out and slept on the way to North Carolina because we didn't get there until almost midnight. I really wish I had gotten him his own seat. It would have been worth the money, but I did survive. I do remember it like it was yesterday though, and he is 11 years old now. Good luck, and enjoy your trip however the flight goes.

*All of our other flights have gone really well, but my kids have always had their own seats once they past the infancy stage since that experience.

I've been there done that. We fly a lot and did when my daughter was young.

I only took her as a lap child when she was very small. When she was around 9 months old...we started buying a seat for her. It is worth it...

First of all, Request and HOPE you get an open seat next to you. A lot of flights now are full with the deals going on. IF you can't do that, try to get the bulkhead area and at least she can stand up some after you get in the air and cruising and won't be having little feet pressing on the seat in front of you.

Have some surprises and her favorites put away for her and pull them out along the way. Also, make sure she has a drink on take off and landing. Landing seemed to always be the worst part on our daughter's ears.

Don't worry....we've all been there at one time or another.
Relax and enjoy.