I'm traveling with a 7 month baby for a 23hr flight.Any helpful tips?

Question

The flight has 2 stops to switch planes.Anyone done this? Did you give your baby a sleep aide such as baby "Gravol"?

Answer 1

I've done it many times, alone, and with kids barely two years apart.

Traveling with a 6-7 month old is actually ideal. They aren't into messy snacks, their toys don't have a ton of pieces, and they're cute so everyone wants to help you. Plus, they sleep a lot. You just whip out a boob or a bottle when they get cranky, or a pacifier if they just ate, and all's right with the world again. Plus, the silly magazine in the seat pocket has lots and lots of fun pictures to look at together, and who cares if it gets all ripped up?

For heaven's sake, DON'T keep your baby up the night before! That will just make him/her cranky, which is the opposite of what you want. Instead, try to keep to your regular schedule.

Travel LIGHT. Take only a minimal amount of stuff for you, and an equally small amount of things for the baby. A sheet is a great thing to carry; it packs small, and you can spread it out on the floor in the airport to give your baby a place to sit or crawl, or you can use it as a blanket, or a pillow, or a support for your arm if you're nursing. Make sure that everything you carry can do double, triple, or quadruple duty, you know?

It's hard to change babies on planes, so take advantage of your layovers for cleanups.

Also, if you can use a hands-free baby carrier, like an ERGO, that will help you get through the airport, and cause way less hassle than gate checking a stroller.

My experience is that international flights with kids are great. There's so much new stuff to see and people to watch, and the gate agents and flight attendants are really accommodating and nice.

I always carried Benedryl with me, My pediatrician said it's the only safe thing to give a kid to try to "knock 'em out." But it doesn't always work, and it ramps some kids up instead, so I only used it as a last resort. And I've actually never needed it.

Think positive. Your kids will surprise you.

Answer 2

My flight was only 6 hours and my child was 2 at the time, but you better believe I used a sleep aid! Actually he was just getting over minor ear infection so the doctor recommended Benadryl to help keep his sinuses/ears clear. This has the added benefit of causing drowsiness. By timing it right, he slept for nearly the entire trip. Other than that, just make sure to bring whatever makes your baby comfortable. He's only 7 months, but what does he enjoy? Favorite snacks? Music? Toys?

Also, you don't want to keep him up the night before. The last thing you need on a plane is a cranky child. For your sake and the sake of the others on board, please start your trip with a happy baby!

Answer 3

My parents did that with me... I cant say I remember what they did... But babies LOVE electronics that have buttons they can push and see the screen change... You can't use a cellphone on the plane, but im sure you could find a little game that has lots of buttons that change screens... Bring his/her soother, blanket, teddybear, ect... Anything that will make him/her happy and calm him/her enough to sleep...
While you're in the air, take your baby for lots of walks up and down the isles... Bring some baby cookies (I think 7month old babies can eat those, right? I'm not exactly sure since I'm not a mom)... Bring a couple books... Lots of milk and water... Don't feed him/her anything you wouldnt normally... Bring an extra outfit or two on the plane (babies always find a way to mess up what they have on)... Just bring more than you think you could possibly need, its better to have too much than not enough, right?
Wear a necklace and earings that he/she might like to look at... The little things will go a long way!
I don't think they allow you to put your baby in a carseat or anything, but you should call the airline and check...

**Don't Forget Diapers!**

Good luck with the flight!

Answer 4

just treat the baby like normal try and keep them from noticing the atmosphere change. Sleep aides are not good. but you might want to stay up ALL BEFORE the flight to wear your baby out. Baby's sleep easily once full and worn out so try and make it as natural as possible.cuz babies can detect changes like that only if you let them ;-)

i remember my 12 hour flight to london (it was really 6 hours Chicago time, but flying thru the time zones seemed to make it longer) it was in the middle of the night and i woke up in a sweat i was hot...(feeling somthin like a baby) lol kicking my legs and writhing in my seat. The stewardess then brought me ice and a cold towel. Thats somthin that you might wanna keep hold of somthin to cool the baby off cuz when u reach such a high atmosphere and such a small body u can feel the change in the air quickest.!!

Answer 5

Okay....the main thing you need to be concerned with on a flight with an infant is that they might have a hard time with the altitude changes. I suggest that you give her/him a dose of "pediacare" about 30 minutes before the flight. It will help if there is any sinus congestion. Also, give her/him their bottle while you are taking off and landing. The sucking motion will help their little ears pop.

When you are in the air all you have to do is buckle them in and put down the tray and put things on it for them to do. Bring finger foods and plenty of wipes. Also bring toys and things to look at (several small board books to read together is helpful). Finally, if you have one of those little portable DVD players bring it along with some favorites. You'll be getting up a lot, so try to trade seats with someone who has the aisle or a front seat.

Good Luck!
~C

Answer 6

Your child will sleep the better part of the flight...my son has been on several flights and a couple to and from South America..he slept most of the way...have some creativity during layaways..that is when they're the most restless...our flight was 2 hrs to LA, 12 to Sao Paulo 12 hour layover, 5 hour flight to Aracaju, Brasil. it was forever..because we hopped all over the place...several stops in between..NO sleeping aids...he won't need them..but..you need to feed them everytime you lift off or land so the ears don't hurt due to change in altitude...

Answer 7

continue with the childs rhythm as if nothing has happened. I have traveled extensively to Sweden and Argentina from the US. Most of all, DO NOT STRESS yourself. Children might do much better if the parents' anxiety woud not take over. If you are still breastfeeding, your stress will cause your baby to be more stressed out. Make sure your baby is well hydrated. DO NOT SEDATE your baby. Let it take the course it will and you will be fine.
Take the baby's crying as a sign of distress and try to find out what he/she needs, rather than getting exasperated. Take old toys youre child already likes, and a few new one that she might be interested.
Think that you might not be able to sleep (or take turns if you are traveling with someone). Organize yourself and good luck!

Answer 8

Don't give the baby a sleep aide.
Keep the baby up as much as you can the night before. Make sure you drink on the way up and on the way down and have plenty of toys or something that a 7 month old would like as a toy like keys or something.

Answer 9

have the baby drink a bottle while taking off and landing. it will help there ears.

have toys to play with and their own seat if you can. in the airports let the baby play on the floor as much as possible.

sleep when the baby sleeps. sounds crazy but if you don't you will be ready to sleep and the baby will wake up. no sleep aides, they are not good for babies. for the airport have a stroller, like a cheap umbrella stroller incase you have a far walk.

good luck and have a safe trip!!

Answer 10

Have the baby suck on a pacifier or bottle during all take-offs and landings to help prevent their ears from getting plugged up. Get some new toys to take on the flight to keep them entertained. Take a stuffed animal that they may be accustomed to and their sleepy time blanket. don't give sleep aids unless it is approved by their doctor.