Flying with a 2 month old

Sky - posted on 01/26/2009

Thanks for all of your helpful tips. I feel alot better.

Kodi - posted on 01/24/2009

Ha I wish i could say something more to help but everyone took all the good answers ;)...Make sure you get an isle seat!!!! It helps when you need to bounce them!

Lindsey - posted on 01/24/2009

I flew alone from CA to Washington DC with my then 11 week old. She was fantastic, slept most of the way. I wore her in the Bijorn (lifesaver)! I also had a backpack with just necessities. (diapers, wipes, change of her clothes, binky, formula and bottles along with my wallet. Keeping it simple is key! The Bijorn is the best because as you are changing flights if you need you can still wear the baby and go to the restroom w/o worrying about where to put baby. I didn't want to worry about checking all the xtra things and them possibly being lost. So check with where you are going and see if you can borrow things like a pack n play, car seat, stroller. That's what I did, so I didn't pack any of that, it was great! With the new flight laws about fluids/powder, I didn't get hassled at all by any airport. No one even made me take her out of the Bijorn. I had a backpack that had a mesh pocket for a water bottle on either side, and that's what I used to put her bottles in so they were visible not being hidden. As soon as security saw the baby they just waved me through. Traveling was a piece of cake..not so sure it will be as easy her next time! i'm sure you'll be fine. just remember less is more!

Rosalyn - posted on 01/24/2009

What I did when I flew by myself with my daughter was to nurse her on the way up and the way down (or give your baby a pacifier or bottle, something to suck on). This will help with the pressure on her ears adjust. also, some kind of toy may help to distract her and I'm sure she will sleep for part of it. i had a baby bjorn that I carried her in and she slept through a lot of it. Good luck, I'm sure you will do fine. Key thing to remember is just the pressure on the ears.

Paula - posted on 01/24/2009

A must to have her sucking when taking of and landing. I would start before the pilot announces, you can kind of feel it. I always used a bottle and pacifier if needed. Good luck.

Bevin - posted on 01/24/2009

I flew with both of mine at that age and they were fine, probably depends on their normal temperment. Bring a "binkey" even if they normally dont use them, the sucking will help their ears pop so they dont have that discompfort.

Jenny - posted on 01/24/2009

All this sounds so clever. I would think less is best so find some way of only caring on what you need for a short while. be sure it is a bag that will hold what you need as well so you don't have to do several bags. Good luck and enjoy are you flying into dfw airport. If so terminal D is very nice and very new if it is close to your connections you may find it very comfortable.

Have a good trip

Johanna - posted on 01/24/2009

Quoting Johanna:

Get a backpack diaper bag and a Snugli from carrier of some sort. Whether it is a sling type or a backpack like carrier. Since your little one is so tiny....I would go as simple as I could. Forget the stroller. Check it in if you can......
Also check with your airline to fully understand what will pass through security. For example: if your formula feeding......know what their rules are on bringing formula through. You may have to use powder.....not sure since I haven't had to bring babies onto airplanes since 2000.
I also took the "red eye" flights. My kids always slept through and I would get a little nap in as well. You will find that flight attendants and airline workers are ALL about helping. If they ask....let them help...if you need something...ASK ASK ASK...even to be driven to your next connection!!!!!!
Just be prepared for them to suck while taking off and landing.

OOOOPS....I meant just be prepared for them to nurse or suck on a bottle or pacifier while taking off and landing......

Not that the child will suck......boy that sounded aweful.

Sue - posted on 01/24/2009

Dittos to all the excellent comment already posted!!

Are you nursing? That is a lifesaver while flying - especially during take-off and descent, when the pressure can really bother little ears.

In general traveling with such a small child is fairly easy, at least in my experience (I have six children, and have traveled with many ages over the years).

Leea - posted on 01/24/2009

Put Baby into a baby carrier to keep him close. Then juz give him a bottle during takeoff & landing & a dummy for the rest of the way. He might seem too young, but seriously, a teething biscuit will keep his attention for a while too. If he fusses, juz keep yrself calm. There'll always be someone who shoots you dirty looks or complains but who cares? If u are calm it will be easier to calm baby. Hopefully he'll juz sleep for you. I found my lil one did at two months...the vibrations or something soothed her.

Lindy - posted on 01/24/2009

Depending on where you are going and who you will be meeting, consider a baby equipment rental place at your destination. I was able to have most of my sons things rented and delivered to my motel when I got there. I rented toys (he's older now), a pack n play, stroller and they would even deliver diapers if you needed them too.

Johanna - posted on 01/24/2009

Also....don't forget to check in your car seat!!!! I totally forgot my 6 week old's car seat and I flew from East coast to West coast. And I was renting a car. What did I do to resolve it?? Oh my gosh....I was at the mercy of a cab driver who drove to a WalMart, bought me a rear facing car seat, brought it to me and I repaid him for the car seat AND the cab fare. That was a $200 dollar mistake!!!!!!!!!! In the heat of the moment of getting the car parked and getting to my flight, I totally forgot the car seat in the car that was now parked in the parking garage.

Johanna - posted on 01/24/2009

Get a backpack diaper bag and a Snugli from carrier of some sort. Whether it is a sling type or a backpack like carrier. Since your little one is so tiny....I would go as simple as I could. Forget the stroller. Check it in if you can......

Also check with your airline to fully understand what will pass through security. For example: if your formula feeding......know what their rules are on bringing formula through. You may have to use powder.....not sure since I haven't had to bring babies onto airplanes since 2000.

I also took the "red eye" flights. My kids always slept through and I would get a little nap in as well. You will find that flight attendants and airline workers are ALL about helping. If they ask....let them help...if you need something...ASK ASK ASK...even to be driven to your next connection!!!!!!

Just be prepared for them to suck while taking off and landing.

User - posted on 01/24/2009

When my little boy Jacob was 9 weeks old, my partner and I flew across Australia. We took a midnight flight one way, and a morning one on the way home. He slept all the way over on the night flight. I gave him a dummy to suck on when the plane took off and landed, which seemed to help aswell. I would also recommend a baby carrier of some sort; i used one of those baby bjorn things, it worked great. That way when you are checking into your connecting flights, you will have both hands free. Hope this helps out in anyway :)

Traci - posted on 01/24/2009

I have flown a lot with each of my babies. First of all, you MUST have a Snugli, Baby Bjorn or some type of baby carrier. This is good for going through security (they make you fold the stroller down-- if you're traveling by yourself, the only way to do that is to have the baby in a Baby Bjorn or something like that). It's a good idea to take your stroller and carrier too. You can check them both at the gate. When you go to your gate, just let them know at the counter that you have a stroller to check and they'll put a tag on it and you can push it right up to the door of the plane and then they take if for you. Then it will be waiting for you there for your layover. I agree with the other posts...it's nice to have a bottle or pacie for take-off and landing so that their ears will pop easier. Other than that, traveling with a two month old is really a piece of cake. He/she will probably sleep most of the time. Just wait until he/she is 12 months old! ha! Good luck to you! =)

Rachel - posted on 01/24/2009

at this age flying with babies is easy, they can't crawl, you can nurse them to help their ears with the pressure and there are people willing to help.  My experience is that the baby will be fine (I flew internationally with a 3 month old and again with a 2 year old and a 3 month old)  If you sit on the aisle you have to worry about the drink cart bonking a sleeping baby so I would try to be in a middle or window seat.

Bobbi - posted on 01/24/2009

The best advice I have heard is to make sure to give baby a bottle/breatfeed during take off and when landing. Doing this will allow his ears to pop during the pressure change. Also, bring toys with lots of visual interest and rotate showing them to baby so they always seem "new". Lots of babies love to look in mirrors.

Good Luck!

Jaime - posted on 01/24/2009

Unfortunately, as she is only 2 mo, there is not a whole lot you can do. I would have your little one periodically suck on a passy or bottle to allow her ears to "pop" in order to relieve the pressure. Hope this helps.