Although I do happen to know when I'll be back again, (sorry-that song is in my head, and now it's in yours, right?) Nicholas and I are going on an adventure next week.
I'm flying. By myself. With a three-month old.
We're heading to Utah for two weeks. Kent is going to join us, but not until the day before Thanksgiving. And so, I'm about to take a flight with a baby for the first time ever, and I'm doing it by myself.
Yeah, I'm a little bit anxious. Airports make me stressed even without a baby. I'm just certain that Nicholas is going to have the biggest blowout of his tiny life ten minutes before boarding begins, or something like that.
Do you have any tips? Any magic tricks for flying with a baby? Anything that I must be sure to pack in the diaper bag? Any hints for passing through security unscathed?
If you do, please share.
I'd really like to be able to simply "sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight."
12 comments:
Tylenol, binkies, bottle, nursing cover.... nurse on take off and landing (unless hes sleeping) GOOD LUCK! I remember those days! Good times.............. pray you dont have a bumpy flight too, so you can get up and bop him around if hes fussy! He seems like a mild happy lil man, I bet you two will be JUUUUUST FINE! Good luck! have SO much fun! Im sure you will, with all sorts of people to GUSH over him!
Oh, that is the best age to fly with them! All they want to do is be held and nurse, which is perfect for a plane, since you can't go anywhere :). (My babies always liked flying better than road trips for this very thing). The worst age to fly is from crawling to about 18 months - when he gets that old, i will give a whole new list of tips.
For this trip, bring lots of extra clothes for him, and many diapers (Lily went through 6 diapers one plane trip I had.)
Security is tricky, as they usually don't let you walk through with your baby. I would just ask the guard how they want you to get him through. If you have a sling/carrier type thing, they will still make you take it off to get through, and so security will still be a pain. Wish there was a way to make it easier - I guess just make sure you have easy to take off/put on shoes so that you are taken care of more easily.
Bring your stroller - they will tag it and take it from you at thedoor of the plane, and then they will give it back to you as you get off the plane - that way you have transportation to and from connecting flights and baggage. Nurse during take off and landing, as it helps their ears. Have a pacifier ready if he takes one. Oh, and bring an extra shirt for you :).
And be prepared to be a little bored yourself, as you will spend all your energy taking care of him, but he might just be young enough to let you wear and I-pod :). Oh, and don't forget to bring snacks for yourself - and an empty water bottle to fill up once you are past security. Once of my biggest mistakes is forgetting to take care of me.
Sorry this is long - i have just flown with kids more times than I can count :).
If Kent is taking you to the airport, he can get a pass that will allow him to go with you to the gate of the plane. That way he can help you through security because that is the biggest pain of all. The actual flight should be a breeze.
Good luck!
I think Lisa covered it pretty well!
When I flew with little babies I liked wearing them in a baby carrier so I could be arms free getting on and off the plane. (I never had them ask me to take the baby out of the baby carrier to pass through security, but maybe things have changed). You will also need a stroller for your time in the terminal, especially if Kent is not there waiting with you.
Bring a giant changing pad for mid-flight diaper changes. Some airplanes have a drop down changing table. But for most, it just had to be done on top of the toilet seat with a knee balancing their little head so it doesn't flop off. :) You'll discover skills you never knew you had.
Also, my experience was that people were pretty understanding and a lot of the time very accomodating. And even if they aren't, don't feel like you have to rush through security, boarding, etc. on anyone else's account. I would try to adopt a zen traveling mentality . . . I have a baby, yes everything is going to take longer, yes he/she might cry, but I don't have time to worry about anything outside my bubble, so I won't. Into survival mode.
Good luck! I'm sure everything will go just fine!
You have a lot of great advice already. Luke went on his first flight at that same age and he was great so I am sure Nicholas will be the same. Just remember to wear a shirt that is easy to nurse in because the seats are small and tight.
Also, a nurse told me to take half of an Airborne (you know those herbal supplements) in the morning and at night the day before and day of the flight so that your immune system is up which will also help Nicholas. Enclosed places with lots of people breathing breeds a lot of germs, so the Airborne provides an extra defense.
Oh, and one more thing-Relax! If mom is calm, more than likely, baby will be calm, but even if he isn't, don't stress. You are probably the only one that will notice how many times he makes a fuss--everyone else will be watching a movie. :) Good luck!
Looks like you have all the advise you need. All I have to say is "ENJOY". That is the best age to be flying. I flew with Abigail when she was that age, and now after doing two other separate trips with her at 12 months and 13 months old....I would take 3 months old any day! It was a breeze!
Good Luck
Everybody has such great advice! I too flew with Jayden about that age and he did better than I did. We did have that blow out right before take off but all was well. I took him in the backpack and didn't take the stroller as I didn't want a lot of stuff to worry about. We did a couple of mid flight diaper changes and I did them on my lap as both were just wet but he was angey about them. Neither time I have flown have they had me take him off to go through security and the perk was that they had me go to the front of the security line. THAT was nice. Sorry scatter brained as usual. It will be great! I worried about Jayden this time as I fly home with him alone...
Wow. Looks like you have gotten lot's of advice. We flew with Mikayla when she was 2 months old and the doctor had us give her something to help with her ears. But I can't remember what it was now.
I would say give yourself plenty of time and like Shannon said don't worry about everyone else. Enjoy your journey!
by the looks of your comments you may have gotten this. Babies get sore ears on take off and landing, if they have something to suck on during that time it helps. babies are pretty easy to fly with at this age otherwise! good luck!
just read shannon's comment! I don't know if someone mentioned this but with the baby carrier, I had to take Carlee out of it during security and that was a HUGE pain by my self, I would opt for a stroller!
When we traveled a year ago, going through security with a baby was a lot more relaxed than it was in the recent past. We did a stroller, and that worked out okay, plus it gives you someplace to keep the baby while you are gathering all of your items from the little bins. They will also let you take liquid through when you have a baby, so I snuck a diet coke through. They just said "oh, you're traveling with a baby". Yep, cause that baby needs a diet coke? I traveled (pre 9/11) with my oldest daughter all the way to Hawaii when she was 9 weeks old. The flight was wonderful. She was an absolute doll. Nurse during takeoff and landing, if possible.
Another reason that I recommend a stroller is in case you have to go to the bathroom. That happened to me while waiting for a layover on that Hawaii trip and I wasn't skilled like I am now after four kids, and at the time couldn't pee and button jeans with a baby on my lap. Oh, how times have changed. I shudder now to think about what the outcome could have been, but a complete stranger held my tiny baby for me outside of a bathroom stall while I peed.
Post a Comment