Baby Flying for First Time

I flew with my daughter by myself from Alaska to New Mexico when she was only 8 months old. The trip was very long and I chose to take her on as a lap infant. I was very happy with my choice.

First of all my daughter at 8 months was already starting to walk and didn't like being strapped down in a carseat. I was also glad I checked (checked luggage) my carseat because taking my carry-on bag and baby where tough enough.

I gate checked the stroller which was wonderful. It was there waiting for me as soon as I got off the plane in Dallas and again in Albuquerque.

I did have seats open next to me from Washington to Dallas and from Dallas to Albuquerque, but no matter what my daughter just wanted to be held. She would not sit in the seat next to me know matter what.

Suggestion for ear popping. As soon as the plane is about to take off give him a sippy cup with water or feed him (bottle or breast) The swallowing will help with the popping. Take off and landing is the worst time for the popping, so I would offer the cup at both times. In my case my daughter was so sick of the bottle when we finally got to ABQ that I ended up giving her the Gerber Puff snacks.

Hope this helps,
Lisa

My daughter and I have flown quite a bit since she was very small. She was 4 months the first time she flew. She is 2 now. This is what has worked for us. She has been both a lap baby and had a seat. If she has a seat, I definitely bring her car seat. You will want the option to put her down, especially if the flight is long. I can't remember for sure what I did with the base when she was younger. I would have either brought it onboard with the car seat, or checked it with the stroller. I think probably, I had it onboard. I kept her in her car seat during take off and landing. I have given her a bottle, nursed her, or used a pacifier to help her ears adjust to the pressure changes. We have never had ear problems with take off or landing. I never was able to nurse her while she was in the car seat. I tried, but my boobs just didn't stretch that far. Some people swear by it, so maybe you want to try that. The timing I use to start my daughter with whatever we are using for pressure relief, is just after the wheels leave the ground and on the way back down, when the flight attendants take their seats. Sometimes, I would wait until I first started feeling the pressure in my own ears. This way, I wouldn't run out of a bottle or have her get filled up too soon. Now that she is 'older', I just use a pacifier and she gets to keep it the whole trip...quite a treat for her because she usually only has it when she sleeps. Bring quiet little toys that your son has not seen before or not seen in a while. You may want to wrap them in cute wrapping paper. I actually have a bag of plane toys, which my daughter sees only when we fly. Unwrapping them keeps her occupied a little longer. I have never used benedryl or anything to help my daughter sleep on a plane, though, once, I had it with me, just in case. We have had so few problems flying and I don't think we have ever really annoyed anyone around me, which is always a fear of mine. I try to sit next to other people with kids. I used to hold her up so she could see other passengers during the flight and usually they would talk to her and entertain her for a while. :) Bring your stroller and check it at the gate. You will have to get a tag for it at the gate counter. Sometimes they bring one to you while waiting in the preboarding line, but check at the counter first. When you go through security, put all of your stuff on the belt first, then the folded stroller and upside-down car seat. They may or may not want you to take your son's shoes off. I wait until they ask. Security has always been very helpful and often the people around me as well, when I am traveling alone with my daughter, so don't let that part stress you. If people are really in a hurry behind you, they will get in a different line. Check online with the airline regarding what they allow you to bring onboard. You should be able to bring baby formula, milk, etc. You will have to bag any medicines, etc. Don't forget your son's birth certificate. You will have to show this at check-in and occasionally at security.
This was long, but knowing what to expect will help you have a more pleasant flight experience. Have a great flight!

Check the Car seat with your bags, check a stroller at the gate take as little as possible on board with you. The reason I say this is because of all the security on the way to the gate. If you are traveling alone you will get little or no help from anyone while carrying your eight month old and trying to fold the stroller to get it through the xray machine. Carseat are not generally designed for airplanes, however they make carseat/stroller combos for airplanes but they can be pricey. Your carseat probably won't work on the airplane. On take off/ landing have your son nurse or drink his bottle or even suck on a pacifier if he uses one, anything to get the pressure off his ears. I flew several times with my daughters and always just had them latch on when we were taking off and landing and the flight never seemed to phase them.

Hi my name is E. and I have a 2 and 3 year old now but when my son was 6 mos. we flew and also with my dautghter when she was quite a bit younger also. I don't know about the car seat thing becuase we always had them as lap children but I have seen people take their car seats. Anyways I was always told with little ones to either make sure they are drinking and swallowing during take off and landing. So I am assuming he still uses a bottle, just make sure he is drinking out of that. It's just like when people chew gum. Make him take the bottle or a sippy cup because the sucking and swallowing helps with the ear popping.

I have flown 3 times with my son already and he is 7 months old. the best tips I have for you is a pacifier and a bottle. The pacidier will help to ease his ear popping, that is what his Doc suggestsed and it worked. Also I always have a bottle or breast ready for takeoff and my son usually fallas asleep during or shortlty after take off. I have never had 2 seats so he just sits with me and I gate check his car seat and stroller. So I am not sure how carrying it on works. My son usually sleeps the whole flight I think he loves the motion; as long as he has a pacifier. Best of luck to you.

I flew with my 2nd baby when he was 4 mos old. I took his car seat, not the base, on the plane. You should talk to your Pediatrician and see if you can give him some benadryl. It really helps them sleep on the plane. I did not have any trouble at all with my baby on the plane. Make sure you have something for him to suck on like a bottle or a binky. Hope this helps

Hi Sara, Just make sure you have enough diapers, and food (formula) etc. I took my son on a plane when he was 5 months old and we ended up on the plane for 14 hours! The flight attendants were so amazed and commented that he was more behaved than the grown up passengers. As far as the carseat; I don't think it's mandatory that he sit in it on the plane but since you need to bring it with you, you might as well just bring it on. Good luck and have fun!

We took our baby on a flight when she was 8 months old. we packed the carseat in one of those packs that has wheels, it's like a big back pack for carseats. We had it sent with the luggage and didn't worry about it until we claimed our luggage. Those carrying cases for carseats are wonderful and we paid around $20 for it! She sat in our lap during the flight and slept most of the time. We just made sure we kept her awake at the airport so she was nice and tired during the flight. She had a bottle ready for when she needed it. Plus sucking on a bottle or pacifier will help with the ears. I'm sure your baby will do fine.

Dear Sara,
I hope you're breast feeding. If so, flying will be a breeze. I flew with my babies when they were young and it was easy. I held them the entire time and nursed especially on take off and landing and they had no troubles at all.

I never took a car seat when they were that young -- for the hassle, it just seemed like a better idea to buy one when I got to my location; they're not that expensive.

If your baby has his own seat, then take the part of the car seat that will fit and check the bottom.

best of luck,
P.

You should nurse/feed your baby a bottle when you are going up and going down. The sucking helps the baby to not have his ears popping. Also bring toys or books that he is entertained by in case he doesn't sleep but of course quiet toys/ so you don't disturb other passengers. When my kids were little I made sure I had a few new toys/books so I was sure it would keep their interest(don't show it to him beforehand). If you paid for the extra seat you should bring his car seat on board. The seat itself should fit just fine and when your not going up or down its better to keep him still. (I'm not sure about the base I would leave it out) Take some snacks and juice. Lastly, I got this advice and used it up until my kids were 5 when we travel on a plane:
Get Benadryl( can be generic brand) and give it to him a few minutes before the flight. It will not hurt them and is not bad for them but it causes them to get drowsy and stay a sleep all the flight :) Good luck!

I used to work for an airline + I've flown with both of my children while they were young. First - make sure the carseat has a "FAA Approved" sticker on the bottom. It more than likely will if it's newer. Check the base - because it's much easier to carry just the carseat & it's much easier to buckle just the carseat into the seat. You don't have to take the carseat on board at all, but children tend to sleep better in their carseats + you won't have to hold them the entire flight. Snacks, Pacifier, bottle or breast-feed (in lap) at least during take-off & landing. No need to stretch your boobs ;) if you breast-feed. You don't actually need the base at your destination. Carseats are made to use the car's seat buckle, but it could be easier (depending on how long you'll be there. (You have to pack so much anyway - I pack as light as possible - even buying diapers at my destination). Pack plenty of snacks, toys, & things that will keep him entertained if he was to remain awake for the entire flight. Birth certificate will be needed. And you can have one person go beyond security both here & at your destination (to help you), but they will need to "check in" at the gate. This is VERY helpful. You can gate check a stroller and/or carseat (take it to the gate & check it there). They'll bring it up to the gate at your destination. I think I covered everything. Sorry this is long. If you have any question - please feel free to email. Oh - Michele Garcia at Sublime on Candelaria & Wyoming is a great stylist.

Here's what I did - and I flew several times alone with my infant when he was younger...

Either rent a luggage carrier or take your big honkin' stroller that goes with the car seat with you all the way to the gate. My preference is the stroller, but that's me. Tell everyone you want to GATE CHECK the stroller and car seat base. When you get ready to board the plane, ask if you can pre-board since you have a baby with you. Most airlines will comply. Then just before you actually get on the plane, give the stroller and car seat base to someone at the end of the jetway. They will tag it and place it in the belly of the plane - then when you land, they will have it ready for you at the exit of the plane (before you even get up the ramp).

Then on the plane, strap in the car seat without the base - this is possible to do and remember to have it backwards... I am impressed that your baby still fits in the infant seat as my son moved up to the convertible when he was 5 months old. Anyway :), you'll probably alternate holding your baby or having him strapped in his seat based on what he is demanding. If you breastfeed, be sure to nurse him on takeoff and landings so that his swallowing will help with the ears. If you don't, give him a bottle or some snacks so that he is swallowing anyway. The noise will probably bother you more than him - you can distract him by pointing out the clouds, etc. and be sure to bring lots of toys/distractors. My son rarely slept on flights when he was that age - but our flights were never more than 2 hours. How long is yours?? Peek-a-boo is always a hit with a blanket; and you can bring a textured soft book, mirror, etc. too.

MOST IMPORTANT!! Go potty before you board the plane (put him in the carseat in the stroller and go to the family room or wheelchair stall) and change his diaper. You do not want to tackle any of that on the plane. :)

Hope this has helped some. Once you are in the air, the ear thing isn't usually an issue. It's the taking off and landing that makes your ears pop and theirs are more sensitive for sure.

C.