Fussy baby on a plane? ... Tips please!

CanadianBio

Next week, DH and I are heading to Florida with LO. We will have a 3 hour flight and then a 45 minute one, with an hour layover.

We think the world of DS, but he is definitely not an easy going baby. At times, he can still work himself up into quite a scream. At home, his aquarium or the bathroom fan will quickly solve this, but those won't be options on the plane.

I am worried that he may start screaming and not stop!

Have any of you brought a fussy baby on the plane? What are your tips?

Do you think they would let me wear him in the moby the whole time?

 

* For those that may ask why we would bring a fussy baby on a plane in the first place - we are going to visit the ILs and FIL is extremely sick.

kit443

My LO can be a hand full at times. I've taken him on a plane multiple times - some with very little crying and some with a lot of crying. One benefit is that planes are really loud so the only people that can really hear the crying are the people really close.

Do the best you can to entertain LO - you know what works and what doesn't. If he cries he cries - and people that get mad at you can suck it. Having babies is part of LIFE and you don't have to stop living life just because you have a sensitive baby. I know it is hard to feel like people around you are getting upset - but really try not to worry about it.

Fussy babies have to go places too!

katekirschner

they probably will let you wear him if you can strap yourself into the seatbelt. i haven't flown yet with DD but a friend of mine has and her baby screamed a while on the flight, but unless your baby will take a pacifier or their thumb easily or is still nursing there isn't much else to do? 

good luck!! my DD would be a bear flying even still i think!!  

CanadianBio

kit443:

My LO can be a hand full at times. I've taken him on a plane multiple times - some with very little crying and some with a lot of crying. One benefit is that planes are really loud so the only people that can really hear the crying are the people really close.

Do the best you can to entertain LO - you know what works and what doesn't. If he cries he cries - and people that get mad at you can suck it. Having babies is part of LIFE and you don't have to stop living life just because you have a sensitive baby. I know it is hard to feel like people around you are getting upset - but really try not to worry about it.

Fussy babies have to go places too!

Thanks, I needed to hear that kind of reinforcement.

I think I may print this out and hand it to those sitting around us (along with a pair of earplugs).

BugLuv

Not to mention - there is a lot of white noise on airplanes - I never noticed it until I flew with DS - if someone finds themselves sitting next to you - and they can't stand babies - they can ask to be switched... (but that is really unlikely to happen) I was surprised at how understanding most people were.

Bring toys your LO likes - or if he is anything like mine - bring new ones that he hasn't seen before (you know the $3-$5 rattles/hand toys/teethers)  K always is interested longer in things that are new.

The best thing you can do for you LO while flying is not be stressed - they pick up on that.  GL!  It will be fine! And if it isn't - it is only a couple of hours! 

mrsmcdonald

Firstly, you don't owe anyone an explanation of why you have to fly with him! You have every right to fly with him, no matter if he's fussy or not. Screw the cranky people. If he starts to cry and people give you the side eye, say with the most sincerity that you are going to visit a very sickly family member and you would much rather have a healthy family member than have to deal with cranky people on the plane. Maybe people will feel bad they gave you a hard time.

 I've flown 6 times with DD - some good, some bad. You can't control what he does, just try to be as prepared as possible with the things that could distract him if he gets fussy. If he does get fussy, try walking him to the bathroom on the plane and let him look in the mirror - although I wouldn't let him touch it...ew. DD loves to look in the mirror and it calms her down.

seethesmiles

If he likes the fan, what about buying one of those battery-operated hand-held fans and bringing it in your carry-on? Just a thought... And when DS gets fussy on the plane, I turn the overhead light on and off and he loves it (but my arm gets sore after a while!).