This Spring, we are flying to South Africa so that our daughter can meet her grandparents. She'll be 11 months old, and I am dreading the flight.
With connections, the trip will take about 20 hours. Does anyone have any advice for keeping her calm and happy? Also, I don't think we can afford to pay for a separate seat for her, so she'll be on our laps for the whole journey. Does anyone have any experience with loooong airplane trips and restless babies?
2007-02-09 08:24:46 · 9 answers · asked by stormsinger1 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Just flew with my 11 month old on a 12 hour flight. Having someone fly with you is half the battle. Take regularly scheduled intervals (let's say you hold her and entertain her for an hour and then your husband--but make sure you time it and do it at regular intervals...if you don't you end up feeling guilty that you're not holding her enough or resentful because you have her too much! ). Also the DVD player is a good idea if she'll sit and watch. Ask for a bulkhead seat. This way you'll have space in front of you where either you or her can sit for part of the journey and you'll be able to spread out and not worry about her beating on the seat in front of you.
Books, toys, naps...you just have to juggle it. Give her a drink when you are taking off but most importantly when you are landing. Bring plenty of food--cheerios, baby food, finger food, formula (or if you're still breast feeding all the better because it will calm her on the takeoff and landing) Connections can be a lifesaver...utilize them to walk all around, stretch, let her walk (if she can) or go around in the stroller.
Expect that she will be crabby--it's natural. And don't worry about folks around you...it's a fact of life, kids cry and complain. The less stressed you are about it, the less stressed she will be. Best of luck--she and you will do just fine.
2007-02-09 09:25:14 · answer #1 · answered by Pamela P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have never been a trip that long, 12 hours is my longest (5 times) one was actually 19 due to plane malfunctions, my first time, was when my daughter was 6 months (MA to alaska) The second my kids were 3 and 7 months and then again at 3 1/2 and 1 year. the first and second trips were just me and the kids no other adult help (husband was overseas and I went to visit family).
Bring LOTS and LOTS of snacks! I don't know about international travel but on domestic (even 12 hour flights) they don't serve meals anymore and my layovers were not long enough to get some food (less than an hour). Any kinds of toys you have that make some kind of noise but not loud enough to disturb other flyers. A sippy cup, bottle if she uses them. during takeoff and landing I suggest giving her her sippy, bottle, nursing her or using a pacifier, it can be rough on their ears and the sucking and swallowing is suposed to help w/ that. And most of all, stay calm, if you are nervous or tense at all, your baby is going to notice and it will show. If your baby does get fussy, just do what you can for him, but we all know if a baby wants to cry they are going to cry no matter what you do. Just try to not get frustrated and if your baby is really upset and loud try taking her to the bathroom for a minute of alone time w/ you, it could just be the excitement of all the people and a new place that may make her upset and could calm down taken away from it. Good Luck and you and your baby will do fine.
2007-02-09 10:03:11 · answer #2 · answered by medleyc1 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recently took my 8 month old baby on a trip from colorado to Alabama. It took from 10 in the morning til 8-9 at night there about 8 hours in total.
Bring all of her comfort items(blankets, toys) always bring extra because you may lose some. Give her some tylenol about 15 minutes before you board each flight, helps the ear popping along with a pacifer(even if she doesnt use one usually)my daughter doesnt but it helped on the flight. You cant get through security or customs with an liquid....so if shes on formula bring powder and you have to buy water when you get through each time. Ask sombody to warm it for you in a cup or something. bring finger foods so shes occupied messing with those.Change her diaper as frequently as you can and use lots of rash creme because you dont always know the next time you'll get a chance.Buy a couple new toys and dont show them to her until the trip has started, introduce a new toy and each connection and let her walk/crawl as much as possible while waiting for flights/connections. Keeping her worn out is a good thing! good luck and dont let other people on the flight make you uncomfortable if she cries or throws a fit.
2007-02-09 10:08:45 · answer #3 · answered by cherokee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you can manage a portable DVD player, that will help you tremedously. Also, bring books, food, milk, etc to keep her busy. Get a homeopathic like Hylands Teething Tablets to try to calm her and possibly she'll sleep some. We drove 20 hours with my daughter in the car when she was 12 months and the DVD player saved our lives.
Kids are very resilient, and very adaptable. You'll stress out over it more than you'll need to. She'll be good!
2007-02-09 08:28:58 · answer #4 · answered by Jilli Bean 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Buy some small toys that are quiet, yet entertaining. Don't let her see them until you get on the plane.
My daughter was 1 1/2 when we took her on a plane, and she loved to play with Color Wonder Markers/Coloring Books. These are great because the markers only write on the special paper.
Also, A Magna Doodle Pro from Target.
Maybe a portable DVD player?
2007-02-09 08:30:43 · answer #5 · answered by Rae 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Oh wow, good luck. Can you schedule it at night so that she can sleep? I know it's expensive, but having her own seat will probably help tons...my son was small enough to stretch out on the seat and sleep.
2007-02-09 08:29:14 · answer #6 · answered by chelebeee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
considering infants learn ultimate via exercises, i think of that is going to likely be ultimate to start shanging his ordinary little via little interior the united kingdom. so as that via the time you men get to Australia, it is not lots of a difficulty to get them used to a clean time. be certain you're stocked with toys, blankets and snacks (with out sugar so your toddler isn't hyper).
2016-09-28 21:32:47 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a good article i received all about flying with infants.
http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/air-travel-with-baby.html
2007-02-09 08:35:44 · answer #8 · answered by butterfly_baby241 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take snacks, read books, play games, take head set and let the child listen to it
2007-02-09 08:29:45 · answer #9 · answered by glamour04111 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋