Travel with an Eight Month Old

Michelle
We are traveling next week to Maui for two weeks and here is some advise I received as well!
I say travel as light as possible!!! We always stay in a house so we can wash clothes and save room in our baggage for stuff we buy in HI. If you're staying at a hotel, there are also washaterias.

For the plane:
car seat
sling (no need for bulky backpack carrier unless you plan to hike)
stroller
diapers
wipes
bags for dirty dipes
towels for unexpected messes
change of clothes for all
a few snacks/drinks
cash

The white noise of the airplane might keep baby asleep. Nurse while taking off and especially while landing.

Depending on when your flight is...to combat waking up at 3am the next morning, try to stay awake until HI time for bed.

Also take only diapers needed for flight plus first day and buy diapers in HI you will save a lot of room

Also try babysaway.com they rent baby items

My 10 month old has flown four times so far in her little life.

I agree pack light! It is hard getting down the plane aisle with the infant carrier, baby, your carry on and diaper bag.
I agree only take diapers you need

Check the FAA regulations. You can not take anything on the plane that is liquid more than 3oz. So like oragel, butt paste is all has to be tubes smaller than 3 fl oz..... and in a clear quart size ziplock. If you formula feed you have to pour all liquids out except ONE bottle that you have to declare... you can buy water to mix inside! (I thought that was crazy myself)

Getting through security is another reason you want to pack light... It can be hard to hold baby and put all bags from the stoller through, then car seat, then stroller, and then you and baby get through security and put it all back together. (They made me take babys shoes off along with mine! WHAT a PAIN)

It depends what airport you are dealing with on how strict and helpful they are or are not!

As far as time change! In my experiance not alot you can do after a week... she asjusted herself! As far as meals, naps, and waking up and going down times.

I have a 6 mo old and we have gone to Phoenix twice since he was born. I know it is not as drastic a time change, but he surprisingly just "knew." I think it is because of the actual daylight vs. darkness, not the time.

My plane trip was also not as long, but if you ask the check-in people if they have extra seats on the plane (if you aren't buying one for her) and they do, they will let you take the car seat on the plane. I found that helped a lot. That way you have room to move and somewhere to put her. Toys, the window and food also helped keep my son quiet. Also, there is no way to change the diaper without having a little extra room.

Good luck and have fun. If you stay calm about the trip, the baby will too!

I also have to recommend getting a bottle with the smallest hole possible so your child has to suck hard. I put watered down pedialyte in our bottle so I knew she would drink it. she had to suck hard, but it kept her ears from bothering her and then she slept the rest of the way because of the plane noise.

Babies are pretty good about time change. They adapt quickly. You could always keep her on her regular schedule so that way it is easy for you when you get back. One thing that is when you are on the airplane, put a pacifier in her mouth. Even if she doesn't use one, try it. Only during take off and landing. This will help her with the whole ear popping thing. You do the same thing for your self with gum. Even if you feed her from a bottle at that time. Just as long as she is sucking on something, it will help.