Best Way to Hold a Sleeping Baby on a Plane (While Trying to Get Some Sleep!)

Use your sling or carrier. That way baby is safe and you can both get some sleep.

Hi M.--we travelled with my son a lot (trying to get it all in before he turned 2 and had to pay for his own seat:-).
On longer trips (like to Hawaii, Isreal, Philippines) we would request "Bulkhead" seats which gave us access to the dropdown tray-like table large enough to hold a bassinet (the flight attendant usually set it up for us). By one year our son was getting too big for the bassinet, but I would imagine that your daughter at 6 months should be quite comfortable in it.
Plus bulkhead meant front row so you have lots of room to move around. Hopefully that helps. Peace, April

I used a baby bjorn - with him facing out - on my last flight. My son loves it and I was able to sleep comfortably. Hope you have a great trip!

in a snugli (carrier) on your chest facing outward

u have two free hands and she will rest from your heartbeat

If you don't have one of the carriers, what we did on a flight to CA was stack pillows beneath my arm to support it while I cradled my daughter. She was 6 months at the time so depending on the weight of your child, this may not work. Also, on more recent flights we have gone to the podium and begged to be put on a row with an empty seat so we could bring on her car seat and she napped there. Depending on who you get, they might be sympathetic and there is often one empty seat on a flight...though you're talking Hawaii so I don't know but it is worth a shot.

Do you have a baby carrier, like a sling or wrap or Ergo? That would be my recommendation -- I've had to fly with my daughter (now 12 mo old) several times starting when she was 11 weeks old, and I always had her cozily wrapped up in a wrap for napping/sleeping on the plane, and it worked like a charm!

Good luck to you!

You didnt mention how old she is. We recently went to Greece (looooong flight) with my son who was 11 months at the time. My mom and I were sitting next to each other and we lifted the arm rest between our seats and had him laying down across our laps. I put my seat back and took a nap as well. A friend of mine did this as well with her son who was 14 months when they went.

Good luck!!!

I don't know if domestic flights do the same, but in some international flights I have heard of people bringing their internationally adopted children home having requested 'bulkhead bassinet seating,' which was described to me as such:
Most commerical airlies offer this option on the longer fights (they did on British air/Virgin and Continental).  You are reserved a seat directly behind the wall that separates 1st and regular class.  The bulkhead wall has the option of a bassinet being attached to it (can hold up to 20 lbs) for the baby to sleep in on the flight. There was no extra cost and the bassinet is about 1 foot in front of you so both of you can get some sleep :-) Cam slept the WHOLE flight from Yerevan to London and again London to JFK. There is still enought room for the bassinet and to watch TV!  Also, there is more floor space to set the baby down and let them play..
Hopefully that might work out.
S.

It depends on her age but if she will sleep in an Ergo I'd bring one to wear her to sleep. Good luck.

I am the boppy queen! Bring it. Not only is it a body-saver (meaning, you won't be uncomfortable, and neither will your little one), but it is also a nice "transitional object" that will remind your little one of home and the usual routines you have created together. You will not regret it. It is a must-have for travel. Have fun!

i've seen the bulkhead bassinet as well. As long as no one else has claimed it. call them.
by the way how early do you need to get a newborn a passport? do you know?
thanks