Any Advice on Air Travel with Infant?

Updated on January 26, 2008
J.H. asks from Forest Park, IL
9 answers

I'm taking a weekend trip with my 5-month old in a couple of weeks. The flight is only about 2 hours.
Any words of wisdom from your experience?

Thanks!

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K.D.

answers from Chicago on

When my son was 6mo. I flew with him. I was lucky. I gave him tylenol as we were bording and he slept the majority of the flight. Then when we got settled in and the plane was in the air I gave him a bottle and he was out for the majority of the flight. It was great. Good luck

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D.W.

answers from Jacksonville on

Take your stroller right up to the plane. Also get on the plane last. They will let you go first but that just means you are on the plane longer. My boys were a few months older so I had to take different things than you did. But a stroller is a good idea!

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M.W.

answers from Indianapolis on

Hi Jessica,

I have traveled with both kids since they were 2 months from here to TX, California, Mexico and FL. Long flight, lay overs...
I'd bring the stroller as someone mentioned, you can check it at the door.
I brought a bjorn, with both kids and they never fussed. Wore them up until they were 10 months and they simply sleep through most of the flight.
I didn't use any meds.

I did use the bottle at take off and landing to help them equalize.

Some new toys, but this last time I lfew my son was 5 months and he slept, he's used to being carried and likes it.

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M.K.

answers from Chicago on

We took our son on a 3 hour flight when he was 4 months old.
We made sure we had bottles and pacifiers for take off and landing.
We had our car seat with us so we put him in the seat by the window and he enjoyed looking out. We attached many toys to the car seat for him to play with,(throw) and they wouldn't lost under the seat.
I did not use anything to calm him, like tylenol , but I have know moms who have.
Most airlines will let people with kids board first, which we did on the way there, but we ended up holding up everyone else because of getting situated.
So on our return flight we waited till the very end to get on the plane and there was no one trying to get past us while we were getting ourselves situated.

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S.B.

answers from Indianapolis on

I am sure you have heard this but i flew with my son when he was still "new"(3 weeks) and a pacifier helps with ear pressure.. if you are a formula momma you cannot take water on the plane with you but you can take "pediatlite" (my sister flies alot with her 3 children and the airline told her "pedialite is allowed"*wink* so take water if you must and tell them it is pedialite...what airline ar you travleling..southwest is no longer famiy friendly like they used to be.. most will let you board before other passangers after the "old" people but southwest will not you will board after 1/3 of the plane is on(pain in the a**) other than that good luck!

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D.H.

answers from Chicago on

Jessica - Good luck! I've taken my 10 month old on 6 flights so far and here's what's worked for us: I put her in a sling to get around the airport, through security, and onto the plane - I prefer this to hasselling with a stroller. She's been a lap baby so far so I've always checked her carseat as luggage and have been glad not to mess with bringing it on the plane. We nurse during takeoff and landing; sitting at a window seat helps with privacy if you nurse. I really wish I'd thought to only bring clip-on toys and pacifiers during my last flight alone as it was a pain to pick up things that dropped on the floor in that small space. Pack as lightly as you possibly can and use your roller suitcase.

Oh, and look for the family bathrooms in the airports for changing baby. The privacy is nice and they've seemed cleaner than the public bathrooms. Avoid changing baby on the plane at all costs!

:-) Have a wonderful weekend with your bambino! I find traveling with my baby exhausting but sooooo worth it to get to see friends and family. Supposedly this is the best time to travel, before they get louder and mobile!

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R.N.

answers from Chicago on

I took my 7 month old to Japan. I packed a lot of extra diapers/food in case of delays (any flight can be delayed or worse, stopped on the runway for hours!) My daughter has a favorite blanket and that really helped her sleep. We also had bottle/pacifier for takeoff and landing, and to be extra-safe we stopped in at the pediatricians a few days before to make sure my daughters ears were clear. We have an Ergo baby carrier and like it a lot. We also found an unmbrella stroller to be handy. If security makes you dump water out, you can just by some on the other side. And I had no problem changing my daughter in the airplane bathrooms, they have nice big changing trays that fold over the toilets. Just keep in mind that no matter what, once the plane leaves you'll arrive in two hours. I think a two hours flight with a baby is easier than a two hour car ride!

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C.M.

answers from Indianapolis on

Best advice if you are nursing make sure you nurse while taking off and landing, this will help with the ear poppping and your baby should be less fussy or if you bottle feed try to give a bottle while taking off and landing....otherwise you may have a fussy one....my experience is if you have a carseat that attaches to your stroller use it and then you can just leave it all at the entrance of the plane otherwise check your carseat with your luggage it is much easier than trying to juggle everything. Good luck let us know what happened...

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J.

answers from Chicago on

if you are not purchasing a seat for him you can bring your infant carrier to the gate and if there is an empty seat you can use it at no charge if not they will check it at the gate along wiht your stroller i feel it gets less damaged that way

clip on toys airplanes are grose so you don't want them chewing toys that have been on the ground

plenty of diapers, bottles, paci, extra t-hirt for you and extra outfit for him

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