Baby’s first plane flight: Got tips?
I am excitedly preparing for my daughter’s first plane flight. LAX to JFK on Delta. I’m so excited I want to make a baby onesie that says LAX-JFK. In fact, I’m already mad at myself that I didn’t think of this a month ago, so she could wear it tomorrow on the flight.
Instead, I’m making treat bags for my seatmates. My cousins were on a JetBlue flight from New York to San Diego and were thoroughly impressed when they saw one mother passing these out to the passengers nearest her infant. The bags contained an assortment of earplugs and goodies, the key ingredient being earplugs. My bags contain said earplugs, two Almond Roca candies, one chocolate Lindt’s ball, one Nutra-Grain bar and one packet of sugar-free bottle flavoring in pink lemonade or Hawaiian Punch.
Travel tips on Twitter Moms. Twitter Moms is as it suggests — a community of moms who Twitter. Within the online community is a travel group. Yesterday, I commented to the group that we were taking Cora on her first flight. I had heard about nursing or bottle feeding her while the plane was going up and coming down, but besides that and the treat bag, I hadn’t heard of much in the way of keeping your baby (and those around you) happy. @travelsavvymom got back to me right away. Here are her tips:
— Take plane pictures. I regret not having a record of our momentous first flight!
— You probably know the rest: Ziploc bags, thermometer, Tylenol, pediatric advice nurse programmed into your cellphone, snacks for you.
— Have a wonderful time!
Actually, I hadn’t thought of the last two: programming the nurse’s hot line into my cell and packing snacks for me and my husband.
I’m sure there are more tips to keeping the peace on a baby’s first flight. I’m open to your advice in the comments, or you can reach me on Twitter too (@jenleo).
— Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
[Photo credit: Jen Leo]
14 Comments on “Baby’s first plane flight: Got tips?”
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April 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Hi Jen,
Good luck! I have 3 kids under 8 and fly at least twice a year with them. My wife and I made the decision that, despite the challenges, having kids was not going to end our love of travel. I think you’ll find that a little prep will help tremendously.
Here are a few of my tips:
1. Kindness cures all. If you need help, and people see that you are going out of your way to solve any issues, they will help you.
2. Definitely bring something for your seat neighbors. I hand out $5 Starbucks gift cards as soon as they are all seated around me. You will have instant friends.
3. Distractions: toys, shiny things, anything that can help distract your baby
4. Ear pain relief!!! Ask the flight attendant for 2 plastic cups and paper towels soaked in hot water. Place the wet paper towels at the bottom of the cup and then cover your baby’s ears. This will create a vacuum that will help equalize the pressure in the ear. I felt odd doing it at first, but it really works.
5. Your baby will cry. That’s what they do. It’s very important for you and your husband to not let the crying turn you against each other. Work together and you could actually enjoy the flight!
Hope that helps! Safe travels.
Cheers,
Carl Schwartz
Chief Travel Officer
Cheapflights.com
April 2nd, 2009 at 2:01 pm
-Diapers. Bring lots of diapers for the flight. More than you think you need. For some reason, babies will go through more diapers when you fly with them. Maybe it’s the altitude and pressure changes, maybe it’s the irregular eating schedule, maybe it’s the airline food, maybe it’s the $25 charge for checked baggage. Whatever it is, their digestive system will be working overtime.
-Extra baby clothes. See above.
Other tips are on my blog. Otherwise, have a great trip!
April 2nd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I love the idea of having a bag of goodies available for fellow passengers - sounds like a great way make friends early in the flight in case Cora gets fussy. I wish we had thought of that when our son was a baby! Don’t forget to bring a change of clothes (for you) in your carry on in addition to the supplies for Cora.
April 2nd, 2009 at 4:30 pm
I flew Rome-Paris-Los Angeles and back with a nearly 6 month old baby. My advice for any flight would be extra clothing– for the baby and you. On the Paris-LAX flight, my daughter went through all her clothing, a onesie from the couple with the vomiting 10-month old next to me, and a set of Air France First Class pill covers. Luckily, her milk blended into my turtleneck sweater, and her barfy sweater and tights dried by landing. Passport control was thought we stank, literally.
For the flight back, we were prepared and also had an extra blanket as the cabin was cold. The woman next to me had a sheepskin blanket for her 18-month old who snuggled asleep at take-off.
For shorter flights, a treat bag is great, also bring a small, soft pillow (or something that can be rolled up into one) so that your baby can rest comfortably in your arms.
April 3rd, 2009 at 6:17 am
Wow! Thanks for all the great tips everybody. Let me just say Starbucks cards are smart - but how many do you hand out? That can get pretty expensive.
My treat bags didn’t work out so well. The guy next to me barely spoke English and couldn’t understand why I was trying to give it to him. The woman in front didn’t want hers. The dad and kid in front of us were polite but I don’t think they used theirs. The guy across the aisle looked so mad at the world my husband didn’t want me to talk to him.
The good news is that we were surrounded by parents and they were empathetic when Cora was “loudly” struggling to get to sleep.
As for ear pain relief in a plastic cup. I will remember that.
The one tough part we had was figuring out when the descend was. Every time we’d start to go down, the plane would change direction and we’d be off in a holding pattern. Again and again and probably again.
I did bring a change of clothes but luckily didn’t have to use them.
Thanks again all!
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 am
I have learned so much from the family travel site Wejustgotback.com about planning vacations with my two small kids (20 months and 3 months!). Many of their articles are also published on MSNBC — always such smart advice!
This article is just full of great wisdom on flying with kids: http://www.wejustgotback.com/default.aspx?mod=tips_flykids (Be sure to scroll down to “Babies and Toddlers”). Good luck!
April 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Glad your flight went reasonably well and that you enjoyed the tips.
On the Starbucks cards, it depends on the plane. If it’s a standard 3 seat / aisle / 3 seat I’ll usually bring 9 $5 cards (3 ppl in front, 3 ppl in back and 3 to the side). It adds to the trip cost, but it’s not bulky and ppl appreciate it. My $.02.
Cheers,
Carl
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for tips link Christy, I’ll check it out.
Carl, That’s not bad. Barely more than I spent buying stuff for treat bags. And I could tape the earplugs too it. :-)
And a note that says please forgive me if my kid cries on the descent. And when she’s tired and I don’t have enough room to get her to sleep. And when she’s hungry but won’t take the boob. ;-)
– Jen Leo, Los Angeles Times Travel & Deal blogger
April 3rd, 2009 at 2:32 pm
For other passengers: earplugs.
For mom: a change of shirt because you will get vomit or poop on you.
For baby: use a sling if the baby is small enough. it will keep her close and safe and your hands free.
@houseofprince
April 3rd, 2009 at 4:24 pm
I’m with Jamie and Erica: I so wish I’d taken photos of my kids on their first flights and my younger son barfed all over me as we boarded a 10-hr transatlantic flight once. Thereafter I always kept a clean t-shirt for me in my diaper bag.
Don’t forget a sling or infant carrier if you’re traveling alone. It helps if you need to go to the bathroom and your baby is sleeping - got caught by that one once too!
Enjoy your trip!
April 7th, 2009 at 7:57 am
In my experience, passengers are much more patient with babies than mothers think. As a young mother, I took my own 8-month old baby from Caracas, where I was living at the time, to Philadelphia, including a stop in Miami (which added several hours to the trip).
I remember being very worried about how the other passengers sitting near me would react when my baby got fussy, which he did, especially during take off and landing.
Once I realized those around me understood that *a baby is a baby* and I saw that they weren’t upset, I was able to relax and care for him the same way that I would at home, *calmly*, and he responded in kind.
So, the most important thing is for the mom to be calm and not worry too much about the other passengers’ reactions to the baby’s crying.
While it is almost impossible to pack in a streamlined way for a baby, because you simply need so many things for the baby’s care, it is important to be very organized and not overpack.
If you’re on a flight for five hours, take only the number of diapers and changes of clothes needed for a five-hour period. For feedings, put the exact amount of dry formula needed for a single bottle into a zip lock bag, one bag per bottle you’ll need during the flight.
At least 15 minutes before the baby’s feeding time, ask your flight attendant to prepare the bottle for you by handing her your empty bottle and the zip lock bag with the formula. Tell her the amount of bottled water to add and you’ll get the prepared bottle back in plenty of time to feed the baby, without having to do anything yourself. That way, the formula is ready when the baby is ready, before she starts fussing.
If you carry spare zip lock bags for the soiled diaper, you can actually change the baby on your lap, put the soiled diaper in the zip lock bag, and give it (closed of course) to the flight attendant, who will gladly dispose of it for you.
If you let the flight attendants be your assistants handling the small details that can be so difficult in a confined space, you’ll be able to relax, enjoy your baby, and even take a few great pictures of the baby’s first flight.
Good luck, moms (and dads)! And have fun!
April 7th, 2009 at 10:22 pm
i think everyone’s got it covered on the tips, but if you didn’t get this pix, our favorite in-flight baby pix was of our son “sitting”/propped up in the airline seat wearing those cheapy airline headphones.
absolutely priceless. :)
esther
@trekaroo
August 11th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I’m now 19 and experiencing being a dad. I must say although it feels good it’s still hard. I knew it wouldn’t be easy but to be honest, the hard part is having to balance time. My daughter is great and makes managing her never dreadful. -Teen dad
August 18th, 2009 at 6:41 pm
I love the picture and the idea of treat bags. I’ll try that next time. I’m experienced in this subject. My baby is 13 m-o and her first flight was 10 months ago from SFO to Minneapolis followed by a three hour drive to the north woods. She did magnificent. Since then she has flown to Iowa, to Italy, to Arizona and back and to Mexico and back (within two weeks these last two) and to San Diego. After that she took a good 5 months break and now at the age of 13 months she flew again SFO - San diego and a few days later from San Diego to Minneapolis (followed by the three hour drive). Impressive huh? The more impressive of all, she was awesome in all of the flights. When she wasn’t a mobile baby all we had to do was try to keep her entertained with toys, books, magazines, menus, other people, peak-boos, songs, food and sleeping. They work and you try them one after the other. Don’t wait for her to start fussing to try a trick. Keeping them entertained at all times. I confess I was nervous about these latest flights since now she can walk and she just won’t sit still. Turns out it’s not that bad. We kept doing the same things, songs, books, toys peak-a-boo, looking out the window, passing her back and forth we let her stand between our legs. The high moment of the trip was playing with the plastic cups they serve water. She played with that for a long time.
Keeping her entertained at all moments is my advice. Try to squeeze in a nap and have help. I can’t imagine doing it alone. One time the flight attendants got to carry her around the plane. It was great.
If she cries it’s ok, don’t get too stressed out. I have to admit I have a wonderful baby. She behaves a lot better than I do during the very long flights.
Good luck!