First Time Flying with 6 Month Old

Yes you absolutely can breastfeed your child on the plane!!!! I was not able to nurse any of my children but I am by no means against it. (Mine couldn't latch.) Has your sister ever been on a plane?? If she has she should know how difficult it really is to see other passengers unless your are purposefully looking around. Sit by the window, cover up with a blanket and feed your child!!!

L., you can definatly breastfeed on the plane(just use a cover). Both of our boys were on formula, and bottles were such a pain when I flew with our oldest when he was 6 months old.Breastfeed when taking off/landing. And as for baby food, if you're not comfortable with regular kind get some organic jars.(unless you're using all organic ingredients to make your own baby food, it is even better than homemade) My 2 cents:)

First of all, breastfeed your baby on the plane!!! That is the BEST way to avoid his ears popping. Esp if he doesn't regularly take a bottle, the comfortability of breastfeeding will keep him from screaming on the plane! that, I can tell you, will be appreciated from EVERYONE on the plane! Breastfeeding is a natural thing, its the reason why women have breasts - there is NO reason to be ashamed to feed your son in public! If you are self-conscience, you could always drap a blanket over yourself.

As for the food, I would have to think that buying a couple of jars of organic baby food would have to be easier than trying to bring your own. (Be sure the food is sealed!) I don't know what current security is, but trying to go through security gates with containers of premade food might be difficult.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!

I flew with both of my children when they were still nursing and I breastfed both while we were taking off and landing. It was great. I really hope you do not listen to your sister, I doubt she has ever breastfed a baby. It is a natural thing to do, a baby has to eat and if there is a parent on the plane (you know there will be) they will absolutely undrstand you nursing on the plane. I would be much more concerned about the pain in your child's ears than what others on the plane may or may not think of you. Please ignore your sister's comments, just bring a small thin blanket and don't start nursing until you start rolling fast down the tarmac. I started feeding my first too early and she was almost done before we even took off, I had to stop her and start again a few minutes later. Just do it, it's what's best for you and your baby, just be discreet, it is very hard to see others around you on a plane and you have every right to do it.

L., I am a mom of 4 and I breastfed all of my babies. You already know breastfeeding is a natural thing from God. We have to deal with all sorts of things in this world that are not natural. With you and your husband flying together, I cannot see where it would be a problem for you to breastfeed your son on the plane. I did it with my oldest on a plane from Hawaii to Atlanta, almost 12 years ago, and I was by myself. It was not difficult at all. I had a row to myself, the stewardess made sure that no one sat with me because of this. I am finding that more and more people are very respectful when it comes to breastfeeding. I think you need to keep your luggage light, especially with security. They make you put things in plastic baggies and open everything up. You will have to worry about your breastmilk and food getting contaminated if you have to carry it on. The less luggage you have the easier it will be. Good luck and keep me posted on your decision. I will pray that God will make it a safe and easy flight for all 3 of you.

Hi L.,

I agree with all the other moms who responded: please do breastfeed your baby on the plane, and don't even worry about it. Last year we flew to Italy from DC, with a connecting flight in between, and the whole trip might have been about 12 hours. My baby was 6 and half months old, and I did breastfeed her both on the plane and at the airports, with no problem. I had a light blanket over my shoulder, but obviously the baby didn't want to be covered...anyhow, with the maternity tops and maternity bras, really you are not going to show much breast, and even if it happen for somebody to see some, certainly it won't be disrispectful for you to breastfeed on the plane. As for the baby food, a few jars of organic baby food would help. I also used to prepare my own at home, but for practicality, the sealed jar will work better. I don't know about your baby, but mine would eat just a couple of spoons total per jar anyway.
As for the entertainment portion of the trip, in case your baby doesn't sleep much, my little girl used to stand on my laps and looked at all the passengers behind us, and giving them big smiles. I think we were lucky that people behind us were playful with her too, and they were doing peek-a-boo.
So the trip went well.
Good luck!

Hi L.,

I'm a first time mom to a 7 month old girl. We've flown twice since her birth and plan on doing it again this 4th. Our daughter has also only had breast milk since birth.

Both times I ended up nursing on the plane, although I had planned on bottle feeding. As for the other passengers - I really don't think they noticed. (Frankly, I don’t care if they did. I decided while in the hospital - about the time the nurse was manhandling my breast to show me how to nurse – that with motherhood all modesty had left the building.) I sat with my daughter in the window seat and my husband sat next to me. I also wore a cover while doing it. It's a new experience for them and it might be more comforting to him to be able to nurse as oppose to bottle feed - trust me you will do just about anything to keep them from howling on the plane. If you succeed, the other passengers won't care if you had to whip out the girls to do it.

The second time I flew alone with her; I told the stewardess about my situation and she found another seat for the person who was seated next to me. He was more than happy to be reseated as even a 2 hour flight next to an infant is not usually on the top of most people's travel picks.

As for keeping the milk fresh (you'll want at least a days extra with you in case your body decides the trip is too stressful and refuses to make milk). We packed frozen packets tightly together and had ice packs on either side. I carried it on and explained to the TSA people that it was breast milk. Since it was with the pump they didn't give me any grief about it.

If you decide to bottle feed on the plane and the duration does not allow you to just bring fresh, bring the frozen and thaw some out in the terminal bathroom before. Or, bring your pump as a carry on and pump right before the flight takes off - that will give you at least 3 to 4 hours.

Another tip, I have a giant duel action pump that I've brought both times. The second time I managed to leave it in the rental car and had to wait over a week to get it back. For our next trip, I'm just bringing a compact single pump. It is still pretty powerful and it's half the size. Also, if it gets left behind, not as big a deal bc it was only about 35 dollars (Target I think).

Good luck on your trip!

J.

I don't see a problem with breastfeeding your child on the plane, just cover yourself up with a blanket or something. Depending on how long your flight is you could arrive a little early to the airport and feed your child right before you get on the plane. I'm not sure they would leave the seat in your row empty if there was an extra because of the airlines cutting capacity and often times they overbook flights to insure a full plane. If you pump milk and keep it at room temperature it stays good for many hours so you wouldn't have to bring bottles and ice packs. Then again I am assuming you are taking a short flight. Have fun on your trip.

Is it a long flight or short one? I would nurse my baby on airline trips. I covered myself and I sat by the window- and it just looked like I was holding a sleeping baby (according to passers-by). I especially felt it was important to nurse when the plane was taking off and landing so the swallowing would keep the pressure equal while changing altitude. Practice before you go so you are comfortable being discreet. Does the baby make all these noises when he nurses? If you have a conversation with your husband the noises will be audible but part of any airline background noises. Have Fun.

Having read the other responses, I have to caution that the flight will likely be full and if you don't have your seat and your husband's side by side, you may very well have another passenger in the middle seat--though that person might be willing to trade to allow you and hubby to be next to each other. Breast feeding is far easier on the plane--just use a light blanket to cover up and do feed during takeoff and landing to help baby clear his ears. As to carrying any food or bottles, the TSA is still limiting all containers to a max of 3 oz, so pack any food or bottles with that limitation in mind, or they will be confiscated--all the more reason to breastfeed--and keep in mind that not just ears need to clear; tummy gas will expand with altitude, too, so baby may be gassy, and nursing may help him to pass that as well. Be sure to bring plenty of entertaining items to keep baby from becoming bored and fussy during the flight, but the best thing is to keep him awake as long as possible before the flight so that he may sleep through most of it, which will make it far easier for you, your husband, and the other passengers. DO NOT expect the flight attendants to assist in any way with baby care, though they might be able to fill and warm a bottle of water for you--also very good for a gassy tummy. Blessings, and may God grant you a pleasant and uneventful flight!