Tips for flying with babies
Just say, ”screaming babies on a plane,” and many people will break into a cold sweat. As a new parent, you never want to be “that parent” sitting in the middle seat, desperately trying to calm your fussy infant. Preparing to take your first trip with baby on a plane takes just that—lots of preparation. And the experience of flying with babies can be easy or hard, depending on several factors.
First, of course, is the temperament of your child. Do you have an easy-going baby or a fussy screamer? Does your little bundle sleep well in a noisy environment, or does he need complete silence to drift off into slumber? Neither one of my kids—now 5 and 9, were easy-going as babies. My husband and I learned to manage sleep schedules, distractions, and in-flight routines early-on; now, our girls are super travelers. Still, it didn’t come without a LOT of trial-and-error in the beginning. Here are a few things about flying with babies we’ve learned along the way.
Book flights during scheduled nap times. If your little one is on a consistent nap routine, look for flights that line up with her nap schedule at home. Keeping routines as close to the times that the kids nap at home will help them drift to slumber on the plane.
Viewfinder tip: Consider splurging on an extra seat for your baby; not only is it safer for little ones to fly (in a car seat), but you will appreciate the extra space to stretch out.
Buy a seat for baby. I know airlines allow you to travel with a lap baby until the children hit age 2, but if you have the financial means to buy an extra seat, it is worth the splurge. The extra seat allows you to bring on board baby’s car seat; not only is this a safer way for baby to travel, but it also provides him or her with a dedicated space to nap and play. This strategy worked brilliantly for our second child.
Prepare baby for naps on the go. Nothing is more difficult than trying to get a baby to sleep on a noisy, busy plane with lots of distractions. You can't expect a child who is used to sleeping in complete silence to adapt to sleeping in this new environment. Start early with getting your baby used to sleeping while out and about and on the go. This will help you lay the groundwork for the child sleeping on future flights. (It also might get you some unexpected quiet time while running errands on the ground before your trip.)
Pack the right baby supplies for the plane. Essentials to bring in your carry-on for baby include everything you might need to feed her and keep her busy and comfortable aboard the plane. Remember items such as extra blankets for breastfeeding, bottles and sterilized hot and cold water for formula, and snacks. For in-flight diaper changes, I love compact, removable diaper caddies that hold a few diapers and wipes. Ziploc bags are great for sealing stinky diapers and cleaning up messes, and you can find endless uses for antibacterial wipes to sanitize the seat tray and other surfaces that your baby will have his hands (and mouth) all over.
Master the take-off. Feeding baby a bottle or a pacifier during take-off and landing is one of the most critical travel-with-baby warrior tips. During these parts of each flight, sudden increases and decreases in air pressure can hurt the child's ears, causing him to cry and fuss. Something about the sucking motion helps lessen this pain (which, in turn, lessens your stress levels tenfold).
Develop a distraction plan. Pack for a lot of distractions. Some babies are content to people-watch, while others need constant engagement from mom or dad to keep them from fussing. Prepare for your flight by breaking down total travel time into different segments: airport, boarding, takeoff, in-flight and landing. During each time period, evaluate and decide on your entertainment, rest, and feeding strategies to engage baby. Again, your plan for this largely will depend on your baby’s temperament; every baby and parent are different, so you only should do what works for your family. Be sure to bring along a lot of toys, snacks, and food. Also, when flights are smooth, get up and give your baby a change of scenery by taking a walk down the aisle.
Most important, set your expectations that traveling with a baby will be more difficult than it is to travel alone. Buy the People magazine at the airport newstand, but don’t get bummed out if you don’t have time to crack it. Preempt any complaints from difficult neighbors by offering them a piece of chocolate or by buying them a drink. Do not let their judgements discourage you. Practice and patience makes perfect!
What are your tips for airplane travel with babies?