Flight with Baby ( It Is Approaching Fast Lol )

As a note to the Benadryl suggestions, some people are hyped up versus made sleepy by Benadryl. So you may want to test it out first, if you go that route.

YOU NEED a WRAP or a SLING ... I traveled with my son when he was 3mo, 6mo, 9 mo 12 mo and many more times beyond that ... the best thing I did for myself was ditch the stroller, use the wrap (you take baby out during take off and landing), baby was nursing at the time and that helped greatly as well. Any lovies, fav snacks and comfort foods/items in general, we have not had any issues with take off/landing crying issues b/c we do feed during that time and the longer you are able to stay calm and happy the longer baby will. If baby feels your annoyance with the flight or personalities on the flight he will probably take it personally and start crying. Oh and having a camera/portable dvd player etc is good too!

The comments believe regarding ears popping is important. Unless he's asleep, make sure you have a breast or bottle handy for him to help alleviate the pressure. If you're breastfeeding him, that is the easiest thing to do.

I do travel with an Ergo baby carrier. Even if you can't use it during takeoff and landing (it's against FAA regs), it's pretty handy the rest of the time. Of course, we don't typically travel with a stroller, so the baby carrier is handy when we get to our destination as well.

It sounds like you've got the rest covered. Have fun!

Hi K.,
My son's first flight was over his first birthday, so a little older than your little guy. We gave him a little bit of Benadryl just before the flight (ask your pedi for the correct dose), and he ended up sleeping through most of it. Since yours is a night flight, he will most likely sleep through it all, but having Benadryl just in case can be good for back-up. One other suggestion is to give him a bottle to drink from during take-off and landing because it will help with the ear pressure change. We had to time it just right and not give it too early but literally as the plane is lifting. You want him to swallow until the plane reaches the coasting altitude. However, if he is asleep during lift-off, let him be :)

Have a great flight and trip!

Bring your boppy, you'll need it because your arms will get tired when he sleeps. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise before, after and in between. Walk him to the bathroom and back on the plane, as well as let him stand on your lap. Let him look out the window if possible and definitely purchase the on board cable. This is what got me through aside from the toys, food, drink and sleep. Change his diaper on the dinner tray if possible because the bathrooms really pose a problem.

The nighttime flight should help him sleep.

I would have purchased a seat for him though. It would simply be more comfortable for you all.

Don't forget the passports.

I would advise against giving your son Benadryl. First of all, he's too young for it. Second of all, it may not make him sleepy - it may make him hyper instead. On the advice of a nurse in my daughter's doctor's office I gave her some Benadryl when she was sick last year and she ended up bouncing off the walls. I was under the impression that it would help with her allergies and also make her sleepy so she could get some rest because she was very, very cranky. Instead, I had a cranky kid who just couldn't settle down or sit still until the Benadryl wore off. That was not a fun day for mommy.

Check with your pediatrician to see if there's anything they can recommend to help if your son experiences discomfort during the flight. I flew with my daughter when she was 5 months old and I was told to give her a bottle at takeoff and landing to help with the pressure in her ears. Unfortunately, the flight attendants wouldn't let me do that. They made me put her bottle away and had me hold my daughter upright in my lap.

it all depends on the personality of your baby... i hope you don't regret not getting him his own seat, especially if he is good as a car-rider... benadryl isn't really recommended except for emergencies for children weighing under 23lbs b/c of unpredictable absorption rates - if you want that as an option, get a dosage from your pedi/pharmacist and test drive it AT HOME - benadryl wires some kids and can do WAY more harm than good if you don't know how it's going to affect your child. hope you guys have a good flight - oh, extra outfits and something DISPOSABLE to lay him on when changing him - airplane bathrooms are NASTY(if you're in a two seat row and it's just a #1 diaper, i'd discreetly lay him across window person's lap and discreetly change him there).

I think you can take baby medicine- my sister comes from Sweden every year never fails there is some kind of upset. decongestant and ibuprophen. air changes, climate changes, tend to effect babies more probably best to take something for thier stomach- air sickness.

Please do not change your baby's diaper on the tray table....totally gross (and doubt he is the size of a laptop). As a poster mentioned before, if you have the two seats next to the window and can put the baby on the furthest lap (for urine only) that would be ok. Do you know the plane's configuration? Considerate though to be the best neighbors you can be. Fingers crossed he will be a great sleeper.

My husband and I were just stationed here in South Korea back in August. Our son was 4 months old then and I wasn't pregnant with the second one yet hahaha. Our son did really well. He didn't really fuss unless he was hungry or needed a diaper change. I would just bring a few toys because you don't want to carry to much. Although your flight isn't nearly as long as our was. Ours was almost a 24 hour flight, but the Army paid for three seats so we didn't have to worry about holding him. I wish you luck :) I am not looking forward to when we go home, our kids will be 1and 2.5 hahaha.

Make sure his favorite toys are available as well. Also, ask the flight attendant for a bunch of the plastic cups. On my son's first flight (10 months), he played with them for almost 2 hours. Stacking them, turning them over, etc. Also make sure that when they call for people with small children, one of you go in and set up the seat area while the other stays out with your child. If the seat is set up early, you will feel more confident that everything is where you need/want it to be, and since your son will be able to stay out of the plane as long as possible, there is less chance of him getting antsy before you even take off! Finally, if you aren't opposed to it, give him a little Benadryl before the 9 hour flight. My son passes out with it, and chances are, your son will too. My ped actually said he recommends doing this with little ones so they are able to get some good rest in. Hope this helps and good luck!

I have been told that the pressure of flight on a babies ears can cause them to cry alot but this can be relieved by placing small dixi cups over your childs ears while plane is going up. Never done this myself but have been told that this can ease alot of babies disscomfort in flight.

Call the airline and ask for bulkhead seats and a bassinet. They may not assign you these seats until you check in, but ask for them. Most international flights have a bassinet that will attach to the bulkhead for you to have your baby in to sleep. This was a lifesaver for me when I flew to India with my 2 1/2 month old. The flight was NY to Mumbai, so 16 hours on the plane. I seriously would have lost my mind if I had to hold him the entire way.