Air Travel with Infants

The first time I traveled back to Italy to visit my family, I had my baby girl with me. I had a direct flight from Dallas to Frankfurt, and then a connecting flight to Milan. I spent the whole transatlantic flight walking up and down the isles, trying to soothe my child and make her stop crying. It was a nightmare. Yet, that trip was followed by many more. As I became a seasoned traveler, I was able to figure out ways to make those trips more manageable for me and less traumatic for my children.

Below are my top five must have items and tips to make your flight more pleasant.

Diapers/Wipes/Cream

I used to pack one diaper per hour of flight. Chances were I was not going to need them all, and most times I did not; however, I had a couple of flights that I was very grateful I followed the 1-1 rule.

Always have wipes; they come at handy for cleaning all sorts of spills and to refresh yourself as well.

Diaper rash ointment is a necessity if your child has very sensitive skin. However, you must follow the new airline regulations as to the size of the container (http://www.tsa.gov/311/index.shtm)

Change of clothes

If you have ever traveled with a child, you know that a change of clothes is a necessity. For airline travel, the change becomes even more important, not just for the baby, but for yourself as well.

To begin with, dress yourself and your child in layers; this way you can take off or put back on articles of clothing depending on the temperature of the aircraft and to get an instant change of clothes.

Next, it is unavoidable for a baby to soil clothes, therefore, pack at least two changes of clothes in separate zip lock bags. This will serve a dual purpose: it will be easy to get a change of clothes out and you can use the bag to store the soiled set. Don't forget to get a change of clothes for yourself, in case your baby dirties your clothes during a diaper change or feeding.

Baby formula/food

Airlines will have water for you, but they will not have formula or any other type of baby food. Make sure you have enough formula and/or food to last you for the whole trip (including airport wait). Don't forget baby bottles, sippy cups, and baby spoons.

One suggestion: once you have gone through security, fill a bottle with enough water to prepare formula, or buy some juice if you child is already drinking juice. You will need it during take off. If you have flown before, you know how you need to chew gum, swallow, or yawn to open up the ears again. Your child will go through the same sensations (and discomfort) so having her/him drink out of the bottle as you are ready to take off will help minimize the problem.

Pacifier/teething ring

These articles are important as they will help your child soothe her/himself. Do not buy one at the airport as your child will not be used to them and might refuse them.

The pacifier will also help during take off (see the suggestion under Baby formula/food) if you child is not quite ready to eat/drink yet.

Car seat

I realize that by holding your baby during the flight you will not have to pay full fare; however, it will be worth it for you to buy a ticket, hence a seat, for your child for several reasons:

• You will have a place to buckle an FAA approved car seat so she/he will have a familiar place to nap and play (with one aircraft flying under several companies to the same destination, you cannot count on empty seats).
• The buckled seat will be the safest spot during turbulence or when encountering air pockets. Pilots recommend staying buckled at all times. If that is a good suggestion for an adult, it is even more so for a baby.
• It will give you a chance to possibly nap (if your child is napping), let your arms rest, and/or eat. The first flight I took, I only had an airline provided bassinet. My child did not want to stay in it, so I ended up holding her for the majority of the flight and was unable to eat and use the restroom.
• If you are planning to become a frequent flyer, each seat you buy qualifies for miles. If you don't have a seat, you don't get the miles.

For more tips on car seat usage on planes, please visit the FAA website at: http://www.faa.gov/passengers/fly_children/crs/

One last tip: most airlines allow passengers one carry-on (not including your purse). I used to carry a diaper bag and a book bag. Both had items I needed for my children; however, I used to place a fanny pack with passports, tickets, and money inside one of the bags. Once on board, I would take the fanny pack out and place it around my waist, so that I did not have to worry about leaving important items unattended.

There are plenty of websites giving tips for traveling with children. It is a good idea to customize a list of things and tips that will benefit your family during the travel. Remember that the journey is as important as the destination. The better experience you have, the more you will enjoy your destination.