First Time Flyer

If you have a front carrier, like an Ergo, take it!

Nurse during take off (and landing), let her fall asleep nursing if need be. Let her rip up the magazine if that is what she wants to do, and screw the schedule while flying. :) Also, get a jar of ear plugs for neighbors, just in case! Just go with the flow, and don't stress too much. She will feel your stress.

Oh, and change her in a corner of the airport before boarding, so that you don't have to do it on the plane (try to avoid that if possible), and if she is in a front carrier, you should be able to go yourself before take off too.

Check EVERYTHING you don't need. If you can, only go through security (if she is in a front carrier with no metal, you don't have to take her off) with her and a diaper bag.

get there early and be prepared and organized. have your boarding pass, IDs, etc easily accessible and know what you can/can't bring through security. remember to be patient and relaxed too. many people get stressed when others are stressed around them. enjoy!

I traveled 5 times with my 1st born in the 1st year via airplane :) It is easy with a front carrier (I had a baby Bjorn), bottles or the boob (if you are doing formula, make sure to take powder formula and buy the water -- room temperature from a Starbucks or something if you ask, they have it behind the counter -- AFTER you get through security), and take snack baggies like cheerios and yogurt (in case you get trapped on the tarmac or delayed, which happened to me about every other time). I traveled with my firstborn alone, firstborn at 10 months while 4 months prego with #2, and both kids alone with just me when they were both under 2 and between ages 1 and 2. Of course, I took along the necessary toy/board books to keep them occupied and acted like a clown to keep my younger one happy but they were VERY well behaved almost every time. Make sure your daughter has something to drink (bottle or boob) to reduce pressure take-off and landing (and if she is a QUICK drinker, you can wait until you start to feel the pressure in your ears to start for both...otherwise, you might run out BEFORE the pressure really builds either way -- it has happened to me :P).

Best wishes and have fun!

We flew trans-Atlantic with our son when he was 14 months. I took WAY too much stuff. Take just what you need - snacks, bottles, a couple of her favorite toys. Give yourself plenty of time and take advantage of early boarding for people traveling with small children. That will give you plenty of time to get settled and comfortable before the plane gets crowded. Bottle or nurse during take-off and landing, and don't panic if she cries. My son cried for nearly an hour on our flight and just as everyone was getting ready to go to sleep. That was the hardest part of the entire flight because nothing I did would calm him down and people just aren't that understanding. People might stare, roll their eyes, and be generally rude, but just remember that you paid for your tickets and you and your baby have as much right to be there as everyone else. If you stay calm, it's likely your baby will either stay calm as well, or calm down more quickly. If she doesn't, remember the flight won't last forever. :-)