Air travel with an 8 month old

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2004
Air travel with an 8 month old
5
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 7:54am
I am traveling via plane with my son for the first time. He's 8 months old and I am nervous. Not so much about the flying; more concerned about our routine being disrupted! I know many people who travel with their infants, but I am uneasy about the entire thing. I have packed tons of new toys for the plane ride to keep my son occupied. Any other advice out there for me? Thanks for allowing me to vent. I feel better.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-27-2004
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 10:19am
Been there done that. It is not gonna be fun. Just to warn you. I took my son when he was newborn and he was pretty good. I took him when he was a yr and he was very crabby. And I took my DD when she was about 3 months and she didn't like it. My advice is you cannot let the other people bother you. You can ask for the very back of the plane. I tend to see more families in the back. Try and bring juices and snacks to shove in there face for the ride. We bought him new toys too but we didn't let him play with them until the plane so he would be excited about it. We flew all the way from Florida to Minnesota. Usually not to bad of a flight but they had alot of delays all times. So you will be constantly enertaining him. But just remember it will be over soon...lol. Good luck!!!! Have fun.

Sheri
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2004
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 11:30am
I have been flying with my son from California to Florida (5 hours) sonce he was 5 weeks old - we go East about every 4 months. I don't find it to be that big of a deal - just be prepared. I used to fly on red-eye flights that way he'd sleep the entire time. Bring some books and the new toys are good. I make up a "travel bag" with some new toys, books, snacks and drinks and he looks forward to seeing what's in the bag. One tip, don't drag out your stuff until the plane is up in the air. One time, I gave him his stuff at take off and within 30 minutes he was bored!

Allow yourself extra time to get through security - I find that to be the biggest pain when traveling now.

Dana

2/04 - Jacob

3/00 - Jarrod

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2004
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 12:43pm
Thanks so much for your advice. I wish I could give my son snacks. I think he's too young for them. He is still on a bottle and Gerber 2nd foods.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-30-2004
Wed, 03-31-2004 - 12:44pm
Thanks for all your kind words. It is greatly appreciated!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Sat, 04-10-2004 - 11:36pm
It'll be O.K. I just traveled with my son in January when he was almost 8 months old. We went from Boston to San Juan to the Dominican and back again...6 planes total! Feel free to rely on the steward/stewardess for help, like going to the bathroom if you don't have a traveling partner. Can he do Cheerios yet? We started them around 7/8 months, and so far, they're my secret weapon. I actually didn't start them until my doctor suggested it. She said they disolve so quickly and because of the hole they're very difficult to choke on. We didn't buy a seat on the plane for him but got lucky with a couple of fairly empty planes...thank God! It would have been hard to keep him on our laps for the whole trip, but in the car seat next to us, he was pretty comfortable. One Step Ahead catalog sells flight vests for infants and toddlers that you might want to check out. Does he use a pacifier? Those are best during takeoff and landing to help with the ear pressure. I'll admit though, I was nervous for the first plane, so I have him some Tylenol as soon as we boarded to help with any ear pressure or discomfort. You'll do great!