Any tips on a successful plane trip with a 3 month old? We have a 2 hour plane ride coming up to visit family and I don't want to be the person with the screaming infant..

Heidi - posted on 12/15/2008

we had my little guy on a plane when he was only about 5 or 6 months old at first...best thing to do is try to keep then awake when you are taking off and landing, and have them suck on his or her pacifer or bottle when landing or taking off. It keeps there ears from popping. :)

Anita - posted on 12/15/2008

h a couple ov months ago we flew over to oz n I had my 4yrold n my 3 month old by myself, they were both fine on the plane, take off and landing as well, but once i got off the plane well that was a diffrent story lol, baby just screamed and cried and cried loulder lo, but the good thing is that I was the last person off the plane and the 1st person out the other side.The airport staff came and helped me took me right in front, grabed my bags 4 me and wheeled my cart out to the other side!!! So theres always a pluse side!!!!!!

Jen - posted on 12/15/2008

We flew with my daughter a few months ago when she was 9 months. I decided to put her in her backpack carrier in order to avoid putting a stroller up and down and checking it at the front of the plane. Something that was also helpful was arranging the diaper bag so that it would be easy for the security people to pull it in and out. I placed an unopened canister of formula in her bag so that I would have extra if needed. We also were allowed 2 bottles of water and I had one baby bottle with water already. Her juice was in a sippy and all they had to do was have me open the lid so they could test it with some litmus paper. I had her blanket in the carrier so that wouldn't be an issue in the bag and then I had her snack container and some toys. We got through security in about 5 mins. If you're nursing I'd put about 2 extra bottles in the bag and then let the baby suck as you're taking off. We also bought our daughter her own seat and used her car seat. I didn't want to have to worry about not getting that extra seat and she's a handful so I wanted her to sit down and not have to be passed around. Good Luck! :)

Autumn - posted on 12/15/2008

If you don't have one, get a sling so you don't have to use a stroller. Strollers are a pain to go through security with. The feeding on take off and landing is good, or use a pacifier. It is the sucking that helps. It is actually very easy at 3 months. It is when they start to get mobile that things get difficult cause they want to move around.

Melissa - posted on 12/15/2008

Hello again. I just thought I should give you an update. I flew with my 3 month old yesterday on a 3 hour trip. With 2 take offs. I nursed on both take offs and then he slept the whole flight! (both of them!). Although my son has not had a soother before, I did bring along 2 emergency ones in case his ears bothered him. I also had Tempra in my diaper bag in case that was needed. I had thought about giving him some Tempra before take off, but he really didn't need it. The motion and sound of the engine was very soothing to him. One thing I saw another mother bring that I wish I had brought (especially since I was flying without my husband) was my nursing pillow. This would have saved my arms the pain from holding a baby in the same position for 2 hours! I also wore my baby in my Moby D wrap, but they made me take him out of it for take off and landing (which makes no sense to me, but oh well). Best of luck!

Oh also, before my flight I had decided that if anyone gave me a "look" I would lose it at them. A huge percentage of those people on that plane have had children or grandchildren. So they are sympathetic to your situation. And if they aren't they are very rude, insensitive people.

Melissa - posted on 12/13/2008

I am also going to take my 3 month old on a flight tomorrow. I have a moby wrap. I was thinking it would be perfect for flying. I'm glad to hear this is true!
Also, just out of curiousity, what are everyone's thoughts on giving tempra before a flight. I will be flying with Air Canada and I've heard that you can't feed on take off or landing. So I plan to feed as soon as the seat belt sign is off. I'd love to hear any thoughts or suggestions. Thanks.

Lilly - posted on 12/12/2008

I suggest buying a Moby wrap, while it is not the easiest to put on, once one you and the baby are one, and it is so comfy you can wear it the whole flight!

Shana - posted on 12/12/2008

Don't forget to check for dirty or wet diapers. We flew with a three month old twice in two days, one for a three hour flight and one 12 hour flight. Make sure that you check diapers since even though you are only on the plane for two hours, you are in the airport for much longer. I fed our daughter at take off and she has a pacie for landing. She was very happy the entire flight. She did have her own seat which we put the carrier on. We had the option of a bassinet since we were in bulkhead for the long flight, but it was cramping us and seemed like it would be too small for our daughter.

Katie - posted on 12/11/2008

Heat a bottle BEFORE you get on the plane,with the intention of giving my son somthing to suck on as we were taking of,he ended up sreaming because the flight attendant took about 20mins to heat it! other that....pretend not 2 see the sour looks that people that obviously dont have kids give you! ;)

Sarah - posted on 12/11/2008

ooo! thank you! I didn't know that about strollers. I was wondering how I could ever get the stroller, diaper bag, baby and my purse through security...

Andrea - posted on 12/11/2008

A couple of things were really helpful on my recent travel--one, take extra milk/formula, etc. Even if you are not embarassed to breastfeed on the plane (and I am not saying you should be!) you never know who you will be sitting next to, how comfortable you will feel, etc. Take extra because you never know about delays and how long you might end up on a runway!

Also, I found it was helpful to check the car seat and stroller with my bag (they don't charge you extra for this). If you take it through then you have to take down your stroller, etc. while holding the baby and attempting to get through security. It was much easier to check everything and just wear a baby bjorn!

Jennifer - posted on 12/11/2008

Hi, I traveled with both my children at that young of age. Feeding during lifted off and landing helps and I gave them a little tylenol. It makes them a little sleepy so they might sleep and it helps if they are in any pain from the height or motion of the plane.

Allison - posted on 12/11/2008

As some have said, feedings should be worked in or at least to hand to help with the pressure, but the other suggestion is to take a red eye or something that works in with the baby's typical sleep time.

I'm prior military, so my daughter's first flight was 18 hours headed back to the U.S. The easiest thing to do is pack lightly. You really don't need a lot with a child that young and while it all seems necessary at the time, it's not. The worst part of flying with an infant is carrying all the child paraphernalia and not the child itself.

Don't be afraid to hand the child off to another passenger either. On that long flight, I was sitting next to some grandmotherly types and some 20 something young women who were ooing and ahhing. USE THEM. lol. Trust me, it helps with the kiddo and it helps with your stress level :)

Claire - posted on 12/11/2008

Schedule babies feeding so when taking off baby feeds, the sucking helps the ear pressure, I flew to Germany with my 20mth old daughter and 6 mth old son, my daughter was horrendously difficult but son was fine. Good Luck, I'm sure you're be fine!

Della - posted on 12/11/2008

i just recently made a trip with my little ones and i would suggest scheduling feeding to coincide with take off and landing so that your baby can get rid of the inner ear pressure that comes with take off and landing

Nicole - posted on 12/11/2008

Yes we used to do it about ever 4 months from Grande Prairie to calgary

Sarah - posted on 12/11/2008

that would be awesome!! Glad you've lived through this! :)

Nicole - posted on 12/11/2008

i used to do it all the time with my son, and u'll be suprised how well they do ...to them its like going for a road trip but on your lap and not in a car seat. so u might even luck out and have him/ her sleep shorty after take off