2 hour Plane ride with a 4 month old. Yes or No?

Maku - posted on 12/01/2012

i have a 5 month old and i plan on traveling visit my family is that make ane problem to my son is only 1 hour flighyt

Gina - posted on 05/25/2009

Definitely definitely, we took our baby on hols to Turkey when he was 8 months old, then again to New York when he was 14 months, we are driving for our nxt hols, but only cos we can take more stuff, (actually more concerned about the length of time in the car to be honesthe will be 18 months old then !

Alison - posted on 05/25/2009

Yes. My son was only 3 months old when he had his first flight.

Michelle - posted on 05/25/2009

Replying to the OT. I started traveling with my babies when they were just weeks old. We've taken them on plane trips up to 8.5 hours long. Of course, if they sleep a lot it is a bonus. I have one that enjoys sleeping and two that don't. I wouldn't travel without my children so I can't imagine doing it any other way. I nursed my children and actually it comes in handy when flying. Nurse nurse nurse during take off and landing, it helps prevent issues with pressure.

Judy - posted on 05/25/2009

I started traveling with my bf baby at 6 weeks. She did great, no fussing, I did nurse her on take off and landing. If they are asleep the body naturally relieves the pressure, the drinking or suckling will do that too. We traveled quite a bit by plane and we never had the "bad baby" issue.

Anita - posted on 05/24/2009

Absolutely! We went to Rome in March with our (then) 3 month old and, other than having to plan a bit more, it could not have gone more smoothly. Instead of bringing a stroller and car seat on the plane ) carried our baby in a sling. It was very easy and she slept almost the entire 8 hour plane ride.

Ornella - posted on 05/24/2009

I'm half Italian but live in the UK so a 2 1/2 hour flight. I took my daughter for Christmas, she was three months old. And having travelled with her quite often since. I have to say that that first flight was so easy. They're happy to be lying in your arms. Breast feed on take of and landing to minimise any pain in their ears erc... and comfort them to the max. And if you're lucky that breast feed on take off will make them sleep for the journey.
Good luck but definitely go, you'll all have lots of fun!

Denise - posted on 05/22/2009

I had flown alone with my daughter many times from the age of 4 months through her toddler years. I just made sure she was feed and snuggled up with her it really didn't seem to bother her until around 1 1 1/2 yrs where she could tell something was really going on. Good luck Just relax ya'll will have a great flight!!!

Jennifer - posted on 05/22/2009

Yes-go. This is the golden age of travel. Your baby won't be anxious to crawl or walk all over the plane, and will most likely sleep most of the flight. And if he is cranky, most people on the plane are understanding and sometimes even helpful. It helps to feed during takeoff and landing to equalize his ear pressure. Or try a pacifier. My hubby and I took our 6 month old to Disney AND to Bombay the same winter and it was great! And you may want to delay the cereal until you get back home-but it is not necesary. Have fun! It is actually more work when they are crawling/walking until like 3!

Marina - posted on 05/21/2009

By my calculations your son will have turned 6 months by the time you travel. I had a 5 and a half month old when I travelled to Bali for a 3 week holiday 4 years ago, and was incredibly relieved that I was still breastfeeding, and didn't feel any pressure to start solids. It would have been a real pain organising food, even clean water, and I knew my breastmilk was sanitary and nitritious! He turned 6 months just before we returned, and I just went through the whole Solid Introduction on my home turf. That way if there is any problems with the solids, you won't have it effect your holiday.

You didn't mention where you were travelling to, which will make a real difference to your experience. If it is a long flight, you can request a "Bassinet Seat" which is at the front of the cabin, gives you WAY more leg room, and there is a fold-down bassinet right in front of you that you can put your son to sleep in. They also tend to keep other passengers away from these seats if the flight is not full. I would suggest if you can't get a Bassinet Seat, and it is a long flight, then use a baby sling, or baby carrier so if you both fall asleep, you don't have to worry about him wriggling off your tummy!

Have Fun

Sarah - posted on 05/21/2009

nope. i just came home from new mexico this month and little one was 4months old....sucking on a passie is fine..anything with the swallowing reflex will help....i got lucky and got ear drops from the doctor right before we left...

Susan - posted on 05/21/2009

Absolutely - the younger they are the easier they are to travel with. Nurse, bottle or pacy when you are taking off and landing to keep thier ears popping - like adults chewing gum. They will most likely sleep. Earth's Best makes individual packets of rice cereal or oatmeal that you can mix with your breast milk when you travel. Hand pump is nice to have in case your child doesn't want to nurse and you have to pump in the plane or the airport.

RE: swine flu - cover them over with a blanket, lay a mask on thier face when they are sleeping, ask strangers not to touch your baby - or don't leave anything exposed for them to touch!

Anika - posted on 05/21/2009

I have traveled with my daughter since she was a few months old on plane rides from 3 hours and more. It's absolutely ok to travel. At 4 months, he can still be a lap child and breastfeeding on the plane is OK, especially during take off and landing. I generally tried to time flights with naps as much as possible when my duaghter was smaller. Take a small toy, favorite blanket and book and you should be OK.

Georgie - posted on 05/21/2009

My first trip with my eldest boy was a 13 hr flight to Tuscany when he was 10 months & it was a great family holiday. One thing that was really helpful was Ergo carrier which made it easy to carry him around & even to breastfeed him both on the plane & on the go. Having a "treasure bag" which contains some of his favourite toys which can keep him occupied while on the plane or in the car was something that helped a lot too.

My girl's turning 6 months soon & we'll be bringing her & our son who is now 3 & 1/2 years old to Perth in a few weeks time. Praying that it'll be another great trip!

Marissa - posted on 05/20/2009

I flew alone with both my daughters just 4 weeks after their birth from Michigan to California so my family could welcome them to the family. It wa no problem, just be sure to bottle or breastfeed during take off and landing to keep your babies ears from hurting! Best of luck and enjoy the older they get the harder it is cause they don't just sit still or sleep :) Be sure to pack lots of diapers cause I have been stuck in an airport with flight delays and run out!

Fiona - posted on 05/20/2009

Mouse was 5 months when I first traveled with her, an 8 hour flight. Just be prepared. I breastfed her on the plane and the flight attendants were very helpful and made sure I had a lot of water (traveling is dehydrating).

Plan carefully for the trip and make sure everything you need (passports, plane tickets, etc) are easily accessible. I traveled with Mouse in a sling so that my hands were free for security checks, etc.
Take a cloth for covering up while feeding on the flight (other passengers are not always understanding).
Try to request the bulk head seats as they have more room, some planes also have baby chair/ cots for the bulk head seats, these need to be requested before hand. Sucking by either feeding or on a soother/binki/pacifier will help with the little one's ears.

Good luck!

Christelle - posted on 05/20/2009

Agree with all, just keep on nursing, it makes her happy and calm. Don't even bother to try changing nappies in the toilet - it is difficult, tried it once and in the 5 yrs since have been doing in my seat on my lap with the assistance of my husband or air hostess.

Try and take buggy up to the plane - will save your arms - and request that they have it ready at the door again, not at baggage reclaim if possible.

Helen - posted on 05/20/2009

a 2 hour flight is a piece of cake! I wouldn't worry about starting him on cereal beforehand if its for the flight only - it is easier just to breastfeed. Remember to breastfeed on take off and landing as it makes them equalise the pressure more easily. Get a front pack like others suggested, make sure you bring changes of clothes for you and for bub and bring a wrap or something so that you can breastfeed in private ( a blow up pillow could be helpful also). I flew from Zurich to Australia with my then 6 month old, which is a 24 hr flight (nasty) and she was fine - I just kept feeding her boob milk until she fell asleep and held her - I didn't get much sleep but at least she was happy!!! You'll be fine.

Laura - posted on 05/19/2009

Our daughter is 8.5mos old now and has flown 5x already. At 6mos she flew and did great. I'd strap your child into a Baby Bjorn, or some other similar front carrier. It let's your hands be free and keeps your child close. People seem less likely to want to touch your child when they are attached to you. We try to schedule flights close to nap times. I was nursing up until 5mos and did that while flying. I also took a few bottles with water in them and formula on the ready if it was impossible to breast feed at any time. We just flew this past weekend and it was the hardest flight yet as she is now mobile, but we managed. On the flight home i opted to add some tylenol to her bottle for the take off. I think this helped her fall asleep a bit easier when it came time for a nap. I also always buy one new toy to bring out on the plane. Even though she is only 8mos, seems to help.

Genna - posted on 05/19/2009

I've been traveling by plane w/ my son since he was 3 months old most of the time it was without my DH. He is now 3 yrs old and is a veteran at traveling, flying at least a dozen and half times.



-Use a baby carrier (Baby Bjorn, Ergobaby, etc.) It was helpful for me because I could fall asleep with my son safely attached to me not to mention the fact that it was soothing for him.

-Definitely nurse the baby during take off and landing to ease pressure on the ears. I always wore a lightweight poncho for nursing (no need to be flashing the other passengers).

- Double up on the diapers!! My son wore two diapers during flight, one his size and larger one on top of that. This helps to keep the mess at a minimum for those unplanned explosions breastfed babies tend to experience.

- For a really fussy baby, one half a dose of infant Dimetapp always comes in handy.



More importantly stay calm and enjoy the travel. Babies tend to sense the stress...

April - posted on 05/19/2009

Don't start solids yet. Babies don't need it, they actually can't digest them properly anyway, and it will make travelling a lot harder, if you have to find water, warm it up, and then there is the clean-up, etc. Breastfeeding is easy, and always available.



I took my 15 month old on a flight last year, and was so glad I was breastfeeding, because we sat on the runway for 2.5 hours before leaving for our 1.5 hour flight. I was able to nurse him to sleep, and though my legs were real sore, he was no problem at all. Make sure you bring extra diapers though in your carry-on!

Sarah - posted on 05/19/2009

Babies don't have to be trouble when flying my oldest started flying right after his 6 week check-up.

I would suggest getting a flight time when your little one is the most calm and relaxed. Morning worked for me, but all babies are different. Try getting to the airport early nurse right away when you get there then try working some of the energy out by playing games and walking your little one around to see the lights and sights of the airport. The stimulation always made mine hungry AND sleepy.

Change diapers before you get on the plane. Those plane rest rooms are NOT baby changing friendly. When you board the plane get settled and start nursing when you start taxing so your little one doesn't even notice the pressure change. Then with any luck your little guy will be all tuckered out from his adventure and sleep all the way until you start your descent.

I don't know that I would start him on anything right before you leave mine always got digestive issues with the first new foods and diarreah on the airplane makes a terrible flight all around. Either way, bring a change of clothes for everyone and ziplocs are useful in soooo many ways.

Good luck.

Nitsa - posted on 05/19/2009

the plane ride will be good. 1st leave when the month is taking a nap, I went to 6 hour plane ride with my little girl and it was good. If your 4 month old wants to breastfeed you can on the plane no one will stop you. flying with child can be fun. so i say yes to the plane ride. good luck and have fun.

Helen - posted on 05/19/2009

Don't worry at all. I have flown to Europe (7 hr flight) with my son and he slept almost the whole way. If you're still breastfeeding that's great, do that for take-off and landing since that will probably help so his ears don't pop. It's when thay turn 2 you have to worry. : )



Best of luck. I'm sure he'll do great.

Jemma - posted on 05/19/2009

my son is also 4 months old and i have a holiday to spain booked for september (making him 7months when we travel)

i have already started him on solids about 3 weeks ago - even though the new guidelines state 6 months

if you feel that your baby is ok on solids and will be ok to make the journey then why not?

Rachana - posted on 05/19/2009

yes

Sara - posted on 05/19/2009

My husband and I live in Belgium so after our daughter was born here in July I flew back in December so she could meet the rest of the family. She was almost five months when we took a seven hour flight from Brussels to Chicago and then flew from Chicago to an airport that's only 20 mins from my parents' house. With a canceled flight at the beginning and having to stay the night in the airport hotel, getting up at 05:00 TWICE to prepare for the flight, my daughter having a diarrhea accident on the way their and back, having a delayed flight from Chicago to Michigan b/c of snow, her jet lag and doing night feedings again b/c my daughter is also breastfed only, to the business of being home with family WITH a new baby! Oh! Did I mention I did that alone as my husband couldn't come!!! YOU CAN MAKE IT!!! ;0) It was worth it and we're having to do it again next Wednesday. First flying to Mich for a few days before going to Cali for one month! That's a nine hour time difference with Belgium!!!

Tips to Use or Not:
I only breastfed Cécilia then (she's 10 months this Friday and of course is on solids) so that wasn't a problem regarding having solids for the flight. I am already stressing about that for this trip though! At six months Cécilia was still only beginning to have solids and I was BF five times a day still. Like I said, she's almost 10m now and I'm still BF four times a day with one solid only feed.

A baby carrier might be useful/helpful depending on how long your flight is and/or how active your baby is. I did pack one and tried using it with C but it was just easier to hold her and walk around the cabin instead.

Actually, I can't think of anything else other than the things you would normally need to travel by car, etc whenever you visit. You have your hubby too so it'll be fine!!!!

I hope you find this helpful!! You definitely should go too! Oh! The midwives here said to either be BFing for take off or have a pacifier in to help with the pressure. When we finally took off from Bxl I had already BF and C fell asleep and the pressure didn't bother her but it doesn't hurt! :0)

Karita - posted on 05/18/2009

I have an almost 6month old and I am travelling by plan interstate this weekend. I am taking the red eye flight in hopes that he will sleep all the way with cuddles from me. Will let you know how it goes when I get back.