1St Time Flying W/11 Month Old (& Doing It Solo!) - Advice Please!

unless you are mr. trump or won your own plane you will have these concerns. first of all, it is natuarl tobe concerned. what did with the then 11 month old man (he will be 4 in november) when we were flying from nyc to chicago was nurse him on take off and landing. it went very well. bring his favorite stuffed animals, get there early, play with him, and because you can board earlier than the rest of the passangers, you can get him confortable etc.

you'll do very well!

infact i felt so safe with him that i was not concerned about heavy wind and bumps as we got closer to nyc on the return trip. it was very windy and the guy near me was grunting about the bumps, i closed my eyes, held him close and felt so safe. they are angels....

Hi S.,

I flew with my 2 month old which is a lot different as she wasn't moving and barely awake the whole flight. I was given good advice as far as the pressure and the ear popping for the baby: try to give the baby a bottle of formula, breast milk or water or juice during take off. This will cause him to swallow and make his ears pop if necessary. Also, change his diaper right before you board the plan. You want to aviod having to change the diaper on board at all costs. My daughter pooped in her diaper of course it had to be a time when she made a huge mess but the plan didn't have any pull down changing table. The bathroom was so tiny I would have had a hard time going in it. I had to put the toilet seat down and change her on that (with a pad in btw) but she decided she wanted to try and touch everything which she could since it was so small. I wanted to hose her down after that. So unless he has an accident DON'T leave diaper changing for the plane ride.
If you formula feed, try to bring it on your carry on as a friend had hers explode in her checked luggage from the pressure.
Finally ignore all the looks you'll get and any comments you may over hear as everyone dreads sitting next to a baby/child.

Good luck

Hi S.,

I have found using a baby wearing device (I too love the Ergo Baby) very helpful for getting through the airport. you still have to take baby out for security, but otherwise it leaves you hands free. I wouldn't travel without one! the Ergo is light and you can just leave it on your waist when not using it, or fold up and put in a bag.

C.

i bought a teething necklace (smartmomjewelry.com) and my son loved it during a much longer flight. Bring lots of distractions like magazines he can rip, books and toys he likes and bottles to drink on take off and landing. and so what if he cries. people will just have to deal with it. he's your priority and what you focus on. have a safe trip!

Hi S.,
I have flown with my baby and toddler son several times by myself. This is what worked best for me.

Get an isle seat: that way when you need to, and you will, walk with you baby around the isle whenever safely possibe. You may be up and out of your seat often.

Make friends with the stewardess: Usually they are so helpful, in bringing water, holding baby if you need to use the bathroom, etc. They might even help in keeping the seat next to you free (if the flight is not already full) so baby can lay down or have some play space.

Bring a few, simple toys that are not too small: Toys will inevitably roll under the seat, get thrown or stuck in the cracks of the seat.

Breastfeed or have baby drink from cup while taking off and landing. Bring an empty sippy cup or bottle in your carry on. Once you get past security, go to the snack stand and get a bottle of water and snacks.

Change baby before you take off. Some planes do not have a changing station in the bathroom.

If possible, Keep baby awake in the car, so he can sleep on the plane. Baby will have to take off his shoes too (its so weird) so make it easy for yourself.

Good Luck
N.

You've gotten a lot of advice already, so I won't bother with more. Our 13 month old daughter barely slept at all during a 6 hour red-eye to England despite our best efforts. So even if nothing works, just remember this - you can survive anything for 2 1/2 hours !!

HI S.!

We just took our daughter on a cross country flight to San Diego when she was about 10 months old so I know exactly how you feel! I was so nervous and worried about how it would go, but everything turned out great! I was still breastfeeding, but I pumped some extra milk to bring in case a bottle seemed like a better choice. We kept her up an extra hour and a half past her bed time the night before and woke her up a little while before we left. She was awake for the car ride to the hospital (although we didn't have to travel two hours), but she fell asleep as soon as we got on the plane. We gate checked her stroller and had her car seat with us too. When we got to the gate we asked the attendents if the flight was booked and it wasn't so we got an extra seat for her. She slept almost the whole way.

I think the key is having snacks, and maybe one or two toys. Our daugher was so enthralled with the actual plane ride that she didn't pay attention to the toys that we brought. I would bring a book, a "lovey" if she has one, and some favorite snacks. I bet it won't be half as bad as you're imagining it to be.

A lot of people recommended that we give her Benedryl, but I had a good friend who did that with her daughter and it wound her up and made her really hyper. I think if you've never given her Benedryl before and you're not sure of how she'll react it could be a gamble giving it to her before a flight...

Good luck! I'm sure it will be great!

B.

mmm If I were you, I would try to keep him awake in the car and let him run around the airport as mush as possible. Tire him out so he sleeps on the plane. Also make sure he sucks on a bottle ascending and descending. Its the change in pressure that discomforts the little ones ears. If necessary give him some tylenol. I think the airlines make some exceptions for infants as to what you can bring on board, but you would have to check with your airline.

Hi S.,

My name is Renee I am the mother of a 3 year old and an 18 month old and we have traveled all over the country with them both since they were 3 months old. If I could give you some advice about flying with your son it would be to try to keep him awake in the car on the way to the airport, and during your check in adn wait. That way he is more likely to fall asleep during the flight. Also when you get on the plane ask if the flight is full if it is not then ask to sit somewhere that you can have an open seat next to you this way you can spread out, or atleast ask to sit by the window. There is a lot more room in the window seat. Take your stroller they will check it at the gate and I have found that small snacks work great. You know something that they can snack on for a while. Good Luck

Hi S.,
Talk to your pediatrician about what decongestant you can give to your son so he doesn't feel the pressure of the airplane and get an ear ache. I believe it was beneadryl you give right before the flight.
Good Luck.
J.

I've flown with my children many times alone at all ages. If he is mobile, let him sit in the airport and play or find an out of the way area to let him move around. You will need him to sit still for the flight so the airport isn't the time to do that.

Bring snacks and drinks that he can use especially during take off and landing...any comfort items like binkies, toy, blanket. Bring a variety of toys and only give him one thing at a time so that he doesn't tire of everything you brought at once. Don't forget a couple of books and on the longer trips like yours, I used to bring a portable DVD player with some of my sons' favorite shows. I actually recorded a few hours of their favorite shows back to back so that while the kiddie movies only last about 1/2 hour I could get a full 2 hour stretch from one DVD. Also, don't forget plenty of diapers, wipes, change of clothes if not two, meds you might need like Tylenol, diaper rash cream, etc. If the air pressure on take off and landing seem to hurt his ears, ask for a warm towel to hold behind each ear.

HTH. Enjoy!

L.

Be sure to pack a couple of changes of clothes and extra diapers for him and at least one set for you in your carry on bag. You never know if your luggage will get lost (been there done that).

Since you are not taking a car seat for him, call the airlines and ask them if you can bring an umbrella stroller with you. It can be folded up and stored during flight, but it makes it so much easier when having to walk through the airport with the bay and trying to carry a bag and your tickets and such.

You will be better off if you can get him to sleep on the plane. You might want to consider keeping him awake for the trip to the airport so he can go to sleep easier on the plane.

Also, don't be afraid to ask for help from airport staff if you need it.
Check with the airlines on their rules for his bottles and such (liquids) and what they require for babies as far as that goes. You might be able to just put the powdered formula (if that's what you use) in the bottles and ask for bottled water on the plane to make the formula if he needs it.

Good luck and have a good trip.

Hi S., you will be fine thats what you tell your self. You get a little DVD player 2 or 3 DVD's of his favorite shows and some coloring books and you will do great. I flew with my son to Greece about 5 days after he learned how to walk and that was a 9 hour flight. The DVD saved my life and my sanity!!!! So be confidant and make sure the battery is fully charged and you will be all set!
-E. K

I have traveled with my two kids, often alone, since they were each 2 months old. I suggest getting some new, inexpensive, quiet things (the rest of the plane will appreciate this part) for your child. I usually get them a book or toy that is new so they have something exciting to play with for a while. I have also used a portable DVD if you have one. Your flight is not too long (we had double when we lived 2000 miles away from family) so I am sure you will do fine. Goood luck.

You have a lot of great advice, here's my 2 cents. Bring plenty to eat and drink for your son, you are not allowed to bring a water bottle for yourself, but you can definitely bring sippy cups and baby bottles and snacks. If possible try to give him a drink or nurse during takeoff, BUT if he's fussy before hand, don't wait, you don't want a hysterical child on the plane, it's far more difficult to calm them down once they freak out.

Bring your stroller to the gate, and gate check it (it doesn't count against your luggage allowance) - you will have to take him out of it in security (even if he's sleeping) and fold the stroller up and put it on the belt.

Bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanky, and a few different toys, paper and crayons. Hopefully, since it's an early flight, you'll get in your seat, nurse him and he'll fall asleep the rest of the flight.

OH, one last thing, DIAPERS respond strangely to the change in cabin pressure!!! Bring extra clothes for yourself and for him, maybe a cloth diaper, pad or old blanket to sit between him and your lap.

Have a great trip!

Nurse or bottle feed during take off and landing. Get a great baby carrier for going thru the airport and for carrying in the plane. I love the Ergo carrier.

Hi S.,

When I look back the past, sometimes I wonder why I did something that was too difficult. I understand how you feel because I took two children (8 years old and 16mo.) to visit my family in Japan. It takes 12 hours to Japan if it's direct flight. What I found that when people see woman alone with small children or infant, they are usually very helpful. If you don't take it granted (You know, sometimes you see some mom who is expecting everybody around to help her because she is with her little baby), people are nice. I took my boy's favorite toys to play with and they enjoyed the trip. One problem I got was my little one started to walk in the aisle back and forth but it won't be the problem for you.

In my book PLEASE TOUCH (by S. Striker) Simon & Schuster I have a chapter answering that very question. The most fun we ever had on a plane was the time I brought some rubber stamps of geometric shapes, plain paper and a stamp pad. I made up a little musical rhyme(it is in the book)"dip and print and dip and print" etc to help your baby learn how to use it. Kids from all over the plane were standing around my aisle seat and making stamping pictures. Be sure to bring a small toy airplane to play with. One big, fat UNWRAPPED crayon and a pad of blank white paper.(the paper on a crayon is nothing but advertising, and it prevents your child from exploring how to use a crayon). Have a lollipop for sucking on during takeoff and landing to prevent ear ache (Also, a baby can't cry and disturb the other passengers with a lollipop in his mouth!) I understand that you are allowed to bring liquid in baby bottles when you have young babies. Have some neat snack food, like Cheerios, as well. Have one picture/story book per half hour of flying. By the way, if it were me, I'd rather have the baby sleep on the plane than in the car. Do lots of physical play in the airport while you wait to board. Bon Voyaage!

The absolute most important thing to bring is your patience. No matter how much you plan and no matter how many tricks up your sleeve you have ready, there will be that moment when nothing goes seems to go right.

Other must haves: change of clothes, wipes, lollipops-use when absolutely desperate - or anything else that baby is not typically allowed to have is the difference between a painful flight and a pleasant flight.

A.

Hi S. - I've flown with my son twice since he turned one and my best advice is to pack lots of snacks that he's never had before or that you only allow on occasion - new types of crackers and cookies or something. And a few days before we leave, I make a trip to the dollar store and load up on new toys and books. I pack them in a small plastic box in my carryon bag, which is small enough to fit on the tray and keeps things organized...Like someone else said, patience is the biggest thing.

good luck-
A.

S.: For take off and landing you will want something for him to drink. If he is drinking while the plane is ascending and descending it will help with the pressure that causes the uncomfortable feeling in his ears. For 2 1/2 hours you can read books and maybe you will get lucky and he will sleep. A sleeping baby on a plane makes for a quieter flight for you and the other passengers. Whenever I flew with my daughter when she was little, I made sure we had a bottle or a sippy cup handy. Have a safe trip.

I have a 25 month old who has flown 4 times from 7 mos old. One thing I saw recommended was Benadryl - I'm not sure it can be given to babies anymore - but one thing it can do (besides sedate) is stimulate them! So - be careful if you try that! My dgtr only slept when she was good and ready no matter how much we'd try to keep her up - so that may backfire too! Oh- and she needed to be bounced to sleep when she was 7 mos old - REALLY bounced - so I did that in the aisle!! I mention some of these things so you know - no matter what - you're not alone!

You got alot of good things to refer to here - so I will only remark further to say - you will be on a flight with strangers. You will never see them again. So - if the drinking going up and down (for the baby - not you LOL!!), the toys, the snacks, the anything and everything you think of don't work - who cares! The baby will cry and that's what they do! Try not to let it bother you too much even if people around you gripe!! They can get a private jet next time if it's too bothersome! :-) Have fun!

http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
That blog, written by a former flight attendant will answer ANY questions you might have.

We flew overseas when my son was 21 months. I kept him busy half the time -about 4 hours- with some new toy cars, a couple booklets of stickers and some activity books. I didn't show everything to him at once: I just took out one item at the time and when he showed signs of getting restless and tired of it I presented him with another one. He slept the other 4 hours(it was a night flight)
For our return flight -a daylight flight- I made sure he didn't have much sleep the night before and, as I wanted and expected, he felt tired enough to take a long nap (3 1/2 hours)
I avoided taking any toys that make ANY kind of noise because I remembered a horrible trip I took once with a very inconsiderate family sitting next to me!

Flying only 2 1/2 hours shouldn't pose a big problem. It will be over in no time... so I hope you guys have a great trip!