Extended Air Travel with a 9 Month Old

I have had the fun of traveling from US to Germany with 9 month old, then a two year old and a 3 month old; and now with a six month old. The most important things to remember is have a sense of humor, bring plenty of drinks and snacks (for mom too!), and always bring a new toy or two. We fed during altitude changes and made sure to get time streching when possible. My favorite trip was when my then 9 month old decided that the sleeping man next to us needed to have some cheerios, which she delivered by tossing toward his open mouth! As I said, a sense of humor is important.

We recently traveled to China and Hong Kong with our 5-1/2 mth old this past Sept. The flight was 12 hours with a 12 hour time difference. Our daughter did great going there, and adjusted pretty quickly to the time change since we arrived in the evening and were able to go to sleep for the night. We also had the bulkhead seats on the plane, with the bassinett. The bassinett wasn't that helpful because you have to take the baby out everytime there is turbulence, but it's nice to have the extra space on the floor in front and you could probably make a little bed for the baby to sleep there on the plane. Our baby slept well on the plane, and the times she was fussy, myhusband walked her to the back of the plane- for about an hour and she clamed down.

For travel there, I chose to forgo the carseat and stroller, and we just used the Ergo and B. Bjorn the whole time, but your 9 mth old may be too big to carry around all the time in a baby carrier. Our friends that came with us brought the stroller for their 10-mth old, but keep in mind that other countries arent always as stroller friendly as the US. In China, we got a ton of attention with the baby and everyone wanted to touch and hold her. We tried to be relaxed about it, but not all parents would be comfortable with strangers touching their child. In the Ergo baby, I could cover her head, so that avoided a lot of unwanted attention since they couldn't see the baby. Hope that helps... Have fun!!

Hello-

I have travelled to S. America severla times with my kids- the first time my son was 11mo. The flight is at night...I put him in his jammies at the air port. We were lucky and got the middle row so he could lay his head on my lap and sleep in the extra seat. He did not sleep great- but it was fine. Even if he cries you will never see these people again! I asked my Ped. she gave me some advice on how to clam him-Benadril.

The 3 hour time difference was GREAT!! They do everything later so I kept my son on his schedule...we usually ate dinner about 5 PM (our time) and when we were there we did not go to dinner until 8-9 their time....his 6 am wake up was 9am there....AND there was not getting back on schedule when we came back. Latin America is super child friendly---baby food at the gas stations, waiters walked him while we ate. It was great!! We have been back several time with the kids.

Good Luck!

Hi J.,
I flew with my 9mo old last month; but it was only a 3hr flight and then a 2 hr flight. I was worried b/c he doesn't fall asleep 'on' us anymore; just in his crib. I also was worried about a 2hr time change. Well, the flights were okay; as I had planned them around naps so that he may sleep on them... which he did for some of the time. It will be a great help to have your husband along, as mine couldn't come and it was HARD to soothe him on one of the flights.
Just take a few toys for him, as well as maybe a dvd? Now that mine is over 10mo he would enjoy some Sesame St on the plane. Be prepared for a difficult diaper change on the plane unless they have a specified place. (I put a cover over the toilet lid, and balanced him while doing a super quick change). And bring several things for him to drink for the up/down parts of the flights. Mine refused the juice I brought for a down-part, and screamed for 20min-- it was terrible. (I normally just nurse him, but I was seated next to a rather large man, and felt really uncomfortable nursing on the flights so close to someone when my son would be half laying on them b/c he is so long.....)

As for the time change, I thought it would be a problem but both ways was no big deal... he was so tired from the trip that he just 'fell' back into his own schedule!! It was great! Just watch him for signs of tiredness and go with it and be a little lax on the actual time of things. He'll adjust. Good luck and feel free to email back with any other questions!
(Also, some flights require you to sit in a certain row with a lapchild, b/c of oxygen mask requirements... just an fyi that they may change your seat if he is going to be on your laps)

I have two children now ages 3 & 5 years. Just by chance when both were about 3 months old my husband was sent overseas, Taiwan and Japan. I went both times, once with a 3 month old and the 2nd time a 2 year old & a 3 month old. Both flights we reqeusted the bulkhead and the bassinet that is attached after take off (as far as I know they're only available on international flights). The bassinet is attached to the wall right in front of you. You don't have to pay any extra, just the usual tax for the infant. I was breast feeding both times, but you can do it with a bottle. Babies don't know how to clear their ears on take off/landing so I would breast feed during those times (the swallowing helps their ears to clear). Becasue of where we were going, both flights were overnighters. Both babies adjusted well to the time change. We didn't do anything special, just tried to keep the babies up when we were up. Obviously, at their ages they were sleeping much more than yours will be. I'm so glad we went & would do it again. I'm more hesitant now that they're older! You might hear from people that recommend giving your child Benydril on the flight to ensure sleep. I never did this, but can tell you to make sure you try it at home first if you're considering it. Both my kids get stimulated with anyting like Tylenol, Benydril etc. and you certainly don't want that to happen on a plane. Good luck & have a blast. I dream of going to Argentina. T.

I have doen the 14 hour flight between Australia and the USA with an 8week old, 3 month old, 6 month old and more recently a 2 1/2 year old. As she got older I took a few different things for her to play with and books to read to her. The flight is at night so she slept on the flights. When she was younger I took my baby Bjorn and when she was restlesss I oput her in it and wandered the aisles of the plane to settle her.

Most importantly everytime I felt a change in pressure (had to pop my ears) I got her to breastfeed or drink water. This is especially so on takeoff and the 30 mins prior to landing until we touched down. I asked for seats towards the front of the wings as they are quieter. I put earplugs in her ears and covered them during takeoff and landing so the noise would not scare her and got her in her seatbelt on my lap comfotable and feeding so that she would negate the change in pressure.

My flight was not as comfortable as it used to be prior to flying without her, as she was lying on me the whole flight, but we had no tears or upsets and we read plenty of stories together on all flights.

Good luck - I know it is daunting the first time.

Take baby tylenol and anything to keep your baby occupied, and yourself. I've seen babies do well with long flights and poorly, both in fussiness and in health. Some babies do not respond well on a plane with recycled air and the altitude, it interrupts their breathing. So if the baby does not do well on the way to miami, do not go to Argentina. By the way, by best friend is a flight attendant and says she feels bad for babies who have to fly, she says everyone thinks they are fine, but generally they are uncomfortable. Good luck. Sorry if my message is less than positive, but based on stories I've heard from my friend I didn't fly with my son til he was 1 1/2 years, because the stories made me nervous. There is nothing you can do if something happens to your baby in a plane. I wasn't willing to risk it. Everyone says their baby does great, no one talks about the ones that don't except people who see it all the time. Sorry again, I hope all goes well for you. God Bless!

All I can say is DVD player and baby Einstein!!!
I am not a television advocate, we don't even have cable right now but we had trouble driving our son around for even just a 15 minute car ride. The DVD's are really great and he loves them.
We have driven to Disneyland multiple times and it works fine.
He can't take the show the whole time of course. But with books, toys, songs, and the DVD player the trips are fine.
Pack plenty of snacks.
Also I was told by a nurse that Children's Benedryll can double as a dramamine for queesy stomachs. Find out from your doc or pharmasist what is a safe dosage.
He should be fine.
Also look up in advance the local hospitals and print out directions...we just went to Yosemite and I did that as a precaution. We ended up using it.
Have a great time.
By the way I took my boy at 4 months to Utah, and he flew fine.
Have him drink or nurse on landing and take-off to help his ears with the pressure change.

I have flown extensively with my daughter since she was 6months old. For a flight over 5 hours I have always flown during the night (red eye) so that she could sleep on the plane. My daughter is generally a good sleeper and the sound of the plane puts her to sleep.If your child doesn't sleep well this might not be a good option bc you do not want to disturb the other travelers too much.Otherwise, during a short flight (less than 5 hrs) she will usually take a nap and the rest of the time I am entertaining w/ books, food and walking up and down the aisles.It is work but i just think of it as a workout :) Also, my daughter usually will take a nap when we arrive and this helps. I also do my best to stick to her schedule but in the new time zone. This has worked for me - good luck, have fun and stay calm!