Baby's 1St Airplane Ride

I have not faced this myself at this point, I travel quite a lot, but haven't been brave enough to bring my lil one along. But one thing I would seriously consider, especially with airlines charging for bags and extra bags, is shipping what you can before hand. That way you only hav to carry what is absolutely necessary.

J.
I traveled the first time by plane when my son was 7 1/2 months. My husband was with me, but we were not seated together. Things that made it work: Feed the baby during take off and landing(whether nursing or bottle, it will help with pressure building up in the ears) Take snacks/for meal. Have toys/books in your carry on and keep it below your seat for easy access. Not sure if your little one is walking yet, if so it maybe a little more difficult and you may want to purchase that other seat and have your car seat to contain her. I recently took a 3 1/2 car ride with my 15 month old and used a portable dvd player for baby eisteins, it really helped. I know she is a little younger, but they are really into those videos at that age. You can buy a car seat carrier, you hook the carseat to a stand that has wheels and that is how you could get through the airport. I saw this item on this website www.onestepahead.com If you choose not to purchase a seat for the little one you can still go all the way to the gate with your stroller/carseat and check it right there so that you don't have to carry her through the airport. I would try to call the airline you are traveling with and see if they can help you with checking your bags curbside, that will probably be your biggest challenge. Good Luck

In addition to all the other great advice. Since you are considering buying your daughter a seat, look into the cost (or miles) for one first class ticket instead of 2 coach tickets. I flew with my son first class (using miles) and had a GREAT experience. For some reason you are treated much better and helped along the way. I reserved a seat on the first row so my son could lie down / play on the floor in front of my seat. He enjoyed playing with the mini water bottles the best. I used the blankets and pillows to create a "fence" for him to stay contained. Our flight was delayed and he was able to see the pilot and control area - I have wonderful photos of him "flying" the plane :) In addition to the perks listed above if you fly first class, you can check more bags, shorter check in lines and be the first to board, plus snacks and drinks (even the alcoholic ones). Good Luck!

Hi J.,

I would suggest that you check in all of your luggage except for a diaper bag / backpack which will carry all of the stuff the baby would need. You should take along your stroller (which they will check in when you are ready to board the plane) that way you are not carrying around the baby and your bags. If you do not want to take a stroller for any reason then I would say at a minimum have one of those baby carriers that you can strap to yourself or a baby sling.

Have a few snacks and milk ready for her and a few of her favorite toys and maybe a small new toy that you think she would enjoy. If you keep her engaged between the snacks and toys she is probably fine. If you haven't bought your tickets then it might be worth scheduling the flight during a naptime if you think she will fall asleep easily.

Make sure you also back 1-2 extra set of clothes in case she spills anything or spits anything up. Also carry an extra set for yourself too just in case she makes a mess on you - I learned this the hard way. I had extra clothes for my daughter but not for me and she spit up some of her milk and it landed on both of us so I smelled like vomit for a few hours of the flight which was not pleasant.

You should get to the airport early because everything will take a little longer to do with a baby...

Also, here's a site with lots of different information that you may find useful: http://www.flyingwithkids.com/

Have fun!

I've traveled some with my daughter without my husband and it's definitely more challenging. You don't realize how much there is to juggle and thinking about.

You can take more baby liquids (milk, formula, juice, etc.) than they allow passengers without babies. So you're not limited to 3.5 oz in a zip lock, etc.

Strollers are a must. I made the mistake of not taking it one time and I was surprised how tried my arms got holding her on one hip and pulling a bag.

Try to pack everything in one rolling back.

Personally, I don't think you'll need to buy an extra seat for your daughter. Most flights, unless they are booked, will seat you in an empty row. 3 hours isn't that long. I've been on worse (14 hour flights). And depending on your flight time, your daughter might sleep most of the time.

I recommend having your child suck during take off and landing to help take pressure off your daughter's ears. She can suck on a milk bottle or pacifier, etc.

Also, my daughter loves music, so I took my MP3 player with me and head phones that wrap around the ear (not plugs that go into the ear) and put them on her during the flight. She loved listening to the music. Of course, she also had fun taking them on and off, but it was just entertaining her and that is the key. It also helped smooth her to sleep and distract her from all the weird airplane sounds.

Don't stress. Kids feed off our anxiety. Get to the airport early enough so that your don't have to rush or feel stress but not so early that you're waiting for hours.

Good luck.

Hey I did this with my 11 month old with my husband and again when he was 13 months by myself. A couple of suggestions that worked for me:
1) Get throw away toys - McDonalds or any fast food cups/straws/lids, they love them and who cares if they fall on the floor.
2) Get plastic cups from the flight attendant and lots of ice
3) Be super nice to the flight attendants, they can really help you.
4) get a seat at the back or the front of the plane near a bathroom, try to check out the changing table before you take off.
5) if your baby is over 22 lbs and you feel comfortable use the cares harness (http://www.kidsflysafe.com/) it is too hard to take the car seat, baby and diaper bag onto the plane by yourself, but if you have to, flight attendants and strangers will help.
6) get to the airport earlier than normal. just remember, you will get to the gate, eventually. the security takes longer with the child and everything inclding the stroller has to go through the x-ray. make sure to separate milk/formula to make it easier for them to let you go through with out a lot of hassle.
7) you will get nasty looks at security in particular and just ignore them, they are people w/o children and don't understand. others will let you cut in line and go before them, it can work either way.
8) bring some light up toys for on the plane or even a dvd player - my child does not watch tv unless something really bad is going on so the portable dvd player worked for us. if you don't want to buy new toys, put away a few of her fav toys now and they will be new to her on the plane and work nicely for you on the trip - save some for the trip home.
9) if you can, try to make the flight during a mealtime, this can take up to an hour on the flight and is good entertainment for the child. bring planety of snacks because the food on the plane is not suitable for an 11 month old.
10) if you have an easy close stroller that will help, my is a one handed, or get a cheap umbrella at the drug store that you check at the gate, that can help out a lot as well.
11) board as early as you can, some flights allow people with small chldren to board first but not always.
12) remember, take your time, don't worry about what other people think, this is about your child and you and making it the best experience. (My husand travels a lot, so it makes it easier on me if I remind myself of that.)
13) All of this has worked so well for me I am doing it again in the fall (4 hour flight).
14) Bring a change of clothes and plenty of diapers/cream. you never know what can happen.
15) if your baby has ear tubes, no need to worry about the pressure in her ears, otherwise try to give her a bottle at take off and landing. Another tricks is something crunchy to eat at those times. (why the airlines used to serve peanuts in the first place.)
16) Have a great trip and remember - you can do it!

Traveling with a baby can seem hairy. But as her mom, you can plan for the best and worst. Since my little girl was 3 months old, we have been traveling all over the US and abroad with her. She did 35 hours of airplane and layovers once! And we really did it without a hitch. The only flight we ever had a problem on was when the cabin was hot and not pressurized correctly. Then, EVERYONE on that flight was miserable and could understand why my daughter was a basket-case. So, I hope that some of my tips will help you.
1. bring a diaper for every hour of the trip and at least 2 changes of clothes for the ride. Dress her in short sleeves and pants and socks, but bring a sweater and be prepared to take off the socks it if is hot. You want her to stay cool.
2. Bring favorite snacks in abundance and her favorite sippy cup or bottle. If you are nursing, you know to nurse on take off and landing. If she is not nursing or wants to drink, if she takes a binky, give her that.
3. Bring some entertainment and her favorite sleeping stuff. If she has a special bear or blankie, bring it on the plane. whatever will keep her occupied is good to bring... a book, an activity board that has stuff to do on it.
4. Don't refuse help from well-meaning people. You will be surprised. People will want to help you out: carry a bag, help with the stroller, hold the baby while you get something you need... especially with cute little girl babies, I found that strangers just LOVE them and want to make your journey (and theirs) a joy.
5. We found that having a small stroller with an undercarriage area was the best thing for traveling in the airports. You put her stuff under and free up your hands. We use a graco carrier frame for airiports. It costs about $50 bucks and is a LIFESAVER. It folds small in the trunk so as to make room for luggage and you put her carseat carrier right into it. Then if you decide to take the carseat on the plane, you can use the stroller right up until the door of the aircraft. Then someone will help you get in with her and the bags and the seat.
6. Bring baby tylonol, benedryl and teething stuff just in case in your carryon. You never know. And bring and extra change of clothes for you... just in case she gets her food, throw up or poop on you. I've seen it happen... not fun if you don't have backups as well.
7. Stay happy and positive. If you are not nervous or acting funny, your child will enjoy all the people and the new sights and sounds. I had our daughter waving at everyone, playing peek-a-boo with the people behind us and jumping around on my lap. She will be so happy to have her own seat and to also be in your lap too. Enjoy the journey!

I only flew once with my daughter--she was only 6 months at the time, but I was still nervous because she's a fussy/crier. Most important thing--don't get anxious. They sense your anxiety and it makes them nervous and cranky. The more calm you are, the better. Just keep telling yourself "What's the worse that can happen? She cries and the people next to me are annoyed--so what, I'll never see them again."

Can you bring a digital camera? It may be fun to take video of the things in the plane and then watch them with your daughter.

Also, my friend wears a lot of necklaces (not metal) and her daughter plays with them on the plane.

Good luck!

Merra's suggestion of using a baby carrier is a good one! Most (nmot all, Utah made me take it off last time) airports will let you through security with baby strapped to you in a carrier that does not have metal parts (pouch, mei tai, wrap, most soft structured carriers) and your hands are free to carry your bags. As well, you will not be able to wear your baby at takeoff, but could in the seat afterwards. If she is used to being carried in the carrier before the trip it might be a comforting place for her to be. There are lots of different kinds, see some here: www.handsfreebaby.com
Best of luck,
K.

Instead of a regular diaper bag, buy a back pack. That way your hands will be free to carry the baby and seat, which is heavy/clumsy enough to handle without having to hold a diaper bag. My daughters bought one of the smaller ones from Pottery Barn Kids. They hold up well enough to be used for a diaper bag and also for pre-school.

Pack your purse in your luggage, and put just your essentials in the back pack. Since it's only a 3 hour flight, you'll have plenty of room because you won't need too much baby equipment actually with you. When you get to the airport, rent a stroller or luggage carrier, or whatever is available on wheels. Enjoy your trip.

When my son was an infant, he was PERFECT on airplanes! People never knew he was aboard. People were always surprised at the end of the flight to discover there was a baby on board! Because you have an infant, they will preboard you to give you a chance to get settled. You can wheel a stroller right up to the plane door, and they'll store it for you under the plane and have it ready when you disembark. What made travel easy for me was to carry as few items as possible. I used the baby's diaper bag to carry an extra sets of clothes for the baby, diapers, bottles, wipes, etc. I placed my small handbag inside the diaper bag, as well. Or, your could just carry your essentials in the diaper bag (wallet, makeup, cell phone). I used a clear plastic holder (the type used to hold employer ID badges or press credentials, etc.) to contain my ID, plane ticket, boarding pass, etc. I put it on a chain and placed it around my neck. That way I didn't have to keep digging for it at every check point and it didn't get lost. If your baby uses formula, get the little to-go style packets (they look like those Crystal Lite packets) that you can just empty directly into the baby bottle, or prepare the formula alone in the bottles, and just add the water when it's time to feed. Carry a small-sized bottle of water to make the bottles and ask the flight attendant for a cup of hot water to mix with the bottled water to get the right temperature for the formula. This worked for me, hope it works for you, as well. Good luck!

I have done two solo plane flights with my son (at 18 months and again at 20 months old.) Both times I did "infant in arms" but on a couple of legs when there was nobody in the seat next to me, it was wonderful to let him sit on his own and watch the DVD player I always carry with me.

First time, I carried my son in a baby carrier (Ergo Baby) had a purse, a diaper bag and one checked bag. Getting down the aisles is the airplanes was difficult and running to make my connection with all of that added weight about gave me a heart attack.

Second trip: I ditched the purse and the diaper bag for a backpack and Mommy Pants.(That's what I like to call cargo pants with lots of roomy pockets.) Instead of the baby carrier, my son went in his umbrella stroller which I gate-checked and carried him down the aisles of the plane.

In the backpack, I kept his portable DVD player and a few DVDs in a CD wallet, a nursing cover (my son still breastfeeds some), some of his favorite snacks, a couple of small toys, and on the outside of my backpack is a handy pocket designed for a water bottle which his sippy cup fits into perfectly. Oh, and of course, a change of clothes for my son, a few diapers, a changing pad and wipes. I also kept his sneakers in the backpack. They do make you take your child's shoes off to go through security.

It wasn't easy, but totally worth it to go visit my husband (who is away for months for training. Military training, not husband training.) I wish you the best of luck and safe travel.

- L.

just made it home last night with my 1 year old... flight was from atlanta to baltimore (2 hours) with storm delay. the best advice i can give is to actually NOT purchase an additional ticket (unless of course you have the extra money and want to ensure that you'll have that seat). i purposely booked the flight in the middle of the day, in the middle of the week and the flight was only 1/2 full. we ended up taking an entire row, had plenty of room to spread out, etc... timing the flight is key, in my opinion. pack extra snack, for us it was cheez its, pretzels, fruit snacks... as soon as your little one is bored with one thing, distract with another. books help a lot if you need to keep her in the seat with you, if you do end up having a full flight.

you'll make it... and you'll be glad you did. (also, i fly with an "emergency xanax" in my jeans pocket incase i start to freak out because my son is being obnoxious... teehee!)

hello

i have done this many times before. the calmer you stay the better it is.

first of all you can check your stroller at the gate so keep that with you until you are ready to board the plain.

think about if it is worth you keeping your car seat with you.

i would pack enough diapers just incase you are delayed.
and a change of clothes.

take plenty of snack foods with you. they dont realy cater for babies

but before all of this i would take into consideration how the swine flu is spreading. is it necessary to expose you 11month old to airplane conditions recycled air and close contact with not so clean people.

i have passed up on a trip home for this reason, i have a new born and a 2 yearold and i am not cumfortable draging them threw an airport where hundreds and hundreds of people go from all over the world.

on the other side all you need to do is be able to get to the front desk to check in and some one can help you do that.

you can also ask at the front desk for some one to help you, be an escort to the gate. my husband did not fly onetime but the check in clerk gave him a "hall way Pass" to be able to help me up to the gate. you can always call ahead and ask if you can have this help.

and last but not least if you do fly. make sure your baby is either sucking on a dummie or is feed on a bottle while you are taking off or landing this will help them pressurise their ears.

Hey there, I am sure glad you asked this question because my baby and I will be going on a plane this summer too. There is a lot of great advice here. I am definitely going to check in online and drop my checked luggage off at the airport entrance so I don't have to carry it around. My flight is at 6pm so my 11 month old will hopefully sleep the whole way. I also found these things called ear planes. They are to gradualy change the altitude in children's ears. They have them on onestepahead.com. They are only good for two flights though, and we are doing a multi-city trip so they won't work for us but it might be something you could look into. Also I have a phil and teds stroller and they sell a fanny pack called a handbag to hold drinks and things and I am going to keep my wallet and things I need on hand in there and when I check my stroller at the gate it comes right off and I can take it on the plane with me. I have no idea how my daughter will do and I am pretty anxious. I always am and now I will have her but I agree with everyone who said to stay calm because they feed off of your feelings. Good luck to you and safe trip.
K. C.

J., lots of good advice here, want to add a few thoughts as someone who's flown a lot with my child since she was six months old:

Do buy her her own seat. I know a lot of folks prefer holding the baby, but I believe a seat for the child is worth the money and safer for you both. I've encountered some nasty turbulence in past flights when I was very glad I wasn't holding a child who could have slipped from my grasp. Also, if she has a seat, you won't have to hold her every second, which means you arrive more relaxed. Be aware that she needs some kind of restraint other than the airline seat belt, which is not appropriate or safe for a child her size; you can use her car seat IF it is approved for airline seat use (check with the manufacturer and I'd check with the airline too) or you can buy certain restraints that are designed for small kids on adult airplane seats, I think (try www.onestepahead.com). Some car seats don't fit into airline seats so check in advance.

Also, before you load up any liquids, check the airline standards. I know you've probably thought of it, but you'd be amazed how very little liquid you're allowed to bring from home. We recently flew (last month) and had to throw out even the smallest water bottles before going through security. Usually you can purchase water after the security checkpoint but before boarding the plane and that's OK. But if you haul water, juice, milk with you to the airport you may end up throwing it away at security. I agree with the person who suggested the individual packets of formula, if you use formula - they're great.

Gels and creams are restricted too; I watched a mom argue with airport security officers on this last trip about whether she could keep the Vaseline she had in her baby's bag. She lost and the Vaseline went into the trash. Jars of baby food might fall into this category and might get trashed so call the airline if you want to carry jars.

Sucking on takeoff and landing -- It does help with ear pain from pressure changes but you might find your child needs to actually swallow, not just suck, during takeoff and landing. I'd reserve a drink for her to have at those times. Good luck!

Hi J.,
You've gotten great advice so far. Let me just add that you and baby will be fine. I have only traveled alone with children. First with one child then with two and now with 3. I bring less and less with me each time! Do take along an extra set of clothes because if you don't you will need it.

My youngest always falls asleep after a short period of being fussy. She did this at one and also at 2 but she always falls asleep. OH, be sure to bring her comfort items...blanket, favorite stuffed animal, etc.

You will be fine! It is a set amount of time and it will come to an end and then you will be at your destination!

Good luck! Also, pray over it. I always do and so do my friends. Pray that the flight will be safe and that your child will do wonderfully and that there will be people available if you need help.

J.

Don't worry, she should be fine.
Personally,I always arrange the flight times around sleep or nap times, it makes things a lot easier. 3 hours is good for a first flight. Think about how light you can travel for hand luggage. They need milk or juice for takeoff and landing as it makes their ears pop, and if you do need to entertain her, buy a couple of little toys, new ones are more interesting than the old faithfuls.
Good luck.
We have done a fair few flights now, he's 18 months,just come back from Australia!!
S.

This might be one of your easier flights with her :) A few ideas...see if you can trade some toys with a friend so she has new things to play with for the trip. Schedule the flight for just before her nap if you can...I forgot about taxiing and my son nursed and fell asleep just before we were airborne. I kept tickling him to drink a little more but he didn't drink much. However, he's three and has been flying since he was 12 weeks and has never seemed to have ear problems. Obviously if he's awake I'm pushing fluids. Best thing is to leave plenty of time...Things went great when he was 12 weeks, except I didn't think about taking him out of the front pack to get through security. But the people in front and behind me as well as the security people were really helpful, including business men in suits. Look at it as a time for her to check out airplanes, luggage carts, etc. Might get some books about flying or pilots from the library before you go? Good luck, you can do it!

Relax. Okay, plan to have someone drive you to the airport in your car. Next, plan to rent one of those luggage carts. Pack a backpack with all the food and sippy cups you will need for about 3 times as long as you will be traveling (make sure to use plastic baby jars--read plane regulations). Use a cheap umbrella stroller for the trip. You will be fine ask for help!

Rochelle

Here's our little plane-success secret: Dum-dum Lollipops. I know she'll only be 11 months, but in a melt down, a little sucker will do wonders! Especially when you feel trapped and out of options.

I've got three boys (6, 3, and 1) and just got back from a cross country plane ride by myself. I feel your pain. But you can do it! Just give her one of the white or yellow colored lollipop so she's not a total mess when she gets off the plane. It also helps (like someone mentioned) for her to be sucking on something during takeoff and landing.

I also add my support for the great advice on NOT boarding with the "pre-board." After we discovered that our kids could run around for an extra half hour in the terminal, it made all the difference.

I have flown 4 times with my daughter who turned 1 yesterday.Bring a stroller...check it at the gate so you have it as soon as you get off the plane.My car seat fits in my stroller so it worked perfectly.Bring small toys that make noise, only take out one toy at a time.Change diaper before you get on the plane.I flew early am flights...6am.She slept most of the way.I sat with a doctor my last flight and she used silicone ear plugs for babies, the speakers are very loud and tend to startle and wake babies.It was not bad at all, she got fussy so she people watched when it was safe to get her out of the car seat.My doctor said to give tylenol 30 mins prior to flight...not sure why but I did.Make sure you leave lots of time for security...they go through everything.I only took one large bag that doubled as a purse / diaperbag Good luck...ask for help if you need it!!!!

Congrats on being an older firt-time mom...I am too. Have flown lots w/my son, and alone, and it changes depending on child's age.
Bring on the plane: a days worth of diapers and wipes, small quantities of meds (tylenol is a must- for both of you), snacks (for both of you), empty water bottle to fill after security and on the plane, change of clothes (both of you), blanket and pillow (for dd- delays happen), and busy toys (some new to unwrap?). I put some of this in a bag under the seat, the rest up above. I've been able to pare it down to one 21" carryon, plus a backpack (EACH if you're buying 2 seats). plus a car seat that I check. I have a seat restraint for the plane 'cause he hates traveling far in his car seat. I got a stoller just bigger than an umbrella to help carry things to the gate, and gate checked it.
Yup - usually get a cart for stuff for one hand and steer the stroller with the other...and pray for help if I need it. YOU CAN DO IT! :)

We flew with our son at 11 months, so I know eaxactly what point you're at. As already said, I would bring your stroller and check at the gate. It's nice to be able to walk around and give your hands a break before you'll likely be havign your daughter ina nd out fo your arms during the flight. I brought with extra diapers, wipes, food, 2 sets of clothes for him, a few little toys (and a couple new little toys), and medicine. Since he still used pacificers, i had about 3 of them on me, just in case he needed them (or I should say I needed them).

My advice is not to board the plane extra early, when they announce people with small cildren should board first. Only because that's an extra 20-30 minutes you'll be on the plane, and I thought it was better to have the least amount of time on the plane as possible. You bought an extra seat for her, so you should be set!

Good luck and safe flight.