First Time Flight with My 5 Month Old

We had our first flight with our daughter at 10 days. Second at 3 weeks and third at 5 months. She did great every time. Much easier than expected. Everyone has great suggestions. I'd only add that if you didn't buy a seat bring her car seat on the plane ANYWAY. You may get lucky and be able to put her in her own car seat on the plane which is a HUGE difference. We had one flight where the ticket counter lady said that the flight was completely overbooked, so we checked the seat. When we arrived there were at least 10 empty seats on the plane. If the flight is actually overbooked you can just check the seat at the gate with her stroller. Definitely bring some kind of sling or carrier if you didn't buy a seat. It is not easy carrying a child for 5 hours even if they are sleeping. Have fun!

5 months is soooo easy. Just nurse or bottle feed on the way up and down. She will fall asleep at the humming of the plane. My babies all flew for the first time around 10 weeks old. It gets hard when they become toddlers. Fly now while you can.

D.

I flew with my daughter the first time at 9 weeks, then at 3 months, 5 months, etc. You say "we" so I imagine you are not flying solo with her - which is a good thing especially when you go through security. Make sure to check TSA web site to see what you can / cannot take through for baby (ie: breast milk, water, food, etc.) Here are a few things I recall doing:
Have baby in sling / or handy to help hold her during the flight (one flight attendant told me I could not have her in sling for take off, another told me it was fine - just be prepared)
Have breast / bottle ready for take off and landing to help with ear pain (pacifier can also help)
If you bought a seat for baby, make sure you know how to install the car seat; I have had nice flight attendants and not so nice ones - some helped - other ignored
Some planes have baby changing tables in the bathrooms - some don't...be prepared to change baby in bathroom on your lap if you have to (I have had flight attendants tell me to change her on my lap at my seat...kind of hit or miss.)

Above all - remember that she may fuss / cry - and don't let the looks from strangers bother you! Enjoy that she is only 5 months old and will likely sleep through the flight. My daughter is now 17 months old and is not content to just sit!

Good luck.

S.,
CA to NY is not a long flight, 4-5 hours, right? I flew to Brazil, LA to Miami, Maimi to Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo to Bahia. Alone, with a 6 month old and he was teething! And we were just fine! Our flight was delayed for hours in Sao Paulo too! Things weren't as bad as I imagined.

Make sure you bring these things with you on the plane:
Bring new toys and take them out when the baby gets really fussy. Bring some snacks, maybe your baby is just starting solids, so bring something she likes. Bring tylenol, or any other meds, just in case of an emergency. Take a stroller that is easy to fold, they let you take it up to the gate and they check it for you and bring it back to you when you land. Bring at least 2 changes of clothes wih you on the plane and a sweater or jacket. And bring plenty of diapers, just in case of sudden diarrhaea (it happened to my friend's son and she didn't have enough diapers.)

You need to nurse during take off and landing (or give her a bottle.) This helps alleviate the pressure on their ears, which can be painful for them. Request an seat that is in the front row, so you have more space. Take it easy and ask for help if you need it. Your baby will probably sleep the whole time!
You will be fine! Have fun!

Are you nursing? If so, nurse her on the way up and down. This will keep ears from hurting.Otherwise I'm sure a bottle or sippy cup will do thr trick. I also would book my flights to coincide with times she naps. My daughter always seems to fall asleep om the plane. I always book the shortest flights, Have fun. Best, H.

Hi S.,

the 99 cents store has great coloring books and age appropriate workbooks by Disney they even have flash card by crayola for the alphabets and numbers. if you have a computer you could download or play some of her movies if you have a 30 gig video ipod you can also download movies on there too. If you have a nintendo DS there are video games a 5 years old can play that are educational. Bring stuff that she hasn't seen so she will be surprised. Hope it helps. No toys with small parts and keep everything in her backpack she can roll it around also putting things in ziplocks (gallon or sandwich size) can help everything stay organized.

J.

Remember to either breastfeed or give her a bottle for the ear pressurization discomfort. If you can get her to sleep the whole time that would be best for you and her.

Breastfeed her and allow her to walk around to stretch. My son didn't cry at all during our 15-hour flight, and I attributed it to this.

Hey there S.,

I took my daughter on her firt flight when she was almost 3 months (Los Angeles to Newark). As the mothers here have already said, nurse or bottle feed when taking off and when landing. That is when the cabin pressure will affect her ears. So, try to hold off the feeding or the full feeding until take off and landing. As far as bringing stuff, try not to get too overwhelmed bringing tons of stuff to keep her occupied so she doesn't disturb you or the other passengers. Simple books work well, plus do not forget all of the inflight magazines they offer. She will love to look at all of the cool things in the Sky-Mall magazine!! Besides, she will probably go to sleep about 30 mins into the flight. The noise of the engines puts them right out. Red-eyes are great for infants because they sleep so much anyway the time will not affect them. Unfortunatly, for toddlers it throws thier entire schedule off making them cranky-pants! I suggest NOT to do red-eyes when she is 3!

Good Luck and enjoy your flight back east!

Jennifer

My son was 6-months old on his first flight. It went well! We did purchase him a seat and used his infant seat on the plane...he was comfortable and we had an extra seat to store stuff under. You can nurse, bottle feed or pacifier at the moment fussiness begins...this is especially useful during take off and landing (if you do buy your her a seat they won't allow you to hold her during take off and landing. I also had extra cash on hand in case we needed to buy drinks for our "neighbors!" We never had to but I had a plan... Best of luck!

I have a 6 1/2-month-old boy, and we've already flown from LA to Alaska twice, and from LA to Atlanta and Mia, with no problem! My advice would be to bring some small NEW toys, and nurse (or bottle-feed) during take-off and the ascent, as well as during the whole descent. A pacifier works too, as the sucking not only comforts the baby if there is any pressure in her ears, it helps to ease the pain by relieving some of the pressure. I used my bjorn for the first trip, so I had my hands free to carry all the stuff. The second time I actually brought the carseat and the travel stroller and just gatechecked them. That was great because I could just carry the baby, or put him in the sling, and pile everything in the stroller to push! Or just push him. I like the stroller, but next time I think I'll just borrow a carseat once I get there and bring the bigger stroller, now that my son's sitting up by himself. Also, travel with a mini firt aid kit, like baby tylenol, nail clippers, a thermometer, and nose sucker. I mean carry them in the diaper bag so they're handy. If your baby is getting too wiggly don't be afraid to walk up and down the aisle, or hang out at the back of the plane. The flight crew were always happy to see a baby, and it's louder at the very back or near the engines. Don't forget to stay hydrated too! Good luck, and I think you'll be fine!
-T.

I have flown with my elder child without my husband approx. 10 times domestically and internationally since my elder child was born almost two years ago. In addition to the advice several people have already offered, I would recommend checking/changing your baby's diaper as close to boarding time as possible as most airplane lavs are difficult to change a baby in and, if you are assigned a set of seats that is flanked by people, that you ask a flight attendant if there are any sets of seats that are flanked by empty seats. The extra space helps your family and other passengers.

Lynne E

Hi S.,
My son was 6 months old the first time we traveled from CA to NY. We did not purchase a seat for him that time but were lucky to get 3 together so we could put him between us. After that we started buying him a seat. Like the other mothers said, taking care of your daughter's ears for take off and landing is most important. When my son was that age, he fell asleep the moment the plane took off (from the sound of the motor) and would sleep almost 3 hours so hopefully your daughter will just go to sleep. I also recommend buying a portable DVD player. It's a lifesaver for travelling - especially for little kids - it keeps them focused for an hour or 2. Also bring a couple of new toys and books to read and some snacks (if she is eating solid food). Don't forget her favorite toy or small blanket.

Good luck!

I flew the same trip with my son last summer when he was 5 months old (by myself!)

The most important thing you can do is to make sure her ears are clear during take-off and landing. This means give her a bottle or nurse during both times. I also gave my son a decongestant before boarding. This helped him sleep and it cleared his ears as well. Ask your doctor what kind would be most effective.

I've flown three times across Australia (where we live), once to the US and back, and we are booked again to the US and New Zealand, all before he is 14 months old.

All the advice the other gals gave is spot on. The only things I would add are:
- if you're on your own, wear pants without buttons or zippers. That way if you have to change her in the bathroom and (also go yourself), you can do everything with one hand!
- pack an extra outfit for her, and an extra shirt for you, in your carry-on
- if someone offers to take your baby for a few minutes, take them up on the offer. This probably won't apply on a 4-5 hour flight, but on a trans-oceanic one, you will need to take a walk, stretch, or nap.
Enjoy your flight.

The best advice I ever received was to schedule her feeding (breast of bottle) for when the plane started moving and was actually lifting off (as well as landing). The pressure can be so uncomfortable for their ears and drinking will relieve it.
G.
PS When they get older give them a box of bandaids on the plane and let them go wild.