Traveling With An Infant
There are certain precautions that you need to take when traveling with a baby, but overall, flying is just as safe for babies as it is for adults. The only exception is for very young infants less than 7 days old. Studies have found that infants this young could find it difficult to adjust to the variations in cabin pressure.
To prepare for airplane travel with your baby, we recommend the following steps:
- Notify the airline in advance if your baby has any food allergies. Airlines will be accommodating if your child has any food allergies, such as nut allergies or lactose intolerance. The airline can arrange an appropriate meal for your child , and flight attendants may ask other passengers to refrain from eating the food that your baby is allergic to during the flight. Food particles can get into the air-circulating system and cause allergic reactions, even if your child isn’t the one eating the food.
- Protect your baby’s ears during the flight. Small children have delicate ears, and the changes in cabin pressure can cause earaches. To avoid this, breastfeed your baby or give them a bottle or a pacifier during takeoff and landing.
Bring More Baby Supplies Then You Need
In an effort to pack light, you might only bring what your baby needs for the flight. Yet, flight delays could extend the length of your trip by several hours.
So make sure you bring more baby food, snacks, formula or pumped breast milk, diapers, and other supplies than you actually need to avoid a hungry, fussy baby.
Remember To Check With Your Doctor
If you’re traveling with an infant on a plane, it’s always wise to ask your doctor for recommendations. Your doctor can also make sure your child’s vaccinations are up to date before you travel. They might recommend that you avoid traveling to places where your baby could be exposed to illnesses that they can’t be vaccinated against yet. For example, babies younger than 6 months old can’t be vaccinated against yellow fever.
You should also talk to your doctor if your child has a chronic illness. Most airlines will make special arrangements for your child if needed. For example, they can usually provide oxygen during the flight and layovers, as long as you notify the airline at least 24 hours in advance.
If your child is older than two and experiences motion sickness, your doctor might recommend anti-nausea medications. These medications are usually sold over the counter, but your doctor will specify the correct dosage for your child.
Flying with a baby can make anyone nervous. Follow this checklist to make sure that you’re not forgetting anything!
Recommended Reading: How Many Pounds Are Newborn Diapers
If Possible Wait Until Your Baby Is 3 Months Old
Airplanes are a breeding ground for germs, so it probably isnt a good idea to fly shortly after giving birth since newborns have a weaker immune system. At the same time, though, an airline isnt going to ban a newborn from flying.
American Airlines allows infants as young as 2 days old, and Southwest Airlines allows infants as young as 14 days old. But a babys immune system is more developed by 3 months of age, making them less susceptible to illness.
If you need to fly with a younger baby, no worries. Make sure you wash your hands frequently or use hand sanitizer to protect baby from germs, and keep a safe distance between your little ones and other travelers.
Protect Your Baby’s Ears
Sucking or chewing helps ease ear pain caused by pressure changes in the airplanes cabin. Bring formula or pumped breast milk onboard. Then you can give your baby a bottle during take-off and landing while junior stays safely buckled.
Keep in mind that breast milk and baby formula is exempt from the 3.4 ounce liquid rule. For formula-fed babies, bring sealed liquid formula or buy a water bottle at the airport to mix with powdered formula.
If your child doesnt take bottles, then a sippy cup or pacifier works, too. Chewing a cracker or cookie can also help older babies and toddlers.
EarPlanes are wonderful for flyers with sensitive ears. Pop these special plastic earplugs into little ears at the beginning of the airplane’s descent to lessen pressure and pain. Children’s EarPlanes work for kids aged 1+. You might also want to ask your pediatrician to prescribe ear pain drops before your flight with your baby.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Bad Diaper Rash On Newborn
Keep Yourself Calm And Relaxed Too
Try to pretend its just you and your baby on the plane. Im sorry, but I cant be worried about how upset Larry in 15D is, says Farnoosh Torabi, a personal finance expert and mother of two kids.
Torabi and her husband recently traveled from New York City to Turks and Caicos with their 3-year-old and 10-month-old. Babies can pick up on a parents stress, and that can only exacerbate the crying, she says.
Packing Tips For Flying With A Baby
What Baby Travel Products Shall I Take?
- When I am asked how to travel with a baby, travel gear plays a big part. The best travel essentials with baby definitely include a baby carrier. For those walks to baggage reclaim and through customs, it is so convenient to be baby-wearing and have your hands free to push the trolley- especially if you are flying solo. There are also so many amazing travel strollers on the market these days too some which you can take as hand luggage. You may want to consider taking a portable travel highchair too.
- Read more reviews on my recommended products in these posts:
- Portable travel highchairs
- If you have a bassinet, I cant recommend the CoziGo airline bassinet cover highly enough- which shuts out the cabin light so baby can sleep even during the day time. It doubles up as a UV breathable stroller cover too perfect for hot sunny climates. This bit of baby gear is my go to for baby shower gifts and is perfect when flying with infants. Read more about it here.
You May Like: How Many Scoops Of Formula Do You Give A Newborn
Board The Plane Separately
While all airlines allow parents with babies to board first, its not always the smartest move. Remember, it usually takes a half-hour for everybody else to board and the plane to start moving thats a lot of time stuck in your seat with a newborn. If youre traveling with a spouse, friend, or family member, the better strategy is to have one person board the flight early to stow the carry-ons and diaper bag, gate-check the stroller/car seat, and, if concerned about germs, disinfect the armrests and tray tables. Meanwhile, the other parent walks/entertains the child until everybody is on board and then boards last.
Where Will My Baby Sleep On A Plane
On long-haul flights, you can request a bassinet/sky cot for your baby to sleep in. Youll need to book a bulkhead seat to get those though. Contact the airline as soon as you know youre travelling to see if you can reserve one .
Another tip: travelling at night can help make sleep more likely. Alternatively, you can arrange to bring a baby car seat with you .
You May Like: How Many Ounces Of Milk For A Newborn Baby
Does My Child Gets A Baggage Allowance
Check with your airline if your baby gets a baggage allowance for all of those nappies and tiny socks they need as each one is different. The baggage allowance can be 5kg to 10 kg over for items such as a car seat or travel cot. If not, you might have to splash out for extra luggage allowance .
Most airlines realise a baby doesnt travel light but some dont. In this case, you might have to sacrifice your hand luggage in favour of a well-stocked changing bag. Thankfully, most airlines are more generous and do allow a babys changing bag in addition to your usual hand luggage.
Bring A Change Of Clothes For Baby And You
On the return flight from Palm Springs, another baby a few rows ahead of us vomited on take off. I realized theres really nothing worse than sitting in your babys yuck while flying across a continent.
My advice, pack an extra top for mom/dad , as well as an extra outfit for the baby in your carry on bag. Spare blankets and burp rags are great too.
You May Like: How To Adopt A Newborn Baby In Texas
More Travel With Baby Tips
1. Have a little faith. Trust that you CAN do this you can hop in the car or on a plane to find adventure and explore new places as a family.
2. Getting out the door is the hardest step. Once you have the kids fed and dressed with their shoes on you can go anywhere.
3. Try new things! Dont be afraid to push the boundaries of what you think you can do with your kids just a little bit. They may surprise you!
4. You are a parent no matter where you go. Just because you are on vacation doesnt mean you stop being a mom or dad. You have that job for life. Now it is up to you to decide what the backdrop of parenthood will be. Will you sit at home, or will you explore the Olympic peninsula and Eiffel Tower while enjoying cuddles and fending off tantrums? Personally Id pick the latter.
5. Accept that jet lag is inevitable, but you will get through it. Click here to get some tips for dealing
How Many Ounces Of Formula Can A Newborn Drink
You can start by offering your baby 1 to 2 ounces of infant formula every 2 to 3 hours in the first days of life if your baby is only getting infant formula and no breast milk. Give your baby more if he or she is showing signs of hunger. Most infant formula-fed newborns will feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.
Recommended Reading: What Does Newborn Need At Hospital
Backpacks And Diaper Bags
Get yourself a good backpack or diaper bag that can also act as a day bag for yourself. If your child is keen to hold their own bag, you can always grab one of these kids backpacks.
A diaper clutch has also been key for us when it came to a diaper change. Never assume the changing tables on an airplane have been cleaned. We pop the clutch, filled with wipes and spare diapers, from one purse or backpack to another.
Learn More Tips For Traveling With Young Children
Considering a road trip? Read my tips for road trips with babies and toddlers.
To avoid lugging a bulky car seat onboard your next flight, read my review of CARES, the only compact FAA-approved safety harness for toddlers and preschoolers.
For a whole slew of tips for traveling with babies, toddlers, and young children buy my book!
Read Also: How Much Does A Newborn Eat Per Feeding
Extra Consideration When Flying With A Newborn:
Our biggest issue was that, as an exclusively breastfed infant, our sons poops were quite explosive. If the diaper did manage to contain it, it would end up seeping out anyway. , or an expecting parent )
I brought a change of clothes for our flight out, but he went through that rather quickly. And the new outfit barely held until we reached our hotel. Since baby clothes are so tiny at this age, more than one change of clothes is a good idea. If your infant is formula-fed, bring extra feeds and bottles. You never know when or for how long delays will happen. I cant imagine the stress of having a hungry baby and not having access to formula and water.
The usual flying with baby advice holds here when flying with a newborn Try to keep them sucking during takeoff and landing, whether thats by nursing, a bottle, or a pacifier. Dont be afraid to administer a bit of infant pain relief medication if you think babys ears are in pain. Our sons naps were not yet consistent by this point, but we were flying at typical naptimes so he slept for most of both flights. Toys wont really do much at this age either, so enjoy the relative lightness of your carry-on bag!
Of all the ages and stages our sons been at when weve flown with him, this was definitely the easiest. Although if youre a first-time mom , you probably dont believe me.
You will, if you have another!
Get To The Airport Early When Flying With A Baby
While some new parents argue against arriving at the airport too early as it requires entertaining your baby for a longer stretch of time outside the comforts of home the simple fact remains: airport stress is dictated by your departure time. And the less time you give yourself to go from the parking garage to the gate especially with a baby and extra gear in tow the more stress you will create. Flying with a baby takes significantly more time than traveling on your own. Arriving 90 minutes to two hours before your flight ensures no matter how long the check-in or TSA lines are, or how slowly theyre moving, youll never have to sweat missing your flight. Even better, it gives parents a chance to regroup order lunch, feed the baby, buy a book they wont be able to read when they get inside the terminal.
Read Also: How Often Should You Change A Newborns Diaper
If You Can Afford It Buy The Baby A Seat
Obviously, this decision depends on ones finances, but if youve got the money to buy an extra seat book it. Being able to secure the wiggly baby in a car seat, rather than bouncing them on your lap for three hours, is a game-changer. Plus, theres a better chance theyll actually sleep during the flight than if resting in your arms or on your shoulder which, incidentally, isnt always comfortable for a parent either. If that baby naps in your arms, youre petty much stuck in that position for the duration.
Traveling With More Than One Lap Infant
The strict rule is: One lap infant per adult.
If you are flying as a solo adult and have two or more children under the age of 2 with you, you’ll have to purchase a ticket for one of them .
Two adults traveling together can have two lap children with them, which is great for parents with twins or kids born close together. But don’t be surprised if the flight attendant tells you that you cannot sit next to each other in the same row. Because of the limited number of oxygen masks, most aircraft only permit one lap infant per row.
Lap infants are also not allowed to sit in emergency exit rows or the rows directly in front of or behind the exit rows. On some aircraft, there are additional rows that do not permit lap infants.
If you are flying with an infant and your flight has bassinets on board, book that row if you can. Typically, you’ll find bassinets on international flights, but they might also be available on domestic flights with internationally configured aircraft.
Read Also: What To Wash A Newborn With
Children Under 18 With Special Needs
Most young children who use a CRS weigh 40 lbs. or less. However, there are some children with physical challenges who weigh more than 40 lbs. and need the support and security of a CRS or device so they can travel safely on an airplane.
Airlines must allow a child who is under the age of 18 to use an approved CRS that is properly labeled, appropriate for the child’s weight, and as long as the child is properly secured in the CRS. Many companies manufacture CRSs approved for use on aircraft that are specifically designed for larger children who are physically challenged. See Child Safety Seat Ease of Use Ratings for more information.
Meghan Markles Best Repeat Looks To Date
Buy a Seat for Your Baby For a long-haul flight, having an extra seat for your childeven if theyre under 2, when they can ride in your lap for freeis a must. Flights are always smoother when your child has their own space, and even the crankiest child is more likely to fall asleep in his car seat.
Even If Youre Shipping Everything Else Ahead, Always Bring a Car Seat Domestic airlines allow you to bring a car seat on board if theres an open space, meaning you might luck into a seat for your under-twos even if you havent purchased one. When you check-in, ask if the flight is full: if its not, bring the car seat through security to the gate. If the flight suddenly becomes full, you can gate-check it using a protective car seat bag like the JL Childress. Its also worth investing in a lightweight and compact convertible car seat solely for your travelstwo favorites are the Cosco Scenera Next, which weighs just 10 pounds, or the Graco ComfortSport, which weighs 12 pounds.
Baby Wear Baby carriers can be lifesavers when traveling. Not only can you wear children through securityleaving you with two free hands for strollers, carry-ons, or boarding passesbut theyll also come in handy when visiting museums, beaches, or other places where strollers either arent practical or arent permitted. They also allow for discreet breastfeeding, especially helpful during takeoff and landing.
You May Like: What Temperature Should Newborn Bath Be