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Infant Airplane Travel...Need Your Advice Please!
- Sep 27, 2010 at 2:58 PM
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- Comments (11) Total Views (241) Everyone can see this journal post.
I posted this in another group, but I'm not getting any hits, so I figured I'd try here...
Ian & I are taking a trip to visit relatives and will be flying across country. Does anyone who has flown with an infant have any suggestions or helpful tips to make things go smoother?
Comments:
Call your Airline, and make sure you can bring liquid bottles on the plane... or any other questions... they are always more than helpful..
Take a night flight so he can sleep!
Thanks. We chose to fly during his regular "wake" times, and be at our destination before his bedtime. I did talk to the airline, and Southwest said that we can bring as much formula as needed on the flight, and I also bought those convenient pre-measured individual packets. Hopefully just being in a new environment with lots of new things to see will keep him occupied.
How about diaper changes? How does this work? I mean, a 'pee' diaper can be easily changed, but what if he has a BM? He's a mover & shaker and does not sit still for a second.
We have a 5 1/2 hour flight with one stop but no plane change going there, a little bit longer flight back but it has a 1 hour lay over/plane change.
We did an on the lap diaper change. Unless you're in a big plane (737 or larger) there isn't a diaper changing table. Put a blanket on your lap and then spread out a diaper and a couple of wipes on the seat next to you. Set little one on top. Then open diaper and wipe from front to back with the diaper removing as much solid as you can. Then wipe quickly with wipes, roll up diaper and tie up in plastic bag. (It's not exactly discreet but it results in the least stink for your buck.) Depending on where your layover is there are family restrooms, nurseries, and indoor play places.
I've never been on a plane without a changing table, though they are all kind of cramped (and I'd taken at least 30 flight segments with my daughter by the time she was 18 months). It may be that not every lavatory on the plane will have a changing table, though. My experience was different than yours will be because I breastfed, so I was able to nurse her to sleep. One thing to keep in mind is that his ears will likely feel a lot of pressure during take-off and landing. I nursed during take-off, and landing too if she was awake, to prevent the pressure from causing pain. So, offer a bottle during those times to help his ears.
How old is he? Specific activities are linked to age. At all ages, walking up and down the aisle is big fun! Playing with the ice in mommy's cup is fun. Playing with the plastic cups your drinks come in is fun. Seriously, a lot of fun can be had with what's available to you! Stickers. Books. Things to rip (those napkins they give you...and you don't have to clean up every last bit yourself). Wrap little things for him to unwrap, like beads and some of his littler toys. Watching the people on the plane can be fun too.
Oh, duh. I see your siggy now! Depending upon his manual dexterity, you could bring some big crayons and paper to doodle on too.
Thanks. I like the unwrapping idea. He would just eat the crayons, so that's a no-go at this point, but a good one to remember for next time.
make sure that he is at least drinking water during take off and landing so that his ears dont pop. and try to get the 1st row there is more room, they should let you board 1st.
I don't have any tips, really. But you 3 have a wonderful trip......
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an infant shouldn't be a big deal, its when you have a toddler its more difficult.. Just pack the baby bag with pre-made bottles of milk, and pacifiers, soft blanket.. etc... -- Should be fine. - anything to make the baby comfortable... (Hopefully you don't have a fussy baby, because always remember, you think your babies cute, but nobody else will, if they are fussy, nobody will want to put up with it.
- Kay300
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