Flying with my 15month old baby

Iman - posted on 11/21/2010

You have nothing to worry about at all. I agree with all the above with over-working your baby at the airport first. I have a 15-month old and we've already been on 13 flights already all ranging from 2.5 to 12 hours with plenty of lay-over times.....mine usually sleeps during flights and I just spend my lay-overs feeding or playing with her. She has never gone through pressure change pain/problems...but to be on the safe side, you can always give yours a bit of Tylenol to sooth them...Just make sure you take enough milk..sucking on a bottle or sippy cup with ease ear pain as well.
good luck....you'll be fine...1.5 hours will fly by :)

Cindy - posted on 11/04/2010

Or if it isn't time to eat while ascending and descending, if you use a pacifier, have him use that on the way up and down. I flew with a 4 month old, she was less active, but the pacifier helped up and down because it wasn't time to eat. If you could schedule it around a nap time (may not be possible anymore) or keep him up before so he will sleep on the flight, that would be nice too.

Renee - posted on 11/04/2010

I've flown with our daughter a few times and what I've always done is make sure that we fly a bit later than when she would normally nap. That way, she's a little tired. Keep your baby occupied until just after take off, and then, while you're going up, start breastfeeding. That will help with the cabin pressure, and the breastfeeding and the white noise of the plane will put them right to sleep. An hour and a half is just the right length of time, so they'll probably sleep right through the flight (your arm might be a little tired, though). If baby wakes up on the way down, just keep nursing and there shouldn't be any problem with the ears. Hope that helps.

Megan - posted on 11/03/2010

I have flown many times. when u take off and land either have him drink (from a bottle is best) or plug both of his ears, this will help his ears pop softer. also have a small assortment of toys you knows he loves also finger food.

Renee - posted on 11/03/2010

I flew w/ my son this past summer, he was about 11 mo. at the time, We were flying from Louisiana to Maine & I was really worried about it. He did great, his ears didn't seem to bother him at all, and he is a VERY active boy! I just had snacks & toys available @ all times. It went a lot better than I thought. he will do fine, just don't stress & he won't!! Definitly bring books!

Lydia - posted on 11/02/2010

Much the same as other mommys have suggested, take plenty of snacks & some toys. don't take too many because they're really not going to play with them much. I have been flying with my sun since he was 6mos, flights ranging from 1hr to all day (toronto to Northern California). If you have to get up and walk around DO IT! It's better to have a happy baby then one that cries the whole trip just because you're concerned about people talking. Once you're on the plane you're stuck can't go nowhere and neither can anyone else! It's a group effort to keep baby happy! So walk around if needs be! I usually keep mine awake as long as possible! No sleeping in the airport and keeping him entertained as long as possible on the airplane because usually he'll just fall asleep and wake up when you get there :-) An hr goes by REALLY fast! The restrooms have changing tables but the seat trays work just fine as well! jeje

Crystal - posted on 11/01/2010

Thanks for posting this question. I have been researching things online because we are taking our 15 month old on a 5 hour flight next week. I was really worried at first but I believe now that we will be fine. We have decided to bring the sippy cups with milk and also the laptop with her favorite dvd Tinkerbell! We chose a flight time right around nap time as well, and our planning to give her infant tylenol about 30 minutes before boarding the plane!

Phillippa - posted on 11/01/2010

Thank you so much for your help, the butterflies in my tummy have calmed down now :-)

Robin - posted on 10/31/2010

Well we did that two months ago. A tip we had (that worked) was to nurse or use a bottle when taking off and landing. It worked like a charm and we kept playing with him the entire flight. WE had comments of I have never seen a baby on a flight this happy. We just entertained and played with him alot for the flight. Another friend who took her daughter 2 year old to Germany this year borrowed our portable DVD player. Good luck

Janice - posted on 10/31/2010

Phillippa, Enjoy the flight. We made sure our son was feeding on take off and landing. The movement of the mouth feeding helps with the ears, so try that. We just returned from a 2 hr flight with our 14 month old and he was the best, well behaved child that I have ever flown with and I have 7. Take some nibblies for your boy as well. Good Luck

Jen - posted on 10/30/2010

Make sure you take expressed milk , because one flight attendant said my baby could not be in a laying down position on take off. I never heard that, but you never want to make a flight attendant mad especially if your baby cries and you need some help. Also try to take as little on the airplane with you as you can. It will be very difficult trying to get things in the overhead compartment and watch your child. Also trying to get everything stashed and off the airplane can be hard. Take one bag that will fit under the seat in front of you. I also wait until last to board so that my kids don't have to be so confined for as long. That's another reason not to have a bag that needs to be stowed in the overhead compartment, because by the time you board there will be no room left there. Good luck it will go well!

Alice - posted on 10/30/2010

Dont't worry about, I flew with my son when he was 6 weeks on an 1 hour flights, and he regularly flyes with me every couple of months and we have never had any problems, he also flew on a two hour flight at 7months. I agree with what some of the others are saying make sure you have toys and snacks, I also kept him awake during his normal nap time which was an hour before flying so on the take off gave him his beaker and then he has his nap through most of the flight. I'm flying again with him in 4 weeks for the first time withouth his dad with us, but the only thing im worrying about then is the traveling to and from the airport! lol. Good luck.

Julia - posted on 10/28/2010

I just flew to Toronto from Boston (about an hour and a half) with my newly walking 15 month old. I suggest, as hard as it sounds, keeping them awake as long as you can, breastfeeding on take off, and then hopefully they will sleep. We were worried about cabin pressure and her ears hurting since mine are so sensitive, but she didn't have any problems. Does she take a bottle at all? That might be easier to give her during take off and landing, but it's your choice. Let the stewardess know that you need to feed her. Also bring lots of their favorite snacks and a couple of new toys, things they have never seen before. A portable DVD player is good, an iPhone, an iPad, etc. GOOD LUCK! it was a lot easier than I had anticipated!

Holly - posted on 10/27/2010

I have flown on a 5 hour flight when my daughter was 6 months and a 4 hour flight when my daughter was 13 months. We went ot Dominican Republic and Mexico for vacation. We gave her infant tylenol when we boarded the plane and she didn't have any issues with cabin pressure. We also packed some snacks and quiet toys which kept her entertained the entire flight.

Phillippa - posted on 10/27/2010

Thank you all for your helpful advice and encouragement. I feel so much better and confident. And thank you Regina, I had such a good chuckle now :-)

Regina - posted on 10/26/2010

So your going to be sooo fine. I have flown with my little girl when she was 9 months old on a 8 hr flight and 2 hr layover. From Sac ca to Charleston WV as long as you feed the child at take off and landing your going to be just fine. If you little one takes a bottle or sippy cup the airlines will let you bring milk or formula on the plane including water bottles, snacks, etc.. Remember the child gets there own carry on bag so anything for the baby that has to do w eating they have to let you bring on. I just brought regular size bottle water on to. I breast fed until the plane came to where they let you walk around inside. My little one actually fell a sleep at take off every time while drinking and toy or book for entertainment. but My little one didn't even feed on the landing and was busy watching everyone else so I didn't even need to feed her at some times. Ok now im just going on and on I hope it goes well.

Debi - posted on 10/25/2010

Hi Phillippa -- I've flown twice with my son, who's 14 months old now -- once when he was 11 months, and just last month. Both flights were 2.5 hours each way; the first was just the two of us, and the second time was with my husband. I scheduled non-stop flights for times that were just after mealtimes for him and fed him at the airport before we boarded. The other suggestions about toys and snacks are good ones, and my little guy was so fascinated by all the goings-on around us that he was pretty entertained for the times he was awake. He slept through much of the flights and never seemed bothered by the pressure changes. I did bring some bottles of expressed breast milk just in case. It was much, much easier than I anticipated, even when it was just him and me, though having Daddy's extra set of hands made it even easier. Make sure to bring a stroller that can easily collapse (they have to fit through the security screening machines) and ask at the gate as soon as you arrive there for the appropriate tags to gate-check your stroller -- you'll be able to leave it right at the door to the plane, and they'll return it to you in the same spot when you land. Also, check the airlines' guidelines and requirements for documentation, seating, etc. I flew Southwest both times, and had to show a certified copy of my son's birth certificate to verify his age in order to be allowed to hold him on my lap (and avoid a ticket charge). Oh, and we had good results with sitting by the window -- my son was fascinated by looking out, and we avoided the temptation of the open space of the aisle. Hope that helps, and have a safe trip!

Jennifer - posted on 10/22/2010

I have flown with my 14 month old several times now. The cabin pressure has never effected her at all. Bring LOTS of snacks and a favorite book or 2. Let him run around the airport before boarding and try to get a seat toward the front of the plane.

Chantal - posted on 10/22/2010

I would breastfeed him on the way up and down so the change in pressure doesn't affect his ears. Buy him a couple of new toys or pull out some old ones he hasn't seen in awhile. An hour and a half isn't bad at all. And if he cries, he cries, just stay calm. It's only an hour and a half so don't worry.