airplanes

Analee - posted on 05/06/2010

She was still 11months old when we took her to Jamaica.. She was great she slept the whole ride going there (3 1/2 hours). But coming back to NY she was wide awake but was calm..

Joanne - posted on 05/06/2010

my daughter was born april 21st & we flew from London to Cyprus (4&half hr flight) when she was 11weeks old! we were worried how she'd be with ears popping in take off & landing but she was fine, slept the whole flight out there & played the whole flight back lol!
I didnt have to worry about bottles etc because I was breast feeding at the time, so it was a very stress free journey : )

Stephanie - posted on 05/05/2010

My daughter was born April 7, 2009. I took her on an airplane in September. She was only 5 months old and she did fine on the plane.

Taydra - posted on 05/04/2010

Yes my little one flew at 8 mths n at 12 mths. She slept each time going and coming.

Tara - posted on 05/03/2010

i took my daughter on her first airplane ride when she was 5 months old and then 10 months old. best advice be organized! just make sure everything you need is in your carry on. and make sure you have activites for them to do. Also I planned the trip around her nap time if thats possible makes it much easier if they are sleeping.!!

Leigh - posted on 05/02/2010

Yes been to USA at 7 months and Cape at 10 months. Just ensure she drinks something or sucks her dummy for take off and landing. Take lots of things to keep her busy, if there are 3 seats, i wouldnt suggest you sit window seat if you dont know all the people in the row, because its a real pain if you need to get up and walk with her, enjoy

Danielle - posted on 05/02/2010

PS. Sucking on something during take-off/landing, as you most likely know, is very important. But we had no issues with food (only water) for security and just be patient. People, we have found, tend to be really good with people with kids...not only staff and airport people, but other customers and fliers. Maybe we have just been really lucky :) (touch wood!!!)

Danielle - posted on 05/02/2010

Hi there :) Yes, Zoe took her first flight at 5.5 weeks (brilliant, easy and slept 99% of the time) - then her second flight at around 10 months. We live overseas (Dubai) and fly to Boston (stop over in London) so it is quite a flight, but she was great, sleeps most of the time, up for a few hours each leg of the flight. Now as she is getting older we will bring more things with us to keep her busy when we fly home this summer again (my first flight alone with her without my hubby - OMG!!)...
My suggestions would be bring blankets - the ones on the planes are awful and it is always cooler in flight. Bring lots of diapers, in case, as there are no places to "buy" any onboard and bring lots of her fave foods/snacks, water, juice, bottle, little things that make her feel at home or comfy. Zoe has been a real champ and is often so enthused with the people and the newness of it, that if your flight is shorter than our 15 hour one, you should be fine.

Shannon - posted on 04/28/2010

my lil guy just turned one last week - and he's been on several plane rides. We have family out of town to his first plane trip was when he was 3 mos., then again for vacation at 6 mos, and now again in a month at roughly a year. Plan lots of extra time. Check TSA websites for what you are allowed to travel with for baby. I did and they still changed the rules at the security line. they searched the diaper bag and made me open all bottle and jars to "test" them. They didn't touch the milk or food, just a strip of paper over the liquid/food to test. But needless to say I was extremely bothere by this. As my husband reminded me - just go with it at that point. They have total control - if you want to still get on your flight - just have an open mind getting through security. That is probably the biggest headache. Fly first class if you are able too - the extra room is a lifesaver. If not then take advantage of preboarding and get settled before the rest of everyone gets on the plane. Night flights worked well for me when I am able to, as they coincided with his usually very good sleeping routine. Try and keep the baby's schedule as close as possible with feedings and naps and such and you shouldn't have any problems. Put yourself in the mindset to go like its a normal part of your routine and with an open mind and all will work out. Don't get upset or too flustered, as babies (and everyone else) can sense that.
Good luck and bon voyage. I hope this was helpful.

Jennifer - posted on 04/27/2010

My daughter turned one on the 17th and she has been on 5 plane trips, 2 which had lay overs. We will be flying again in May. She does really well, try to feed her on the take-off and landing. Bring some fun toys for her. Try to do the diaper changes before and after the flight ( in the airport), unless it is a really long flight, you shouldn't have to do a change on the plane. The changing table on the plane is hard to use.

Heather - posted on 04/27/2010

we flew from oregon to hawaii and back when she was about three months old she was wonderful. she got a little fussy but i just stood up and rocked her im not sure about a 1 year old though. good luck.

Priscilla - posted on 04/27/2010

My daughter flew when she was 4 months old and a few times since. The main thing is that when taking off and landing make sure she is eating so that she is swallowing (helps pop her ears with the pressure)
For the rest of the trip just take some small quiet toys for her to play with (books are good to keep them interested). Try to keep her awake before hand so that she can sleep for a while whilst you're in the air as well. Also it's nice to sit near a window as by this stage they love to watch out the window for take off and landing.
Hope all goes well on Friday.

Jeanette - posted on 04/27/2010

We flew from Calgary to Heathrow when our little man was 8 months old. It was an 8 & 1/2 hour flight and he was wonderful! We just made sure he was sucking on something (Bottle or soother) when we were taking off and landing and he was great. Just make sure you take snacks and juice for her and you should be fine. We flew with Air Canada and we were able to order an infant meal which was great, didn't have to worry about packing baby food for the flight. When you get on the plane I would ask one of the flight attendants if there is a row with an extra seat that you use. Good luck and have a fun trip!

Micaela - posted on 04/27/2010

I flown with my april baby eight times already, four international (more than 7.5 hours, but same datetime NY to Peru) and two coast to coast NY to California, and two NY to Boston (she was only six weeks in this one). Every long flight as overnight, my baby was really good but you have to have help and your baby has to be alert the during the day in that way she is going to sleep the whole fight, bring her favorite toy in your diaper bag, some food and milk, and her blanket (all the planes are very cold when you are up). If you have the budget buy a ticket for her, if it is a long flight; in that way she is going to be comfortable and you too.

Shilpa - posted on 04/26/2010

everyone here seems to have a good flight with babies. I had very diffrent experience. I first took flight when my lil one was 4 months, that was good. He was small and slept most of the flight. no problems at all. But the second flight was very very bad. Though I did everything that most of the ladies did here. In my experience the biggest mistake was, second flight was at a daytime when he was wide awake and in playful mood and airplane has no much room for him, flight was full so we had to cramped in our seats and he was travelling on lap.

I wish I should have taken flight at night when he was sleeping most of the time. I would suggest you if possible take a flight when he is slepping most of the time.

Good Luck and Have a good flight.

Richann - posted on 04/24/2010

i flew with my baby when she was 6 months old she loved it it was easy but i not all babies like it as long as you have snack and toys and a drink im sure your little one will do fine

Jessica - posted on 04/24/2010

We flew in February (so Natalie was 10 months old) from Louisiana to Atlanta, layover for an hour, then Georgia to Baltimore and then rushed to get from Baltimore to Germany.

Natalie did so well the whole time! I gave her a pacifier when we were in take off, and she seemed to fall asleep whenever we were landing. She was just curious to lots of things while we were flying, and she's typically a good baby, so I had no problems. I just made sure that I packed enough food and drink for her, and some of her favorite toys. I gave her toys one at a time, and just kept switching them out. We got a ticket for her, so that we could bring her carseat, otherwise, you'll have to hold your baby in your lap. In take-off or landing, if your baby gets fussy, most flight attendants will let you get the baby out of the carseat and hold them until they are calm too.

If your baby likes Baby Einstein videos, and you have a laptop, bring your laptop as carry on and pack a movie or two. Laptops usually don't take away from how many carry on bags you are allowed. Also, I saw someone else mentioned it, see if you can bring the stroller as checked luggage. Not all airlines will count the stroller as a bag, but will check it for you and store it under the plane!

Um. Oh! Natalie got a little grouchy at one point, and the flight attendant gave her an empty plastic cup. It entertained her! The flight attendant said that for some reason, that always seems to work.

Hm. I think that about covers it,as far as I can say for my experience. Hope yours goes well!

Starr - posted on 04/23/2010

My famly and I are taking a trip in August to visit my famliy, so it will be my daughters first airplane ride. Took my son on his first airplane ride when he was 7 months and also when he was 1 1/2 he loved it! He was fasinated with the clouds. He was very well behaved and enjoyed every second. I had a portable DVD player and a few of his favorite movies. Snacks, and a few other toys.

Katie - posted on 04/23/2010

we have flown 4 times, its not so bad if you have help. i flew last without my husband it and it was aweful. i suggest if you are flying by yourself buy and extra ticket and bring the car seat!!!

Kelly - posted on 04/22/2010

We first took our little girl on a plane at 3 months old and she slept the entire way. We then took her again at 10.5 months. Cause we flew over her sleep time we found she was restless cause she couldn't get confortable to sleep, but that was the only problem. My only adivse is try and take them during their awake time. They will prob love the experince.

Miza - posted on 04/22/2010

Mine was 2.5 months old when she first had her plane ride. It was a short one, almost 2 hours. She did so well. Her longest was a 9 hours flight when she was 3 months. Also went well. From then on we flew from time to time at 5 months and 8 months. She did amazingly well. Like others suggested, get a dummy, breastfeed or bottle during take-off and landing. And plenty of toys to choose from during playtime. Best of luck! =)

Heather - posted on 04/22/2010

the first time my daughter went on a plane was when she was 4 months and she was fine. at 8 months she liked that i walked up and down the aisle w/her. a little fussy but it was a 3 hr long ride. we will be doing it again next month and i will bring her snacks, a toy, and be ready to move around.

Tina - posted on 04/22/2010

We flew in Jan this year so baby was 9 months then. She did great slept most of the flight. I had some puffs so she had some things to chew/suck on in case her ears needed to "pop". Check if your airline allows a stroller as an extra carry on. I flew just me and the baby as Dad could not get off from work. Airline personnel were great for each flight (4 total) when I checked in they moved my seats to give us the whole 3 seat row. Never be to proud to ask for help with all the stuff, I knock one poor guy in the head with the car seat before I was willing to ask. Hope you and your little have a great trip. ;)

Jamie - posted on 04/22/2010

My daughter will be 1 on the 29th and we took her on a plane for the first time at Christmas and it went amazingly!! It was an all day flight and everyone on the plane commented on how they never heard her. We made sure that we had food for her and plenty of toys. We found that it worked the best if we brought out only 1 toy at a time so that she didn't get bored of them all at once. I think if you're smart about it, take other people's advice and get creative it will go smoothly. Good luck!

Carrie - posted on 04/22/2010

We just flew to Florida with our 1 year old. It was about a 2 1/2 hour trip and he slept the entire way. We tried to let him move around in the airport and have a good meal before we got on the plane. this way he wasn't too antsy and had a great nap!

LaRaye - posted on 04/22/2010

With car seats though, they are allowed on the plane u have to check them with your carry one and the flight attendent will have people move to give you a seat next to your little one so you arent seperated.

LaRaye - posted on 04/22/2010

Yes, With my 2 year old and my 1 year old, as long as you ahve snakcs, toys and their favorite toy or blanket you will be fine they offer snacks on the plane too but im not usre about liquids but you should be fine just put them next to the window so they can see the sights of flying and show them the clouds you will do great.

Nichole - posted on 04/22/2010

From what I have read, it appears that everyone reccommended almost everything that I would, except for one thing. If you plan on taking the carseat with you during your travels, I would highly reccommend to check with the airline when you check-in to see if they can seat you next to an empty seat (if they are available) so you can strap your little one in their carseat (if they enjoy being in it). With both of my girls, they were flying at four to six weeks of age, and when they were in their carseats, there were no issues....other than having to change a stinky diaper or two! These included five-hour flights from florida to california, and three-and-a-half hour flights from florida to south dakota. Hope this helps, and have a great trip!

Erin - posted on 04/22/2010

thanks for the tips ladies. :)

Sharyn - posted on 04/21/2010

my daughter was 4weeks old when i first took her on a plane, then again when she was 8mths old, i've had no problems with her as long as bub has something to suck on going up or down, their ears will not be affected by the air pressure change, and nor will sleeping through it. I take toys on board and favourite things and that keeps them entertained, inc a portable dvd player. i will be taking my children on a plane again in 5mths, i am so looking forward to it, the only part i found hard was the waiting to board, as boredom sets in, mainly on older kids though.

have a happy and safe trip

Anna - posted on 04/21/2010

Go to the dollar store and get a little bag full of little toys and save them for the plane to distract her. I also took some disinfectant wipes in a baggie and wiped down everything that my daughter might touch. Avoid giving her any juice that has ice in it (from the flight attendant) they have found that the ice on planes has more microbes than anywhere because of the recirculated air. If she likes movies you can rent little travel dvd players at some of the airports and return them at the destination airport. A pacifier is a good idea for her ears. We flew when she was 7 months and she slept pretty much the whole flight because of all the white noise from the engines.

I hope this helps. Have a great trip!!!

Brittany - posted on 04/21/2010

Yes. We flew from TX to Florida at the end of March. The flight there went amazingly well. We timed everything just right. My son drank a bottle as the plane was taking off and slept the whole flight. The way home was a little different. He was wide awake and ready to play. On a plane not much room for that. We brought plenty of snacks, toys, and formula. The great thing is the airplane has different fruit juices you can get for them. The flight attendant was so sweet. When he got a little fussy, she made him a rattle from one of the cups and some plastic hearts. That lasted for a while. Make sure you bring something for her to suck on to keep pressure off her ears (Bottle or binky). It doesnt feel very well to me and I can only imagine how it feels for them. Hope this helps and good luck,

Louise - posted on 04/21/2010

My first son was a little bit older that 1 when we first flew but the same rules i think would apply. Make sure you have bottles or sippys of milk for her for take off and landing! Or a dummy if she has one! Bring favourite toys for her to play and if you can try to time it so she'll be due a nap on the flight.

Hope this helps!