Tips for Flying with an 8-Month Old

Hi Deborah,

It will be fine. I've been traveling with my son since he was four months old (he's now 19 months), and he's earned enough frequent flier miles on two airlines for a free ticket. He's such a pro that he walks down the aisle of the airplane all by himself and knows to take his shoes off at the security line.

Anyway, some easy tips to remember when flying with a little one. Change your daughter's diaper just before you get onto the plane to hopefully avoid changing her on the plane. Some airlines have changing tables in the bathrooms (United and American), while others don't (Southwest and I believe Frontier). In any case, the airline bathrooms are really cramped and it's tough to change a baby in them. Bring some new toys, books, etc. on the plane with you and let her explore them one by one. It was suggested to me by a friend to bring Band-aids (like stickers, but easily removable if they get stuck on the window or tray), dental floss (it's pretty cool to pull and pull and pull the floss out of the holder), and a Magna-doodle (no mess and fun to scribble). Don't forget her lovie or blanket in case she takes a nap on the plane, which is a definite possibility. My son usually zonks right out when we get into the air, even if it is not anywhere close to his naptime. Brings snacks and food for her to eat if she gets hungry, and try to nurse her during takeoff and/or landing to help clear her ears. And definitely bring a change of clothes for her and a clean shirt for you. You never know when she may have a blowout or a spill that would require one or both of you to need a change. I've only had it happen once (my son had a MAJOR blowout that required a full clothing change while we were still in the air), but I was so thankful to have the clothes available.

Most of all, take a deep breath and relax. Babies pick up on mom and dad's anxiety and will get stressed if you are stressed. You'll be fine, and so will your daughter!

Have a great trip!

Hi Deborah,
I recommend breastfeeding for take-off and landings. Bring a couple of favorite toys that are not too small (they most likely will be dropped, and maybe roll under the seats- keep that in mind), or make music (for your seat mates sake). Be friendly with the stewardess/stewards of the plane, and ask them if the flight is full. Sometimes, they can try to help keep an open seat next to you, so you can have some extra space for play time. Try to sit next to the isle because you may need to get up often and walk her around, change diapers etc.. Change her diaper right before you are due to board the plane, and of course bring zip lock baggys to put dirty cloth diapers in. Bring extra cloth diapers, change of clothes in your diaper bag.

My son hardly played with the toys I brought, he was too interested with the seat belt, magazines in the pocket, the wrapper from the snacks (He loved playing with the bag itself that crinkled), looking at people etc.. I ended up having a huge bag of "things for him to do" that I carried around when he really didn't need as much as I though he would.
Good Luck!
N.

We flew about a year ago when my son was 8 months old. I gave him a bottle as we were taking off so his ears wouldn't bother him. Since he had a full belly and felt a little like he was in the car, he fell asleep for the whole 2 hour flight! He woke up right before landing and was screaming. Someone suggested that I walk around with him and hold him straight up - his ears probably were hurting him - it helped! Good luck!

Hi Deborah,
So I see that you've already received a lot of good advice.

One little thing that I did that really worked for us, a little pack of bubbles (you know the kind they give out at weddings?) You can fit like 2 of them in a zip lock baggy (along with all the other stuff you need). This was something easy that provided distraction when my daughter got antsy during the layover. And really, what other passenger won't smile when seeing bubbles and a baby. :-)

Good luck and have fun!

Kristal

Our first flt with our son was when he was 6 months hold -
I made sure we had snacks, small cups of applesauce and something for him to suck on as well as his favorite toy and a few small toys - Our son is 3 now and has over 30,000 frequent flying miles - We have never had a problem with him flying - just bring plenty of quiet things to keep him busy - 2 changes of clothes - extra diapers - snacks (non sugar) - and a dvd with a long battery life.
I also have a blanket for the plane that folds up to fit in a diaper bag - so you know it is always clean.

Hi,

I flew with my son recently at 6 months and then again at 9 months. I'd say, your daughter's temperament is going to be the key. If she is normally easy going then you'll have no problem. Bring along lots of snacks, her favorite small toys and books, I also heard bring a new toy to encourage their curiousity (haven't tried it though). Good luck, Oh, check to see if there is a security line for those with wheelchairs and strollers. This helped us when in the NY airports.

The other folks had many good tips. We flew with my son at 8 months and agian this summer at 2.5. At 8 months it was much easier!. A few snacks and new toys/books helped lots. We brought an umbrella stroller (the cheap kind you can get for $20 or less--light and no big deal if it gets lost or broken). I also found several changes of baby pants are a good idea. My son can usually go over 2 hours without a diaper change or leak but was very wet (just pee) in under 2 hours when flying.

Deborah:

Under my pediatrician's recommendation I always give my daughter 1/2 teaspoon of benadryl before I get on the plane and it works like a charm she sleeps for most of the flight. Another thing I do is I don't get on the plane until I absolutely have to, I'm typically the last one to get on. What I find is that in the waiting area you can move around and you don't need to be constricted imagine getting on the plane and getting you/your child constricted for more time than you have to, so I don't do it I just wait until the last minute. I always tell the gate person and they are usually very understanding and work with you on this. Since you have a short 2 hr leg and then 1 hr and another 2 you can't use the benadryl trick twice (check your dr first) so pick the worst part of the trip for this. Also my daughter never complains with her ears but a bottle while the plane is going up and when is coming down helps with that. If it so happens that your flights are scheduled around nap time it should make it easier b/c the noise of the plane soothes them at least it does my daughter, and helps them sleep. Hope this helps.

O.

I flew with my son before he turned 2 and he did fine. Definately make sure that she drinks or sucks (on a pacifier) furing take-off and landing. Pack at least one change of clothes for her and an extra shirt for you (in case she spits up on you - some babies may spit up on planes or make messes even if they never had in the past). The bathrooms are small for changing so it helps to be organized with the changing stuff. I have a "changing wallet" which is a changing pad with a zippered compartment for wipes and diapers. (I too use cloth diapers, but brought disposable for the trip which was much easier.) I made the mistake of bringing a diaper bag and a backpack with our things - I should have (and will in the future) use only one larger bag that can hold everything so things are in 1 place. You can go through security with a car seat and stroller and gate check it. If you are bringing a bottle, they will let you through security with it - just tell them what it is. Good luck!

Whenever I fly with my son I make sure I pack in a carry on new books and small toys he has not seen before. To save money you can even borrow some from a friend. The key is for them to be new to baby.

Be sure to go to onestepahead.com and buy the airplane vest. This will be sure that the baby won't fall off your lap if you hit turbulence. If you put a little tylenol in her bottle and feed her on the way up (for her little ears) she will probably sleep the whole flight. If she wakes - be sure to give her the bottle again or pacifier (for the ears again).

I flew with my little guy 2 times already. He did great! I too am a breastfeeding mom. I gave him a dose of tylenol to help relieve any ear pain or discomfort he might have during take-off and I nursed him going up and coming down. He pretty much slept the entire time. Not one person even knew there was a baby sitting behind or in front of them until we landed and he stood up and looked over the seat and said hi to the people.

Good Luck and have a safe flight! and a good trip!

make sure you have something that will not interfere with the senses of your fellow flight mates regarding the cloths diapers.
toys that she loves. chsnge her sleeping schedule a few days before so that maybe she can sleep on the plane. when you take off, great time for nursing to keep her ears from popping.
mom of 9 and 14 year old delicious girls. glying since the eldest was 7 months

Since you breastfeed, the flight will be easier. Any discomfort she has from either the air pressure, or unfamiliar situation, noises, etc., can be helped by nursing her. I don't know if she's eating much in the way of solid foods, but if so, you can bring a snack for her if it's not her regular mealtime. Also, books for her, and any favorite toys she has. If she gets cranky and the fasten seatbelt sign is not lit, take her for a walk up and down the aisle for a few minutes. Good luck.

Don't forget a pacifer so they can suck on or infant's ear plugs (preventing their ear from popping (air pressur))

Besides something to suck on for take off and landing. If you can afford it, a mini dvd player was a godsend for me. It was a special treat for my son and he got to watch baby einstein:). that was the best toy i had. then i could watch movies when he slept too:)

bringing new stuff is great, and dole it out one at a time. and if you want to save yourself the constant, very annoying hassle of constantly having to squish down under/between the seats and apologize to everyone around you, get stuff that you can attach to her carseat straps with those rings or something. and maybe try for things that dont beep and ring too much. also absolutely awesome are those finger food snack cups with the lid where they can take out one at a time without spilling. fill with cheerios, peas, etc. i couldnt live without that thing. snack trapper or something like that. a bottle on take off and landing will help her ears with the pressure. (i assume you would keep her strapped in during those times so cant breastfeed)....and pack wisely, pack a little bag within your diaper bag with the minimum changing necessites, including an extra onesie and shirt for yourself. good luck and have fun.

we flew with my son when he was 5 months, 7 months, 9 months and 14 months. we didn't buy a seat for him until he was 14 months and we were glad we did because we needed the extra space by that point. I was breastfeeding for the first three trips and that is much easier! I recommend nursing her at take-off of both flights because that coupled with the sound of the engines will put her to sleep for a while. Nursing is so great when flying...honestly whenever he would get fussy I would just put him to my breast! for the first trips we used the snap and go stroller and would gate check the frame and the seat (I always just held him which worked fine)....I never had layovers but I would bring a carrier (bjorn, ergo, whatever you have) for that part! good luck!

Hi Deborah,
I have flown with my daughter several times starting at 4 months on. We even flew a 9 hour flight to europe last month. It can be a little tricky, especially when traveling alone, but it can be done without you, your daughter and all the other passengers on the plane arriving miserable!
I always try to bring my daughter to the airport tired but not overtired and then nurse her as the plane taxis. I carry her in a baby carrier while in the airport. Its keeps her close and safe and also helps her relax and get sleepy.Try to book your flight around regularly scheduled naps if possible. I find that if I schedule things right my daughter will usually sleep most of the flight in my arms.

For awake times, bring several toys. I usually either buy a few new small toys that she has never seen before or I will put away her favorite toys a few weeks before the trip so that when I bring them out on the plane the are exciting for her and will hold her interest.
Also, I cloth diaper as well, but I recommend buying a few of the biodegradable disposables for when you are in the airport and on the plane. Its easier then filling up your diaper bag with wet and dirty diapers and having to carry them around with you. The changing tables on planes are small and I find it difficult to manage with cloth.
Best of Luck!
M

Hi...I just flew with a 3 month old. He did really good on the trip. I nursed him during take off. With him being so young, I made sure to have a passifire on hand and his favorite toys. I've also flown with a 1 1/2 year old. The biggest thing with both boys is FOOD. Have food for your child to munch on. I find that my kdis are so interested in their surroundings that they occupy themselves.

good luck.

The first time I flew with my daughter she was 10 months old. She wouldn't watch videos or anything yet. I got her a couple of surprise books. You can base them on whatever she's most interested in. Touchy-feeling were what my daughter was into then. But, mostly she wanted me to walk up and down the aisles with her. So, that is what we did. She did also fall asleep on me.