Advice for Travel with 8 Month Old

We traveled home from China with an 11 month and have flown many times since then (including with a 3 month old). Every time we used EARPLANES EARPLUGS. They really work. They have a device in them that equalizes the pressure in the ears so their ears don’t hurt. They come in adult and children’s sizes (the children’s size worked on my 3 month old.) The only places I have found them are at CVS or Target. At Target you have to ask the pharmacist to get them from behind the counter. I WOULD NEVER FLY WITHOUT THEM. Two words of warning – constantly check your baby’s ears to make sure the plugs haven’t been knocked out or pulled out by the baby and have an extra set at the ready in case one does fall out and get lost. There’s nothing like franticly searching the floor of an airplane while your baby screams in pain (been there).

Sassy Diaper Sacks (blue deodorized bags – you can buy at Meijers only) are good for containing dirty diaper odor while traveling or overnight in the hotel trash can.

If you are worried about motion sickness on the plane or on a boat ride, you can use Benadryl. It works the same as motion sickness pills but you can buy it in a formula for children. You might need to ask your doctor the correct dose for an 8 month old, though. Also, beware, I have heard it makes some kids very hyper (though it didn’t affect mine that way).

Word of warning on the crib at the resort – you never know what you are getting. You don’t know how safe the crib is or how clean the crib mattress is. Sometimes the cribs are old and not up to current safety standards or they aren’t put together correctly or are loose due to being moved from room and room and stored. I would bring a pack and play for the baby to sleep in.

Have fun and don’t worry. Enjoy the warm weather!!

For the flight, I would take plenty of whatever your baby eats and diapers. You never know when there might be a delay.Have a wonderful vacation...relax and enjoy!

I traveled with an 8 month old last year. Try to plan his meal (bottle) around the flight time. It helps if he is sucking on the bottle as you take off in the airplane and land. Try to make nap time during flight time.

They can give you a bottle of water (for dry formula) when you get on the plane, so don't bother buying a bottle in the airport, unless you really need to.

I really didn't have any problems, I would recommend boarding last (send your husband or you on the plane with the carry ons and get them loaded, but don't bring the baby on until you have to (why make them sit still for any longer than they have to).

You can take your stroller right up to the plane door. You get a tag at the boarding gate, then it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane.

Security was the worst with a stroller, we had to wait 20 min for them to check the stroller, once they started, it was fast, but they checked wheel chairs first, and made us wait.

Have fun and be optimistic.

Hi marina,LOL! sorry cant help you in that department,this sounds like you. Im gonna be asking you when u get back.
MONA!

All of the advise u have gotten is great. The only thing I would add is DON'T FORGET THE WIPES! Bring extra. They will come in handy. TRUST ME. Good luck.

I travelled last year with my 6 month old and was also very worried about it. Turns out it was sooo much better than anticipated. It was just my son and I and the passengers were all sooo nice. A stewardess arranged for me to sit next to two empty seats and my child slept most of the time on my coat I had spread out on the seats. We were actually stuck on the plane for 3 hours before takeoff due to weather and it still turned out just fine. Your child gets to be closest to the person he loves most (you) so that always helps.

Items that were useful... premade formula bottles with several disposable nipples in baggies... Teethers, biscuits, etc. for chewing on takeoff. Baby books to read, due to confined space this seemed an appropriate activity.
When we arrived in Florida we had the stroller we took on the plane but rented from a company near the airport a carseat, crib, and bouncy chair. I used the car seat or stroller as a highchair but was most grateful for the "bouncy" (depending on how mobile your child is) to keep him happy and give me break time.
My guess is that it will all turn out better than you are anticipating so have fun!

Take double the diapers and water/formula you usually would take for the same time period. My only dilemma with flying with kids that young, was the diaper explosion after take off (for some unknown reason). Take something to be able to lay your child down on the floor, because you won't fit in the tiny bathroom. Or have your spouse walk around and use the extra seat, but it will be tight either way. My kids to this day drink more when flying, so I take extra liquids on the plane. They will provide extras for your child, but having in your possession when the baby starts to fuss is the key. Besides that my kids loved watching the other people and that kept them entertained!

I don't have any ideas for flying, but we have done a great deal of travel by car. Are you staying at a hotel or with family? When we've traveled to family, we've asked them to have diapers and formula on hand at our destination; and we only packed what was needed for the actual trip there. Diapers take up a lot of room! Even if you're not seeing family, you could stop at a local grocery store or pharmacy to pick up these staples. We have always used a sound machine in our children's room, and brought that with us. We also brought a monitor. Our children didn't fall asleep well seeing us in the room with them, so there were many times where we'd sit in the hotel hallway with a laptop watching movies (right outside our door) waiting for the girls to fall asleep. I have heard that pack-n-plays are good to use by the pool or on the beach (haven't done myself). Lastly, I bought a travel swing at Once Upon A Child, and then went back to purchase a 2nd after our first trip. That first night, when their schedules were off - it was the only way to get them (and us) some sleep! Hope some of these ideas help - have a wonderful time!!!!

You have gotten wonderful advice already. Trust me it is WAY easier than you are imagining in your head. My daughter has slept on every flight she's been on (I think it's the hum of the engines that put her to sleep). I've also found that most passengers are really helpful and understanding and the flight crew and security are also wonderful. Just don't stress - your baby will pick up on it. Good Luck!

Hi, I have 3 children and have been taking flights to Florida for the last 8 years. Starting with an 8 month old, and now I travel all by myself with all 3. Ages 7, 5, and 2 now. It is actually a piece of cake on the plane. I breastfed so I would do that during takeoff and decending time. If you bottle feed, save the bottle for those times. Because the change in air pressure is easier on their ears if they are sucking. Bring your stroller right to the gate and ask the gate attendant for a stroller ticket. Then you just leave your stroller folded up outside the door of the plane. And when you get off, it will be there waiting in the same spot you left it (outside the door). Try to have baby changed before you board, cuz the bathroom is very cramped to change diapers. The flight is pretty short, I don't think you'll have a problem. The worst part is during security, when you have to take off everyones shoes (including babies!), and fold up the stroller to put it on the belt to be scanned. But if you're with you're hubby that will be a big help. I'm always relying on strangers to help me. I visit my mother often down in Tampa area. You'll be fine. Good luck!!!!

You got a lot of good advice. I just took a trip to Hawaii from MI in November. The flight out was a 9 hour flight. My daughter was 14 months.

I would suggest books and stickers. My daughter loved playing with stickers and it occupied her time for quite awhile. And maybe one of those travel magna doodles. My girls have always loved those.
But if anything don't feel afraid to get up and walk around with her.

Good luck and have fun!

My son was about 7 or 8 months old when I flew from Vegas back to Michigan. Make sure you bring enough formula, diapers, etc in case you end up on a longer trip. I brought extra and still ran out. We could not land in Michigan because of weather and had to land in Indianapolis for hours upon hours. I had to leave the plane and find someone with a baby who could give me a diaper and I had to give my son regular milk because I ran out of formula. It all worked out and he was a great baby (paying for that now with the teenage years lol) but you never know what can happen so be prepared. Also if you travel in a car...remember you will need a car seat.

I would bring something from her crib that will help make her feel at home. Like her mobile. That was a big help with my boys when that age. Now my 2 year old has to have his stuffed kitty and his pillow and my one year old just needs his mobile and his thumb..LOL..trust me this will help her settle in to the new place for the vacation. Oh yeah and the monitor for if you have any family around or if you think you may need it..and of course health insurance cards for the family and her just in case. Good luck and have a fun vacation..:)

I traveled to Disneyworld with a 4 month old and we also took her on another vacation around the same age as yours. I carried her on the front of me with one of those Baby Bjorn Carriers - the really good padded ones - made it a life saver being hands free - also - formula I bought the powder packets and just carried bottles of water and mixed when I needed them - was great to not have to worry about keeping formula cold throughout the day. Something to suck for the baby on the plane also helps with ear pressure - a binky or bottle of water. Good luck!

Look in to renting equipment from your destination instead of hauling it with you...

http://www.awaybabyrentals.com/

My guess is that with an 8 month old, you're probably just keeping him on your lap. But, if you did decide to get him his own seat, I highly recommend bringing your own carseat. It's quite a pain to lug it through the airport but I firmly believe that it kept my daughter calm the entire flight (I bought a backpack the held the carseat throughout the airport - it was bulky but not too heavy - the first time I flew with my daugther at 18 months, I did it on my own and I was OK carrying this through the airport while pushing her in the stroller). We flew to Orlando when she was 18 months old and then again at just over 2 years. Both times, I brought her carseat onboard the plane and she was perfect. I think it helped her to feel a sense of familiarity. I also made sure to bring her blanky and favorite stuffed animal to hold onto while on the plane ride. Other than that, you've got a lot of good advice from other moms :) Good luck! The thing I kept telling myself is that the flight to Florida is relatively short so even if your baby struggles, it'll only be for a short period of time - believe it or not, this helped me to relax.

We took my daughter to texas when she was 8 months old, I was so stressed but she did really good. She reached her limit by the end of the flight but really never cried or anything. I brought cheerios and a bottle, and lots of new little toys. It will seem like forever that you are on the plane but your son will be fine. We did give her benadryl on the flight to texas but it didn't relax her at all so we skipped on the way home. I feel like it made her overly tired.

I really wish we would have brought our pack-n-play. She had a really hard time sleeping in the crip at the hotel. Just a suggestion as I know its a pain to bring.

Hope all goes well!

Anything you'd carry in your diaper bag (infant meds?). Renting a car? Either take your own car seat or get one included with the car. Try to time a feeding during takeoff and landing (easier on those tiny ears). Lots and lots of sun screen. Floppy sun hat. Some books and toys from home to keep some familiarity.

Sounds like you have some good advice. It's been 11 yrs since I've traveled with a little one. I took extra diapers and formula on the plane. Familiar things such as blankets/stuffed toys etc. Little books to look at, and small trinkets/snacks to keep him busy. I always took those little dum-dum suckers if I needed to kept them quiet. (It keeps them busy and the little bit of sugar never hurt them.)Getting on last is a good idea. Changing him before you get on. Feeding him a bottle while taking off and landing(so his ears don't pop) Keep him up so he can sleep during most of the flight(but not so much that he gets overtired and can't sleep). My kids were good at falling asleep while traveling(plane or car or motorhome)As far as car seats I would take your own if possible(it's a little harder)I don't know what the rules are for on the plane if you need one. But like some one said you can rent them I believe with the car if you rent them. Stroller are a good thing but if you go to a big park like Disney/Sea World it's worth renting one there.
Have a great time....wish we were going too! This winter is getting to us! we used to travel to Florida every winter for two weeks for 5 years in a row and we haven't went for the last two years. but I can't complain, we went on other trips like a three week trip out west in our motorhome in 2005 and in 2007 we went on a four month trip all over out west and up to Alaska. We love traveling and I suggest that everyone do it. Preferably by motorhome it's so much easier with kids. You have the microwave for heating bottles, the kids can some what move around and you don't have to stop a million times to go to the bathroom, only when my husband needed to and then it was a good time to stop for a rest or eat a meal but we've ate plenty of meals going down the road.Everyone thinks that traveling it expensive but if you plan it right and take alot of your own meals, have a motorhome(you can park for free in some parking lots overnight).
Anyways have fun in the sun!
C.

Make sure you take a lot of extra formula for the plane ant airport. I flew to Florida with my 6 month old and ended up being delayed 7 hours and didn't have formula for the drive after the airport. It got a little tense. Good Luck

Give him a bottle during take off and landing if possible. It's so his ears don't pop. A pacifier should work if if you can't give him a bottle. Bring sunscreen and if possible bring some type of beach umbrella. Although the resort might have them. I took my daughter to FL when she was 6 months old. We didn't need the umbrella for the pool because there were plenty of buildings to give shade, but the beach was miserable. We didn't stay long. Have fun!!

I never had trouble flying with infants. Make sure you nurse on take off and landing, helps to regulate ear pressure. Usually slept the whole flight. Maybe the constant sound of the engines was soothing??? Good Luck!

We had to fly with our 3 week old daughter at a time when we obviously would not have known that she has a little issue with motion sickness. I fed her at take-off and just as we leveled off she started to cry. I picked her up and she emptied her full tummy down my shirt. I'd brought extra clothes for her but nothing for me. I had an attractive stain and milk curdled in my bra and shirt by the time we landed. Nice if you want people to give you a little space, but otherwise I'd suggest rolling up a mama-size t-shirt and tucking it in the baby bag. I'm sure it won't happen to you, but maybe some other poor soul who is reading this.