First Time Flying Cross Country with My Baby!! So Nervous...

Soooo many things. Her temperament is really only known to you, so most of this will be a judgment call. First, for stuff - get something like a peapod from onestepahead.com. It is much easier to travel with than a playpen. Is she getting her own seat? If so, get the wheels and handle to transport it through the airport. I would bring a few things for her, but if needed, you can always go to the store rather than bringing the store with you. My son's favorite thing at this age was the plastic drink cups and ripping up the magazines. Also, he mainly drank LOTS of milk. You may want a little "bribe bag" with some things that she hasn't seen before. A new baby doll, hotwheel, etc.

If you schedule it during a nap, that may help too, and if you are relaxed, so will she. to make yourself feel better, go to walmart and get one of those jars of earplugs. You can pass them out as needed. Let her run in the airport. You may get dirty looks, but they will be much happier with her running up and down the airport than screaming on the plane.

Also, tell her what is going to happen, and what you need to do. As far as the time change, how long are you going to be there, and what is her schedule like? Is keeping her on your schedule going to make it impossible on you?

Check as much baggage as you can. You'll have your hands full enough with the baby.

Get her her own seat.

Try to get a seat in the bulkhead as there is more room.

You are allowed to bring her diaper bag with sealed formula and empty bottles. If you use poweder, get the travel size single serve. Buy water once you get through security.

Bring one carryon suitcase with a change of clothes for you, hubby, and extra blanket, clothes, some diapers, etc.

If you take a stroller, you are allowed to wheel it up to the gangplank where it will be checked and then brought back to you as you deplane.

Benadryl didn't work for my daughter, but if you want to try it, make sure you test it before you get on the flight. It does make some kids hyper. It didn't work for my daughter, but it didn't make her hyper either. Take toys, DVDs anything you can think of. My daughter loved a squirt bottle of water. Sure she got it all over her, but she was happy and quite for 2 of the 3 hours of the flight, the other time she was talking, playing with toys, etc. I went on a 10 hour flight and my daughter didn't sleep at all, but she still did well. You can ship ahead, but since there are two of you, it will be cheaper to check things at the ticket counter. Your carseat and stroller are free. You can take both to the gate and check them at the plane, I usually check the carseat at the ticket counter and the stroller at the gate. I know someone said to schedule during nap time, but if she doesn't sleep anywhere but her crib, like my daughter, it will be harder. I tried this and my daughter was just cranky and harder to handle. I find flights first thing in the morning work best for us. Also, make sure you get an aisle seat, where she can stand up for a few minutes and you have easy access to get up and down with her. You can try booking a window and an aisle seat and hope no one books the middle seat so you have extra space, but during the holidays that maybe difficult. When my husband and I fly together we usually get aisle seats next to each other. I fly regularly with my daughter, usually by myself, and I don't get her her own seat. She never wants to sit in it anyway.

Hi G.,

No worries to be had, you can do a comfortable flight with your daughter. I've been flying transatlantic flights once to twice a year with my son since he was 10 months old - sometimes alone with him-, and always got compliments about how well-behaved he was during the flights - not because he is particularly calm (he's a high-energy kid), but because I was planning for, and working at, having things this way. I actually wrote a blog post compiling everything I learned along the way, if you want you can see it at:

http://dailymastery.com/wordpress/2010/11/16/prepared-for...

Your daughter will sleep a lot less than on a normal day/night, but she most likely will sleep. In case she doesn't, plan for a day of rest the first day at your destination. When you arrive and for the first couple of days or so, make sure that she is outside, or close to a window, as much as possible, and she'll naturally adjust to the new time zone. Daylight is the cue our bodies use to know what time of day it is.

As for Benadryl, I did take it with me, and resorted to it once, I admit it. Just one word of caution: test it on your daughter before you take the plane. A small minority of children react to Benadryl by becoming hyper, and you don't want to discover this on a crowded flight!

Have a great trip!

I traveled each year with the children. Don't worry about stuff - have your mom borrow from people she knows - we never brought a car seat, packnplay, high chair. If you are thinking of shipping ahead, give that money to your mom to buy those things at a thrift shop if she doesn't feel up to borrowing or buying them herself. Then you'll have it all for your next trip and subsequent children.

I have flown out west many time with my son when he was younger. First of all, don't give any meds before the flight unless instructed by a doctor. I once gave my son a dose of motrin before a flight and it had a terrible effect on him. He screamed and thrashed and screamed some more, for the entire 4.5 hour flight. It was brutal. But he was quiet as mouse on the way home, without any meds being administered. It's just not a good idea, in my opinion.

Ship stuff ahead of time for sure, and try to see if your family can borrow a few things for you. High chair, toys, and maybe even a carseat.

Pack a "surprise" bag for the plane full of stuff she's never seen. Lollipops are good, a few new toys, new books, coloring books with crayons, etc. And maybe see if someone can lend you a portable DVD player if you don't have one for movies.

Don't panic about what others think of you for the flight. We've all been on flights with screaming babies and we all survive. Don't let that be the reason you don't take the trip. Even us parents should get to take trips too!
With or without the kids! Also, don't sweat the time difference. They always adjust.

Go and enjoy!
Lynsey

I think shipping stuff ahead is a great idea! I purchased a new car seat (lightweight, specifically for travel) and had it shipped straight there so I only had to schlep it one way. Then I got this item http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Seat-Travel-Acces... to make the return easy.

If you have a carrier like an Ergo, you can often walk straight through without taking the baby out. You can then use the stroller to schlep stuff, or leave it at home. I borrowed one at the other end, but honestly, we hardly needed it. DS was a little more clingy than usual, so I ended up carrying him a lot.

As far as the time change goes, we had an evening flight, which I chose because I thought DS would sleep through it. Turns out there was too much to look at, so he took 2 short naps and that was it! He was well behaved, and it turned out for the best because he went to bed when we got to our destination and abruptly adjusted to the new time zone!

I found this website to be helpful. http://www.flyingwithkids.com/travel_tips.htm

Shipping things ahead of time is a great idea. The less stuff you have E
the better off you are. Bring toys etc. to keep her occupied. I will admit
14 mo. is a tough age because they want to move. That being said,
just go with the flow and it will all work out. Sometimes I think we all
overthink and worry about everything way too much. I am sure you will
have a wonderful time.

Firstly, make sure she's wearing shoes that are easy to get on and off at security. Yes, they make my toddler take off his shoes, sigh. You have a lot of advice already so I'll just add a couple of things. Bring lolly pops!! If she won't drink for take off and landing, these are perfect for helping with the ears. Small new toys are a great thing to pull out when she starts to get antsy. STICKERS and more stickers with a pad of blank paper! Small new books and hand puppets are fantastic to pass the time. Good luck!!!

i have wrapped new toys to give my kids on planes, takes more time, is exciting, etc. bring a a few extra pairs of pants for her, and a change for you. some planes do not have changing tables in the bathroom and you may have to change her on your lap. you may want to practice this in case this is the case on your flight. lots of snacks. if you are nursing or bottle feeding, make sure to feed on the rise up and the way down to avoid ear pressure issues. pacifier works too. i've been lucky when flying alone with kids - women around me have helped. ask for help if you need it. dont sweat it if she cries, dont let this add to your stress. let it go. if your vacation is short, you may want to keep your daughter on your home's time zone so you dont have to readjust her after you return. have a blast! itll be fine.