I Am Flying for the 1St Time with My 9 Month Old Daughter Who Wont Take a Bottle

I never had a problem with my son taking a bottle, but I was also a breast feeder. He is a now a seasoned traveller (at 2 years old)since live far from my family. I started giving him water in a sippy cup at a young age, so he would not get dry on the plane. He usually would drink only if he needed to pop his ears or he was thirsty. You can hold the baby and breastfeed if it is necessary, I held him on my lap until the 2 year old requirement to buy a seat. He was always comfortable and safe (he has been on 6 trips since birth). Good luck!

She'll be just fine breastfeeding in your lap during take off and landing. The chance of an accident during this is very low, the chance her ears are going to bother her is 100%.

My kids usually did very well with the air pressure changes when they were babies. If they refused whatever it was that I had to give them (bottle, cup, lollipop, binky, etc) it was because they were crying and the crying helped the stabilize the ear - and it didn't last long. Good luck.

A.

My advice is to nurse and bring a toy to preoccupy her. I pray her ears do not bother her. With adults, gum chewing helps a lot. The suckling motion massages the ears to help. Just conceal as much as possible. Try to get a seat where noone is sitting next to you to have more room. I hope this helps...happy flying!

I've flown with a 5/6 month old, a 21 month old, and an 8 week old. The 8 week old also was not taking a bottle (and still won't at 5 months now). Yes, I nursed. You are not required to have her buckled in during take off and landing, and I'm not so sure it's safer. Are you travelling with an infant seat, or just using the lap belt? I found with the lap belt on my 21 month old that he had it figured out within about 18 seconds of my doing it up, and he is skinny enough to wiggle out from under it anyway. Nurse if you want to.

The first time we flew with my daughter we actually had her sit on my lap (she was young enough it was an option)... actually I just nursed her on the plane and covered her up... she won't take a bottle if I'm there... and we didn't want to pay extra for her own seat but I felt fairly safe on the airplane without her strapped in a carseat and what not.

Hi my family lives in VA, so I fly with my daughter (12 months)often. She didn't take a bottle or pacifier either.
Things I've learned, the hard way:-) put all liquids(baby food, gas drops, travel shampoo, diaper cream, Tylenol, etc.) in a plastic bag inside your diaper bag, so you don't have to dig thru your diaper bag while everyone is waiting, also don't wear a belt or shoes you have to tie. Might want to combine your purse and diaper bag too.
Change your daughters diaper before boarding call, the planes changing tables are small. Layers! make sure she has a onesie under her clothes in case the plane gets hot and don't forget a blanket for nursing (if you decide to) and for covering up if it's cold.
I have never bought my daughter her own seat, but on 90% of the flights I have asked for an open row (say your nursing) as soon as I arrived at the gate and have been moved so I have more room.
I nursed my daughter during take off and landing if she was awake(the noise from the plane usually puts her right out). Nursing was a little awkward with male passengers right next to me, but they were very understanding.
I would recommend traveling with your stroller(any size)just check it at the gate, can also do this with carseat.
Might try a Nuby cup or any sippy cup with water... They also sell things for babies ears right in the shops at the airport.
Good luck, hope you have a great trip!

Hi A.,

My advice would be to maybe get the meshed fruit holder at Target in the infant aisle and you can put fresh fruit in the meshed part and the baby can suck on it. Also, give the baby some water if she will take it. Or just have her suck on anything where her jaw is moving and she'll be swallowing.

Hi - My suggestion: Get her a pacifier. You'll find she will take it in the absence of your breast, and will associate it with the unusual event of the trip on the plane. You can simply remove the pacifier after the trip. My daughter was the same at this age, and I took several trips down to Florida, and used the pacifier with good results. It's absolutely better than having her suffer with ear pain from the pressure changes. Good luck!

Food helps move the jaw which can help her ears, so bring a snack that is irresistable LOL SODA, and chocolate.LOL is she doesn't want it, you can send it to me LOL

Hi Adrienne,

It sounds like you are planning on buying her a seat and taking her car seat on the plane - I commend you for doing that. I fly to Florida every 3 months with my son, have been since he was 2 months old, and we have always bought a seat for him, it's so much safer and believe me, you'll want your hands free if possible to manage all the carry on items for you and baby. I have always timed it so that my son would have a bottle on take off and landing, but then we got caught in a storm and had major delays. Couldn't make him wait any longer and so he ended up asleep on the way up. I find that take off is not bad but landing is when it can be difficult. Try bringing the pacifier, try sticking your finger in her mouth to suck on, or worst case, just nurse under a blanket, but don't worry too much. Definitely layer her clothes and bring an extra blanket as it does get cold up there. I'm sure you both will be fine. Oh - and don't let the security people rush you, take your time. Good luck and enjoy the trip.

my son never took a bottle or pacifier either and we have traveled both internationally and domestically numerous times and have never had a problem! i nursed him on take off and landing (if he was awake). i have a crib sheet - very light and gauzy - that i use for a cover up - and he was always happy! if he started to get fussy i just nursed him again and he stayed content. now that he is almost 4 years old - i can tell you it is SO much easier to fly with an infant than a toddler! :-) make sure to bring plenty of clothes to change into - diapers, wipes, soft toys, books, blanket (the airplane can sometimes get cold) and snacks for you!!! we also always bought a seat for our son - just felt much safer and when he was sleeping - it gave us a break! i would bring our stroller right up to the gate where they check it - and it would be there when we got off the plane too. i also had my sling which really helped too!
safe travels to you!
J.

I traveled 17 hours with a 14 month old. I saw a few mom's nursing on the plane covered with a blanket. In addition, my friends told me to give him a drop of benedryl. Your daughter might be to young for that though. Try the blanket approach.