Flying with a 10-Month Old

S.,

We just got back from Myrtle Beach, SC with a 3 yr. old and 17 month and they did great. I've read all the other responses you received and you got some great advise. I just learned from a Certified Physicians Assistant that actually adults have more problems with their ears than kiddos:) I would just have a bottle or pacifier handy just in case. My opinion, I think it's more being constrained and having to just sit still than their ears... that's just me! Happy travels!

We took our 14 month old on a trip last year to Florida. I know some people might suggest benedril so he sleeps, but I'd do some reading on it first before you decide to...it sometimes makes some kids hyper...so we opted out of that remedy.

Make sure to change his diaper, before you board the plane...then hopefully he won't poop and you'll be set. Bring pleanty of formula, the restrictions on water and formula/breastmilk are much lighter than bringing in other kind of liquids. Bring pleanty of finger foods, if he's eating them now.

We used a backpack for getting around the airport. My son had so much fun in that. I would try to keep him awake until you take off, if possible. I just say that, because when they do the first announcement while in flight, it scared my little one awake and he didn't sleep for the entire flight.

If he likes books, bring those too for him to look at. You'll probably be suprised at how good he is on the flight. Basically, just think of what kind of small things he is entertained by at home, that you could throw in a diaper bag.

S.,

Despite the fact that I am very specific about my children's ages when I book my flights, our family gets put in the "no kid zone" frequently. (Children cannot sit in an exit row or in the row in front of or behind it.) It is a pain to find someone to switch with on the plane. I learned to find out what seat I have before getting to the airport and confirm it when I arrive to avoid this. The back of the plane is a good place because you board first, it is close to the bathroom and noisier (if he happens to scream the whole flight the engines will drown him out.) :)

This won't work for Thanksgiving because your flight will probably be full, but just something to remember for another flight; When we only had one child we use to book seat A and C or D and F because those middle seats are the last to book. We often had an empty seat between us which meant we had an extra seat we didn't have to pay for. If the seat did book, we just asked the person if he wanted the isle or window - a great trade for someone who had the middle seat.

Best of luck and congrats on your adoption!

S.

I have a very busy 2 year old and not much keeps her occupied for very long. One thing I have found that works is photographs. I am a Creative Memories Consultant and I carry in my purse a mini album with photos of my family and dog. She will look through this tiny album for about 10 min. naming every person. Then I will give her a book or a crayon for the next 5-10 minutes then she willingly goes back to the mini album again. She will end up looking through it about 10 times during our flight. It keeps her quietly occupied and she's not bothering the other passengers. Also, lots and lots of finger snacks and a sippy cup for drinks. Someone once suggested I take a roll of masking tape to let her play with (she will be busy trying to figure it out) and let her stick it all over the window and seats. Then it's a simple clean up job when you arrive at your destination.
Good Luck!
T.

The first thing that I would tell you to do is give him some tylenol. This will help him relax (sorta like when you give tylenol before shots). Also, if you use a pacifier, make sure he keeps it in his mouth the whole time. This is how babies unplug their ears. If you don't use a pacifier, sucking on a bottle works the same way. If you can, time his nap so that he should be ready to fall asleep when you hit the plane. Also, I used to bring my boppy and put it on my lap, around my waist. Then I would position my daughter inbetween it and me (sorta like I used to when I was nursing, but a little lower). She would fall right asleep and stay snugly asleep the whole time (and she's not a good sleeper!)

My advise is have a small stroller you can use through out the airport, when you go to get on the plane at the gate right before you actually step onto the plane they will take your stroller and checkit below, when you land at your designated city and get off the plane it will be ready and waiting for you as your getting off the plane. Wheelchairs and strollers that are checked like that are the first things pulled off the plane.

Have all your necessitys in a diaper bag but don't have to many bags, purses etc., it's just to much to keep track of. I usually carry a big nice backpack have all of my daughter's junk and my wallet, plane tix go in there as well I leave the purse at home or put it in my baggage. Make sure you have enough diapers, food incase your plane was to be delayed or you get stranded.

When we flew to family they had a package of diapers waiting for us at the house so I wouldn't have to haul a package with, I took enough for the plane ride and a few extra just in case. They also would buy my daughter any special food, babyfood, crackers she would need at their house so once again I wasn't dragging so much with us.

The waiting carseat is a really smart choice, it's so hard to haul that through a airport.

Change your son's diaper at the last minute before you get on the plane right before they start boarding and hopefully you'll not need to on the plane because that's a hard one to do on the plane. When your sitting at the airport waiting to board the plane you might want to let him get his wiggles out, at 10mos. let him crawl around or just not be restrained. I let my daughter run around and get pooped out and we choose to board last they always say anyone needing extra assistance or traveling with small children can board first but that just means my daughter has to sit on the plane that much longer so I wait and board last.

Then make sure you have a pacifier,bottle, something for him to suck on during take off and landing. My daughter(6) has flown over 10x and has never complained her ears hurt I always gave her a sippy cup, gum or whatever though.

The only problem I had with her as a lap baby flying was when she fell asleep she was laying longways and her feet or legs were always sticking out in the aisle or in the person's way next to us. So you might have to have him fall asleep over your shoulder. I also had a problem with my daughter on my lap and then the jerk in front of me reclined his seat and nearly squished my daughter so I got the flight attendants attention and she moved us to another seat.

To change a diaper on the plane I had her stand on the toliet with the lid down and changed her standing up. It was hard and not how we normally do it but it worked.

Good luck and enjoy your Thanksgiving with your family.

I agree with boarding last. Northwest Airlines does let people needing special assistance to board first but they usually give them 2 seconds to get on the plane before letting hoards of other people on so instead I have opted to be last.

I don't give my children (3 1/2 and 20 mo) Benadryl to sleep but I do give them a decongestant like Dimetapp as well as some motrin in case they do get ear pain. My doctor recommended the decongestant to prevent ear pain if there is any congestion (I also always take one myself too). My daughter took this as early as 6 mo old. The one catch is that it can make them hyperactive so you need to test it at home with him before giving it to him on a plane. Better to find out at home before confining him to a small space of a plane. Both my kids are fine with the decongestants and do not get hyperactive. They really do work. The one time I didn't give my daughter the decongestant she was screaming the whole time during landing saying that her ears hurt.

Another suggestion would be to make sure to give a bottle or sippy with fluids upon take off and landing (more important during landing).

As a final note...once your son gets old enough that you have to buy him his own seat, make sure you get a frequent flyer number for him as well. You would be surprised how fast the points add up even if you only fly every so often. My daughter is 3 1/2 and she already has a free flight.

Good luck!

I would avoid the benadryl that the previous poster talked about. It has red #40 (an artificial color) that is known to cause hyperactivity. The back of the bottle even will state that it will cause hyperactivity in some children.

We took a 4 hour flight when our daughter was 9 months old and it went well. We took along a few new books that she hadn't seen before and a couple small new toys. She was so interested in the new toys that she had never seen before so that kept her busy. We also took along a small snack and some milk. Honestly, she really just enjoyed looking over my shoulder at all the people and the flight flew by. A 2 hour direct flight should most likely go quite well. Have fun and congrats on adopting your son.

Hi S.
I have flown every couple months with my son (5-19hr trips) since he was born. He is three now.
~Good idea to have car seat already there. I usually rent one from the car rental place (only a few carry them) or have a friend or family bring one. It is too much to carry if it is just you and baby.
~ + or - on the umbrella stroller. If it is just one two hour flight I would just carry baby and a backpack. The less stuff to carry the more hands you have free for baby.
~Bakcpack. I usually do not bring a purse or put my wallet in the backpack. It is ultra convenient to have the backpack with a bottle holder on each side. One for the water and one for a mixed bottle that way you have easy access. A diaper bag over the shoulder can just get too heavy and cumbersome when manuvering through the airport.
~Luggage: I hate to check bags but if it is just me traveling, I check them. I have tried it all ways. Just check it and hope it makes it. Again pack light so you can pick up the bag from baggage claim easily if it is just you and baby. Backpack on, rolling bag one hand, baby other.
~Bottle on take off and landing. The premixed single bottle packets work great with a bottle of water one handed (I you bottle feed) I carry several packets ~ in case of delays. I buy 2 bottles of water at the airport. One for baby and one for me at least. At that age my son would use two. I would mix one before we boarded the plane.
~Bring a few ziplocks of several sizes. They are great for messes. Dirty clothing. Dirty blankets. half eaten snacks, leaky bottles, emergency diaper change ect. ect.
~If you have the option I would buy a child seat at a discounted price. I started buying the extra seat around that age. Well worth it. More room for busy baby. If that is not an option you will be fine for a two hour flight. I try to schedule flights during nap times during that age. They may be fussy because they are tierd on take off but then fall asleep.
~Keep a positive attitude and be flexible
~one change of clothing you can fold tightly into balls into backpack bottom(toys on top). This is for the emergency change. No need to bring all the accesories ie differnt shoes/socks/jackets/ pack with strategy and light.
~A few key toys you child enjoys. Stickers are great, easy to pack, do not take up space. Have a plan for play on the runway as this is usually when the child is awake then hopefully they will fall asleep in the air. Keep constant attention/play while awake.
~Pack you a couple snacks/bars/banana. As you may be busy and not have time or get stuck with delays.
~Snacks for baby - cherrios are great. exc small ziplock or containers
~change baby 10-15min before boarding begins. Depending on how the child is doing I get on on the preboard or I wait till very last.
~Wipes, daipers,a couple toys (maybe one new and one favorite), bottle and snack stuff Main advice: Do not overpack you will need your hands. There will be lots of cool things for baby to look at in the airport. Save the toys for emergency unhappiness or reserve them so they will be new on the plane.
~No belt and slip on shoes for you and baby. That way you are smooth through security.
~Hope for happy people sitting next to you.
~Remember it may go perfect or may not. Out of over 40 flights we have had 3 bad ones. So that is a pretty good ratio.Haha Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.
~ You will do great. Hope this helps and good luck.

M.