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Flying with a little one:What works, What doesn't
Hi All,
Since most here seem to travel a bit and more than a few of us have babies, I'm curious about something. Having just gotten home from our first trip with our little one where she did not have her own seat on the plane I was just wondering what people thought about what works and what doesn't when flying with babies..let's say 1 year and below...
I was thinking about this because I think we counted 8 other babies that looked to be under 1 on the last flight in various states of contentment and ill-temperament, with some parents exhausting themselves trying to entertain baby and some just too exhausted to make the effort.
We had an overall okay experience, as we got the bassinet on the way out, and one the way home the flight was so late DD probably would have slept anywhere, so she had no trouble sleeping strapped in and laid out over both our laps.
SO what do you think works and what do you think doesn't when trying to fly with a baby?
Re: Flying with a little one:What works, What doesn't
Direct flights work the best for us.
Bassenet is also incredibly helpful.
Something to suck on during decent. boob, bottle, ice
What doesn't work? Not sure how to answer this as sometimes, it is just being super stimulated while being overtired. We have had a couple of occasions where DS just screamed because he needed to sleep, but it was at a time where there was just too much commotion going on, so he couldn't.
When DS was smaller, it was so easy because he really just slept. Now we have a routine.
I don't let him nap before a flight. We get to the airport early and eat, play, let him run around the airport (I don't use a stroller, I use a harness). Then its bathroom/diaper time before we get on the plane. Typically, take off knocks him out and he sleeps for about 1.5 hrs.
From there we rotate sleeping, eating, playing (IPad, coloring, flash cards). Then he sleeps another 2 to 3 hours or so.
The bassinet is helpful. My DS won't sleep in it, but at least we can eat and my legs can get a break.
I also agree on the sucking, I let him have a paci the whole flight if he wants it.
For us, direct flights are the best. We've had to take some indirect flights, and we always end up kicking ourselves because of it.
Georgia does best when she is well-rested. So, a few good days of sleep and naps before the flight and then do anything we can to encourage sleep! When she was little (3-4 months) she slept really easily, and I had a wrap that I put her in and she would conk out. We flew when she was 7-8 months and it was a nightmare. She doesn't sleep anywhere except for her crib at home. It was a 9 hour flight (17 hours travel total with driving to airport, customs, etc) and by the time we were arriving, she just cried and cried and cried because she was so tired. She refused to sleep on the plane (didn't fit in the bassinet), and she doesn't sleep in our arms.
The next time we fly, she'll be 11-12 months and I think it'll be easier. I'm going to try taking her car seat (she will sleep in it!) and if there's an extra seat on the plane we'll take it on and hope that she'll sleep. She'll also need less sleep by that age. She will be walking, but I'm fine with walking her up and down the aisles.
I also take my Ergo and carry her if she gets fussy. She will sleep 30 minute naps in that. The other thing is that DH and I learned if we sit a few seats apart, it really helps. We can trade off who is on baby-duty, and then when DH is on baby duty, I really get a break. If he is sitting next to me, I feel like I'm still watching the baby if she's right there.
The bassinet is great, while the baby fits in it. If they don't, then it was best for us that BabyD had his own seat in his car seat.
The doctor prescribed benadryl for BabyD. Said that even if it didn't actually make him sleepy, it would help with congestion that babies get on flights/travel. Just be sure to do a test run at least a few days prior. Some kids get tired, some kids don't react, but some kids get hyper.
Pacifier, absolutely. Helps with comforting them and the ear pressure.
Finger snacks. Cheerios, little crackers, something. They may or may not keep on a regular feeding schedule. They sometimes just need to be distracted.
Accept that there are times that you just can't do anything. Maybe with turbulance you can't get out of the seas and let the little one walk around. Maybe their ears won't pop and they won't drink or suck on anything. Just do your best to comfort and entertain but it's ok of the baby has to cry for a bit. Do what's best for your baby, not for everyone's ears. (besides, they all should have earphones in watching a movie and can turn up the volume)