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Babies: 9 - 12 Months
jamielyse1
member
Anyone have first flight tips?
jamielyse1
member
Taking LO on her first airplane flight from Michigan to Arizona next week--it's a 4+ hour flight. Needless to say, i am freaking out!
Any tips and advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: Anyone have first flight tips?
We've flown 2 times with DD. She was 6 months the first time and 8 months the 2nd time.
Bring lots of snacks in case of delays. We got delayed on the 2nd flight and sat on the tarmac in a HOT plane for 2 hours before taking off for our 3 hour flight. It was NOT fun, but DD was a trooper. Make sure you have extra food!
Also, I bought DD a new toy before each flight and didn't unveil it till we were on the plane. I also brought one of her fave toys from home and that kept her pretty busy.
Changing diapers on a plane is very tough, esp if you have a tall baby. At 6 months old, DD was nearly too long for the changing table in the bathroom. Then, on our 2nd flight, there wasn't a changing table at all and we had to use the seats. If possible, avoid diaper changes on the plane
Lastly, buy wipes and wipe everything down before you sit. DD touches everything and planes are SO germy. People were looking at me funny, but I didn't care.
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We took DS on his first flight a couple months back. We flew from Northern CA to Texas so it was about the same amount of time. If you bought a seat for your baby, awesome. If you didn't, bring your car seat with you anyway. You can ask at the gate if the flight is full and if it's not, they will let you bring the car seat and use it in a seat next to you. We didn't purchase a seat for our DS and our first flight in was FULL so we had to hold him the whole time. Not fun. He was squirmy and would try to take a nap but couldn't get comfortable. On our connecting flight and then on the flight home we were lucky enough to get an extra seat. It made all the difference.
I bought a couple small toys/books right before the trip and didn't let him see or play with them until we got on the plane. They helped keep him entertained. Just rotate them out once he gets bored to get the maximum amount of entertained time. I don't know how old your LO is but snacks are a good idea too if they eat solids. I like the Plum Organics Super Puffs because they come in their own portable container.
Try to pack as lightly as possible when it comes to carry ons. You should have seen us at security. We looked like idiots. We had SO MUCH stuff and trying to unload it super fast and load it back up super fast was crazy. If you can, check all the luggage you can. Just bring the car seat and a big enough diaper bag to hold your stuff and the babies stuff. The stroller if you HAVE to. We have a Baby Bjorn so we just wore our DS in the airport, he does better in that anyway.
Ok, I hope that helped and didn't make you more stressed! Just remember to relax, especially if your LO gets cranky or upset. There's only so much you can do and usually people are pretty understanding.
Good advice above. I'd also suggest having your LO suck on something during takeoff and landing. I nursed and offered a binky but my DD was only 4 months.
I bought a package of disposible changing pads. That way I could just toss it after using it in the gremy airplane or airport rather than putting it back in the diaper bag with DDs clothes and toys.
I'd bring a change of clothes for your LO because DD had a blow out and I was so happy I brought something else for her to wear. I was also glad I brought a plastic bag to put her messy clothes in before putting it in the diaper bag.
I completely agree with making sure your LO sucks on something during takeoff and landing. My DS has been on about 16 flights over the course of the last 11 months and this is one thing that I have been adamant about on each flight. Whether BF, a nuk, or a bottle, make sure they are sucking on something to help with their ears.
As my DS has gotten older and we have flown, the flight attendants were great about letting us walk up and down the aisle to help ease the "busyness" of an almost walker.
Hit the airport bar before boarding.
We just took DS on his first airplane flight. It was 4 hours too, but we were delayed both going there and back. The delays REALLY sucked. I let DS be as active as possible while waiting to get onto the plane. We just sat at the gate on those seats and let him crawl all over the seats.
Like PPs stated, I packed a bunch of new toys for him that he had never seen. Those seemed to keep his attention for a little bit. He was pretty squirmy throughout the flights and only slept about an hour on us. DH and I just passed him back and forth and let him crawl/stand all over us. He liked looking through the seats to the people behind us. They would entertain him for a few minutes at a time, but he enjoyed standing and looking at them.
The plane we were on didn't even have a changing table. So DH and I went to the bathroom together and I sat on the closed toilet seat. I laid down one of those extra large disposable changing sheets on my lap and held DS while DH changed his diaper. It wasn't ideal, but it worked.
GL! I'm sure it will go better than expected!
We flew with LO for the first time a couple weeks ago. So he was just about the same age as your LO. We had a layover each way. On 2 of the flights the plane was full and on 2 we had the whole row to ourselves. I suggest calling your airline to see if they offer discounted seats for babies. Having the extra seat made a huge difference.
I agree with everything everyone else posted. Let LO be as active as possible in the airport. I let him crawl all over the place. Not the cleanest but at least he had some freedom. Here is the link for the TSA guidelines on what you can bring on the plane with a baby. Basically you can bring whatever juice, water, snacks,baby food etc. you need. I brought juice, yogurt and water. Our flight was early so I brought his breakfast and lunch just incase we were delayed. Bring as much as you can.
I also brought a couple of secret weapon toys that he didn't know about. I saved them incase of a meltdown and didn't end up needing them. They were a TV remote and an old cell phone. Someone suggested buying a couple new toys to give him on the plane. The info cards in the back of the seat and the closed packets of snacks they hand out were fun and exciting too. We also brought a DVD incase but didn't need that either.
My suggestion is you take the window seat. A, for LO to look out and B, for naps. When she sleeps you can support your arm on the armrest and wall. Bring an extra blanket or sweatshirt to put under your arm for a bit more comfort. I tried to nurse during take off and landing. Sometimes he was into it and sometimes he wanted to look out the window instead so I gave him his paci.
I was very anxious before hand as well. We can all give you advise that will help but until you actually take the flight you are going to be anxious. What can you do? It is what it is. Maybe LO will be great maybe not. Just focus on her and don't worry about the other passengers. I sang and made faces and played with LO like I do at home. He loves peek a boo so I would hold him up so he could see the people behind us. He was playing peek a boo even if they weren't and it kept him happy. Were people around us annoyed by my singing and his peek a boo? Maybe. But they way I looked at it it was way better than listening to him scream the entire time.