Tips for Long Flights with Infant?

Well, no tips really, but you should go for it! The baby will still be young enough that he'll probably sleep quite a bit on the plane. Just try and bring some "new" toys. Maybe get a few new things or hide some of his favorites a few weeks before the trip so they'll seem new to him again. You could also make a book of baby faces that you cut out of magazines, babies always love looking at other babies. It might be stressful, but this trip seems so awesome that you might as well just make it work!

Go for it. It will be easier now than in 6 months with an active baby!

If you still can, opt for a night flight.
Nurse/feed for take off and landing (to ease ear pressure)

As previously said, ask for a bulk head seat with a bassinet. Plan on more outfits/diapers than usually in this lenght of time as flying may make him vomit/poop more. Pajamas work best. Take a second T-shirt for you too just in case the burping/vomit lands on you.

One or 2 new toys to keep him entertain.For his first long flight, at around 4 months, my son loved the Lamaze giraffe. If you have an ipod, you can also upload some family pictures/video to use in case of screaming (for some reason, babies tend to stop screaming with this kind of diversion), as normal ways to calm him (walking or dancing around, rocking... may be harder on a plane)

If you use to carry your baby, bring your carrier. This may comfort him too, if needed.

Also bring baby medicine (like tylenol, teething gel or tablet...) as you never know when your little one may need it. And, yes, some baby are teething at 5 months!

As far as I remember for my children, when they were this young, flights were not a problem at all. They would sleep or enjoy.

Enjoy your trip!

I flew from London to Missoula, MT with my son when he was 5 1/2 months (the first time), and it was actually the easiest time! Ask for a bulk head seat so you have more room, and remember to bring at least 2 changes of cloths in case you get a leaky diaper or vomit. I am sure he will do great.

Do it! We leave in two days for our second trip to Australia with our daughter. She is now two- we went the first time when she was 8 months and it was a breeze! (dreading this trip a whole lot more) she slept most of the flight (Leave west coast at 11pm) we had the bulk head and bassinet she was over age but under weight limit so they let us have it- While it was good for being able to put her down to eat or grab something- they (united) made us take her out EVERY TIME the seat belt light went on so in the end it was easier to let her sleep in my arms- second the change of cloths- and for all of you dress in layers- much more comfortable.

request a bassinet early on cuz they do ran out of them fast. If your son's over the weight limit, it might be worth paying for a seat and taking your car seat. If you are getting him a seat , don't request for the bulkhead seats since you cannot raise the arm rest and wouldn't be able to lay him down if you need to. It is not fun holding your baby for 13 hours straight! I had done it last July on a trip from Philippines to LAX because the airlines bassinet was so crappy!! They didn't had it hooked to the wall , you had to put it in the floor and my lil one will not sleep in it. I don't blame her.. I wouldn't too.

I have never done a long flight like this, but as Tori says, I would go for it!

Remember to nurse/give a bottle during take-off and landing to help equalize the pressure in baby's ears.

If he gets bored maybe you could walk up and down the aisles with him, and he will see some new faces. And many people love babies, They will think he is cute!

Good luck!

K. Z.

My daughter has been flying with me since she was 3 months old. I would nurse non stop, she's sleep, nurse and that's pretty much it. No ear popping issues. One suggestion, if you can (and depending on where you're flying into), Qantas has flights that stop in LAX (or SFO) and then in Honolulu. You can stop off there for a day or 2 (time permitted) at no cost and break up the flying. We did that one time and my daughter loved it. The stop over does go to Sydney but if going to Melbourne after they fly you there as part of your route.
Enjoy!

When I took my son on a plane at that age, I gave him tylenol beforehand to comfort the possibility of his ears popping, plenty of small toys he likes and a dvd player with a cartoon. I know he didn't understand the cartoon (pink panther...looney tunes) but it mesmerized him for a bit. Dress him in comfortable clothes too, my son had on sweat pants and tshirt. I also brought his blanket from home, I didn't wash it, it wasn't dirty, I just wanted it to smell like home to soothe him, it worked. Something to chew/teethe on is good too. One thing that seriously worked, when we were taking off, I had him suck on a bottle of water so his ears wouldn't get plugged in take off. He was sensitive to ear infections and this truly worked, along with the tylenol. Tylenol helps with relieving pain afterwards...a just in case, but sucking on the water helped prevent it in the first place.

Also, if he is still on formula, you can find them at target and walmart, there are these little containers that divide into three to put portions of formula in. It's got a spout you open and just pour the formula in the bottle...AWESOME!! I tried to make everything as non complicated and easy as possible. A few small jars of fruit and veggies too for something extra..I used containers a couple of times and jars other times.

Hopefully you are nursing. I flew cross country with my first son 5 times before he was one, by myself. I nursed him whenever he wanted (especially during take off and landing to help his ears with the air pressure), and he was a dream. Slept the whole flight.