First flight

torneen · September 2013

Just curious - how old was your baby when you took them on an airplane for the first time? Do you have any thoughts about your journey looking back? Would you have waited until they were older? Any advice for first time travelers with a baby?

Crispity · September 2013

In general, flying with non-mobile babies is pretty easy. I would say it gets harder once they can crawl and especially once they can walk, as they will not be happy to be confined for that long.

We took DD on her plane trip at 5 months, and then on another at 7 months (before she started crawling). Both times were very easy, and she did great - even though one of our flights was delayed by four hours. For the first trip, DD didn't have her own seat, so we just held her on our laps. That was fine, but a bit cramped. For the second trip, we bought DD a seat and brought her car seat on the plane with us. This was FANTASTIC, and I highly recommend doing it if you can. DD slept most of the flight in her car seat, and I got to read a book - a rare luxury!

We are planning another plane trip this fall when DD will be 15 months, and I am a bit worried about it. Now that DD is mobile, she doesn't like to be held for long periods of time, and she will not understand why she can't just run around the plane. We are getting her her own seat again, which I am hoping will help since she is used to sitting in her car seat. We will also bring lots of snacks, books, and toys, so hopefully it won't be too bad.

blu-eyedwife · September 2013

I think every stage of infant/childhood has it's own unique benefits and difficulties when it comes to travel. Personally, I wanted to not fly for the first year, because it's just another added stressor for a First Time Parent - packing, planning, schedules. But of course, the first year benefits usually include a less mobile child who spends a lot more time sleeping!

Our first flight was when he was 10 months (because really, I'm not going to miss a wedding because I'm worried about traveling with a baby). He was crawling, but not walking. At the time, it seemed hard because he was fussy and it was a long flight - but in retrospect it was much easier than when he was 15/16 months, walking, and wanting to get out of his chair the entire time!

My tips for flying is to have loads of distractions. I think I read it here, but if not, somewhere else, to have a new "activity" planned for every 15 minutes. I put activity in quotes because an activity can be something like a snack. Basically, be able to pull something new and distracting out of your bag every 15 minutes. Personally, I like to fly during naptime, but my son will sleep on the plane. I know a lot of kids won't, so that wouldn't be a great option for those parents.

torneen · September 2013

Yeah... that pretty much summed up my concerns. Baby girl will be one year and three months old... and she is already a runner. Full blown running and climbing. We would HAVE to buy her a seat between us and bring the car seat and strap her down. Otherwise it will be a very looooong wrestling match. But the problem is, I wouldn't be able to travel with hubby and baby because I need to save my vacation time for my upcoming maternity leave next spring. So he would have to make the journey alone, with a toddler, who will not tolerate sitting still that long. I don't know. A lot to think about. Not a necessary trip and I don't want to put her through the stress of it all. Plus having a jet lagged baby when we get there and when she gets home does not sound like fun. I don't think he realizes what he is in for if he takes her on this trip.

Suzanne68 · September 2013

We just flew at 15 months. I def would have waited till 2 or done it pre crawling. But it was not as bad as I thought and surprisingly everyone was patient with her.

jnnfrrose6 · September 2013

We traveled by air at 4.5 months, 6 months, 10 months, and 11 months. Each one was progressively more challenging as LO became more active and involved in his surroundings, though over all not too bad. We don't have any upcoming travel planned at this point, so he may be done until after 2 at this point.

allardr · September 2013

My LO was turning one on our trip. I must say I stressed and it went FANTASTIC. She was a walker at the time. We had her as a lap child, no seat of her own. She slept one flight and the 2nd she watched out the window, played with toys, looked around. Did fine with change of altitude. I just say leave a good size layover. We literally ran between flights to catch out next one (due to delays not scheduling) and it sucked, no time to even change LO. But I had wonderful experience with onboard bathrooms and changing table. Also no jet lag problems here.

Though our longest leg was 2 hours. For once I liked having a lay-over so 50min then 2 hour flight. Nice break at airport for her to run around.

MooOink · September 2013

DS was 3 months old for his first flights and going on another tomorrow and he's now 13 months old.

3 months was easy, he nursed and slept and looked around and well, not much else.

I'm sure we are in for more of a challenge tomorrow now that he likes being more mobile and independent.

Young is definitely easier - except he pooped like 2 times on each flight and the bathrooms didn't have changing tables so we had to balance him on the toilet seat lid and kneel on the floor.

MaritaMcG · September 2013

My DD was 11 weeks old for her first flight and 18 months old for our most recent flight. We've flown on close to 40 flights with her, the shortest was 2 hours, the longest was 10 hours. She is a great little traveler but the key is being prepared. I try to book flights where we will be flying during her nap time. If that isn't possible, I have her running around as much as I can during the hours leading up to our departure time. Because going through security can be a royal pain, I get to the airport at least two hours before the flight is scheduled to board. If you are going to holding your child on your lap, make sure it has been added to your reservation before you go to the airport to save time. (Also note if flying internationally, there may be an additional tax due. Don't wait until you arrive at the airport as it is based on the current ticket price, even as a lap child.) TSA will allow filled baby bottles and jars/pouches of baby food, but they will run a test on the bottles. I usually bring several bottles in a small cooler with ice packs. When I get to the gate, I always check with the gate agent to see if it is a full flight. If it isn't, they sometimes block the seat next to me. They also will get the gate check tag ready for my stroller. Ten minutes before we board, I do a diaper change. While the flight boards, I give DD a small bottle of juice. Once we taxi to the runway, she gets a bottle of milk for takeoff. (I save another bottle for landing-give it to her when I start to feel the initial descent in my ears.) The bottle usually knocks her out, but if not, I have snacks, crayons/coloring book, select toys, iPad and iPhone ready. I generally plan 1 activity/snack for each 15 minute increment of flight time. She's really into Sofia the First right now, so having the season loaded to my iPad and iPhone has been awesome! Most larger planes have a pull down changing table in the lavatory over the toilet and I try to get an aisle seat near the lavatory if possible to make diaper changes a bit easier. There is also more space under the seat in front of you than in a window seat. The ideal is the bulkhead-then there is space for LO to stand up if necessary, the seat is easier to get to and most first class flight attendants have let me use the first class lavatory for diaper changes rather than trekking to the back of the plane. Traveling with a toddler isn't easy or fun, but I try to make the most of it. She's only going to be little for a short time. Good luck!!

MaritaMcG · September 2013

One other thing (sorry!) - they have "Gate Check" bags for strollers and car seats/carriers at BRU and BBB for $20. Money well spent as it keeps your stuff clean whether it is checked at the gate or with your luggage. With regards to strollers, several airlines now have a size restriction on what can be gate checked. The big strollers (20 lbs and higher, I believe) have to be checked with luggage. Umbrella strollers and caddies can be gate checked.

Want a personalized experience?

First flight

Re: First flight

Choose Another Board

Search Boards