Many of us have been on that flight with a fussy baby that won’t seem to let up. It’s understandable and certainly not anyone’s fault, but many parents are afraid of their little one being the cause of a sleepless flight.
The truth is, there is no way to guarantee this won’t happen. Most people are kind and understanding enough to recognize that, so don’t chastise yourself if it happens to you!
Fortunately, a few travel tips can help make flying with a baby a lot easier. Read on to learn how to keep them comfortable and happy throughout the flight.
Do Pre-Plane Planning
While there is no law regarding how young your baby can be on their first flight, some airlines don’t allow babies under a certain age. Before booking your flight, phone the reservation desk so they can give you all the information you need regarding these policies, such as medication, travel bassinets, and so on.
If you can, ask for a bulkhead and request a bassinet if your baby is not yet at their wriggly crawling phase. Also, if there’s any way you can fly during their usual nap time, seize the opportunity!
Pack the Essentials
Of course, you should ensure your luggage is in line with the airline’s sizing and weight limitations, but bringing extra supplies is necessary. Additionally, make sure your luggage is as easy to carry and roll around as possible, and take advantage of checked baggage services. Other than that, bring more diapers, food, snacks, and clothing than you think you’ll need.
Most airports don’t offer these essentials, and once you’re in the sky, there’s not much you can do. Wipes, trash bags for soiled clothes, blankets, noiseless toys, and extra pacifiers are also extremely helpful. If you can, get as many of these things as you can from the dollar store because you’re bound to lose a sock or a toy here and there.
Keep Your Little One Cozy and Distracted
All the movement and new noises, smells, and sights can overwhelm your baby, especially when they sense your stress. While there’s not much you can do in that regard, you can keep them comfortable. For adults and babies, ear pressure can cause discomfort, and flying can cause dehydration, so keep your baby well-hydrated and give them a pacifier to help ease ear pressure.
Sometimes, all the feeding and comfort in the world can’t stop a fussy baby, and often, it’s simply because they’re bored or overwhelmed—a distracted baby is a happy baby. Give them toys one at a time, so when they get bored of one, there’s another in the rotation. You can even wrap the toys to give older babies some extra fun playing with the paper.
Some parents even opt to get seats on opposite sides of the aisle to pass the baby over and give them a small change of scenery, which does help.
Hopefully, these travel tips can help make flying with your baby a little easier. However, it’s important to remember that the unexpected can happen, so try to stay flexible, and don’t get down on yourself if things don’t go exactly to plan. Even if your little one does have a mid-flight meltdown, you’re not a bad parent, and they’ll calm down with time and patience.
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