Baby on a Plane

I took my 6-month old with me to a wedding in CA (I'm from Philly), and she was great..I breastfed her, which calmed her, and she mainly slept...you could just try to wake him up really early and keep him awake, so that he conks out by the time he gets on the plane...:-)

Hi L.,
Our family went on a 4 hour plane trip last year when my youngest was one and our pediatrition suggested Benadryl. We were worried that it might make her hyper but we tried it out on her the weekend before the trip and it was perfect. She slept 3 hours and played the other hour. I used the dosing from www.askdrsears.com and go to medicine cabinet where it has a variety of medications and there was dosing for age and weight. I dont know if the direct link will work but its http://www.askdrsears.com/html/8/T089900.asp. I hope you have a safe healthy and quiet trip!!

I took my 8 month old on a plane for an 8+ hour flight to Hawaii, (along with my other 5 children....you should have seen the look on the faces when we walked on...lol).

Anyway, surprising enough, he pretty much slept the entire time. I did hold him though through the flight.

I think 3 hours should be fine....especially if you're holding him, have a pacifier, and a bottle. It's also good if you have another person you can pass him to occasionally.

Good Luck!

HI L.,
I just got back to Pennsylvania from Florida with my 11 month old. I kept her OFF her normal schedule. Basically, I had her tired and hungry for the plane ride. I still nurse, so I had her nursed to sleep as the plane was taking off, then I kicked back and relaxed during the flight. If your baby is bottle-fed, have a prepared bottle ready before you board. Also, you get to board first, so take advantage of that to get yourself settled in. Have cookies and a sippy cup ready as well. If you are taking your child on as a lap rider, those little trays make perfect seats as long as you are holding onto your son. If you adjust his schedule, though, he should sleep most of the time. If you bought him his own seat, there is very little that will wake him up. I held my daughter the entire time because she is still young enough to 'carry on' free of charge. Also, if you have lay-overs, keep him awake during the entire layover if possible. My longest layover was on the way home. We were stuck at Charlotte (NC) for almost three hours. My daughter likes pizza, so we hit up pizza hut and had a blast playing and wasting time. The flight after the layover was an hour and a half and she slept the entire time. I had to wake her up after we landed. Oh, it is also a good idea to be feeding during take off because of the pressure changes. If your son is sucking or chewing, he'll be less likely to feel it or notice.
Hope this helps

As a father and Pilot, there is no sure fire way to keep him occupied. What I do recommend is giving a bottle or pacifier during ascent and descent. A child doesn't know enough to clear his ears for the change in pressure and this can cause pain.

The suckling or chewing will cause the pressure differential in the eustachian tube to equalize.

Good Luck

Jesse

when i flew with my daughter as a lap child, I did NOT preboard the plane. I'd wait until everyone else was on board and then sneak in last. I'd stand up with her until they made me sit (my nutty kids are ok as long as I stand up. both scream when i sit!) I'd let her fuss a little until we were pushed back from the gate. Then, I'd feed her. This helped with her ears. I'd also feed her on while we were decending.

Here's a few other tips for flying:

You can check your stroller at the gate. I find it easy to pile up all the gear on the stroller...and then carry the baby in a cloth type of carrier. You will not have to remove the baby from the carrier if there is no plastic or metal on it (If you need one, check out handsfree.baby.com --Karen rocks!)

Even if you do not purchase a seat for the baby, if it's NOT a full flight (ask when checking in), most airlines will allow you to bring your carseat (as long as it is approved for aircraft) on to the plane.

Most airlines will give you wings and a certificate signed by the crew to commemorate your child's first flight!

Most people on flights are pretty understanding about little ones! Don't stress yourself!

I wouldn't recommend the drugs...but if you decide to go that route, test it out first. Sometimes Benedryl can have the reverse effect!

Good luck!

Hi L.,

I took my daughter ona plane when she was 20 months. I gave her tylenol one hour before the plane took off and she slept most of the 6 hr plane ride. I also got drops for her ears from the doctor so that the pressure would not bother her. I did not give her benadryl because it has the exact opposite effect on her. I would try tylenol/and benadryl before you go at your home to see if it makes him tired or not. I do not think people should drug their children all the time but one plane ride(well two) is not bad and trust me people will be grateful.

Good luck.
S. F

Hey L. ~ When my daughter was younger we did give her benadryl before flying. Just give your ped a call. they will tell you the proper amount.. Don't feel bad... they told me to give it to her prior to flying when I asked if I need to do anything with an infant flying.. Try and give him a bottle when the plane is taking off and when you start to feel pressure when your desending that usually helps too / Hope you have a good flight

Hi L.,
I found myself in a similiar situation. My daughter was 11 months for her first flight. We flew from Philly to Punta Cana just over 3 hours. My doctor recomended Tylenol since she was under 1. I had every intention of giving it to her, however due to hightened security, my Tylenol was confiscated (no liquids were allowed on the plane). No worries though, she was fine. I gave her a bottle when we were preparing to take off, she didn't even cry. As we started to descend, I tried giving her her binky, but she was fussy and didn't want it (Imagine that! LOL!). I quickly gave her fruit puffs, and cherrios, and juice, and she whined just a little, but other then that she did great. Like other Moms stated, make sure you bring plenty of toys to occupy him with, and you should be fine. Also, just a quick note, we opted not to bring the car seat, my daughter laid down for a good portion of the trip, used my legs as a foot rest, and my husbands leg as a pillow, it was great, the pull down tray acted as an activity center. My bother-in-law and sister-in-law went on the trip with us, with their 26 month old, they brought her car seat with them, my neice was not as happy in the seat, she wanted to be held, as this was also her first flight, and she was a little scared, and then lugging it around the airports was more trouble then it was worth. My sister-in-law told me, if she had it to do again, she wouldn't bring the carseat, it wasn't worth it. Good Luck!
L.

Has your son had Benadryl before? Some kids have the opposite effect on it--they get hyper, which is the last thing you want on the plane.

I am a seasoned traveler with babies. We've flown a lot with the kids including one flight from Philadelphia to Honolulu and back with a nine month old. My advice is to find out what he loves and work with it (favorite toys/books, binky, special treats, etc.). For us, home rules do not necessarily apply on the plane. Whatever keeps them occupied and happy is allowed for the flight!

We just returned from the Caribbean with my ten month old, and we kept her busy eating those fruit/veggie flavored puffs that they sell in the baby food aisle. We broke them into tiny pieces, and that kept her occupied for a while.

Also, try to schedule your flight around nap/bedtime if you can. Good luck!

We just returned from a trip to Florida (yesterday) and my 8 month old was great. We had two 1 1/2 hour flights each way and she sat on my lap and played (even traveling just the 2 of us). I got her a new toy and books and brought lots of Cherrios. I was very nervous, but without need. We tried nursing for take-off and landing, but she was more interested in looking around. Hope your trip goes as well as mine did.

By the way, I had no problem taking any liquids through security for her, including juice, medicine and food. Just keep them seperated from other items in your carry-on.

years ago when my oldest was only a little older we went through the same thing. Our pediatrician at the time recommended Benadryl and gave us an appropriate dosage. Don't feel horrible, most of us have been there too and understand. It will not be the first time your pediatrician has had a parent ask this question. Good Luck.

Benedryl may put some kids to sleep, but some kids get more hyper from it. It's also a lot for a little liver to process.

If you're nursing, it's a good idea to nurse during takeoff and landing. Otherwise, make sure he has something to suck on.

I have 3 children and any time that I had to fly with them at a young age like yours, I tried to book the flight around their nap time. Also you might want to give him a bottle or pacifier when you go to take off to avoid his ears from popping. The ears popping never bothered my children so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Also you can make sure you have plenty of his favorite toys in the diaper bag, to try and occupy him.

Good Luck!!!

Hi L. - My husband and I were in the military and stationed in Italy. We had to fly back to Norfolk from Italy due to us out processing from the military. My pediatrician also hinted to idea of giving Benadryl/Motrin/Tylenol for a nice quiet ride. We did give our 11 mth old the Benadryl and she slept 8 out of the 12 hour flight.. not too bad! :) The remainder of the 4 hours she entertained people sitting around us. :) Good Luck with your flight - but I'm sure it will be a breeze!

I have flown a lot with our son who is now 10 months. We always buy him a seat and use his car seat. It's much safer, and he remains calm and relaxed because he is used to being in his seat in the car, so he acts the same way on the plane. I do take him out to nurse, but he remains there for most of the flight. He plays with toys, we read books, he sleeps, same as if he was in the car. The car seat must be next to the window, so he also looks out. Most airlines charge half price for babies in car seats. I've heard that Southwest will refund the fare for a baby if there are empty seats on the plane when it boards. I realize this isn't an option for every family because of $$$, but I thought I would mention it since it is what works for us. And then we have the car seat when we get to our destination. (Check your seat first. It must be airline approved.)

L.,
I took my very squirmy, almost walking 9 month old on a plane (he was fully walking when we flew home), and if you can work it to feed him just as you're taking off and landing that's best. Get him lots of new toys that aren't noisy, and if you have a portable dvd player and he watches for a while, that's great too. I also took my snugli, which you can't use on take off or descent, but anytime in between is fine. I don't let him nap too soon prior to flying also because then he may nap on the flight. If the people behind you are willing, let him peek over, but not if he's being annoying or they seem annoyed (you'll know, they'll talk to him if they don't mind his presence). You can do benadryl...Call your doc for dosage though (my son had major food allergies and we were able to use it). Also, talk to the nurse and get any suggestions from them. Good luck and enjoy your trip!
M.

I took my 14 wk old on a flight from philly to st louis twice, and he was fine with the bottle and pacifier. The only advice i have is to look into the car seat thing. I flew a total of 4 times, 2 with southwest and 2 with american airlines, and each time i could use it except for this last time with american. The flight attendent said that with out base the car seat was an infant carrier and i couldnt use it. I dont know if that was true or not. So look into it. Also I registered himas a "Lapchild" then used an empty seat for him because the flight was empty. Just ask.

Hello
Ive yet to take my son on a plane, but in July at 2 1/2yrs old we will be flying for 2hrs. Friends of mine suggested taking some of their favorite activities/toys/books etc...or if he has a favorite blanky as mine does. I also am bringing a portable DVD player to play his favorites.....Try to keep him entertained...I believe during flight(except takeoff/landing)you can hold him! Good luck!

L.,

My son took 4 plane rides from 5weeks to 12mo and the only thing that worked and still dose is a portable dvd player with his favorite videos of course. I found that if I really deprived him of any tv for a day before the trip it felt like a treat and I only pulled it out after we tried everything else. Also if this is a first plane ride make sure you have something for him to suck on ( sippy, lollipop, etc..) at take off and landing. The sucking will help to pop his ears without all the pain and fuss.

Hope you have a great trip:) S. R

the benadryl sounds like a good idea i would just talk to his doctor first to she what s/he thinks and then ask their advice on what you should do