Traveling for the First Time with Baby

My husband and I just came back from our first plane trip across country this past week with our 21 month old son. We bought a seat too which I think is a good choice especially for traveling long distances. There was no way that he was going to sit still on two flights just on our laps. We brought the car seat on board which allowed him to sleep a bit(our son is not the type to sleep on our laps). We also bought a portable dvd player for him which was an absolute life saver(this may or may not be helpful for you since your daughter is still a bit young). I did some research online before we left and googled "flying with children" and found some really helpful websites with a lot of good suggestions (www.flyingwithkids.com). Also the TSA website has helpful information for parents in regards to getting through security and what is allowed and not allowed to bring through the airport. I suggest maybe buying a few new small toys to keep her interest and plenty of snacks and liquids to drink. Good luck!

K.,
I have 2 kids and have traveled with both for some time now. I would bring a couple new items for her to explore. When my kids were a little older, I would wrap a new book or small toy in tissue paper (easy to open). Of course bring whatever sooths her. Nurse her or give her a bottle at take off to release any ear pressure..pacifiers work too. Actually, my kids never had a problem with the pressure though, unless they had a cold.
As a last resort, back up measure, I would bring along a homeopathic remedy such as Clams Forte for kids (by Hylands, the ones who make teething tablets) (Check the label for dosing) use them if she is unable to settle. Honestly in all likelihood, she will be very excited about her new adventure, skip her nap and do just fine.
good luck!

Hi K.,

I glanced at some of the excellent advice you have already received...please pardon me if I'm telling you something that's already been written! I've traveled with my girl since she was 3 months old; she's now two and an experienced traveler. I'll second what the others said about dealing with the air pressure by feeding her on take off and landing; also about the car seat if she's comfortable in hers at home...and getting the bulkhead is wonderful, when that works out...by breastfeeding you're at a distinct advantage since you've got the built-in soothers...you'll be exhausted, but I found it works wonderfully throughout your trip. Also, my second most wonderful item is a natural mineral supplement called "Natural Vitality Baby Calm," it contains magnesium citrate, Magnesium Ascorbate and stevia and it naturally calms your child. It will either aid in getting them to sleep, or it will calm their overall mood. It might work better when she's a little older because the breastfeeding seemed to work so well at younger ages. The white powder (which I carry through security in a ziplock without any suspicious glances!) mixes well with orange juice; the only thing is that the taste is a little bitter, so you just have to hope she goes for it! Good luck and happy traveling!!!

Hi K.,
My husband and I travelled with our baby (Sofia) on the plane twice...once when she was 3 1/2 months old and again when she was 5 1/2 months old. We didn't buy an extra seat. These are my recommendations;

1) when picking your seats for the plane...choose an aisle that has a seat on the aisle (for you) and window seat (for your husband)....b/c then if the plane isnt full then the person in the middle ...will probably want to move...
I was reading somewhere that if your baby is crying when you get on the plane...don't try to hard to calm her...b/c then
the person might move...I didnt have to do this...the guy decided on his own to move.

2) I bought on my nursing pillow...I highly recommend..."my brest friend" type...they have a travel pillow that you can get (blow it up on the plane) or just use the regular one...that the baby is comfortable and you are too...you don't have to hold her the whole time...also it will be easy to nurse her for take off and for landing (by breast or bottle) to protect her ears.

3) if you are breast feeding...I used my "hooter hider" a nursing cover on the plane and or if you are formula feeding
I found that Similac has "singles" that are single pkgs of formula in powder form or using the premixed bottles. (I do formula as well as breastfeeding).

4) also I have a pump...that I use when I am travelling in a car (while on vacation) so I can pump while someone else is driving so that sofia has fresh milk to drink when she wakes up in the car... (you can get a car attachment for the pump...cigarette lighter attachment). (some weather it is harder to find a place to breastfeed in public)

5) Sofia was still younger then your child...but I would recommend...be prepared...have food ready (have solids with you her favourites, have milk ready, toys, quiet toys, diapers (a lot...10 diapers), wipes, diaper cream, a couple of outfits, I found one piece pjs are the best...easy to take off, blanket, diaper pad,...you not going to beable to watch the full movie on the plane...so you wouldn't be relaxed but share duties with your husband).

so I don't think you need an extra seat...just have that pillow "my brest friend" with you...(I recommend the regular one)...I just bought it on the plane with me and noone said anything to me...I went on a 6 hour flight both times.

good luck bye K.

K.,
First of all, I strongly encourage you to have her be sucking on something on both takeoff AND especially landing. The change in altitude has most adults yawning to adjust their ears, but the baby doesn't do that naturally. Breastfeeding, a bottle or a pacifier whould do the trick or nibbling on a soft cracker or something should do the trick. I travel a lot by air and it seems the landing part is the hardest on the little ones. If you can start a Yawn Play with her or other mimicing game to have her open her mouth "really big" will also work.
Second, to help stabilize her when your routine is so different than usual, you might look at your home routines and try to keep those the same, or institute some that you can take with you....the same blanket, massage, lullaby, organize now something that you can do when you are on vacation to help her stay cheerful and easygoing!

Hope this helps! I am sure there are DOZENS of other ideas as well! Enjoy!

A.

We took our oldest daughter to Canada (5 hour flight) at 9 months, and our youngest daughter to Hawaii (6 hour flight) at 2 months. I agree with the advice to use your car seat on the plane - that will be comfortable to your baby and familiar. See if you can get a flight that takes place during a time when she'd normally be asleep, if you can. Speak with your pediatrician about using a decongestant for her as well. Our doctor recommended Benadryl to keep the babies' ears from hurting on the plane, so in both cases, we gave our girls a baby-sized dose of infant Benadryl and put them in their car seat on the plane, and for the most part they slept through the flights. This is also good because you never know how your baby will react to being on the plane. A good friend of mine's baby was a little motion sick on the plane, which they only found out when the baby threw up ALL over the guy sitting next to them. Ooops. So if the baby is a little sleepy, it will only help your cause. =)

I like to bring along books and small toys that my kids haven't seen before. The novelty will have them playing with the toy a lot longer than they usually would. Be sure to pack LOTS of snacks - they don't feed you on planes anymore. Even if there is meal service on your flight, be aware that sometimes they'll load you onto the plane and then have the plane sit on the tarmac forever - while your child gets fussy and hungry. So bring tons of cheerios, a full sippy cup (of milk - that is the only thing you can bring through security) as well as an empty sippy or bottle, powdered formula, pacifiers, more diapers than you will need (plus plastic ziploc baggies for disposing of them and/or containing clothes from a diaper explosion), and a full change of clothes for the baby and you, on the plane with you. Flight attendants are always great about helping you warm bottles.

Also, if your plans are taking you to a different time zone, you may want to start slowly adjusting your baby's schedule by a half hour a day a few days before, so your little darling isn't waking up at 3am to start her day during your vacation.

My last word of advice is, take your nice stroller with you. If you already have a good umbrella stroller, great. If you don't, just take your stroller that you know and love, rather than buying a $10 umbrella stroller. It is always worth it to haul along the good stroller, in my opinion. Your baby can sleep in it if you're out and about, whereas a cheap umbrella stroller just doesn't have that option.

Good luck and happy travels. May all your flights be on time. =)

Hi,
I flew to NY with my son around that age was also nervous, but it turned out great. Very smart getting her a seat - it will make a big difference. I'm pasting in an article I found that has excellent tips and a list I made up. Oh, and check with your airline - we had the seat we got for our son refunded because there were available seats on the flight as it was not full.
Airplane Travel with a Baby

By Elizabeth Pantley, author of Gentle Baby Care and The No-Cry Sleep Solution
Question
We’re about to take our first airplane trip with our one-year-old. We flew quite a bit before she was born, but now we’re not sure what to pack or how to make this trip successful.

Learn about it
Even if you racked up your share of frequent flyer miles before your baby was born, forget what you know of travel so far. Flying with a little one is a whole different story.

If you fear turning into one of those families we've all met aboard planes — those with squalling, unruly, squirming children who tend to bring out the same traits in their fellow passengers — take heart. My oldest child, Angela was just 14 days old when she took her first flight, and since then, I’ve taken many more trips with my four children. I know that you can travel with your little ones and enjoy the process. Forethought and preparation are the keys.

Planning the trip
The details of your trip often can mean the difference between success and disaster. Keep these ideas in mind as you plan:

ß Examine all aspects of the journey when you book your flights. Aim for direct flights so that you can avoid changing planes. If you have to make a change, avoid short layovers that give you too little time to get from gate to gate, and conversely avoid long layovers that require lots of idle time in airports.

ß When you make your reservations, give the agent the ages of all passengers. You may learn some important rules such as:
o FAA regulations allow only one lap-child per adult. If you are traveling with two children, and only one adult, one child will require a seat of his own. (Not that you would want to travel with two children on your lap!)
o Some airlines do not allow newborns to fly, check on age requirements.
o Some airlines offer discounted prices for children’s tickets.
o Most airplanes have only one extra oxygen mask in each row, which means you can only seat one lap-child in each row. If two adults are traveling with two children, consider sitting across the aisle from each other, or two behind two.
o Some airlines count carseats or strollers as extra baggage.

ß If your child falls asleep easily and stays asleep, try scheduling travel for during your child’s nap or sleep times. If you have a finicky sleeper, on the other hand, avoid traveling during usual sleep times, as your baby may just stay fussy and awake.

ß Reserve your seats in advance to be sure your entire party sits together.
o If you have an infant, ask for the bulkhead (front row) and request a bassinet.
o Contrary to popular advice, I think it’s best to avoid the bulkhead with older babies and toddlers, because these seats offer neither under-seat space nor seat pocket, so you'll have to store all your toys and supplies in the overhead compartment. Also, in the bulkhead, the food tray pops up from the armrest, effectively trapping you in your seat when your table is laden with food.
o Don’t put your child in the aisle seat, as the food cart and passengers carrying luggage could injure your child.

ß Ask what special features your airline offers for families. Some companies offer children’s meals, bassinets, gate check for strollers, or early boarding privileges.

ß If you can afford to do so, buy a seat for your child and bring along his carseat. Your baby is used to being buckled into his carseat, and the familiarity may make it easier for him to sit still and even sleep. This only works though when your child is able to fit comfortably in the tight seat compartments. A toddler with long legs will be scrunched between his seat and the seat in front of him. The added benefit of bringing a car seat when you can, is the safety feature of having your child in a protective seat on the airplane. Make sure your carseat bears a sticker that says it's FAA approved for air travel, so that it’s not turned away at the gate. You’ll need that seat anyway to get to and from the airport at home and at your destination. (Carseat rentals are typically expensive, and availability is often limited.)

ß Visit your baby’s pediatrician a week or two before your trip to be sure your little one isn’t harboring an ear infection or other illness. If possible, avoid exposing your child to other children the week before the flight so he's less likely to catch one of those many kid-carried bugs.

ß If you will be visiting relatives at your destination, make a family photo album and "introduce" your baby to these new people via their pictures prior to the actual meeting.

ß If your baby will be taking any medication on the day of the trip (such as a decongestant or pain reliever), be sure to test it out before the day of travel to gauge any side effects.

ß Decide if you’ll need a stroller at your destination. If you don't think you'll need a conventional one, at least consider bringing a lightweight portable type for use in airports; this will give you a free hand as you tend to tasks such as luggage check-in and pickup, while keeping your child safe and close by. If you opt to take your regular stroller, you can usually check it at the gate or right at the door of the airplane.

ß Alternatively, a sling or soft-pack carrier can be very helpful if your child still likes to be carried and is light enough for you to carry this way for long walks through the airport.

ß Dress yourself and your child in comfortable layers of clothing. Airplanes are often cramped and hot, but sometimes too cold.

ß Use these checklists (and make lists of your own) to ensure that you don't forget anything.

Packing your carry-on
The right carry-on bag can be a lifesaver. Make sure that your bag is easy to lift or roll, and that it falls within the airline's size limitations. Pack an organized bag that carries:

ß Lots of diapers. Plan for an unexpected layover or delay.

ß A baby blanket, which is good for multiple uses.

ß A diaper-changing pad in case you end up changing your baby on the floor or on a dirty changing table.

ß Plenty of snacks. Often the only snacks on airplanes are peanuts, which are a major choking hazard for babies. Also, snacks are a great distraction for a bored or antsy child. Even if you’ve ordered a child’s meal, it might show up when your child is asleep or isn’t hungry, or your child may not like the menu. A few ideas for easy-to-tote snacks include:
o Baby food
o Dry cereal
o Pretzels
o Crackers
o Bagels
o Bread or rolls
o Dried fruit
o Lollipops

ß Drinks. Bring along favorites in a sippy cup, drink-box, or bottle. You may even want to pack these in a soft lunchbox cooler.

ß Infant pain reliever in case of ear pain or other discomfort. (But don’t try anything new; make sure it’s something your baby has tolerated well already.)

ß Lots of new toys, or old favorites that have been hidden for a few weeks. Avoid noisy toys that will annoy fellow passengers. Great travel toys include:
o Crayons and a small pad or sticky notes
o Stickers and sticker books (Sticker books have the advantage here; their stickers are reusable if stuck on their specially surfaced pages, whereas a sticker placed on paper is there for good — which is fine, too, but a sticker book prolongs the activity.)
o Building toys like Legos TM or Duplos TM
o Paperback books
o Puppets
o Tiny plastic animals, cars, or dolls
o Playing cards (Go Fish or other games that feature interesting cards)
o Tape or CD player with kid music or books on tape

ß Bib

ß Extra pacifiers, or your baby’s lovey, special blanket, or toy

ß A book, magazine, or activity for you when baby is sleeping or playing, should you be lucky enough for that to occur!

ß A small medical kit with bandages

ß Wet wipes for diaper changes and cleaning baby’s hands and face

ß Empty plastic bags for soiled diapers

ß If your baby uses a bottle, bring several. It’s usually easier to take along premeasured powdered formula and small bottles of water for mixing.

ß A complete change of clothes for baby and an extra shirt for you (spitup and spills happen).

ß Toothbrush and toothpaste for unexpected layovers.

ß If you're traveling as two adults with two children, divide up the children’s supplies into two separate bags in case your seats are separated on the airplane.

ß Consider packing toys in a small child’s backpack for any child old enough to carry one.

ß A small belt-bag (fanny pack) is handy for tickets, ID, and cash. Wear it on the front of your body, not the back.

ß Test your bag in advance to be sure it’s not too heavy!

The night before the trip

ß Get a good night’s sleep so that you can be more relaxed during your trip.

ß Pack all of your bags and put them in the car or near the front door so you're not scrambling when it's time to leave.

ß Review your checklists.

At the airport

ß Get to the airport early.

ß Check as many pieces of luggage as possible. Avoid overloading yourself with things to carry.

ß Keep in mind that most airport rental carts have to be unloaded to go through security, and that your child may have to be taken out of the stroller or backpack when you go through the metal detector.

ß When you check in, tell the desk attendant that you are traveling with a baby. Let her know if you have a stroller or carseat with you.

ß Change your baby’s diaper immediately before boarding the airplane.

ß Avoid breastfeeding or bottle-feeding your baby just before boarding as he may fall asleep and wake up crying as you struggle to carry him and your belongings to the gate. Wait until you are seated and unloaded, then feed him and maybe you’ll be lucky and he’ll take a nap!

ß Avoid feeding your little one just prior to boarding. Save food and drink for when you're on the airplane, as these carry great entertainment value.

ß Consider bringing your stroller and checking it at the gate. This way you can carry baby, the carseat, and all your belongings right up to the airplane gangway. Smaller strollers can be brought on as carry-ons, and an attendant will take bigger strollers as gate-checked items. (Find out where to retrieve these.)

ß If traveling with two adults and multiple children, ask at the desk if one adult can do the early-boarding and set up your carry-on bags and carseat(s). Usually the pre-boarding time is extremely short, and you’ll have to rush to get the carseat secured and carry-on items organized before all the other passengers begin to board. This will also allow your little ones some last-minute exercise before boarding with the second adult.

ß If you have a connecting flight, go straight to the gate upon landing. Sometimes it takes longer to get gate-to-gate than you expect. Any waiting time is best done closer to your next gate.

On the airplane

ß To help your baby’s ears adjust to changes in cabin pressure, encourage swallowing during takeoff and landing. You can do this by breastfeeding, or offering a bottle or pacifier. Toddlers can take a drink, nibble on crackers, or suck on a lollipop. (Look for those without a gum or chewy center, which can present a choking hazard.) Use the feeling in your own ears to determine when to give your baby something to swallow, or feed your baby when you see the flight attendants preparing the cabin for takeoff or landing. If your baby is sleeping soundly, don’t feel you need to awaken him; he’ll be fine.

ß Flying in an airplane can cause dehydration, which occurs much more quickly in a child than with an adult. Keep your baby well hydrated with water, juice, or milk.

ß Changing diapers can be a real challenge. Some airplanes have changing tables, but these are typically very small, and while great for newborns a tricky challenge for bigger babies. You can ask the flight attendant for the best place for changing. A small baby can be changed on your lap on or the pull-down tray table. (Be sensitive to the people seated near you if you do this.) Some airlines will allow you to use the flight attendant’s jump-seat; some will let you change your baby on the floor near the galley or in the bulkhead area. If you have an older baby, consider using pull-up disposable diapers on the flight, as these can be pulled up with your little one standing. Use a plastic bag from home or the airsickness bag for disposal in the bathroom trash. Remember that, since flight attendants handle food, they can’t handle dirty diapers. (And they probably don’t want to, either.)

ß The flight attendant will usually heat a bottle for you. Be sure that you shake it well and test it thoroughly, as the galley system often makes things very hot.

ß If your baby is unhappy and begins to cry, take a deep breath and focus your attention on your baby. Fellow passengers who are unhappy about the disruption may forget that you have as much right to be on the airplane as they do. They also may not know, or may forget how difficult it is for a baby or young child to be patient during a long flight. Your best defense against an unpleasant stranger is to say with a smile, “I’m doing the best I can.” And then tend to your baby.

ß Unless you have to, don’t rush off the plane. Let your child play until most of the passengers have disembarked. This will prevent you from standing in the slow-moving line in the aisle while carrying an armload of luggage and trying to keep your baby happy.

International travel

ß If only one parent is traveling, make sure you bring a letter of permission from the other parent. This should be signed and assert that the parent gives permission for the child to leave the country. You may not need this, but it’s an easy document to bring along just in case.

ß Get passports for all travelers. It’s easy to obtain a passport for a baby. Passport application forms and instructions are available at your local post office. Plan ahead though, as this can take weeks to obtain the passport after making application.

ß Take advantage of the room available in a larger airplane by taking your baby for walks when it’s safe to move about the cabin.

At your destination

ß Determine in advance where your baby will sleep, and find out if you can rent or borrow a crib, if you need one. If you plan to co-sleep you may need to move the furniture around, or even pull the mattress off the bed to make a safe sleeping situation. (Most hotel housekeeping staff will help with this if you ask politely.) Other equipment such as carseat, stroller, highchair, and safety gates often can be rented or borrowed.

ß Find out if your brands of diapers and formula are available at your destination. If not, send a box ahead of time.

ß Ask if your accommodations have been childproofed. If not, bring along some outlet protectors and a role of duct tape for on-the-spot childproofing.

ß Pack a child-safe nightlight to make those middle-of-the-night potty runs and diaper changes safe.

ß Make sure that the vehicle you’ll be picked up in or that you are renting has enough seatbelts for everyone, plus room for luggage and your stroller.

ß Upon arrival, you might want to collect your luggage and then send one adult for the car while the other stays at the curb with the bags and children.

ß Remember to keep your carry-on bag organized, including snacks, for your return flight home.

For the frequent flier

Make a master list of those items you typically take along. Be sure to include those you're more apt to forget. Keep your list on your computer, if you have one, so it's ready to print out when it's time to pack.

This article is a copyrighted excerpt from Gentle Baby Care by Elizabeth Pantley. (McGraw-Hill, 2003)
clothes
floride
diapers
food
bibs
spoons
toys
wipes
backpack diaper bag
blankets
cds
books
bijorn
suppositories
meds.
nail clippers
bottles, inserts, nipples, tops, caps
noise maker
tub

Hi definately get a sit and stroll. It's a car seat and stroller at the flip of a switch. It saved our lives when we went to Hawaii. Also bring some old toys but especially a few new ones to keep babies intrest. Bring a bottle or chewy food so babies ears can pop when pressure builds up during take off and landing. We also brought portable dvd player for baby einsteins. Hope that helps.
C., Mansell and Neelah's mom

I travelled with a 6 month old on a 14 hour flight and the best advice I have is to have a dummy, bottle or breast (if you are still breastfeeding) avaliable for take off and landing and the time before landing when they start changing the cabin pressure. Make sure your baby is sucking at that time to prevent pressure build up against the eardrum (painful and the biggest reason babies cry on the plane). As soon as you feel your ears pop or get a buid up of pressure get them to drink or suck something.

Other than that we just had lots of books and spent lots of timereading to her on the plane.

Good luck.

My suggestion to you is to relax. It will not be that hard. Take his favorit toy and make it an adventure. Show him the plane you will be going on if there is a window to show her.
When my son was 10 months old we took him on a business trip to singapore. It was 18hrs of no sleep for me. My husband slept the whole way and the baby was fine. We also held him almost the whole time.
If you can get her to nape, even better. I also suggest playing her favorit game with her or reading some of her favorit books. Just make sure you have a bottel ready for take off and desending. The sucking on a bottel or binky will help to equil out the ear presure. Be calm when he feels any discomfort and sooth your baby. She is your child and you know what is best for her. Babbies and kids smell fear. Be confident in all you do and just let your mothers instinct take over. Have a great trip.

Bring a DVD player with her favorite movie. And as a last resort try bringing some Tylenol in case it gets ugly you can give her a bit and she can take a nap. Having her own chair is a great idea. I went to Hawaii last summer and seen parents struggling to get comfortable with their toddlers on their laps.

Hi K.!

Ignore the nay sayers! Traveling with your baby can be quiet easy. You will be glad you bought her a ticket!! Holding them on your lap the whole time leads to a numb behind!

Feeding on the way up and feeding on the way down is key for their ears adjusting the pressure of the cabin, change her before you get on the plane to *hopefully* avoid having to change her midflight and remember to have fun! ;) Chances are if you're having fun, she'll be having fun!

T.

I traveled with my daughter the first time from California to Chicago when she was 10 months old - and I did it by myself with her on my lap (using a Baby B'Air for safety). Make sure you bring lots of snacks and bottles if you're not breastfeeding. She should definitely be sucking on something when the pressure changes in the cabin.

I also bought a cheapie umbrella stroller. You can check it right at the door of the plane. Since it was cheap, I didn't care if anything happened to it. It was a lifesaver to have it!

Also, bring little things that keep your little one entertained (though for my daughter, that was me and all the surrounding passengers she was entertaining).

As for your schedule, you may be surprised that your little one wants to keep the same one. My daughter did. She's always up at 6, and even did that in Chicago. Try to keep her schedule as regular as possible, so she doesn't get cranky ... stressing you out. Those around you are just going to have to realize you have a little one that needs to be taken care of. None of you will have a good trip if you try to push her (and you'll not have any fun when you get home either! LOL).

Have a great trip!

I would definitely recommend bringing plenty of snacks!!! During the flight your baby's ears may "pop" just like adults when the plane is taking off and landing, so you might want to bring something for her to be able to chew on to help out w/the ear "popping". One thing I know from watching my sister-in-law travel w/her twins, was they needed something to do at all times, plans are cramped & most people on them are not very sympathetic....bringing something on the plane that normally soothes her at home will probably be helpful too. As far as being on a different schedule, that depending on your child may be a little hard, kids get used to their routines & when they are out of their element they get stressed, so, like I said, it depends on your child, but be mentally prepared for her sleep pattern to be a little off or for her to be more fussy than normal...try to bring as many things as possible from home that make her feel comfortable. Good luck!

Hi K.,

My best suggestion is to take your car seat on the plane that way your daughter can take a nap and be comfortable. Also if she is nursing, has a bottle, or a pacifier have her suck on something while you are taking off and landing that will help with the pressure on her ears. If it is a long flight you might want to give her a little tyenol to relax her. I hope you have a fun time on your trip.

Good Luck! It was recommemded to me that I give my daughter a bottle or breast feed during take off and landing. The sucking motion helps with the pressure in the ears. You were very smart to get an extra seat for more room. If she has a blanket or anything special take along extras if possible. It is the luck of the draw on how they react to flights and a changed routine. I have 2 daughters one traveled very well and the other cried a lot. so again Good luck.

Hi K.,

I agree that taking her carseat on the plane for her to sit/sleep in will be very helpful if she is used to it and likes it. And, feeding/chewing or pacifier for take off and landing, plus favorite security toy and blanket. I always prefer day travel to night travel (again, too stimulating with lights, movie screen, noise), because even when the trip is challenging, we all get the rest we need in the evening.

For airport travel and wonky schedules, I absolutely rely on my favorite kid carrier, the Ergo. Trips are very stimulating and new and I appreciate the intimacy and security for the baby of being able to hold them close and share their experiences with them. Plus, if you hip or front cary her facing you it will be no problem for her to sleep while you walk and are out and about. I have tried many slings and carriers but none have been as versatile, comfortable, hands-free, and useful from baby to late toddler as the Ergo (the Bjorn is a killer on the back and shoulders for me and I do not like the position it puts baby in when carried outward...and it gives them no where to turn when they are overstimulated and needing a break). The Ergo is worth the price if you are into carrying your children- and way less hassle or bulk than trying to bring a stroller (http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/).

Happy traveling! 10 months is a great age for it!
M.

From our travel experience, make sure during take off and landing of the plane give your baby pacifier so she's sucking this will prevent ear aches. Also, if your baby has a schedule already, like nap time, if you can try to stay within your baby's schedule so she will not be so cranky and crying all day. Don't forget to bring her favorite toy or security blanket. Also, bring baby medicine, i.e., baby Tylenol, teething tablets, etc. just in case you don't want your husband going out at 2:00 a.m. in some unknown area looking for a drugstore and baby would not stop crying ;o)

A little about me, I have a wonderful 6 year old boy and a very cute and active one year old baby girl.

I would recommend nursing her, or giving her a bottle or pacifier on take-off and landing. The sucking will help with the ear pressure. Have a fun trip!

The one thing I can tell you is to make sure that she has something to suck on during take off and landing so her ears will pop. Take things to look at, books are a great option.

Good Luck,
N.

My biggest tip is to make sure your baby is having a bottle during take off and landing because of the change of pressure. It will hurt her ears tremendously if she does not have a bottle. This is why we chew gum during these times. Have fun!

Hi K.,
My daughter is now 9 months old and we took her back east a couple times last year. Once when she was 3 months and once when she was 6 months and she did great. The best advice I can give is to try and book a night flight. It may be a little more inconvenient for you and whoever is picking you up, but your child is more apt to sleep through the flight.

My advice: Give them a bottle/breast to suck on the way up and on the way down so their ears pop and they are much less likely to scream

Be prepared for no changing tables in some planes (grrrrrr). Bring books and snacks and toy distractions for the trip that are new-ish and not very noisy.

Do your best to keep them on their schedule, cause they really do need those naps, but roll with it if they have trouble with the time changes and stuff.

Good luck!
-R.

Hi K. -- I have traveled with my son twice; first when he was 8 months old and second when he was two. Both times were better then I anticipated. Both times he had his own seat.

When he was 8 months, My pediatrician suggested giving him a bottle/nursing/pacifier during take-off and landing to help his ears as well as helping him to fall asleep. When he wasn't sleeping, we were looking at books or playing peek-a-boo.

Another really nice thing is being able to gate check your stroller. I just wheeled him right to the door of plane and when we landed the stroller was right outside the door waiting for us.

I have a lot friends who give their kids Benadryl and that works for them, but for us a bottle/nursing/pacifier worked just fine.

Good luck and enjoy your flight!

We have flown with our baby fairly often since he was 3 months old (he is 11 months old now). Our son is usually so stimulated in the airport before the flight that when we board, I nurse him and he falls asleep for the first hour or so of the flight. Your daughter may pick up on your nerves, so although it's easier said than done, you may want to try to relax and make it a fun experience for her. We've always treated the flight as a fun adventure for our son. On our last flight home from Florida (the longest one yet) we read to our son, showed him things out the window, and went to the bathroom and walked around a few times. Believe me, he had times where he was less than happy to be on the plane, but we just tried to keep him entertained/distracted with different things. Dress your daughter in layers as the plane can be too hot or cold at different times. Hopefully your daughter will be like our little guy and will be so distracted by everything going on, the other people, etc. that she won't get upset. I do remember that on a particularly long flight a little girl near our seat screamed the entire flight, probably because her parents never moved her from the seat. I don't recommend that. If all else fails, we walk up and down the aisle or stand at the back of the plane for a few minutes. Good luck!

K.,
Be sure to blow the air onto their faces when you are up in the air so they won't feel sick, also have the baby drinking a bottle when the cabin pressure changes (when you go up and during landing) this will help greatly with the pressure in her ears, and she won't cry so much.
Take some snacks also, the stewards don't always get what you need right away. Good luck, and have fun.

Hi. We took our baby overseas when he was 9 mos old. Good that you got the extra seat it's much easier. Bring lots of distractions for the plane (favorite toys and books, etc). Biter biscuits are a good distraction for a half hour at a time. Have fun and good luck!

The most important thing is to help her keep her ears clear. We have traveled with our own babies and our twin grandbabies (last summer when they were just 1 year old). Give them a bottle (milk/formula or water) as the plane is taking off and as the plane is landing. The sucking motion will help keep the pressure equalized. Adults do this by chewing gum or yawning to clear the ears; babies don't understand how to do this and can be in agony from the change in altitude. Bring familiar things with you (blankie, etc.) and plenty of things that will help keep her occupied. We took a red-eye flight on the way to the east coast; babies went to sleep on take-off and slept all night, woke up in the airport during changing planes. We flew back during the day. It was a little more difficult, but they will take naps during their usual times. She WILL hit a point where she'll get restless --- snacks help. And take a couple of new little toys for her to get interested in during the flight. Be firm with attendants when you need water or anything for the baby. A happy baby will make the whole flight happy.

It is all about the snacks and the toys! I have 4 kids 8, 5, 3, and 10 months. My husband and I have always taken our kidos along for the ride. Timing the feeding, either breast or bottle is great for take-off & landing because of the cabin pressure change with the ears, or if she uses a pacifier that would work too.
Relax and feel confident(I know sometimes easier said than done), she will pick up on your nerves and it can throws her off when Mommy is. Be patient and accept the fact that she may cry---you paid for her seat, people will get over it.
As far as the schedule, we have always tried to keep as much of a "normal" routine while being out of town, whatever routine you do, most things can be done away from home as well. Watch you daughter for cues that she is "done," I think we tend to try to get too much activities in while on vacation, it is okay to see what she can tolerate, and stop when she needs to.
We flew to Disneyland in Jan with all 4--it was a little crazy, but between the silly songs, toys to play with and snacks to munch, we all survived and so did the other passengers! I hope this helps, enjoy your trip! (-: S.

HI! My advice for you is that you make sure that you are feeding her or having something in her month during take-off and landing. I just recently travel with my daughter by myself without my husband. It was quite a bit of an experience! Also, pack her favorite toy or even buy one small toy for her. Anything to keep her distracted while on the plane.
I hope this helps!

It looks like you have rec'd a lot of good advice and lot of options that you can do. I just wanted to put my 2sec in as well. EARS, that is the best advice, I hate the plane when they land and when go up- that can really hurt someone as an adult, imagine a child.. is there a way you can hold her during that time then once you are just flying .. she can sit in her car seat??? I think she would be more comfortable this way. Just a thought, have a great time!!!

I am going to try and mention only what I didn't see that others said. If you are going to take a stroller consider whether you really need to bring it all the way to the gate. YOu will have to collapse it and put it through the x-ray machine, if it doesn't fit, you will hav eto remove wheels, etc.. to make it fit (this is NOT fun). Keep in mind that when you bring her carseat on the plane, most airlines will not allow her to block anyones exit from the plane so she will have to be in the window seat and you or your husband in the middle. In the bulkhead row you do have more floor space but the arm rests cannot be pushed up. Consider having you or your husband pre-board and install the carseat while the other one waits until most people have already boardeed so there is less time in a confined space. As for the messed up schedule, be patient with your daughter and try to keep things as close to normal as possible at least feed her (if not you) at the routine times and schedule some down time if you can.

Don't take the trip. That's the number one advice. Number two is to try to carve out a schedule as similar as possible to your regular routine. Including regular nap times. Keeping as close to what the child has learned to expect will keep her in much better spirits as you all throw consistency topsy turvy. When we started traveling with our kids my husband and I realized this right away and compensated. We rarely, for example, go out together on vacation. We let one parent do what he /she wants to and the other keeps the naps and meals consistent. Then we switch.

K. - I travel extensively and often observe traveling families. I recommend purchasing a folding stroller and combination detachable safety seat rated for passenger vehicle and aircraft use. On aircraft, flight crew centralize storage of strollers, and retrieve them quickly from below on arrival. Having the detachable version prevents others from using or removing yours because of proprietary seating device detachment. You will be glad and it seems certainly worth it, especially to prevent having to carry baby all the time.

I took my son to the Dominican Republic when he was 2 months old and we stayed for three weeks. The climate change was tough. We had to take two flights to get there. The first was a red-eye from California to Atlanta (5 or 6 hours) and then we flew to DR (a little over 3 hours). Adjusting to the time was the hardest part because he didn't want to go to bed at night. By the time he adjusted it was time to come home. Plan to take a nap when your daughter naps so you will have the energy to keep up. Keep her close to you as much as possible. My son was either in a sling or baby bjorn and this helped a lot. Everything was very different but he always had me close. Some children have problems with their ears on flights. My son slept through all of the flights and again, I had him in the sling for most of the flight. Try to breastfeed on take-off and landing. This helps when their ears are adjusting to the altitude. I have also heard of people putting a little lavender oil behind the ears and around the ears to ease the discomfort. And through all of the stress of travel, try to relax! If you are relaxed your baby will be relaxed. Leave with plenty of time, have snacks, things to keep you from stressing out. Don't worry about the other passengers. Just focus on making your daughter feel comfortable and she should have a good flight. My son had a great trip and enjoyed seeing all of the people in the airport.

First of all, try to relax about it all. With my oldest, I traveled at least 6 times by the time she was 10 months old (albeit most were only an hour to 2 each time) Anyways, my suggestions are to have a good lightweight umbrella stroller or if you prefer a baby carrier. If you have the stroller you can carry a backpack for baby gear. I never carry a purse when I travel with kids. I pare down my stuff to just a wallet, lip balm, etc.. Not much for me except an extra t-shirt (I've only had to actually change a shirt once or twice) For on the plane I always pack twice as many diapers as I think I need. So I say for 5 hours if you typically change them every 2 hours then I would pack about 7 diapers. And I prefer the overnight diapers on the plane- then I can get away without actually changing them the whole time unless there's poop involved! Bring sippies or bottles, whatever you use (or nothing if you nurse but maybe a lightweight blanket to cover him/her if you are modest and will double as warmth for napping). Change of clothes for baby, bibs, formula (if you use), baby food, spoons, etc.. And you'll need some small toys, books, etc. to keep them entertained. A great way to entertain is to actually wrap each toy for the flight- sounds silly but that is something for them to do. I've never had an issue with getting up and letting my kids walk back and forth. I figure a happy baby is better than a crying one so whatever keeps them quiet works for me. Good luck and try not to stress about it- know it will be a long day and just try to relax!

HI there, we took our daughter on her first plane ride when she was 10 months old as well. we had her on our laps, but were lucky to have extra seating near us. keep a stash of toys, her bottle/sippy cup full for take off and landing to help her pop her ears, and things to distract her if the trip is an especially long one. to keep her from drying up in the altitude, you can put a few drops of water on your fingers and put it in her nostrils to help her breath better. i remember my mom doing that to me when we would fly from okinawa to california and i still do that when i travel! i hope you have a great travel experience!'

J.

It was smart to get her a seat. I would put her in her car seat and take her out only to eat and change her diaper. I'd buy some new soft toys that could attach to her seat some how. Our family just returned from Chile and I just went with the flow. There was so little that I could control so I just stopped worrying about it! We had a crazy schedule while we were there so I thought I'd be in trouble when we got back. Our 3 year was actually happier at home to have things back to normal! Have a great time!

Hey, if she is ten months I am guessing she is not walking yet? If so praise yourself lucky. Once they are on the go...your in trouble. It really depends on what kind of baby she is how much work she will be. If she is content with lots of attention from you she will be just fine. If you are lucky she will sleep. Hopefully it is not a red-eye flight, then she might get cranky. I have flown several time with my girls. First time my oldest was around 9-10 months and we flew to Denmark with a layover in Amsterdam.A nice little 17-hour trip. She did SOO well.She charmed everyone around us, so there was plenty of entertainment. We had one of those bassinets that they hang on the wall. She barely fit in there, but it gave us somewhere to put her when she was asleep other than the floor or in our arms. On the way back, three months later, on the other hand was a different story. She wanted to move around. Last summer I traveled forth and back with her then just two, and her sister then five months by myself. What a mistake that was. The baby was good, but my toddler needed mommy more than I could give her, and changing the baby's diaper in a very small bathroom with a toddler around my legs, trying to tell her not to touch. She did end up pushing the pretty red alarm button perfectly positioned in her height. With an apology to the stewardesses that came running, I think they forgave us! I was lucky that there was a very sweet lady, who was itching to get her hands on my baby that took her a couple of times when big sis was needy, or I needed to eat.
I always bring snacks. Lots of different kinds. Cheerios, goldfish, sippy cup or bottle with milk.(Check with airline, for the most part they will not let you bring fluids, so ask for milk on the plane)You might want to bring a meal that you know she will eat, not all plane food go over well with kids.(I think they only allow bottled stuff that is unopened) The staff is usually pretty nice about rinsing cups and providing water/juice. I also bring their favorite book/s and a small toy or two. I also let them "read" the magazine provided even if it just buys me 15 minutes. If all else fails, I sing. not so loud that everyone can hear me, just enough to get her attention. They both love music and singing. In general I think you should just relax as much as possible (She will notice if you are overly tense). Through good trips or bad, everyone are always tired when we get to our destination, but it is worth the effort.
Good luck, I am sure you will be fine
OHH, before I forget. Leave at least one set of changing clothes in your diaper bag. I can contest to not enjoying a flight with a baby with diarrhea.
Sorry for rambling on like this. I wish you the best.
S., mom of two girls.

Hi K.,

I just returned from hawaii with my 8month old. It was a 5 hour flight and it went well considering my son is a "mover and a shaker" and likes to be on the move rather than sit in one place.

I saw some great advice on this website actually. if you go back and see other people's questions you will see tons of responses.

the main things i can tell you are:

*plan nap time and a feeding for the time you take off. the hum of the plane knocks them out especially if it is nap time and feeding time...he slept 3hours.
*wipe down the area you are sitting in so the babe can touch whatever and suck on whatever
*the plane is actually a lot louder than you remember and a fussy baby is pretty muted
*check the carseat and stroller at the gate..super easy and convienent (we didn't buy an extra seat and it was fine, but since you did that will be nice when she falls asleep)
*try to have her nursing or sucking on something during take off and landing..although, on the way home during landing my son didn't feel like doing either and he was fine..just watch her, she will let you know if she is in pain
*we walked the isle a few times and people are super sweet..one older man actually offered to hold my son for us for awhile :)
*we brought way more toys on the plane than needed. my son was more interested in the lap tray, a water bottle and the strings on my jacket. go figure.

as for traveling in general, i just tried to keep him up later the first night so he would get on hawaii time and he did super easily. i also brought a pillowcase that smelled like home and some of his toys. i tried to make sure he still got one planned nap a day if i could. when you are in a different place doing random different things all day it is hard. as long as they have you they are good to go :) i think you will be pleasantly surprised at how well she does.they adapt better than we imagine they could.

Good luck and don't worry, it will be fine! enjoy!

The best advice I could give is that make sure you have a bottle for your baby when the plane takes off and when you land, that helps with their ears. Kind of the same way that gum works for adults. Gerber snacks help too! Hope you have a great trip. Good Luck!

Rachel

Hey K.! My name is R., I am a mother of two (son 6, and daughter 2). We have traveled quite a few times since our son was born, the biggest piece of advice I can offer for flying is: make sure when you take off and land that baby is either drinking a bottle, sippy cup, or nursing if you still do that. The biggest problem baby might have is the pressure in his/ her ears. Sucking on something, maybe even a pacifier will help reduce the change in pressure as you ascend and descend during the flight. As far as her schedule goes, she will be off, but just make sure you allow time for her too take naps. About the time your getting ready to come back is when she'll get adjusted to the opposite time schedule. But that's just the way it is! Good luck!

Another thing . . . if you have the option I try to bring the least amount of baby gear possible so if you have friends or family that you are visiting who have things like strollers, car seats, etc ... that you can borrow that is always a plus. I will be taking a trip this month to LA w/ my 5-1/2 mo and 5 yr old and granted my flight will be very short compared to yours gearwise I will only be carrying my Bjorn onto the plane. Also friends and family always offer to buy diapers, wipes, baby food before we get there so we don't have to worry about packing and feeding that night.

Hi K.,

I used to nurse my oldest who is now 5 during take offs and landing or I would give her snacks like cherrios or grapes basically anything easy to transport and fairly mess free. 5 yrs ago it was not that big of a deal to let your infants watch videos so we let her watch Baby Einstein as a final back up option. I tried to plan my trips around her nap schedule to make it easier too. Hope that helps.

I never did this, but some parents "dope" their children and then the opposite happens, it makes them hyper.

I was surprised to learn that many big airports have nurseries - quiet, with a crib, changing table and private bathroom. Chicago even had a rocking chair! Do research ahead of time, so you canarrive early and go there till time to board.

I've travelled over 15 flights with my Tony before he was two. Only two flights were bad. Just no way to silence a crying baby, but they do petered out eventually.

Carry plenty of snacks, too. Comes in handy for both you and child :)

We traveled from England to Oregon with our 11 month old grandson and the biggest suggestion is to have a bottle of something for them to drink during takeoff and landing. The sucking helps to make their ears pop with the pressure change. Also check your health food store for a product called "calm child", it is herbs that will help calm a child that is upset if you have problems during the flight.

I have flown 1-2 times a month with our 17-month-old since she was about 4 months old. If you're still nursing, let her nurse when she wants to since this not only helps with her ears but will aid in helping her relax and go to sleep. Also, we try when possible to get seated in the front row bulkhead since this has more leg room for a little one to get down and play on the floor. It's also good to have wipes handy so wipe their hands especially if they've been playing on the floor. And walks up and down the aisle (either helping her walk or carrying her) is a great way to distract them and look at all the people -- and most folks love it also since they can't resist a cute baby.

Good luck!

Hi K.,

You should definitely check out the No Dropsey! It will be a lifesaver on your flight, in the airport and at all of the restaurants that you go to. The website is www.NoDropsey.com.

Good luck!

Here are some tips: Make sure baby is drinking on takeoff and landing to prevent ear pain. Bring plenty of supplies (bottles, food, clothing changes for baby and an extra shirt for you just in case) in case of flight delays. Walk with her up and down the aisle periodically. Bring new books and toys she hasn't seen before. Do the best you can and don't worry too much about what others think. Good luck!

A little bit of advice...feed her while taking off and landing to prevent the ear pressure or have her use the pacifer. also, something warm around her ears can help as well. If you use Benadryl having little of that available if need be will keep her quiet and sleepy and keeping the other passengers happy as well. some people are adverse to drugs but I think a little Benadryl is wonderful at times -- from an Advice RN, Mother, grandmother

Take it easy. My oldest daughter went to Europe 3 time within her first year of being born. Take enough diapers, wipes and outfits on board (3 is not enough for a long flight - we learned it the hard way). Take music and toys and food. Let the baby suck on something during take off and landing to help the ears adjust to the pressure.
Good luck and enjoy your trip
S.

Hi K.,

My husband's family lives back east so we make the trip once a year 6+ hours on a plane. We've done this every year with the kids and its a long day but they usually do really well with it. You are smart to buy the seat (I was always too cheap myself and wished I had later), you will have so much more room for books and toys. And you'll just want to pack those and lots of little snacks in your bag + enough diapers for 2 days (I learned this one time when our flight was cancelled). You may want to ask your Dr if it is ok to give a bit of benedryl before the plane ride, it helps keep the ears clear and will induce a little nap. If your baby takes a pacifier, have her use that for take offs and decents or a bottle would work too. And if she's really unhappy about flying, don't worry she's not the first baby to cry on a plane (and probably won't be the only one on your flight, there's always one!). Good luck and be brave, have a nice vacation.

Hi K.,

I have traveled with my boys through the years to England, a long plane ride. Because of the elevation, babies ears can be very sensative and cause them some pain. I used to give a little Dimatap right before a flight, and have them suck on thier bottle or binkie once in awhile to help thier ears equalize. Hope this will help.Another tip for the future in flying is, book your flight when they usually sleep and are tired out from the day,allow only a little nap prior to your night flight.If you have to take a day flight, do it around thier nap time with no nap prior to flight time. Take a lot of snacks. Good luck!

T.G.

I went to Hawaii when my son was 5 months old. I gave him a little bit of tylenol and it was the first time that I gave him a pacifier. He slept the first three hours. Also, I put him in a baby bjorn and he fell asleep in it before we got on the plane. Then my husband and I took turns holding him. They need to be sucking on something during the take off and landing, so it doesn't hurt their ears. I take my son on planes all the time now and he falls asleep the minute we take off. Good luck.

We traveled with my then 13 months old son back to Taiwan years ago...We also took our 4 kids with us to Taiwan from Alabama, which was a 30-hour-trip. Imagine 4 kids and 2 exhausted adult plus jet-lag waiting at O'hare airport ....Relax and be prepared to get up walking around to give her a different view. I walked A LOT on the plane with my babies when they were young, and they liked it.
Go with the flow. You might get tired of holding her during the 10-day trip, but remember to enjoy the trip.
My hubby always tells me that "You can do it.". I feel like this trick works too. Whenever something challenging coming, I tell myself like" It's only a 5-hour-fly, not 15 hours!", then I find I can bear it quite well.
Good luck and enjoy it!

G.

gloriameredith.com--photography

We've been flying 6 hour round trip flights, twice per year since our oldest was 9 months old. Now our kids are 4 and 2 and it is finally getting easier. Depending on your child's temperament expect to need a bit of rest for everyone after the event. Buy a few new toys and snacks so it is exciting for the first time use. Bring an extra dark blanket to lay over the carseat while the baby naps. If your baby prefers to sleep on you; take a boppy along to make it more comfortable. Take a bottle or sippy cup and fill it on the plane (safety regulations) so they can suck on it to help with their ears. Breastfeeding and juiceboxes also work great on the ascent and descent. We take our laptop and/or portable DVD player and baby einstein (whatever your baby likes). This gives us at least 1 hour (depending on battery) of entertainment. Lastly, we gave benadryl on occasion when the baby was way overtired, stimulated, and didn't stop screaming. Everyone has a different opinion on this, but for the sanity of everyone involved it helped us a few times. Our 2nd child was easier than our first, so you never know how your child will do. Don't forget tylenol, orajel, diaper rash paste, for any unexpected owie, teething, and so forth.
Good Luck and remember, starting them early will make a better traveling toddler and adolescent. Have Fun!

i traveled with my son across country when he was only 6 weeks old. it was so horrible. my advice to you is, if you can afford it, get a first class ticket.

Nurse at take off and landing

Hi K.!~

How exciting for your little family to go on a trip together!

I have always been known as an "over-packer" in my family, and lovingly teased alot by sisters for it. Until we all took a trip together, including the only 2 grandchildren at the time (mine).

There is too much to say in this email, as far as packing and traveling for your little one. So, let me just confirm a few things for you. At her age, it is probably best that you have a plane seat for her (if it's affordable). This way, when/if she falls asleep, you can lay her on one of your seats also. I don't believe you will need an infant car seat, I didn't use one, and although I was nervous about it, it all worked out well. It's always something you can "check", you'll just be carrying more than using it.

I wouldn't take a HUGE stroller with you, even though they are hard to live without. It's easier in an airport/airplane/taxi's with a "travel stroller". Try to find one with a basket underneath, it doesn't have to be a large basket, just another "set of hands". There are accessories for them you can purchase, like a hanging "mesh bag', etc... The Mesh Bag worked great when my little one was in it, but as soon as we took him out of the stroller, the whole thing flies back because the stroller is so light, and your bag is so (necessarily) full...learn from that one :o)

I'm not sure if your daughter is bottle/breast, but if she's bottle, you want to make sure you have cash on hand to purchase water for formula. They are very picky nowadays. And I would have those pre-packaged formulas to avoid any questions when going through security.

Also, a backpack will work better than a diaper bag for this trip. I arranged everything in gallon ziplocks so it was easier to find. You know "bottle stuff" in one, meds in another.

I also tried to feed my son AS we were taking off. This way he was swallowing, and his ears would naturally pop, so there wasn't much discomfort.

Just know that the staff will understand your needs for the most part. Your surrounding neighbors may not be so supportive, especially if your daughter gets cranky. When the seatbelt sign goes off, simply let her "stretch her legs/body". show her the "seatbelt light" so she sorta understands WHY you can, and more importantly CAN'T get up and down.

Sheez, I can on and on....sorry! That's the most important information based on experience. It will be fun, AND alot of work, but just be prepared, and it will go smoothly.

Good luck!

:o) N.

If they will let you-bring your car seat on the plane so baby can sit in that. I've been told a little Benedryl right before take off-helps with the ear thing. If you don't want to give her medicine then have something for her to suck at take off and landing (bottle, binkie, etc)

Good luck.

Hi K.,

I went to Germany on a 11.5 hour flight with my son and if you can afford it buy an extra seat for the room. Purchase this FAA approved strap in case of a situation. DON'T bring a big bulky seat. It's not needed. www.kidsflysafe.com Then bring either an umbrella stroller or baby backpack (either one is a must have for me) and your good. The flight attendant will hold either one for you in their compartment.

Bring some of the following... toys, books, DVD, (baby einstein & Cars was a lifesaver) favorite lovie, and stickers/sticker books. Don't listen to those that say that Tylenol works wonders. Unless your child is having some pain with ascending and descending... Sometimes it has the opposite affect and the child gets wired.

Also, buy a small toy plane and talk to them about going on it and going into the air and flying to see whom ever you are going to see. Then bring it with you and have them play with it while on the plane. You'll have nothing to worry about. Hope this helps!

K.,

The best thing to do is to buy a seat for your child and bring the car seat. It's too long of a flight for you to hold your child. Also my son was really scared of the noise of the plane so we gave him some benadryl and it relaxed him so we didn't have to go threw another flight with him terrified and screaming the whole time.

Lee R

Hi K.,
My son was about the same age when I took him on his first trip, back east to New York, to meet my family. I did the trip alone and surprisingly enough, it wasn't too bad.

I also opted to buy my son his own seat, and brought his own carseat with us for him to sit in. It was something very familiar to him, in an environment that he wasn't used to!(not sure, but this may be required for all kids under 2yrs old.) It also was great, in that it raised him enough off the seat, so he could actually see out the window. Also a ideal location to have her sit. That way she is occupied by all the things she can see outside. It also seemed to put my son in sort of a trans, like when he rides in the car and drifts off to dreamland. I think I actually got him to nap for 2+ hours while on the plane.

Don't forget to pack lots of "toddler food" like cheerios and the such. And I brought a backpack filled with his favorite
books and toys to keep him occupied throughout the trip.

One very important thing to remember, during take off and landing, make sure that she is drinking something. Either through a bottle or sippy cup to prevent her ear drums from swelling and the feeling of "plugged ears" which only gets worse the higher elevation you get. My Dr reccomended an allergy/decongestant medication was given before air travel to prevent any uncomfortable feelings in the ear. I opted not to give him any unnecessary medications, for the fear of having an adverse affect on him mid flight. I've heard horror stories from other moms who gave their children Benadryl so that it would make them sleepy and therefore they'd fall asleep during the flight, only to have them get very jitterey and anxious instead.

If all else fails, you can always take the red eye flight . Which I noticed is usually full of families with little ones in tote. In hopes that their children will have an easier time falling asleep. Unfortunately this one didnt work for me. He remembered the first plane trip and how he liked it so much, that he didn't want to miss any part of it! He actually stayed awake the entire night!! The only good thing that ressulted from that, is that we adjusting to Eastern Standard Time almost immediately, and skippped jet lag altogether.

Well good luck, just be prepared and all should go smoothly.
Also remember, you aren't alone and that most of the people around you have also been in your very same situation. Most are sympathetic if for any reason your daughter should get fussy while flying.

Have a great trip!
M.

Hi there- I have three kids and have taken them all on cross country flights at your daughters age. If you have a car seat that they will let you take on the plane that is your best bet. That made things very easy for us. Also a portable dvd player helps too. My pediatrician also told me to give them benadryl about thirty minutes before you get on the plane. Also if you give her a bottle or breastfeed her during take-offs and landings that will help with her ears. Other than that my kids would usually fall asleep for a good portion of the trip especially if we had a flight around nap time. Good luck and have a safe flight.

K.,

My (ex)husband & I took our dtr to Louisiana when she was 14 mos. We opted NOT to buy her a seat. I didn't want to pay that much money and we were willing to take turns sitting her on our laps...Surprisingly, each airport (Oakland & Dallas both ways) checked the flight and 3 out of 4 planes had extra seating, so they basically gave her a seat. It was amazing service. I didn't even ask. We brought a few snacks & some books to read & also coloring books.

Hi,
When my twins were 10 months old, we took them to the UK (from California) for the first time (had been travelling cross-country with them (CA-NY) since they were 4 weeks old!), so I consider myself a 'travelling veteran'. It's good that you bought a seat - my advice is take TONS of diapers, formula (or breastfeed) and some crackers/cheerios/whatever. My two never had problems with going up or down, but many people will tell you to make sure she's sucking (for her ears) during that bit .. I've just always made sure my diaper bag is really well stocked (including something to lay the child on) and well organized. And immediately after you board the plane, find out which bathroom has the changing table (not all do!) Have a great trip!

Don't waste your money on an extra seat! Your baby will be on your lap the whole time anyway or you'll be walking up and down the isles. I took my 9mo. out to Connecticut last year and he was either breast feeding or charming the flight attendants up and down isles. You're husband will be there too help you right?

go to the airport early! getting through security is a huge hassle because of all the STUFF you will have. know that you can use the stroller in the airport and then check it at the gate. this is great, but means lots of things to go through the x-ray machine. this means means there's a good chance you'll be holding up the line. personally, i get stressed more quickly when i'm in a rush, so i allow lots of extra time.

good luck and have fun!

I took my first child to Europe at 10 months. All in all it was a great trip. I tried to keep her on as regular a schedule as possible. If I was unable to be at the hotel during nap time I took her for long walks in the stroller to get her to sleep. Babies are super resiliant and do fine. Have a great trip!

Don't be nervous! You'd be surprised how kids love new things. I took my daughter to Chicago when she turned 1 and had absolutely no problem! We were lucky that @ 10 months, she was already walking, that she was able to play peek-a-boo with the people behind us. :) It's really cute how babies put smiles on people's faces and make traveling fun! I did bring her a little bag and filled it with crayons, coloring books, toys, books and SNACKS! Plane food is not the thing to experiment w/ when traveling w/ a baby. 5 hours to your destination will be such a breeze that you'll sit there and wonder why you worried! While there are some kids who fuss in airplanes, if you stay calm and keep your daughter busy, there shouldn't be any problems. If your child is generally an easy going kid, they're like that on the plane as well. Good luck and have a safe flight!

K.,

We took our daughter on a plane trip when she was 10 mos old. We, too, bought her her own seat and brought her carseat on the plane for her to ride in. She did very well. We did bring a bottle for her to use for take off and landing (her ears could hurt from the changes in pressure). We brought some of her favorite toys and snacks and she did well. We had several compliments from other passengers. They were surprized that there was a baby on board.

D.

Their ears hurt from the pressure change on descent. Make sure she swallows -- have a sippy cup, fruit snack or whatever.

I've been on 16 different flight with my 11 month old and it has been fine. Don't have too many expectations - she may cry and people may be mean but more likely you'll be fine and everyone will be extremely helpful. I breastfed often each time and my doctor recommended ear planes for babies but we didn't need them.

For the travel just try to keep some sort of schedule if possible but if not just get right back to the schedule when you get home. It'll take a few days or weeks but it'll work. One thing that really helped us is to take our own pack and play. It's kind of a drag to lug around but it was worth it for her to have her own bed that she was familiar with. You never know what kind of crib a hotel will have. We also took our white noise machine with us which helped drown out unfamiliar noises. Hope this helps! Good luck!

Have her drinking her bottle or cup when taking off or landing. It helps with the altitude change for his ears.

Good morning! First and foremost, my daughter is 14 1/2 years old now and has been an international traveler since she was 3 weeks old. I took her to Germany for 3 1/2 weeks and she was amazing on the flight, except flying into and out of LAX. One thing I did with all of our flights, when she was little, is make sure I had a bottle full of water and her pacifier readily available until she was no longer using them then I carried around gum. That seemed to be the best for her. The main thing to remember is that your child must adapt to your life not you to them. They are pretty resilient and are even more fun as they grow up!!!! Good luck and I hope this helps. By the way, I am a single parent and have been since I found out I was pregnant!!! Have a great day! N., San Carlos

Hi K.,

It has been a few years but I remember that what work for me was feeding my baby during the take off and landing. The change in air pressure causes pain in a baby's ears. Be ready with baby Tylenol just in case she is more uncomfortable than usual.

When I traveled with my daughter who was 6 months on a 22 hours flight. I breastfed during take off and landing to help ears from getting too much pressure. If she is drinking from the bottle, I would just let her drink and hold her in your lap for comfort. It's easy for me to say don't worry, but she can sense your mood. Bring books, crayons. BOn Voyage.

Hi! The best Travel advice I received when my son was 10 months old was to feed the child a bottle as you ascended and descended. That would help with the pressure on the child's ears. It really helped. We were traveling via air out of state quite often and once I started that...boy what a difference.

Good luck!

Be sure to take something for her to suck on. If she uses a pacifier that is what she will need. If not try a sugarless sucker. The sucking motion will help keep the pressure more equal in her ears. You know how your ears feel uncomfortable as you change altitudes. She may fuss if she has this type of feeling in her ears, the sucking will help aleviate her discomfort.
Have awonderful trip.
J.

A couple things about being out of town for a time: First, don't expect your baby to be on her best behavior. Often it is not our child's behavior, but our unrealistic expectations that make our lives stressful. 2nd, if you are going to see friends or family out of town, right now get pictures printed of them. Talk with your baby about the people (only the good stuff) and show her the pictures. If you Laminate them or cover them with clear contact paper she could hold them and play with them. Getting her used to the people that she will see will help her adjust to new faces and help all of you have a better vacation.

Our son was seven months when we went on the plane for the first time. The following things really helped us.

My first suggestion would be to pack individual large ziplock bags with a diaper and a few wipes. This way when you change your baby you don't have to drag the whole diaper bag to the bathroom which is a tight squeeze.

Also pack small bags with everything you will need for a meal. We had a small plastic bowl with a clip on top, a spoon, jar of baby food, bib, bottles and formula (if not breaskfeeding of course) and wipes for clean-up. This was also helpful to not have to search for all the pieces. On the ziplocks you can even use marker on label them breakfast, lunch, snacks.

The other trick was to bring some toys but to try to use one for awhile for distraction before bringing out another to keep your baby entertained.

We also found using our own port-a-crib helpful. We started putting Jack in it for naps a few days before we left so he got used to it. We also brought two of his blankets so he had things that smelled familiar.

As for the changes in schedule there is really no way to help your baby expect to just let him adjust naturally and give her all the attention she needs.

Also, be prepared for the people you are visiting to immediately want to hold your baby and she may not feel so great about that. OUr son was totally overwhelmed by all my family and it took him awhile to get comfortable. I would give her lots of time before thrusting her into a group.

Hope this all help and Bon Voyage!

N.

Hi K.,

She'll really need a lot of quiet type toys to keep her entertained. Plus you could use this opportunity to jump start her education! Play License Plate Games to look for the alphabet, her name, colors, numbers, etc. Look for shapes in the landscape; triangle, square, circle. There's a lot of different games you can play while on the road.

Also, for my twins we would put a large towel in each car seat. This made it more comfortable and would absorb a leaky diaper! It's a whole lot easier to replace a wet towel than a wet car seat cushion when you're out in the middle of an adventure.

Have a great trip!
N. :o)

Pack a special bag for your baby with snacks, her fav toys and any other distractions that will work. Color books, crayons. And dont distract her with them unless she starts to get cranky. Take fav blanket, cup, anything.

Hi K.,

I disagree with bringing any kind of video, DVD or CD - this is too stimulating and she is too young...you and your husband will have a wonderful opportunity to soothe and love your baby without the media's help !
First of all, be sure that you pack several of each thing for the baby, ie, changes of clothes, diapers, socks. Be sure you also have a change of clothes for you and your husband as you are bound to spill something. Also, be sure that the baby has either a bottle or a pacifier in her mouth when the plan takes off and lands as this will help with ear pain. Also, be sure you have liquid Tylenol with you and Mylicon (gas drops). Be sure you will be well prepared if your plane is delayed or God forbid canceled. I recommend holding the baby as much as possible so that she is comforted and more likely to fall asleep.

You'll do well, the better prepared you are!

Have fun!

Hi there ~
Actually I dont have any advice but would you mind sharing with me anything you might find out as we are going to Hawaii in June with our son who will be 10 months then as well. We are planning on getting him his own seat as well but I am very nervous thinking about the "what if's"! I guess it is what it is but any info would be good for me too. Sorry I cant give you any advice. Our friends who just traveled with there 11 month old said the best thing they could tell us was to buy him his own seat! Good luck and keep me posted.
Thanks
D.

Hi K. - we just took our 6 month old to Chile from San Francisco, a 25 hour travel day, with the longest flight being 11 hours. I completely know what you mean about being nervous, but honestly in hindsight, I think I was more nervous about how I was going to deal, then how he was going to deal. We didn't buy him a seat, because we got tips that we could ask the airline at check-in to seat us in an aisle with an empty seat and fortunately it worked for us on all 6 flights, except one. On the way home on the longest stretch, the flight was packed and we got stuck holding him for 11 hours... ughh! Nevertheless, I agree with the feedback below to just relax and have fun. We sang lots of songs, played many games of peek-a-boo, read books, etc. I took him out of his carseat to nurse, on take-off and landing. Although a couple of the flights, he slept right through landing. Most of the time, he just stayed in his carseat. Another thing, there is sooo much stimulation at the airport on the airplane, that I think they just get exhausted by this extra stimulation. My son loved looking at the overhead lights on the plane, as well as the tv screens, even if nothing was on it except the map of the country. I bought a blow up boppy/my breast friend, because I had heard so many moms wish that they had had theirs during their flights, but I never used it. Enjoy your trip and best wishes!
- SH

Hi There,
I have traveled with my son several times and I haven't had too much trouble with it. The car seat on the plane is a great idea. They will sleep easier and give you hands free to relax a bit. Just remember to check to see if your car seat is airplane approved. We saw a family behind us get their seat taken away because it wasn't approved. They had to hold their child the whole flight even though they paid for a seat! Ouch! Something to suck on or chew is helpful for take off and landing. I got a Razberry teether and my son chewed on it and didn't have any ear issues. The other item that is helpful for trips is a nightlight. Hotels are very dark at night. A glow worm or something that makes music and lights up is also helpful if your child is used to a mobile or such. New environments can make it harder for your little one to relax and fall asleep and these seem to help.
Hope that helps and you have a fantastic trip!

Hi!
Don't be nervous, there are so many people traveling with babies all the time, so the staff is used to it, they will help you and be understanding.

Bring a lot of crackers and things to eat, toys etc. Make sure your girl drinks from a bottle or breastfeeds when you take off and when you land so that she doesn't get ear pains from the change of pressure. Bring some motrin just in case.

Walk with her back and forth in the aisle during the flight.
You'll be fine! I have flown with my kids between Europe and the US several times, it is tiring, but no big problems!

Have fun on the trip!

I'm from UK and regularly travel with my kids. We always got them a seat. Check the airline, do they have kids safety seats. OR take on your car seat. Your baby will be familiar with it. Strap it to a luggage cart (small foldable one, place baby in and wheel her around airport!)
Once seat belt sign is on, put baby in her own familiar seat.
STAY CALM....
for take off/landing you may want to give favorite snack/drink/food. (I always gave raisins which resulted in enormous poop 15mins into flight but their ears were fine!)
Lastly remember that whatever you take you have to carry, keep it light stuff.

No sense in mom & dad being tired!
Good luck!

Hi K. - a good tip for minimizing the pressure a little one can feel when decending in a plane ( we all know that feeling in our ears) is to serve your baby a bottle during the decent---the sucking on a bottle will keep her ears clear. I suppose nursing would work too. Also, pick a travel time when your baby will likely be sleepy.

Have a great trip and dont forget the picture of you and baby on her FIRST plane ride!

J.--mom of Cody 4, in Santa Cruz

My husband and I went to New York when our first was about 10 months old-6 hour flight. We were lucky enough to have an agent tells us about an open row in the very back where we could have an extra seat. On the way back we were not so lucky, but our daughter did very good. Most people after the ride was over said I would have never knew you had an infant with you. One of our tricks was giving her benedryl-I know that is totally spelled wrong. If you do want to take this option though I did learn from the people I nannied for-their pediatrician said if you are going to do that you need to try it before the flight to see the reaction your child has-most become sleepy, but some will have the opposite effect. Also what works well is to feed them when you are taking off and even landing. Then their ears tend to do better.

I've travelled with my daughter many times now (she is now 2). Although a lot of people use Benadryl to knock the kids out, I didn't want to drug her. I packed lots of snacks, and blueberries work REALLY well. Checking our stroller in at the gate was great--so convenient. If she gets restless, you can always go to the back of the plane and let her look out the window.
Happy travelling!