Long flight w lap baby

xfuturemrs.x

We are flying from FL to Hawaii with a stop in PHX when our DD will be 11.5 months old. The return flight is a red eye. Unfortunately we couldn't get her her own seat so I'm worried about how she will sleep. She only sleeps well in her crib. How did you make sleeping comfortable for both of you? TIA.

chelseymat

Couple of things. 1. We go to HI a lot because my DH is from there and it is a long flight, I'm not going to lie. 2. Depending on the time of year/how booked the flight is you the airline will give your LO a seat if they are available. Not as likely to and from HI but you might want to ask. 3. One thing that worked well when DS1 was that age was to bring some headphones so he could listen to white noise/music instead of the airplane engine and other passengers. 4. Request lots of pillows. They will make holding your LO more comfortable for you. 5. Bring a reasonably large blanket because if worst comes to worst you can put them on the floor below your feet. 6. Relax. You'll get through it. A plane, especially takeoff, is kinda like a car ride. The motion does help them sleep. 

Ps. Enjoy your trip. Which island are you going to? 

sjuncfan

PP has some good advice. Especially about asking for an extra seat if one is available. We just did a x-country roundtrip and had a seat for DS one way - he slept SO much better in his carseat. The first flight (when he was in our laps) was no fun.

If you don't get a seat, think about a carrier if your LO likes it. Our guy slept better in the ergo than just in our arms.

Good luck.  

xfuturemrs.x

Going to Maui. We're flying US airways and they will only let me gate check either the stroller or cat seat. I need the stroller for the layover and would hate to baggage check the car seat if there are no seats available. Don't know what to do :(Thanks for the advice.

ladybugpjb

We did non-stop DFW to Hawaii last month. We had a really short connection to get to the flight (ie, we ran up right as they started boarding), so I was in a bit of a rush to ask if there would be a seat available for DS. They said no. Turns out there were two empty seats around us, but the one on our row was filled. We'd already gate-checked the car seat, though, so it was too late to ask if the guy next to us would be nice enough to move.

So when you ask about an empty seat, you might want to let them know you are willing to change seats, and also get there early enough that they could move people around.

What I do on flights is keep a large ziploc bag outside of the diaper bag with all of the necessities - enough diapers and food for the flight, wipes, a pacifier - so I didn't have to keep getting into the overhead bin or dig through the diaper bag.

PP had some good advice. If your LO starts to get fidgety, take her on a walk around the plane. Chances are, there will be other parents doing the same.

Little&BigPea

PP's had great advise and I second the carrier recommendation.  My DD sleeps better on my lap when I've strapped her into her carrier and rocked her to sleep standing and then sat down in my seat.

I also wanted to mention bassinets.  Some airlines still offer bassinets that attach to the wall of bulk head seats.  You might want to call the airline and find out if they offer bassinets on that flight and request one and a bulk head seat.  That will provide your LO somewhere to sleep that is not in your arms. 

I also highly recommend a bulkhead seat because it will provide some play area around your feet for your LO.  It's not much but more than you'll get in a regular row with seats in front of you.  So, even if it is just standing and bouncing between your legs, it will allow your LO to stretch out and get some exercise if your LO doesn't sleep the whole way.

Good luck!

Mommy2CB

We took DS on a plane when he was around 10 mos and purposely booked an afternoon flight which was also direct - he did amazing. We brought food, toys, the works.

I just booked a flight in a few weeks where I unfortunately had to do a layover so i'm a bit more nervous about it (that and I'm alone this time, no DH!), however, I once again booked afternoon flights so DS's waking/sleeping wasn't interrupted. Hoping he does okay.

Not sure about your flights but I think the best thing you can do is bring food/toys and just try to keep DD entertained!

PansyPants

Just a word of encouragement, I just did a four hour flight with my DS and he slept 75% of the time. I'd nurse him for a couple minutes and he'd fall asleep under the nursing cover and stay all snuggled until we pulled into the gate.

He's usually a very picky sleeper but the whole experience is so stimulating and exhausting that finally being in my arms/lap and the comfort of our feeding routine put him right to sleep. I used a small airplane pillow under my arm and fell sleep with him. It was surprisingly comfortable.