Air Travel with Infant

Take the first morning flight out, the earlier the better. Check your luggage. Print boarding pass out the night before if possible. Take your stroller and car seat with you to the gate and check them at the gate. First class is the best way to fly but if in coach, get an aisle seat as you will need to walk her around if she gets fussy. Be prepared to get lots of dirty looks from people sitting around you, but just smile and ignore them. But also be prepared for lots of help from others. I was surprised how kind people were to me when I was traveling.

I have a 4 year old and 6 mo old. I have been traveling alone with my oldest since he was 3 mos old. The most important thing is to stay relaxed. Organize your carry on, for easy access. Take your stroller, you can check it at the gate. Make the stroller easy to unload at security b/c you will have to fold it to put it through x-ray machine ( there are always people to help if you need it). Wear slip off shoes, it is easier when your hands are full. I recommend a bottle or pacifier for take off and landing, it helps with ears. I gently massage pressure area of ears to help relieve pressure. Sit in the aisle seat so while in flight you can move freely if needed. And most importantly, don't worry about others if she starts crying, it will give you unnecessary stress. Take your daughters favorite toy. And if you are lucky she will sleep mine usually does b/c I plan flight times during normal nap times. I am getting ready to do a trip alone with both boys next month, it will probably be a whole different experience. Good Luck and enjoy your trip.

Hi J.:

I've traveled with each one of my girls from 9 weeks on. I try to bring simple toys to entertain. One of my girls loved a child's paint brush (a bit thicker in the bristles). The soft strokes on her arms and legs were very calming. Books are great, especially if there are things she can touch or see (Baby Einstein has a book with a little mirror inside) I sing songs, and do hand games (Open/Shut Them, Itsy bitsy Spider). Things to eat, like cheerios or other dry foods will pass the time. If she uses a pacifier, I'd use that to unplug her ears or a sippy cup. If her ears are bad, use a warm wash cloth or paper towel over her ears. This helps a lot to release air pressure. I've used it myself and it works. As for seating, the aisle is good so she can see a lot of people and be entertained. You can reach down into your diaper bag easier as well. I feel a bit trapped in the window seat, especially when they get squirmy. I would bring her favorite blanket or stuffed animal on the plane. If my girls wanted to nap, I used their blanket to cover their eyes.. there's a lot of stimulation on a plane, especially for a curious 8 month old. I'd stand and rock them and try to stay as calm as possible if your baby is crying. She'll sense your tension and really, a majority of the travelers have been in the same situation as you, so don't get stressed if she's crying. Hope some of these suggestions help.

A little about me:
I'm a mom of three little girls, 4, 2 & 8months.

To get through security, Keep your daugther in the Stroller until the last possible minute and take off both yours and her shoes ahead of time (wear slip ons if possible). Toss everything onto the convayer belt, push the stroller through, and then after you've scanned both your daughter and yourself, grab the stroller, carry your daughter and toss everything from the convayer belt onto your stroller. Walk away from the area and re-organize.

Bring a couple new toys for play. (Playdoh is great, quiet and fun, and they come in tiny sizes.) A few new books, snacks,...like a sucker. Suckers are a GREAT way to keepkids occupied for at least a /2 hour. DVD players are great too if you have one and allow your 8 mo old to watch, and you can get some headphones for her too.

When I travel, I plan the flight during sleepy hours so that the chance of a nap is more prevolent.

J.,

#1 - Make sure you have a seat on the right hand side of the plane if you did not buy your baby a ticket. They only put the extra oxygen mask on the right side of the plane and if the attendant sees you sitting on the left with an infant on your lap, she will make you change seats with someone. It has happened to us and it is a pain. Also make sure you don't have a seat in or next to an exit row. They will make you move for that, too.

To get through security, ask for help. The security people want you through there as fast as you do, just ask them to hold something or reopen the stroller or whatever you need. Bring an umbrella stroller that she can sit in while your hands are full. (You will have to take her out and put it on the xray machine.) You can check the stroller at the gate so you have it with you in the airport. FYI - when I went through in December, all 4 of my kids had to take off their shoes and they wouldn't let you bring water through security; have to buy it in the airport. Wear slip ons.

I would sit at the back of the plane. It is closer to the bathrooms, you get on first no matter the boarding policy, and it is noisier back there. Good white noise for baby and good for drowning out her screaming if it is a bad flight. :) When the attendants aren't busy, they play with the babies back there and sometimes a new face keeps them happy. Also, you can ask for a preboarding flight because you are traveling with an infant. (Some airlines will let you do it and some won't.)

Good luck,
S.

If your baby is upset, just stay calm and ignore any rude comments of fellow passangers. A bottle, nursing or binky are your best bets; just do your best and most people will be supportive and understanding.

I traveled to Salt Lake City with my 3 month old by myself, and although he wasn't as active as I'm sure your 8mnth old is, it wasn't as hard as you would expect. I did nurse him when we took off and landed to ease with the air pressure, I brought my car seat through security and checked it at the gate (just ask the gate attendant for a special tag before you board), and I gave myself plenty of time to deal with security and waiting. I know it means entertaining your child longer but there is so much going on in an airport that the waiting before the flight is the easy part. Just bring the normal toys you would to keep her entertained while waiting anywhere, and then 3 more items you keep in reserve for that moment when nothing else works. I sat both on the aisle and by the window, and the window was a bit better because it was more private while nursing. However I applaud you for being willing to do this, others will tell you your crazy but life goes on and how else do you expose your child to a variety of activities? The best advice I heard was- if your child cries and doesn't calm down "fast enough", don't worry just be loud and visual in your attempts to quiet her. That's the best you can do, and when needed ask for help. People are more willing then you would think!

Hi J.,
My daughter was born overseas and traveled back and forth until she was 2, so we've spent loads of time on planes. I'm not sure what you are thinking of already, but here are some tips----feed the bottle to her for take off and landing (actually start 5-10 min. before when you can feel the pressure changing and decent beginning), sit in an aisle seat in the bulk head (the seats in front of the movie screen, with no seats directly ahead--these seats have bassinets that the airline can snap in for you and there's space for the child to crawl around), for long flights- I won't go anywhere without something to assist sleeping like Benedryl since we once traveled for 20+ hours with a sick/miserable child and had nothing to relieve her besides tylenol. Besides that, your daughter is a great age for plane travel---not mobile yet and everyone will thinks she's adorable :)

I probably gave you too much information. Sorry for that, but I hope something is helpful. Have a great trip to warmer places:)

If you have a "travel system" ie stroller/carseat combo, I would recommend bringing it along. Its capable of holding a lot of your stuff, plus the baby, and best of all, you can check it right at the gate! As far as calming the baby...barf bags are crinkly and interesting!? haha

We travelled with our son at 9 months, and I found that as long as he was sucking on a bottle or pacifier at take off and landing, that there wasn't too much fussing. Bring her favorite toys as a distraction, and walk her around the aisles if she fusses (as long as you are allowed to!) Good luck!

I traveled with my 11-month old by plane three times by myself. I've found the biggest challenge is getting through security. Since I usually travel with a laptop and umbrella stroller, there is a lot of juggling to get everything through the metal detectors one-handed (since I don't want to put her on the floor!). My biggest tip is to be organized - make sure everything that has to come out of your carryon bag (bottles, food, etc.) is on top and already in ziplock bags so you don't have to dig around for them. Also, be selective in the amount of jewelery that you wear, it's just more items that may have to come off.

I've never had any problems getting bottles through the MPLS airport, but in other airports they've made me take the tops off the bottle while they wave something over it (don't worry, they let you handle the bottles usually, and nothing touches the milk). Its kind of a pain but usually the airport personnel have been helpful.

While in flight, I usually bring books and soft toys (that aren't noisy enough to annoy other passengers) her blanket and pacifier. My other tip is to make sure you have plenty of food that you can give her on the plane. My daughter tends to eat like crazy when we fly, and you don't want to run out of food while you are sitting on the runway.

Hope this helps!

Infants are the easiest to travel with. If you use a pacifer or breast feed that is the best way to settle them if they are upset or during take off and landing. Honestly though you know your child best. What works at home, works on the plane just in a more confined space. Bring a favorite blanket, toy, snack. Bring something new for them to explore.

As far as getting through security by yourself. The best thing you can do is have everything out that you need out. Ticket your security bag. Make sure you wear shoes that come off easily so you don't have to try to untie and tie shoes while your trying to keep track of a baby. Most important is to pick a line that is off to the side. Not a lot of people will go there and then you wont feel rushed to get through. Each airport is different, sometimes the stroller goes through the x-ray machine and sometimes it goes through the metal detector. You'll have to play that by ear.

If you can get a seat behind the bulkhead you'll have extra room infront for your things and depending you might beable to get a bassinet, but you have to request that ahead of time. So call now and see if their is one available. I don't know how long your flight is, but that is a God send for long trips.

Have fun and relax, that is the most important.

J.,
I agree with what everyone else has said but theres one more thing, don't wear a belt through security. I have tried many times to get through without mine and I have never gotten away with it. Also the umbrella stroller is great because when your flight lands you they will have the stroller waiting for you and you can hang the diaper bag and your purse on the handles so your don't have to carry them all the way to baggage claim. Have fun and enjoy.

J.,

You have lots of great advice here. The only thing I didn't see mentioned (which worked great for my son) was a sling to carry him in. I used that instead of a stroller (we were traveling light) when I flew with my son at 7 months. Minimally, it helped to get me into my seat carrying my other bags onto the plane. Also, it helped cover me up while nursing during landing and take off. My son is shy of new situations, so having him close to me kept him calm during boarding, take off and landing. Otherwise, I am pretty sure he would have been screaming his head off :) Not that your baby would do that, but it really helped me with his need to feel secure.

Good luck with your flight!
J.

I flew with my daughter when she was 8mo and 10mo by myself. The one thing I didn't see mentioned in the other responses was that when I was waiting at the gate, I asked if we could have a row to ourselves, or at least an empty seat next to us. Fortunately, both times the plane was not full and they were very accommodating. 3 out of the 4 times on the plane(round trip), we had the whole row to ourselves. It was so nice! She could lay down; I could switch from aisle seat to looking out the window, etc. Also, for me traveling by myself, I checked the car seat so I didn't have to carry it(no way could I have done that with everything else). I checked the umbrella stroller at the gate so it was waiting when I got off. Worked great! Also, in agreement, have lots of finger snacks to keep her occupied. Since feeding themselves is probably fairly new at this point, it really keeps them occupied. Good Luck!

Books, toys that she likes from home so they're familiar, snacks. We travelled when my oldest son (now 2) was 6 months old and he was perfect. I would suggest wearing your daughter to get through security faster. Even with my husband there taking my son out of the stroller, folding it up and putting on the conveyer belt was a pain. If you wear her in a carrier you won't have to take her off to walk through security and the only thing to put on the belt is your purse and/or carry on.