Tips for Traveling with a 2 Month Old

Best advice I can give is that when you go trough airport security, put things on the scanning belt in the most logical way for you to re-assemble them when they come out. We did this so backways the first time we flew with an infant, so there I was with the diaper bag and car seat that I wanted to put in the stroller but no stroller! Think it through before you put the stuff on the belt.

I tried to make sure he was sucking on a bottle when we took off so that it relieved the ear pressure.

Don't worry about it too much. Wait to feed him until you are actually in the air if possible. then again on decent. It will help his ears. In my experience my kids loved to fly, they got my full attention and to sit on my lap for long extended periods of time. We played, talked, slept etc. Having a sling or carrier is helpful for your arms too (although they will make you take it off during take off and landing- I used to just loosen the sling and hold her in my arms).
BUT prepare for much longer than your 45 mins. Not to stress you out, but flying has a lot of opportunities for delays. Plan for a lot of diapers, if you bottle feed, bring a lot more formula and a few extra outfits on the plane with you. Nothing feels worse than being stuck on the runway or in an airport that you didn't plan on without the things your baby needs. Also bring an extra shirt at least for yourself. It is miserable to be wet or stinky b/c of a baby leaking accident and not to be able to change him or yourself. Also baggage can get lost or delayed too.
Enjoy the uninterrupted time with your baby. Chances are he will sleep through the whole thing.
If you plan on taking a stroller or carseat don't plan on bringing them on the plane (unless you have purchased him his own seat, then bring the carseat- you will have to put it in the window seat). Plan to gate check them and they will be waiting for you when you deplane. My preferred way to travel was with my baby in a carrier (sometimes a sling, sometimes a bjorn or a backpack depending on the age) with a shoulder bag of our stuff. I tried hard to avoid the gear b/c that's the way I like to travel. If you are a stroller person, bring the stroller and gate check it, it is convenient to carry your stuff if nothing else (you can still put the baby in a carrier and push the stroller).
Sorry to ramble, but my oldest traveled about once a month for her first year, it was great for both of us.
ENJOY!

N.,

You didn't say if you were traveling alone with your son or not. Either way make it easy for yourself. Make your carry on a backpack and have your son in a front carrier so you have your hands free while boarding the plane. In your carry on make sure you have mylicon drops -this helps if the baby gets gas. Also the tylenol and anything else your son might need. I made sure I was nursing as we took off so my daughter was swallowing to reduce ear pressure. If you bottle feed have the bottle ready. If you check a stroller at the gate have it collapsed and tied up ready to leave at the bottom of the tunnel before you start down the tunnel. Basically have the stroller collapsed while you are sitting in the waiting area and carry/wheel it down the tunnel so you just leave it at the plane enterance without having to do anything at the point.
45 minutes will be quick but if you can get the bulk head seating you will be most happy to have the extra room.

Good luck,
L. M

I agree with what other responders are saying. We actually took our 4 month old from Boston to Sand Diego so that was significantly longer. Of course she was hungry about a half hour before boarding so we couldn't feed her during take off as planned to ease an agitation to her ears. However, she used her pacifier and was seemingly fine! I traveled w/ my husband out but returned by myself w/ the baby. That was more of a struggle; particularly w/ security. Make it easy on yourself and be ready to use your diaper bag as your carry on too. I highly recommend using a stroller. You have to take the baby out to go through security, but they let me check it at the gate. It was so easy wheeling her around in it with the diaper bag. You'll find everyone is super helpful (at least that was my experience). I was worried that other passengers were going to be like "great, a baby is on board" but they weren't. Our little one did great, and we received many compliments. I think it was a really great age to travel with her on a plan and two months would be even easier. We are headed to Germany in mid-December to visit my sister... I'm super nervous about traveling with our now almost almost one-year old and the time difference.

Best of luck to you - you and your baby will be fine!

Oh, I would also call the airline to ask if there are any special requirements when traveling w/ an infant. It's much better to figure this out before than when you arrive at the airport!

Hi N.,
Are you traveling alone? My first trip with my daughter was a cross country flight (CA to ME) when she was 8-week-old all by myself. I will give you those suggestions, just in case you will also be solo! I've flown a lot since then and I feel confident in a few must dos...

1) Take a backpack as your carry on and nothing else. You will thank your lucky stars to have your hands free. Don't over pack much for yourself, but only items for the baby. Must haves: Change of outfit and blanket.

2) Check your airline website to check about bringing liquids/powder if you are bottle feeding. I recommend nursing or giving him a bottle at take off and landing to soothe ear pressure. The only time my daughter ever cried was when she did not nurse.

3) Through security, you will have to remove his shoes, your shoes and pass all bags through scanner. You also will have to fold down stroller/travel system(car seat & stroller combo) to go through scanner--all while holding your baby!!! Quite a feat to do alone.! I have always taken our stroller/travel system. It is a wonderful way to give your arms a break before and after the plane and allow you to use the restroom at the airport!! So... just be prepared!!

4) You will take your stroller/travel system all the way to the gate and get a ticket. Once you get to the door of the plane, you will take the baby out of the stroller and fold the stroller up before boarding. It will be waiting for you when you arrive as you leave the plane. (If you bought a 2nd tix for baby, then you will also take your car seat onto the plane to use.)

5) CAR SEAT! If you do not have a travel system, then you will also have to check in your car seat as luggage. (I always put my in a plastic bag for protection.) You will need it when you get picked up from the airport.

Okay...that's the basics. Good luck! Please e-mail me with any questions! D.

Traveling with a 2 month old is easy! Well, compared to a toddler, anyway :)

If your baby is awake, feed him on take off and landing (helps with reliving pressure building up in his ears). Otherwise, he will likely sleep the entire time with the soothing hum of the plane.

Take extra clothes and diapers on the flight, because I found that pressure change upon landing, um, made my daughter poop. Take an extra shirt for you as well.

Remember that you can check a carseat and stroller at the check-in desk, or at the gate (easier).

alot of people aren't aware that you can bring the carriage right up to the door to the plane and leave it. they take it there and store it in the plane while in flight and when you walk out, it will be right there waiting for you. you just get a ticket at the desk before boarding. so it's nice, no fear of losing it through baggage. and you'll have your carseat also to go straight to you rent-a-car, or family's car again without fear of losing it in luggage.

since baby clothes are little and can pack tight. make one of your carry-ons just your babies things. i lost my luggage when we flew with my 5 month old(got it back late that night), but was glad that i had all of the babies things.

this sounds funny, but when your up in the air, put both trays down(if someone is flying with you) and lay the baby across them on a blanket. gives you a rest from holding him and you can talk to him. your flight is short so you won't have a big problem anyway.

if your nursing, feed him on liftoff and landing. that way his ears won't pop!

and definately a baby bjorn so he doesn't get cranky sitting in the carseat for a long period of time while your waiting for your flight, but helps you be hands free.

hope that helps...i stressed and stressed the first time we did it(she's now 3)but it ended up being so easy. good luck

If you bottle feed, buy the pre-made little glass jars of formula and see if your bottle nipples will screw on to the tops. We did this with our son and just gave him the bottle on the way up and then on the way down. Good luck!!

Have something for them to suck on on take off and landing. ie bottle, nurse, pacifier etc.

My doctor had me give my daughter Tylonel an hour before take off to help with the pressure.

Have more diapers than you think you need.

Most kids your son's age do well on flights because they like the white noise. Do make sure you feed him at takeoff and landing so that his ears adjust to the changing air pressure.

Also, if you can just use a non-metal-parts baby carrier instead of a stroller it makes security a lot easier since you can just keep the baby strapped to you.

I hope your flight goes well!