First Plane Ride for My 8 1/2 Month Old

My daughter Nadia is now 9 months old. She has been flying since she was 6 weeks old (all togther about 10 times)! We fly a lot because we are not by family. I must say as she has gotten older it has become a little harder (however still not as hard as I first imagined). I think it is because she is more active now. I always give my daughter a bottle at either take off or landing- doctors say at both but she is never hungry that quick- but what helps her is using her NUK! If she has that it keeps her chewing and that seems to help her ears. When you get to the boarding gate ask the people at the desk if there are any open seats or rows, they can usually find a place for you to sit without having someone right next to you. Puffs are another great idea- I dont like the idea of babies watching TV so I always bring her favorite toys. I hope this is of some help.

If you have a video camera - Home videos of himself are always entertaining and there's always Baby Einstein. :)

Good luck

A.,
All the advice you have received is quite good. The most important is the drinking for takeoff and landing. His ears won't hurt if he's drinking something.

I would add taking a comfortable pillow so that he can lay on it. Those seats are uncomfortable especially for a little one.

Don't worry, you will have a great time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

M. (mother of four) lived abroad for many years and traveled with little ones all the time.

I jsut flew with my 10 month old son...We got off the plane yesterday. The only suggestion that I have for you is to bring lots and lots of toys. If you're giving your son teething cookies or anything like that make sure you have some of those handy. The airlines took his teething rings so if you're going to bring those I suggest packing them in your suitcase, not your carry on. Same thing for diaper rash cream, they took that from me. Also bring the powder formula if you're giving him that. I suggest a bottle for take off and landing or a pacifier because it helps the ears. Good luck!

hi! I just flew with my 18 month old for the first time a few weeks ago. we took an evening flight and let him run around the airport to tire himself out before we boarded. try to either schedule a night flight or one close to his nap time and make sure he's extra tired. other wise pick an airline that has tv's in the seats such as jet blue for distraction. bring some snacks, games,or his favotite toy and blanket. and good luck!

The ladies have all given great advice. I would add this...pack a few sandwich size ziploc bags. Sometimes it is very hard to go to the bathroom on the plane (especially with more than one little one) and sometimes they don't have the changing table. I've changed my daughters in my lap, on their seats or where ever then put the dirty diaper, used wipes and stuff in a ziploc. It can later be put in the trash when the attendant comes around. It has really helped when the smell was unbearable-but the fasten seat belt sign forbid movement in the cabin. There are many other uses too!
Don't forget a stroller pass which will let you take the stroller down the jetway to the airplane and will be returned to you at the jetway when you arrive.
Good luck!

We took our son (now 9 months)on a plane to NH for the first time last month. He did great. We made sure to have him drink some bottle during take off and landing (to help their ears). We also had some finger foods (star puffs) for him to snack on..he loves to eat!! The hum of the plane put him to sleep for most of the flight. I had bought him a new toy just in case, but never had to pull it out. Try to sit near the front of the plane (most of the children are there and passengers are more understanding). We were lucky and had a seat free between us so my son had some room to strech out...no one wanted to sit next to an 8 month old! My doctor said this age group usually travels well. Good luck... I'm sure he will do great!
J. E.

First of all, please accept my sympathies for your loss of a loved one, but also my admiration for your strength as a military wife!

I took my daughter on her first airplane trip when she was 5 months old (just the two of us!), and it was great. One thing I would suggest is a dose of baby sudafed about 10 minutes before takeoff. It helps to relieve the ear-nose-throat congestion that intensifies ear pain. It was actually a flight attendant that got me to try it for myself (the regular kind) years ago, and I've never flown without it since.

I also encourage you to take advantage of the 50% discount most airlines offer and get that baby his own seat. Otherwise, if he gets fidgety, you're stuck wrestling him with no alternative. Also, it gives you a little buffer between yourself and other passengers (you won't be closely sandwiched by unsympathetic strangers on both sides). And when all those other fabulous MamaSource suggestions finally get your precious son to fall asleep, you can set him down and enjoy a good book (or well-deserved nap) for yourself! In fact, I found it incredibly cozy to rest my head on the side of my daughter's car seat and enjoy her soft snores till we landed. Just make sure you streamline all of your other carry-on items, or you'll find yourself clunking every other passenger in the head as you try to carry the babyseat down the aisle!

Just one other note of encouragement--my brother was afraid to take his first child on any long trips at that age, certain that confining a baby for that long would slow his progress in crawling/standing/walking. Now that he's the proud (and overworked) father of FOUR kids, he's sorry he missed his chance. Let me tell you, I took my daughter on many long trips in those first couple of years, and every--yes, EVERY--major milestone of development happened IMMEDIATELY afterwards! It's as if each experience flicked on another lightswitch in her brain! And with every landing, I could hear the relief as other passengers complimented me on having such a good little travel partner. Congratulations on having the spunk to give this a try--in spite of the sad circumstances, your loved ones will enjoy this reminder of fresh, new life, and you'll always treasure these memories!

I gave my baby Infant cold med. My doctor told me to do so. It helps with his ears on the plane and it makes him sleepy.

Make sure to be feeding your son during take off and landing.

Also, the air-line staff are pro's. They gave me plastic cups with hot face clothes in them and I put them over my son's ears. ( he was older that time but it could also work on a baby.)This helps with ears popping. You can do it yourself if you bring the cups and face-clothes onto the plane and just warm up the face clothes in the planes bathroom.

Try to book your flight at a time when your baby sleeps.

Good luck!

If it is at all financially feasible, I highly recommend purchasing a seat for your child rather than opting for the free "sit on mom's lap" ride. If your son feels he's in a car, on just another car ride, he'll have an easier time adjusting to the ride. Also, you'll have the benefit of the vibrations of the plane lulling him to sleep (like cars do), which you don't get when you're holding him. If he uses a pacifier, definitely make sure you have it for the flight, and consider the idea anyway for takeoff and landing because of air pressure equalization and the pain that comes with that. Adults chew gum, kids get pacis! Good luck and best wishes.

HI A.
Don't worry - my first trip back to overseas was about the time my son was 9 mths old.
We've flew 15hrs, and he didn't even know.
We have requested the seats righht after the separation wall (i'm sure someone has a better name for it) and asked for a bassinett.
It was attached to the wall infront of me, and he was able to use it as a seat or to sleep in it.
The only problem was that when the "belt sign" comes on, you'll have to take him out and hold him in your lep with a belt attachment (they will provide one)
Do not spend your money on the one from Safety First - you are not a alowed to use it.
I've also asked the filght attendent to let me take my stroller with me - they hide it somewhere and i've got it back right when i've stepped out - it was abig help for me
Good luck
K.

you dont have to give the baby any drugs at all if you just make sure that he is sucking on the way up and down...my 7 month old has been on a plane twice now and he had no drugs/meds and was just feeding...he didnt even make a peep...good luck!

I flew for the first time with my daughter when she was only a 6 weeks old and the best advice I have is to fly during your son's nap time or bedtime. I don't know if you are nursing your son or bottle feeding him but I nursed my daughter on the way up and it helped her ears plus she fell right a sleep. I would either feed him a bottle or nurse him on the way up and down to help his ears and possibly put him to sleep as well. I would definately bring snacks and some toys for him to play with incase he doesn't sleep you never know how he will react in a new situation. I am sure at 8 mths he isn't walking yet so you really can't wear him out at the airport becuase the floors are too dirty to let him crawl. I would also make sure all of my flights are non stop when we first traveled we had a to change flights and of course our second flight had a 4 hr delay. It was aweful trying to entertain a baby in an airport for 4 hrs. Just be prepared bring snacks, bottle, change of clothes for both of you (in case a diaper leaks etc) and toys.

I flew alot when my daughter was a baby because I was in the military. What I did was gave her childresn motrin fro congestion, and if she went to sleep, I gave her her pacifier, if she did not go to sleep I gave her a slim jim or beef jerky, to keep her chewing and swallowing, to clear the ear ways.

I have 18 month old twins and we have traveled with them several times since their first flight at four weeks. We have even taken them cross country. My advice to you is similar to those you have already received. Make sure your child clears their ears going up and down (down is actually the more severe time). When my boys were smaller we fed them a bottle or used a pacifier and even our little finger. We have flown at all hours of the day and sometimes ticket prices are cheaper to go during an inconvenient time for the little one but they still slept. We always take books, toys, and right now with flight restrictions you can't get on board with juice but just inform the flight attendant that you will need some for take off and they are usually great about getting it while the plane is being loaded. Every once in awhile my boys have been fidgety but we found that a window seat is more fun and they enjoy watching the clouds go by.

A. S: Make sure that the baby is sucking on something when the airplane it's going to take off such as a bottle or a pacifier. My daugh was fussy and I resorted to sticking my thumb in her mouth.

Hi A.. I flew with my daughter when she was 3 weeks and at 6 months. If you can try and time the flight around a nap time. Give a bottle at takeoff and landing to avoid discomfort due to the pressurization of the cabin. Bring alot of toys, books etc to keep them entertained. The changing tables in the restrooms do not have belts to hold the baby on the table, so if theres turbulance don't chance it.

Those flights aren't very long, thank goodness, but it's always a good idea to get a red-eye (if you can). I flew with my 18 month old daughter from Hawaii to Tampa with several lay overs and we started with a red-eye...it was such a blessing. The lay overs helped too because she was able to burn off some energy. While on the plane, I brought LOTS of snacks and had the flight attendants warm up some milk for her...with the low hum of the engine and a full stomach, she soon went out like a light and stayed that way. Good luck.

P.S. - Don't let any crabby passengers get you down about having to sit next to a baby...your child has every right to be on a plane too. They can always get head sets.

Hi A.,

When I flew with my son a year ago (he was 1) I gave him juice or water to drink when his ears would pop. That seamed to work. I guess the swallowing helps to loosen the poping in the ears. Not sure how that will work with all the new security measures agains fluids on a plane but I think if it's in a baby bottle, they might let you by.

Good Luck
V. :)

A.,
When my son was 10 months old we had to fly to Michigan from Tampa for a funeral. I was so nervous about the flight. My son sat on my lap for the flight and I had an entire bag packed with his favorite things, toys, his binky and favorite blanket, plenty of snacks and drinks and he did ok. yes my lap got a bit sore but for most of the flight he just slept on my lap. letting him have something to suck on during takeoff and landing helped with the ear popping. Good luck.
L.