First Plane Ride for My 3 Month Old Son

Give him a pacifier so his ears don't pop that way he shouldn't cry as much and bring a few stimulating toys for him. That's what my sister did when she flew with her daughter when she was that age.

Hello H.,

I have traveled with infants many times (my son flew 2 times before he was 1 year old and my daughter flew 3 times before she was 1 year old -- one time she was 3 months old, as well).

If you breastfeed, it should be a snap. Just make sure to nurse him at take off and landing. He should fall asleep right a take off because of the pressurization in the cabin (whether he is nursing, bottle feeding, or sucking on a pacifier).

If you bottle feed, do the same thing, prepare a bottle right before take off so that you will be ready for the ascent. Also, have a bottle ready for landing (or a pacifier). Little ones sometimes have problems with ear pain during take off and landing. Sucking helps the ear pop and avoids the ear-pain situation.

Try not to pack too much in your carry on/baby bag. You want to be able to get what you need pretty easily. I am assuming that you will have a direct flight. I would pack 5-6 diapers, a small package of wipes, a change of clothes for him, a burp cloth, a blanket (not too big--maybe a receiving blanket), and a few pacifiers (if he takes them), along with the fixings for as many bottles you think you will need. Double check the carry-on restrictions regarding liquids and plan accordingly (it might be easier to but a couple of bottled waters at the airport after you go throught security).

The most important thing to keep in mind is that your little guy can tell if you are stressed out and that will probably freak him out. Try to keep calm and keep in mind that everyone on the plane understands that babies cry and fuss.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
T.

With my son we had him drink his bottle during take off and then when we were about to land we gave him his paci. When we were in the air I let him out and played with him so he wouldn't get to cramped. His ride was good, but of course all babies are not the same. GOOD LUCK!!

I flew by myself with our son when he was 3 months also. We have made 7 trips home over the past year so we've both had a lot of flight experience. :o) Here are my tips:

Be sure to have a bottle for him or nurse him on takeoff and landing... he needs to be *swallowing* to pop his ears. Just ask the flight attendant on your way onto the plane for water if you need to mix a bottle, they are always very accomodating with babies.

My son is now 15 months and he still sleeps once we get up in the air. I think the noise and motion just lull him right to sleep.

Also, if you have the big stroller that the carrier fits into, you can take the whole thing right to the aircraft. There will be a place to leave wheelchairs and strollers, they put them in storage right under the plane and you get it immediately when you get off. Ask the ticket agent for a gate check tag when you arrive at your gate and they will explain the process. It makes it a lot easier to cart around all your stuff through the airport knowing that you can take the stroller all the way to the actual plane.

The most hectic part for me was going through security, you have to carry the baby with you through the doorway thing. So you will have to fold the stroller and put it and the carseat thru x-ray while holding the baby. The workers there are always really helpful to me. Just ask for some assistance.

Hope this helps, I think you should be prepared now! Just have a great time going home and showing off your sweet boy!

~ t

When my oldest was 2 months old we flew to Mexico on vacation...She did well for the trip. Just make sure he has a bottle in his mouth when the plane is getting ready to take off so his ears dont pop.

It seems like everyone has given you excellent advice. I travelled on a 10 hour flight from Germany with my son when he was 6 months old. The hum of the engine knocked him right out. Don't forget- you can get up and walk with him if necessary. Ditto on the nursing/binky/bottle---landing is harder on the ears. 3 months old is the perfect age--for the first flight. You'll do great. Also- don't forget to ask for bulkhead seating (front row--extra leg room) and they'll check your stroller at the airplane door- so you can keep it with you the entire time.

I took my son on his first plane trip at 10 weeks and he did great, actually it was the easiest thus far(also at 8m, 12m and 13m) and he is now 15m. Just make sure you have plenty of wipes and diapers and formula if that's what you use. My son was breastfed, so it was even easier! Make for sure you are feeding the baby on landing and take off, this will release the pressure from the ears and my son usually fell alseep afterwards for the rest of the flight!! I took him in a front baby carrier, that way I had both hands free (I only had my husband for one trip, the rest we by myself with our son). I took Wet Ones to wipe down the handles on the plane seats, etc. since little ones are sooo susceptible to illness and you certainly don't want to get sick while traveling with him!!! I took Airborne, prior to the flight, it's a vitamin tablet that you put in water and drink to boost your immune system! Works everytime!!! Good Luck!

i have been on a plane many times with my kids. one thing you need to remember is the pressure change on the plane. we as adults can pop our ears but babies cant. if you are nursing then just keep the baby on the boob while the plane is taking off and landing. if you are not nursing and its not time for a feeding then you can use a binki, just as long as the baby is sucking on something it shouldnt have a problem. as far as the plane trip itself goes the baby should be fine whether he likes car rides or not because you can hold him on the plane. normally all babies are fine no matter what when they know they have their mommy with them, holding them. you guys should be fine, you can even hold him up to the window to look out if you have a window seat, at 3 months babies are alert and want to see everything. i see others responses and i have said pretty much the same thing, i should read the responses first huh? :) i think you will do fine.

H.,

Take lots bottles ie: juice, milk whatever he drinks only take a few extra. It is good to let him suck on them or a binkey on take off and as the plane drops in altitude before landing. Also you can take your stroller I recommend a umbrella stroller right up to the plane entrance which is great they will stow it under the plane and bring it to you when you land. One problem with this is you have to take the baby out of it and collapse it to go through security don't count on any help from anyone around including the airport staff :( If your son gets sleepy with infant motrin by all means give him some while you are waiting to take off. Take an extra pair of pants for him in case he pee's through and an extra shirt for yourself. It is also good to have the hand sanitizer and disposable changing table cloths from Target or Walmart. Pleantly of toys but not too many, make sure you can handle all of your carry on's and the baby easily, especially if you have to change planes. Good luck.
C.

I traveled on an airplane when my daughter was only 6 weeks old. I was really surprised to see how great she was (I was expecting the worst…ie. her crying from pressure in her ears etc.) Unfortunately, my in-laws booked the flight so we had to change airplanes and eneded up being delayed for 4 hours at one of the airports which made the trip a little more challenging. I would recommend taking a straight flight. What my doctor recommended and it worked great was to nurse her on the way up and down so it will help her ears. I was able to nurse her everytime the airplane took off but she was normally asleep on the way down. She never had any ear problems. I would definitely suggest either nursing the baby or giving him a bottle or a pacifier to suck on when the airplane takes off and lands so the pressure doesn't bother his ears. I would also make sure to take a few change of clothes and at least a shirt for you incase you have a bad accident. I think traveling with a child this young is so much easy then when they are older. My daughter is now 18 mths old and taking her anywhere where she has to sit for a period of time is very difficult. She loves to run around and play, so enjoy this time of traveling while you can. Also, I would wear some shoes that are easy to take off. When I flew I had running shoes on assuming they would be easier to walk with while carrying her and I had her in a front carrier so I could have my hands free, while that was a big mistake. I had to take the carrier off and my shoes off at the security station while trying to hold my 6 week old daughter. Try tieing your shoe laces and holding your baby while people are pushing there way by you. Needless to say people behind me where a little annoyed and so was my daughter about having to me taken out of her carrier. Anyways, relax and enjoy your son's first flight everything should turn out great.

My son's first plane ride was at three months. The ticket guy suggested I bring the carseat with me and check it plane side. I am really glad I did because for half of the flights the flight attendant rearranged seating so that I could have two seats together. This meant that I could put my son in his carseat in the seat next to me (I only paid for one seat). I did the nursing thing and the binky thing as well. My son slept through all of the plane rides. I also recomend asking if you can pre-board. I needed those extra few minutes to get settled. I also recomend bringing a stroller. You can check that plane side as well. Also bring a bag that has extra clothes, diapers, wipes, etc. You will need it. Airlines are really pretty accomidating when you have a baby. I did it by myself and the first time I didn't have a stroller. Boy was that a mistake. Hope this helps.
K.

Well, my sons first plane ride was at 5mo.. Just make sure you have the stroller and not the car seat to carry him in. Have plenty of food and diapers, make sure he's feed and change before each flight. Pack everything in one bag that is easy to carry like a shoulder bag or a book bag, that is easy to store in the overhead compartments (because the flight attendant broke the pour spout on my sons infant cereal and it was hard to make bottle for my entire trip). Other than that a 3 mo. old will probably just sleep because my 5mo. did.
Have a safe and easy flight.

I flew with my son when he was 3 months old. He nursed during ascent and descent and was fine. The sucking and swallowing equilizes the ears. Plus it's a great way to soothe a fussy baby even if they are not really hungry.

My daughter's firts plane ride was at about 6 months and she had a great time, we got her a seat so we could put her in her car seat and not have to worry about renting one or it getting lost with the luggage. good thing we did, because we had to wait for our luggage!! Just pack comfort items and plenty of food.

Hi H.! I first traveled with my youngest when she was 6wks and it went really good. At this point they aren't really moving around too much so you don't to worry about them wanting to get down. Just make sure you have a bottle or if you are nursing make sure that he nurses during the times you are taking off and landing. Don't worry, it will be fine.

We took our son on the plane at 3 months...now that it has changed and you cant take liquids will be different, but we just had lots of toys, and he slept, because we timed it for his nap time. He was fine, it you use a pacifier you can use that during take off and landing, we just gave him some of his bottle, for the sucking, and he didnt have a problem at all. We flew to Philly which was 21/2 hours....not a long flight...good luck

I took my daughter on a plane at 3 months old and she did fine!!! I just made sure she had a binkin in her mouth druing take off and landing..if your son doesnt use one now you will want to kind of get him used to the idea of one befor hand but she did fine, just be prepaired for everyone to stop and talk and guawk at your awsome baby!!..have fun!

Make sure you have a binki or something for him to suck on. This will help will equalizing his ears. I'll bet you'll be surprised how well he does. My daughter was a little older--about four months--the first time I had her on a plane, and she did much, much better than I thought she would. She actually slept in my lap most of the time.

Actually, as long as his ears don't bother him, you will be great. Take the binki and try saving a feeding for the descent. Apparently, you don't have to worry about take off as much as landing. My son has traveled at 8 months and 1 year and has no problem with his ears. He too likes being in the car and slept most of the flight. It actually isn't that different. He even slept throught the bumpy landing! You are going at a good time. I actually wouldn't worry at all about going with a little one now that I have experienced the toddler age! Once they start wanting to run around and not sit still, that is when you have problems!! Besides the feeding and the binki, I don't think you have to worry about much else. I'm sure you will do fine! Have fun!

I too went to NJ when my son was about 1 month and 6/7 lbs...i was nervous too. it seemed to me to be more about timeing...if you can keep him up for the time at the airport then he should pass out in the air. But during decending and landing try to feed him. Decending is so much quicker then going up so make sure he's swallowing to prevent uncomfort from pressure. The flight goes by pretty quick too so you should be ok...i had my son in a front carrier and we both slept! :) Have fun!