In just a few short weeks, Annabelle will be going on her first plane ride. She won’t remember it – after all, she will only be 4 months old – but I know it could quite possibly be a trip that Mommy and Daddy will never forget.
Hopefully we do not have this baby in our laps:
My family lives in Connecticut, so this won’t be our last plane ride. I know that someday she will be a little plane riding pro, but for now, I just don’t know what to expect. I am going to be wearing her at the airport since I will be traveling home from CT alone. That means – no carseat, no stroller, just Mommy, Baby, and the Bjorn (and a diaper bag of course). I am going to have her sitting in my lap during the flight, not strapped into the Bjorn though, so she can move freely.
So far, here are some of the tips I’ve received on how to have a successful trip with a baby:
1. Nurse/Feed the baby on takeoff and landing.
2. Bring toys – if your baby is at the age where he/she likes to play, bring the toys out one by one to keep baby entertained.
3. Sit towards the back of the plane where the engine is loudest. Babies like the noise.
4. Hand out little treats to your neighbors with a notecard that says, “Hi my name is _____! This is my first time flying, so please enjoy the treats on me!) ….and if your baby is crying, offer to buy them a cocktail.
Does anyone have any tips or tricks for a first time Mommy and Baby plane ride?
Don’t forget extra clothes for YOU for the plane. The plane (air pressure?) does funny things to their tummies and I’ve spent an entire flight covered in spit up and/or pee because I didn’t stash a change of clothes for me.
I second what Jessica said- I once sat next to a mom on a plane wearing just a tank top and men’s shorts (in December!) because her baby’s blowout ended up all over her and she had to take clothes “donations” from other passengers. Good luck!!
My ears hurt really bad when I fly and the only thing that I find helps is a type of ear plug called Earplanes. They help relieve the pressure in your ears. I’m not sure if the child size is small enough for Annabelle but it may be worth looking into if it makes her (and everyone else’s) flight easier. They are a lifesaver for me and I have to have them when I fly. Good luck!
http://www.amazon.com/Earplane-Plugs-Airplane-Travel-Child/dp/B000052XG5/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1396017784&sr=1-1&keywords=earplanes+infant
We flew with our daughter when she was 6 months old. With her being a little younger, she may not be started on foods yet, but if she is maybe have a new fun snack. This would obviously be very limited to a 4 months old…puffs, baby mum-mums, etc. But it is an option if she is ready and you’ve tried it at home already!
Extra clothes for both baby and you!
Clorox wipes….airplanes are gross, so a quick wipedown will help when baby touches everything!
Good idea wearing AB in the baby bjorn! I wore my baby at 4 months in the ergo and it was helpful walking and being hands free! I got a diaper bag that was a backpack style which helped as well walking through the airport. Nursing was my best friend haha it was a natural soothing for my baby girl who started teething on the plane ride home! I also use baby Tylenol to soothe relax her as well. Good luck and try not to stress:) most people on the planes were very nice and helpful:)
I am hoping the flight attendants will be understanding – especially on my flight back! She is the loudest crier I know and I am just so worried about being unable to walk around if she has a meltdown.
Make sure you bring your changing pad for the plane. The ones in the plane are in the (often gross) bathroom and don’t look the cleanest. It’s nice to be able to lay a travel changer over it. (If you don’t have one, I’d highly recommend getting one. They’re only about $15-$20 at Target)
I have an awesome changing pad that I am going to share on my blog this week. It is a diaper clutch/changing pad.
Okay I hope this is okay, but I definitely wrote a post about this before on my blog! He was 6 months, and he’s fussing for me right this second! So I’m going to just paste the link! Sorry to be brief!
http://beforeduringandafterblog.com/2013/12/31/want-know-flying-6-month-old-went-us/
This post is great! Thank you for sharing it with me!
All I can say is….your brave!!! lol
You’ll do fine and so will she. 🙂 if someone doesn’t understand if you have a fussy baby, when then they’ve never had a kid before. 😉
This is one of my biggest fears. My little man is ALWAYS on the go!
we did this about the same time with our little Ruthie. Make sure to allow plenty of wiggle time before the flight. Don’t starve your child but definitely make sure she’s hungry when she gets on. I had a MOBY that i wore her in to load. This is sooo valuable. This gives you both hands to work with your bags, and ALSO to semi-protect her from everyone else…falling bags, smashing into people and chairs, etc.
Love the other ideas…i researched just the same…I have my second one in July and we are traveling with 2 under 2 in Nov. I’m starting to get kind of anxious about this…
Ah I didn’t even think about how snug the Moby is over the Bjorn! I think I will wear the Moby and pack the Bjorn. Thankfully she likes to snack so I can count on her wanting to eat a lot – plus our flight is 2 hours long!