Flying with a one-year old ... tips?

[bordelond]

Next week, my wife and I will be taking out 13-month-old daughter onto a plane for the first time. The flight is only 60-65 minutes. I don't expect the plane to even be at capacity, but there's a chance it could be full. We'll be in coach.

My main concerns are about bringing the baby's extras along ... namely a small ice-pack bag for two sip cups/bottles and her diaper bag (on the smallish side). Can we expect to bring those things on, plus a carry-on bag of clothes each for ourselves?

Our daughter is an excellent and experienced traveller by car. We have taken dozens of 3-4 hour drives with the baby, and she is fine. By nature she is content, and (90% of the time) easy to calm down.

Do we have to worry much about her ears? Are there unexpected things we might need to consider?

Thanks in advance!

[Moirai]

A few hints from a mother of two...

Take-off and landing are hard on the ears, because they can't clear them very well. Screaming is a great solution, but isn't always nice for the other passengers! Sucking on something will also do the trick nicely, so have a pacifier (if you're into that), bottle or sippy cup handy.

A few books are nice, and a favorite toy or two. The flight is nice and short, so you don't have to worry about bringing everything in the house with you.

A change of clothes for the baby is a must, in case of the unexpected. Changing tables in the heads on most airplanes are pretty sad, so if your little one agrees, it could be easier to change a wet diaper on the seat. You might bring along a couple of those perfumed plastic bags in case of a poopy diaper, everyone will appreciate it. Wet ones fit in a barf bag.

Bring her favorite snack and favorite beverage. Don't count on the airline for anything when it comes to kids.

You'll be fine! Take a picture for the scrap book!

[bughunter]

Based on my observations of parents with todders during my aviation escapades, I can make the following recommendations:

- If the airline is a reserved seat carrier (i.e., not Southwest) then buy a ticket for the child. You do not want to be stuck with her in your lap in the event the aircraft gets stuck on the taxiway for three hours due to weather delays.

(Heck, I don't know if they even allow this anymore... but I've observed parents who at some point have decided that not buying a ticket for their child was a mistake, after all.)

- Don't schedule the flight for late in the day or for such a long day of traveling that the kid gets cranky and inconsolable... cuz many won't sleep en route.

- Dress her in comfy, layered clothes and sneakers or sandals.

- Introduce her to the flight attendant when she gets onboard the plane, and make sure the flight attendant knows it's her first flight. She'll possibly receive a small toy or gift during the flight, at a moment when you need her distracted or consoled.

and last, but not least...

- Do not dress your hyperactive child in hiking boots and feed her a starbucks venti hot chocolate with extra sugar before boarding a plane where her assigned seat is your lap. I once saw an example of this error in which mom, dad, and everyone in the adjacent rows may still have the bruises to show for it.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by bughunter

If the airline is a reserved seat carrier (i.e., not Southwest) then buy a ticket for the child. You do not want to be stuck with her in your lap in the event the aircraft gets stuck on the taxiway for three hours due to weather delays.

Our daughter is too young to sit alone, so we did not buy her a ticket. We'll have to gamble on the weather (they wouldn't disboard for a three-hour delay? I rarely fly, so I wouldn't know).

Don't schedule the flight for late in the day or for such a long day of traveling that the kid gets cranky and inconsolable... cuz many won't sleep en route.

Flight is first thing in the morning. The flight is really our only travel of the day.

Dress her in comfy, layered clothes and sneakers or sandals.

Check ... this is her everyday wear.

Introduce her to the flight attendant when she gets onboard the plane, and make sure the flight attendant knows it's her first flight. She'll possibly receive a small toy or gift during the flight, at a moment when you need her distracted or consoled.

Hadn't thought to do this ... good tip.

Do not dress your hyperactive child in hiking boots and feed her a starbucks venti hot chocolate with extra sugar before boarding a plane where her assigned seat is your lap. I once saw an example of this error in which mom, dad, and everyone in the adjacent rows may still have the bruises to show for it.

She's way too young for coffee and hiking boots. No problems there.

[bordelond]

Oh ... and if anyone knows: what are the logisitcs of flying with a stroller and a car seat? Just check 'em in like regular luggage?

[Danalan]

If your child has a cold/runny nose, consider asking the flight attendant to request a 'slow descent' on the landing approach. Slow descents are usual, however quick descents are sometimes used to fit flights into the pattern more efficiently. If you have requested a slow descent (for a real reason), the pilot will (hopefully) not accept a quick descent if offered. Better to be a few minutes late, or drive around for a while, than hurt a small child unneccessarily.

I learned this the hard way -- sitting in front of a 2-year old with a runny nose. We did a quick descent into Seattle, and everyone shared his pain.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by Danalan

If your child has a cold/runny nose, consider asking the flight attendant to request a 'slow descent' on the landing approach. Slow descents are usual, however quick descents are sometimes used to fit flights into the pattern more efficiently.

The first time I ever flew (at age 22), the pilot both rose sharply and descended sharply. I was perfectly healthy, yet my ears were killing me for about a day afterwards. I thought that was typical of all flights, and I was thinking "Damn, this sucks ... I shoulda drove!"

Fortunately, the return trip was gentle ... much like a bus ride. My ears were A-OK. That restored my faith in airline travel.

.........

Upon your advice, I am considering asking for a slow descent next week, regardless of my daughter's health.

[angelicate]

I usually fly Continental, since they're the only ones with a nonstop from Norfolk to Houston.
When I fly, my little girl is always with me. She started flying at about 6 months, which was no problem, since she slept the whole time. Now that she's older, 16 months, she doesn't sleep unless she's really tired, but she is a generally happy baby and is usually content to spend the flight snacking and looking at her books/playing with toys. I bring a couple of small toys, cheerios and goldfish crackers, her sippy cup with water, and a jar or two of food. I also bring her car seat and stroller and gatecheck them.
When you get there and get your boarding pass, ask if they have an empty seat next to yours so that you could put the car seat there. They often do, and if so, you won't have to pay for the seat. I've heard that you can buy a seat for the baby and if the plane isn't full, you will be refunded, but I've never tried that, so don't take that as gospel. I think you are usually allowed two carryon bags per person, so your bag situation shouldn't be a big deal. On some airlines, baby items aren't supposed to count against your carry on limit, but again, that's something I've never tried, because I don't want to get there and find out that they've changed the rules.
I learned on our last trip that carrying the car seat through the airport was a pain, because it is so bulky. This time I put my daughter in the sling, put her carseat in the stroller and piled the carryon bags on top of it. It was so easy!

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Tip everyone you come in contact with. Especially fellow passengers who are subjected to the noise and odd aromas!

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by Danalan

If your child has a cold/runny nose, consider asking the flight attendant to request a 'slow descent' on the landing approach. Slow descents are usual, however quick descents are sometimes used to fit flights into the pattern more efficiently. If you have requested a slow descent (for a real reason), the pilot will (hopefully) not accept a quick descent if offered. Better to be a few minutes late, or drive around for a while, than hurt a small child unneccessarily.

I learned this the hard way -- sitting in front of a 2-year old with a runny nose. We did a quick descent into Seattle, and everyone shared his pain.

Please do tell us you're kidding. 300 other passengers, the flight crew, and the airline's schedule should be compromised because of a snotty two-year old?

IMHO, not.

[Moirai]

I have never flown with either kid on my lap- no thanks. I have always bought an airline seat then strapped the car seat into it. That way, the kid is comfy in familiar surroundings, and I have it handy at the other end. And I don't have to hold the baby the whole time, which can make a short flight seem very long.

Stroller are easy- gate check it. This means you wheel her right up to the plane, then they tag the stroller, fold it up and send it down a slide straight to the luggage hold doors. Last thing in is the first thing out, and it will meet you after the flight at either the door of the plane or at the end of the jetway.

[Moirai]

About buying a seat for an under-two year old- on a "regular" airline, they will usually sell it to you for half the adult fare. Southwest and JetBlue do not, because you are already getting a discount fare.

Also, you can only put a car seat next to the window, it is an FCC reg IIRC. A car seat between you and the aisle could conceivably slow you down in the event of an emergency, so they require the kids to be furthest from the aisle. That's fine, unless you are flying with two kids and can't sit between them. Yuck, tough flight for all of us...

[Chotii]

Three words:

Bag O Tricks

Go to your local thrift store and buy a couple of bags o' toys off the wall o' toys. Wash them well. Buy or make a fabric bag, and dump toys in. Take with you. When baby gets restless, pull out a 'brand new' toy she's never seen before. When she gets bored, put it away and pull out a new one. Repeat as necessary. By the time you get back to toy #1, she'll have forgotten it.

[China Guy]

It's only an hour - bwahahaahahahahahaha.

Here's what I did around that age. Wore cargo pants with duplicates of things in various pockets. You don;t know when you need to quick draw a pacifier, wet wipe, diaper, 1-2 pairs of pants in case of accident, candy for the descent, juice, water, snack, toy, etc. Take a couple of everything because that whole trip to the airport, through check in, departure lounge, on the plane, deplaning, getting out of the airport, takes a long time and can be stressful.

Bring it all with you and have back ups in reach by either hand. you don't want to have to try get to the overhead locker or unzip the bag shoved under the seat in front of you or any of that.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by EJsGirl

About buying a seat for an under-two year old- on a "regular" airline, they will usually sell it to you for half the adult fare. Southwest and JetBlue do not, because you are already getting a discount fare.

We're flying Southwest, so I'll just have to gamble that the flight is not full. It never occurred to me that a car seat would be allowed onto a plane.

[bittersweet]

Perhaps soaking the child's binky in blackberry brandy will help. You may want to bring along a flask for yourself as well. Another option is to pulverize a Xanax tablet and mix it with some milk in a bottle. Nighty-night, rabbit!



(What? I keed, I keed! Sounds like an excerpt from "AbFab's Guide to Parenting" or something...)

[ioioio]

Passengers with small children are allowed to board the plane first. Make sure you get there earlier enough to take advantage of this. If there's no assigned seating, this will allow you to choose the seats you want (you will not be allowed to sit in a row with an exit since those passengers are expected to help if an emergency exit is required).

Many planes have a row of seats at the front of the coach section that doesn't have another row directly in front of it (sometimes it faces a backward-facing row). This row is usually close to the bathroom and flight attendant service, and it has more leg-room and generally more room to fuss about with your baby and other stuff. The disadvantage is that it has no food trays.
Or you might consider the back row, which is close to a bathroom and to flight attendant service.

There is an unwritten rule of courtesy that if you took advantage of pre-boarding, you should allow the other passengers to deplane ahead of you. They'll get a little testy if they're held up on the way out by you and the baby and the baby's stuff.

[muldoonthief]

Check your car seat to see if it's FAA certified for airplane use before bringing it on board. Most are, but some aren't. Definitely bring it if it is certified though - the worst that can happen is the flight is full, and they ask you to free up that seat and gate check the car seat.

If you have a camcorder with a flip out screen and if your child is into the video age yet (I don't remember if mine were watching videos by 13 months), tape some of the videos onto a camcorder tape - you should be able to do this with a vcr and some a/v cables. My daughter thought watching Pooh on the tiny screen was the coolest thing about the flight. Definitely ask to preboard as well.

[Danalan]

Originally Posted by milroyj

Please do tell us you're kidding. 300 other passengers, the flight crew, and the airline's schedule should be compromised because of a snotty two-year old?

IMHO, not.

No, I'm not kidding. Nobody's going to be inconvenienced -- it's just that one of the options flight controllers have to balance the holding pattern is a fast descent. Taking that option away for a particular plane isn't going to make anyone late for anything.

And yeah -- 300 people, the flight crew, and the airlines schedule should be compromised because of a snotty two-year old. Because if they weren't, the snotty two-year old could be rendered deaf. Permanently.

Which I should have mentioned in my post, but I didn't want to stress anyone out. If your kid truly has a serious upper respiratory infection, don't fly with them. It isn't completely safe.

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by Danalan

Taking that option away for a particular plane isn't going to make anyone late for anything.

But in post #6, you said "Better to be a few minutes late..."

So which is it? Does the slow descent vs. the fast descent affect the landing time?

If your kid truly has a serious upper respiratory infection, don't fly with them. It isn't completely safe.

bolding mine

Expand this to all kids, and I agree. IMHO

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by Danalan

Which I should have mentioned in my post, but I didn't want to stress anyone out. If your kid truly has a serious upper respiratory infection, don't fly with them. It isn't completely safe.

[knocks on wood]

My daughter inherited my iron-clad immune system -- she's never even had sniffles yet.

[/knocks on wood]

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by bittersweet

Another option is to pulverize a Xanax tablet and mix it with some milk in a bottle. Nighty-night, rabbit!

Your post isn't so crazy at all ... except that generic Benadryl is the weapon of choice.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by milroyj

Expand this to all kids, and I agree. IMHO

Because of risk of deafness, or for some other reason?

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Originally Posted by bordelond

Your post isn't so crazy at all ... except that generic Benadryl is the weapon of choice.

HAH! Benadryl causes paradoxical stimulation in nearly half the youngsters who take it!! Revs 'em up better than caffiene!

[MsRobyn]

Originally Posted by lainaf

Passengers with small children are allowed to board the plane first. Make sure you get there earlier enough to take advantage of this. If there's no assigned seating, this will allow you to choose the seats you want (you will not be allowed to sit in a row with an exit since those passengers are expected to help if an emergency exit is required).

Delta is an exception. One gate agent told me that some Delta flights are so full with kids that there was no point to pre-boarding, so they eliminated this perk. However, if you ask the gate agent at the airport, s/he might allow you to go ahead. We've done that with Aaron, and we've been allowed to go to the head of the line, after the wheelchair-bound folks.

Many planes have a row of seats at the front of the coach section that doesn't have another row directly in front of it (sometimes it faces a backward-facing row). This row is usually close to the bathroom and flight attendant service, and it has more leg-room and generally more room to fuss about with your baby and other stuff. The disadvantage is that it has no food trays.

There are food trays. They're located in the handrests; ask the flight attendant to show you how to pull them out.

I like the front row of seats because, if need be, I can get up and move around a bit. The back row gets cramped and it's more inconvenient to schlep the car seat down the narrow aisle. This will be a problem of the past, though, once Aaron turns 2. No more car seat schlepping!

Robin

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by Qadgop the Mercotan

HAH! Benadryl causes paradoxical stimulation in nearly half the youngsters who take it!! Revs 'em up better than caffiene!

Not my kid.

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by bordelond

Because of risk of deafness, or for some other reason?

Because there is no reason for two year olds to fly anywhere.

If it's as dangerous as people are saying, why risk it?

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by milroyj

Because there is no reason for two year olds to fly anywhere.

Come on now.

Originally Posted by milroyj

If it's as dangerous as people are saying, why risk it?

Huh? Who's saying it's so dangerous? There's a lot of worst-case-scenario advice in this thread, but I don't see in this thread what you're seeing.

[Chotii]

Of course, the OP's child is only 13 months old, a considerable difference from 2 years old.

It's true that there are very few reasons for a 2 year old to fly anywhere by himself. However, there may be reasons why a parent may wish to take the 2 year old along. Suppose the parents MUST go, and have no one with whom the child may stay? Suppose the child is still breastfeeding at 2, and mother has no desire to wean, nor to traumatise the child by leaving him alone? Suppose they are going to visit grandma who lives in another state, or country, and who is in too ill health to come and visit herself?

I have flown with small children, and was grateful for the tolerance my fellow passengers showed me. And yes, sometimes, my baby cried despite my best efforts. But they saw me *trying*, and they tolerated. We all survived.

[Danalan]

Originally Posted by milroyj

But in post #6, you said "Better to be a few minutes late..."

, or drive around for a while,... A slow descent vs. a fast descent can affect the landing time. Lots of things can affect the landing time. Landing too early can cause a delay, too, because of gate availability. Are you suggesting that air travel is particularly accurate regarding arrival/departure times? It's all a crap shoot.

Originally Posted by milroyj

Expand this to all kids, and I agree. IMHO

So, you're never going to have children?


Good.

BTW, have you travelled lately? Kids are everywhere. It's a mobile society, and children travelling on airplanes is not unusual, nor is it generally a hassle. Sometimes there's an annoying kid along for the ride, but not as often as annoying adults. From your tone, I suspect you may be one of those bitter jerks I run into all to often. Learn to relax, dude, you'll live longer.

[flodnak]

Heh. Our kids are transatlantic veterans. Trust me, if you're prepared, it isn't half as bad as you'd think. Of course, if you're not prepared...

Take extras of everything. Even on a short flight, you might be delayed, and you'll be grateful for the extra diapers in your carry-on. Food is essential for the same reason, plus things that take time to eat also count as in-flight entertainment. Does your daughter like Cheerios? For older kids I like Modified Gorp: Cheerios, some sort of chocolate cereal, and raisins. But I wonder if raisins are considered a choking hazard for under-twos these days.

You may be able to gate-check your stroller. Ask at check-in. If you're gate-checking it, you should get a tag to put on it. When you get to the gate, fold it up, and you'll be shown where to put it. Ideally it will be waiting for you when you get off the plane, but if not, you'll get it at baggage claim. The carseat may have to go as oversized or special baggage. They'll have big plastic bags and tape for you to wrap it up. Of course, at the other end, you'll discover that you can't get the plastic off because you need a scissors or a knife, which you didn't think to take along because nothing remotely sharp is allowed on the plane (The moral of the story is: pack a small pair of scissors in your checked baggage, where it's allowed, unless you like using your teeth and nails to rip through plastic.)

Be warned that when you go through security areas you'll have to take your daughter out of the stroller and carry her while her stroller is searched by hand. Usually not a problem, but if she's just dozed off, well...

Otherwise others have already given you the advice I would give (bring lots of toys, something to suck on, and if she has a security object/lovey bring it on the plane with you). Be prepared, be patient, and you'll be fine.

[sidle]

BTW, have you travelled lately? Kids are everywhere. It's a mobile society, and children travelling on airplanes is not unusual, nor is it generally a hassle. Sometimes there's an annoying kid along for the ride, but not as often as annoying adults. From your tone, I suspect you may be one of those bitter jerks I run into all to often. Learn to relax, dude, you'll live longer.

Oh, thank you for saying what I was thinking.
I have no problem with people who don't like kids. We're populated enough, thankyouverymuch.
However, in most public situations, especially paid travel, kids are just as welcome as you are. They are not second-class citizens.
Thank goodness your own childhood caregiver(s) knew that, milroyj, and put up with you.


Having said that, I know there are people who let their kids run wild and inconvenience everyone because they're too tired or oblivious to do anything about it. I can't stand that-they give us all a bad name. I have a one-year old who is very well-behaved (through no fault of my own-he's just a decent kid by nature) but you'd better believe if he acted up I'd remove him from the situation or do anything I can to quiet him if I couldn't remove him. Although I do believe that kids have a right to fly, it can be stressful for responsible parents who honestly don't want their kids to bother you. Hence the reason for this thread.
In the grand scheme of things, though, they should be considered no less annoying than rampant B.O. or people who travel in packs and drape themselves over seats and into aisles chatting and drinking.
It's just what you have to put up with in public travel.
Deal or charter private, I say.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by flodnak

Take extras of everything. Even on a short flight, you might be delayed, and you'll be grateful for the extra diapers in your carry-on.

Yep ... we pack this way all the time when we drive around with our daughter. Having extra diapers, food, botttles, etc. is second natrure now.

Originally Posted by flodnak

... things that take time to eat also count as in-flight entertainment.

We've got some 4-inch long "biter biscuits" that she loves. Those take her a while to gnaw down.

[bordelond]

Originally Posted by sidle

I know there are people who let their kids run wild and inconvenience everyone because they're too tired or oblivious to do anything about it. I can't stand that-they give us all a bad name. I have a one-year old who is very well-behaved (through no fault of my own-he's just a decent kid by nature) but you'd better believe if he acted up I'd remove him from the situation or do anything I can to quiet him if I couldn't remove him.

This is exactly my situation. Some folks on this thread are assuming any and all small children are invariably a nuisance on airplanes.

Well, my daughter is also well-behaved and content by nature. She's very curious about things, yet she's content to just look around from my arms or her car seat for quite a while -- she doesn't insist on being let loose to roam around.

Really, her eardrums willing, I fully expect my daughter to behave well and bother no one on this flight. I would honestly be surprised if she caused a ruckus. Some other parents may snicker at that mindset, but our daughter has a way of not surprising us all that much behaviorally. She's not always perfect -- but when she's not, we have ways of dealing with her that work time and time again.

My only real concerns when opening this thread were (a) her ears, and (b) checking all her baby paraphernalia. I get the impression that as long as she's healthy, sucking on a bottle during take-off and landing will help alleviate her aural discomfort. And now that I know about gate-check, and the possibility f using her car seat on the plane, those concerns are addressed, too.

Thanks so much to everyone for their advice!

[chaoticbear]

Just make sure you're not flying on the same plane as me. (Really a joke, as I'm not going anywhere until next summer...)

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by sidle

Thank goodness your own childhood caregiver(s) knew that, milroyj, and put up with you.

Actually, my parents would not have dreamnt of imposing my wonderfulness on other people, which is rather my point. I didn't fly until I was 18, coming home for Christmas break from college. Nowadays, the little rug rats are everywhere. A one or two year old doesn't even know where they are at a given moment, let alone care, so what's the point of flying them to Florida or wherever? The only reason for a parent to drag a kid onto an airplane is for the parent's own convenience and/or selfishness.

Whatever happened to "Children should be seen, and not heard?" I guess I'm just a grumpy old man.

[Zsofia]

A one or two year old doesn't even know where they are at a given moment, let alone care, so what's the point of flying them to Florida or wherever? The only reason for a parent to drag a kid onto an airplane is for the parent's own convenience and/or selfishness.

People aren't taking the baby so the baby can see the Taj Mahal and get a tan. They're taking the baby because:
a) They have to go and they don't have a sitter for three weeks and they don't want to leave their baby anyway.
b) Gee, ever think Grandma might want to see the baby?
c) They're moving, and they didn't want to put the baby in a carrier in cargo.
d) The US Mail won't take 'em, regardless of how many stamps you stick to them.

For goodness sakes, it's not like it's a nice restaurant - it's a mode of transportation. People take babies in cars all the time, an airplane is no different. There are plenty of perfectly good reasons to take your child with you when you go somewhere, prime among them the scattering of the American family across the country. As long as the parents do what they can to lessen the impact on other passengers, I don't see what your problem is.

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by Zsofia

People aren't taking the baby so the baby can see the Taj Mahal and get a tan. They're taking the baby because:
a) They have to go and they don't have a sitter for three weeks

Where do they HAVE to go, and for three weeks, no less?

and they don't want to leave their baby anyway.

So then don't go.

b) Gee, ever think Grandma might want to see the baby?

Gee, ever think Grandma can come visit the kid?

c) They're moving, and they didn't want to put the baby in a carrier in cargo.

Ever hear of cars, trains, or buses?

d) The US Mail won't take 'em, regardless of how many stamps you stick to them.

Whatever, silly.

People take babies in cars all the time, an airplane is no different.

Yes it is. Babies in private cars are not able to bother other people.

There are plenty of perfectly good reasons to take your child with you when you go somewhere

Really? I haven't seen any yet in this thread.

[Scopata Fuori]

Originally Posted by bordelond

My daughter inherited my iron-clad immune system -- she's never even had sniffles yet.

Unfortunately, after a cattle-car plane ride, even a short one, her luck just may run out. All that recirculated air in a confined area, is just what the Bug du Jour needs to spread to other passengers. Not only that, but any exposed surface she is likely to touch, such as armrests, are prime germspreading areas. A snotty two year old will probably infest the entire seatrow with whatever bugs it's carrying, due to their increased propensity for handling every surface in sight, and undeveloped snotdealing courtesies.

Might be over reacting, but why not take a couple of your alchohol or disinfectant wet wipes and give the armrests and trays a once over before she is loaded in, to help prevent her from catching whatever the last passenger(s) had? And after she's extracted, on the way out, to prevent the next passenger from sharing whatever germs she's happily resisting?

Bring a little jar of peanut butter, but don't let her have it. Don't even let her know you have it. If she is distracted by her own howling, surreptitiously grab a fingerful of peanut butter, and quickly smear a gob of it onto the roof of her mouth in mid-scream. It's hard for them to screech like that. They get busy licking and sucking it off the roof their mouth, and at least temporarily quiets them. Works for dogs and cats if need be, as well.

The ear pressure problem is a real problem. When my family took me (at eight) and my sister (at barely two) on a transpacific 24 hour flight to Japan, where were moving for a few years, I still remember the piercing agony in my ears and head. But I've always had sinus and allergy problems. Nothing helped, not even chewing gum. Large jumbo jets didn't bother me as badly except on takeoff and descent, but little commuter flights did. To this day, on our annual pilgrimage to Jamaica, I purchase "Earplanes" to avoid the eardum pain. They come in child size, but may be too big for so young of a child.

It's just an hour trip, so hopefully the novelty factor will keep her amused for a while. Try to get bulkhead seats, though, so she can't annoy people in front of her, and when the plane is at cruising altitude, you can take her out and let her stand in front of you and stretch her legs, and look out the window. I'd also think about which cough syrups you know will put her out like a light, since laudanum is damnably hard to acquire nowadays.

Some strollers are made with a detachable car seat that snaps right on. Sounds like exactly what you need, so you can load the stroller part in baggage (if it won't fit in overhead compartments) and take the seat part in.

Some planes have an additional storage compartment up fron, for taller items. Ask the flight personnel if it has one, and request to put the stroller in that. So when you get on, you hand them the stroller to put in the compartment near the door and you go on down the aisle with the seat.

Definitely ask to pre-board, so the "closet" is not yet filled, but as was mentioned, for courtesy's sake, *wait until all the more mobile and less encumbered individuals have deplaned* before attempting to extricate yourself et al.

[China Guy]

Originally Posted by milroyj

Really? I haven't seen any yet in this thread.

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by China Guy

Unless you're flying the baby to the Mayo Clinic for urgent medical care, what's the point?

[Chotii]

Originally Posted by Scopata Fuori

Unfortunately, after a cattle-car plane ride, even a short one, her luck just may run out. All that recirculated air in a confined area, is just what the Bug du Jour needs to spread to other passengers. Not only that, but any exposed surface she is likely to touch, such as armrests, are prime germspreading areas. A snotty two year old will probably infest the entire seatrow with whatever bugs it's carrying, due to their increased propensity for handling every surface in sight, and undeveloped snotdealing courtesies.

Might be over reacting, but why not take a couple of your alchohol or disinfectant wet wipes and give the armrests and trays a once over before she is loaded in, to help prevent her from catching whatever the last passenger(s) had? And after she's extracted, on the way out, to prevent the next passenger from sharing whatever germs she's happily resisting?

Not a bad idea *though I would like to point out AGAIN that the OP's child is only 13 months old!* and I highly recommend the Airborne fizzy tablets to bolster both your immune system, and that of your child. I typically get sick with a creeping crud lung infection after every plane flight. However, on my last one (5 hours each way) I took this stuff, and gave it to my 4 year old who is prone to a poor immune system anyway. Neither of us got sick at all. I call that pretty miraculous.

Bring a little jar of peanut butter, but don't let her have it. Don't even let her know you have it. If she is distracted by her own howling, surreptitiously grab a fingerful of peanut butter, and quickly smear a gob of it onto the roof of her mouth in mid-scream. It's hard for them to screech like that. They get busy licking and sucking it off the roof their mouth, and at least temporarily quiets them. Works for dogs and cats if need be, as well.

No, no, *no*. Children under the age of 3 are NOT recommended to have peanut butter at ALL, due to the risk of creating a life-threatening peanut allergy.

[China Guy]

Originally Posted by milroyj

Unless you're flying the baby to the Mayo Clinic for urgent medical care, what's the point?

Here's a reason for you, I have on multiple occaisions and will continue to fly with my daughter to the US for vacations so she can be in an American environment and get to know all of her extended family. Should I instead take a boat to and from China, and then a car or train once I'm in the land of the free? Or that it would be even more practical for my extended family in the US to come to China twice a year. Is that a good enough reason for you?

[Qadgop the Mercotan]

Originally Posted by Chotii

No, no, *no*. Children under the age of 3 are NOT recommended to have peanut butter at ALL, due to the risk of creating a life-threatening peanut allergy.

Got a cite for that?

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics says it's ok to give kids over age 1 peanut butter to eat.

The idea that food allergies come about because of early exposure to a particular food is a theory. I am unaware of any evidence-based medical studies which show a credible link to early ingestion of peanut butter to an increased risk of peanut allergy.


And of course, healthy children should be allowed to fly.

QtM, MD

[milroyj]

Originally Posted by China Guy

Here's a reason for you, I have on multiple occaisions and will continue to fly with my daughter to the US for vacations so she can be in an American environment and get to know all of her extended family. Should I instead take a boat to and from China, and then a car or train once I'm in the land of the free? Or that it would be even more practical for my extended family in the US to come to China twice a year. Is that a good enough reason for you?

If your daughter is 13 months, as in the case of the OP, she wouldn't know the difference if you came to visit MY family instead. Or if you took her to Zimbabwe, for that matter. So what's the point, again?

[elfbabe]

Originally Posted by milroyj

If your daughter is 13 months, as in the case of the OP, she wouldn't know the difference if you came to visit MY family instead. Or if you took her to Zimbabwe, for that matter. So what's the point, again?

Exactly! And when China Guy goes to visit his family and they expect to see his 13-month-old daughter, he can just snag some kid of vaguely the right age off the street after his plane lands! They won't know the difference.

[MsRobyn]

Originally Posted by Qadgop the Mercotan

Got a cite for that?

Even the American Academy of Pediatrics says it's ok to give kids over age 1 peanut butter to eat.

The idea that food allergies come about because of early exposure to a particular food is a theory. I am unaware of any evidence-based medical studies which show a credible link to early ingestion of peanut butter to an increased risk of peanut allergy.


And of course, healthy children should be allowed to fly.

QtM, MD

The handout I got from Aaron's old daycare said that peanut butter isn't recommended because it's a choking hazard. I don't know who it's from, and I don't care anymore because he's past the age where most of their recommendations are an issue.

Robin

[MsRobyn]

Oh, and milroyj, your presence is requested here.

Robin

[Silentgoldfish]

Um, milroyj, you've never heard of moving? When I was 2 and my brother was 8 months my family moved to Canada from Australia. There's not many other ways to get across the pacific than flying nowadays!

[tygerbryght]

Originally Posted by bordelond

Next week, my wife and I will be taking out 13-month-old daughter onto a plane for the first time. The flight is only 60-65 minutes. I don't expect the plane to even be at capacity, but there's a chance it could be full. We'll be in coach.
...
Do we have to worry much about her ears? Are there unexpected things we might need to consider?
...

I think it's been pretty well covered. However, the fuss that's been made stirred up memories. It was about 15 years ago, and I was flying from Detroit to Mississippi to visit my grandkids for Thanksgiving.

On the plane was a couple with a toddler who had a cold, poor mite. She made all our lives miserable for several hours. The situation wasn't helped by the fact that it was a holiday flight, and there were delays all along the route. AAMOF, American put us up in Memphis 'cos we missed our connecting flights (nobody flies nonstop from DTW to JAN, unless it's started in the last couple of years ... straight, maybe NW?). And the family was just downstairs from me in the airport hotel... <sigh>

Back then, the only treatment most knew for this particular problem was antibiotics (and if it was a viral infection or allergy, Deity help you all, because at that time, decongestants weren't yet accepted as safe for kids under four (IIRC, maybe it was 3 or 5)).

Why am I telling this long, rambling story? To let y'all know that things are Much Better Now. Most kids can take a decongestant, if one is needed. And nearly everybody (unless you happen to be on a plane with people from ... um ... third world countries who have little education and no awareness of medical resources, which can easily happen if you are on a flight which begins or ends in Detroit) knows that ya gotta do something to help babies & toddlers equalize the eardrum pressure changes from landings and takeoffs.

Oh, yeah. My return flight was diverted from changing in Atlanta to changing in DFW ... after we got to Birmingham. And my checked bags didn't get home until about 24 hours later than I did. And in DFW, we had to hustle like mad to get from our terminal to the DTW departure terminal before that plane left. I barely made it. In my memory, I can't honestly say which way (going or coming) was worse. They were both truly miserable.

The storal of the mory is, "Count your blessings!"