Before sharing some essential tips for flying with baby, here is a little story that I would like to share with you guys. So, my husband and I love travelling and we didn’t want to put a full stop to what we love just because we have a baby now.
Instead what we did was to inculcate that beautiful idea of travelling in our child right from the beginning. At 3 months we took our daughter to a local Mumbai city tour, at 5 months it was Kotayam, at 7 months a vacation to Coimbatore and some temple towns in the South, a weekend holiday to Lavasa at 9 months, Delhi at 1 year and then she was all set for her first international tour to Muscat when she was 14 months. Today, she absolutely enjoys travelling.
Discussed here are simple tips for flying with baby that I followed.
10 Great Tips for flying with Baby
1. Travel time
When it comes to following tips for flying with baby, timing the flight with your infant’s sleep schedule is crucial. Learn from my experience: avoid mismatches like my last trip when my daughter napped for 4 hours before a night flight, resulting in a cranky journey. Distraction during the day ensured a peaceful return flight to India.
2. Reach the airport a little early so that you are not in for any surprise
When flying with a baby, it’s always better to reach a little early and check in leisurely for a smoother experience. One of the essential tips for flying with baby is to inquire about the availability of a bassinet on long flights and book in advance. Additionally, airlines often reserve a seat for the infant if the flight isn’t full. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance from the ground staff, who can help you with formalities when you have your hands full.
3. Front row seats for the nursing mothers
Getting a seat right at the front of the airbus is a good idea as the ride is smoother here and the child is bound to experience less or almost no inconvenience. Additionally, a nursing mother can always request for a seat in the first row by the window giving her the much required privacy and the leg space to keep her baby calm during the flight.
4. Clothing
If you are feeding your child, wear loose comfy clothes, preferably ones that have front buttons. Additionally a stole or a shawl is always handy when flying with a baby. A set of change of clothes for both mommy and the kiddo is recommended.
5. Handling Baggage
When flying with a baby or smaller children, it’s advisable to carry minimal cabin baggage to make managing everything easier. Most airlines allow 7 kgs for infants, which can be either checked in or taken as cabin baggage. Before your travel, check with your airline for specific guidelines and pack accordingly for a hassle-free experience with your little one. These are important tips for flying with baby.
6. Stroller for an infant
Investing in a stroller as opposed to a pram is a good idea when flying with a baby. You can take the stroller right till the steps that lead to the aircraft. The stroller isn’t considered in the baggage allowance. It’s collected by the airline staff at the entrance of the aircraft and on arrival is given to you immediately after you alight from the flight. This was very helpful for me particularly in my last travel as we landed from Muscat at 2 am and my daughter who was sleeping could easily be managed. Strollers are also available on hire at most international airports.
7. Baby Feed
One of the essential tips for flying with baby is to feed them during takeoff and landing. Flight staff will provide instructions, and if the baby refuses milk, water, sugar, or candy can be alternatives. The sucking action helps relieve ear blockage and prevent ear pain due to air pressure. Consultation with a pediatrician is recommended for prescribing ear drops and medications for longer flights. If the child is asleep during takeoff or landing, it’s best not to wake them up for feeding as sleeping naturally helps overcome the issue.
8. Stock enough Baby Food
It’s a good idea to take enough baby food in the flight if the number of travelling hours is going to be long. Airlines allow carrying water bottle for the baby, so carry enough boiled water with you to make that formula or cerelac at meal time for the child. Additionally, always stock enough diapers, bib, wet wipes, hand sanitizer (100 ml), thrash bags. Carrying a sweater and a cap is a must.
9. Medicines for the baby
Before traveling, it’s important to get a complete check-up of the baby and obtain a list of medicines to carry for your vacation from your pediatrician. These medicines can act as an SOS in case your child is unwell while flying with a baby. Ensure you have medications for nose block, fever, or vomiting that may need to be administered to the child. These are essential tips for flying with baby to ensure their health and well-being during the journey.
10. Keep the kid busy as a bee
Carry a few baby books that the baby loves, toys, crayons and paper sheets and a few games that will keep them engaged.
This post is one of our Travel Series , do check out the other posts in the series,
15 Instant Porridge Recipes for Babies
Homemade Snacks ideal for Travel for Toddlers
Article by Anuradha Ramamirtham
I am Anuradha Ramamirtham, a hands-on mother to a 16 months old daughter. Professionally, I am a senior reporter for almost a decade now and have experience in reporting in IT, business of entertainment and currently real estate but after my baby was born I didn’t want to leave her and go to work and so presently I am a work from home mom, putting my writing skills to use.
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