Air Travel with Babies
By Leslie Brown of Magic Mouse Trips
www.MagicMouseTrips.com
By Leslie Brown of Magic Mouse Trips
www.MagicMouseTrips.com
| Parenting Your Way |
I know from experience how grueling it can be to fly with an infant. I flew with my 6 month old baby to visit my sister on a trip
from Minneapolis to Salt Lake City and it was a long and exhausting ordeal.
I decided to get flights with layovers to save some money and that was my first mistake. If at all possible, spend the extra few bucks
on non-stop flights. I’ve learned that saving sanity always trumps saving money when it comes to travel. Another suggestion is to
purchase your child a seat so they can travel in the comfort of their own car seat. It is the safest way for them to travel and believe
me, it can be very difficult to make them comfortable on your lap when you are stuck in your seatbelt. Be sure to check with your
airline that you have an approved FAA child safety seat. If you do travel with your child in your lap, ask at check-in if the flight is
full. If it isn’t, kindly inquire if there is a chance to have a vacant seat next to you.
Changing your child on a plane can also be a challenge. If your plane has a variety of toilets, inquire with the flight attendant the best
one for changing a baby. They may also offer to help pull down the changing table.
Babies tend to get irritated by the ear pressure of take-off and landing. It is suggested to try and hold off the bottle until that time, but
if it’s not their feeding time, this can be a challenge. Also note that if breastfeeding, the baby has to be secured in their safely seat
during take-off and landing. Some parents use Benadryl, but this really doesn’t help with the ear pain, it is only a sedative that makes
them sleepy. Be sure to check with your pediatrician if this is a safe option. Pacifiers may help but bring some infant Tylenol if the
pain seems excessive. Another little tip is to bring out new toys one at a time to prolong their distraction. I also learned to offer one
cheerio at a time.
Most importantly, keep your cool as best you can. Your baby can feel your anxiety, so coo and sing as you always have as to not
disrupt their routine. Ignore those who look irritated and breathe deeply to stay calm.
Leslie Brown is owner of Magic Mouse Trips in St. Louis Park, MN. Her web address is www.MagicMouseTrips.com
from Minneapolis to Salt Lake City and it was a long and exhausting ordeal.
I decided to get flights with layovers to save some money and that was my first mistake. If at all possible, spend the extra few bucks
on non-stop flights. I’ve learned that saving sanity always trumps saving money when it comes to travel. Another suggestion is to
purchase your child a seat so they can travel in the comfort of their own car seat. It is the safest way for them to travel and believe
me, it can be very difficult to make them comfortable on your lap when you are stuck in your seatbelt. Be sure to check with your
airline that you have an approved FAA child safety seat. If you do travel with your child in your lap, ask at check-in if the flight is
full. If it isn’t, kindly inquire if there is a chance to have a vacant seat next to you.
Changing your child on a plane can also be a challenge. If your plane has a variety of toilets, inquire with the flight attendant the best
one for changing a baby. They may also offer to help pull down the changing table.
Babies tend to get irritated by the ear pressure of take-off and landing. It is suggested to try and hold off the bottle until that time, but
if it’s not their feeding time, this can be a challenge. Also note that if breastfeeding, the baby has to be secured in their safely seat
during take-off and landing. Some parents use Benadryl, but this really doesn’t help with the ear pain, it is only a sedative that makes
them sleepy. Be sure to check with your pediatrician if this is a safe option. Pacifiers may help but bring some infant Tylenol if the
pain seems excessive. Another little tip is to bring out new toys one at a time to prolong their distraction. I also learned to offer one
cheerio at a time.
Most importantly, keep your cool as best you can. Your baby can feel your anxiety, so coo and sing as you always have as to not
disrupt their routine. Ignore those who look irritated and breathe deeply to stay calm.
Leslie Brown is owner of Magic Mouse Trips in St. Louis Park, MN. Her web address is www.MagicMouseTrips.com
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