Flying - Pawtucket,RI

I have a four year old who has been on airplanes since she was eight months old. The best advice I can give if you haven't heard it allready is to make sure you have something for the baby to suck on when ascending and descending to ease any ear pain. Also if there is a particular comfort item it is nice to have both for the plane and where you are headed. Of course don't forget the snacks for you. Enjoy your trip.

You would be surprised how entertaining new foods are. The wrappers alone could entertain your baby for hours. If you pack a variety of new foods in a fun container - a lunch box, a cannister, anything like this that is child-themed - you have a toy for hours. Plus, snacks.

Have fun and good luck!

Definitely keep the baby hungry until take off, then start a bottle just as the plane is accelerating. Don't start it during taxiing - if you get stuck waiting your turn, the bottle will be empty before the plane reaches the height where her ears hurt.

Bulkhead seats give more leg room but no room for your stuff. Avoid them. Ask to pre-board at the gate so you can get settled with your baby somewhere near the front of the plane. Makes it faster to get off without waiting for the whole line of people in the aisle, and you can get overhead storage near your seat. Once the plane gets crowded, people wind up having to put things in the overhead bins maybe 20 rows from their seat.

Have a favorite toy or blanket for comfort, but also NEW things that the baby has never seen! Bring them out slowly over time - don't give the baby everything in the first half hour!! You can also use the blanket to prop the baby up against the outer wall of the plane if you're in a window seat, or (ideally) in the empty middle seat between the window and aisle! Then you don't have to hold her the entire way. You won't pay for the seat but you can use it if no one's in it. Be happy and not offended if people see you with a baby and avoid sitting with you - you will have more room! Even if they are assigned to the seat next to you, if the plane isn't full, they can request another seat and the flight attendants will accommodate them. Or you can ask the flight attendant for a seat with an empty one next to it. That also gives you 2 storage areas under the seats in front of you!

There are rules about liquids and powders such as formula. You also cannot take anything like gel containers or those freezable ice wands. Contact the airline directly for advice. The flight attendants can give you water on the plane but you cannot take it thru security. You can purchase bottled water after you get past security but it's not cheap. You get one carry on and one personal item - have a baby bag and put your wallet (with picture ID) inside it - pack a full purse in your checked luggage to use after you arrive.

Don't wear tie shoes like sneakers or any metal (jewelry, belt) so you can go thru security simply without taking a lot of things off or having to tie/untie shoes.

Good luck! Stay relaxed and you will have a successful flight!

take a tiny dropper of baby oil(empty baby tylenol works great) and before you take off put 1-2 drops in each prevents the pressure from building and hurting little ears

...IF YOU ARE BY YOURSELF:::Make sure that when you go through security...that you ask them for someone to assist you through checkpoint!
I had a very hard time, trying to take my shoes off, baby's shoes off... balance the baby bag, my check in bag, AND THE CARRIAGE which has TO GO THROUGH A XRAY MACHINE. If you are bring formula...hold that out too...everything for baby in a clear plastic bag.
bring a pacifier for lift off and descend ( helps the baby ears)

USE an overnight diaper for the flight so that you don;t have to change the baby ( barring any poopie).
bring snacks and drink/bottle /sippy with water for baby.

I flew with my son to Mississippi when he was 5 1/2 months and it was great! I made sure that he was nursing during take offs and landings and I kept him in an ergo baby front pack for most of the flights and he slept nearly the entire trip, both ways. (Normally he's not a great napper.) I assume that any sling could accomplish the close to mommy feeling and light block function and the plane provided the soothing vibrations. We're flying again at the end of March and I hope that we'll have the same good luck. I've also found that in emergency situations, a pack of wipes or a plastic crinkly bag of food works as a great distraction/ new toy. Just be careful, Tate had his first taste of potato chips this weekend. Pesky teeth!

I have travelled several times with my daughter, from when she was an infant to now when she is five. The biggest "trick" I have learned to keep her happy on the plane is to make it all about her! She thinks turbulance is cool, like a roller coaster and she loves the feeling of take off and landing. We play games, read books, color, watch movies... really whatever she wants.

By the way... I am scared of heights :) She does not know this nor will she. I cuddle her close and we look out the window together at the little cars and little houses :)

bring a binky or something to suck so the pressure doesn't hurt. We recently flew and my five year old cried it hurt so bad.

My daughter and I have flown many times over the last two years. Once when she was about 6 months old we got stuck at the airport for 8 hours due to the weather. I ended up running out of diapers and formula even though I had a lot of extra supplies! The store in the terminal only had 1 diaper left for sale! Bring plenty of extra diapers and formula or snacks! Other then that flying has been great as long as you keep them entertained! ;-)

I personally think the biggest issue is the ear pressure. BUT, sucking on a bottle/nipple, will help reduce or eliminate the ear pressure.

Also, we always purchased a seat for our child as to be able to use our car seat. But, you will need to make sure that your car seat is "approved" for airlines.

Other than that, now knowing the exact age of your child, any snacks, or favorite toys will help (we used bath puppets as a very cheap "entertainment" avenue while waiting for take off, etc...)

Some airlines will let you pre-board, others will not. So, just be ready to be flexible. I have found people to be very helpful when I was flying alone with a baby.

And finally, YOUR relaxing helps. Babies cry and sometimes others will not approve- but that is life.

Safe travels,
R.

have the baby drink from his/her bottle upon take off - supposedly the sucking motion relieves ear pressure. also, depending upon the baby's age, have several different toys, they can be small items, just something to distract the baby. one other thing to consider, depending upon your travel arrangements, the last time we went to Florida, we rented a car seat, rather than drag ours along. It just made life so much easier. these companies rent anything you need, cribs, strollers, etc., and I find that it makes travelling soooo much easier than schlepping all that stuff to the airport, etc. I just googled "car seat rentals florida" and came up with several companies.