# Flying with a one-year old ... tips? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 17, 2004, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887 "2004-06-17T16:33:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![dfqforever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dfqforever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dfqforever)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/61 "2004-06-21T07:37:53Z")
Just to add my own story from years ago…when my daughter was about 14 months old, she & I has to board a plane in New Orleans to go to Reno, Nev. It was an unplanned trip…we were running from my certifiably insane, soon to be ex-husband. So I was ill prepared. My daughter is 26 now…so back then, there were no rules about car seats. She sat in the seat next to me if it was empty. It was for a while. We made a stop, I do not remember where, & picked up a bunch of people headed off on a gambling weekend. Many women were dressed in fine clothes…the one who sat next to me & took the seat my daughter had occupied was wearing a beautiful mink coat. My child’s ears were killing her, she was NOT happy & within 15 minutes of take-off, she threw up all over the lady’s nice mink coat. I wanted to crawl under the seat. This lady was absolutely wonderful…she wiped off what she could & just smiled at me, told me that it was “just a coat” and she sure hoped my little girl felt better soon. So—at least the OP has time to prepare & to get the good advice from you folks… I wish I’d gotten that lady’s name. I’ve never forgotten her kindness. ---
**Author:** ![BoringDad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ad7895/32.png) [@BoringDad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoringDad)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/62 "2004-06-21T14:14:14Z")
> [@dfqforever](#): > > Many women were > dressed in fine clothes…the one who sat next to me & took the seat my > daughter had occupied was wearing a beautiful mink coat. My child’s ears were > killing her, she was NOT happy & within 15 minutes of take-off, she threw up all > over the lady’s nice mink coat. No no, that is not a child on a plane story, it is a PETA story. It is obvious that your quite precocious child was staging an anti-fur protest in the only way she could. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/63 "2004-06-21T20:25:35Z")
Well, we are now in our destination. It was a piece of cake. My daughter dutifully drank her bottle on takeoff, ate two biter biscuits during the flight, then drank her bottle and \*fell asleep during the descent \* (!). She barely made a peep. She acted in a manner completely consistent with her easy-going personality. None of the bad stuff everyone told me was _going_ to happen came to pass. I am thankful for that, and hope for the same good luck on the return flight. … **Milroyj** , I guess this is a subject on which we won’t agree. Suffice to say that if you had sat right next tro my daughter on this flight, you wouldn’t have been the least disturbed. And I don’t think it was a miracle at all. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/64 "2004-06-21T23:58:48Z")
Good deal, **Bordelond**. Glad you had an uneventful flight. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/65 "2004-06-22T01:50:42Z")
> [@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? Here’s a point for you-This isn’t the BBQ Pit, so knock it off. You’ve been here long enough to know that this type of posting isn’t appropriate for IMHO, so I’m not warning you again. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/66 "2004-06-22T12:51:00Z")
> [@sidle](#): > > I also second the “drugging” idea, provided that you do a test run with her before the trip to make sure that the Benadryl or whatever doesn’t have a reverse hyperactive effect on her. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV, that said I think “drugging” is irresponsible. Remember that pressurized cabins are at IIRC the equivalent of 6,000 - 10,000 feet in altitude. Mix in altitude, little kids and drugs, and IMHO that’s at best something irresponsible to recommend. ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2004, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/67 "2004-06-22T22:23:46Z")
You are absolutely right, **China Guy**. Not that anyone would use or not use Benadryl on my lone recommendation alone, 😉 , but of course I meant to add the “Consult your Pediatrician before administering any type of medication to your child” disclaimer. My apologies-thanks for catching that! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/68 "2004-06-23T00:02:04Z")
**China Guy** - commercial airliners are pressurized to 8000 MSL as a standard. Newer designs may allow for 5000 MSL pressurization. Just FYI. _After consultation with a doctor_ use of Benadryl (or it’s generic equivalent) may actually be quite responsible. If the child has allergies it can definitely reduce congestion, thereby alleviating sinus and/or ear pressure and pain, perhaps even eliminating it entirely. The sedating side effect may be an extra bonus (provided it _does_ sedate) in an active child. I do not, of course, advocate drugging a child unconcious. The altitude factor will perhaps increase the sleepy factor here, but having flown (as a passenger) under the influence of decongestants, including Benadryl, I can say that used _responsibly_ it can be a good thing. Of course, plenty of children aren’t congested and know how to behave. I certainly wouldn’t advocate pharmaceuticals in such a case. ---
**Author:** ![milroyj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@milroyj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milroyj)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/69 "2004-06-23T00:23:32Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Here’s a point for you-This isn’t the BBQ Pit, so knock it off. You’ve been here long enough to know that this type of posting isn’t appropriate for IMHO, so I’m not warning you again. My apologies for posting Pit-Style in IMHO. No excuses, I got carried away. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/70 "2004-06-23T00:33:46Z")
Apology accepted-now go forth and sin no more. And if you _must_ sin, send 8x10 glossies to [czarcasm1@yahoo.com](mailto:czarcasm1@yahoo.com) . ---
**Author:** ![sidle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee59a6/32.png) [@sidle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sidle)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/71 "2004-06-23T01:08:42Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And if you _must_ sin, send 8x10 glossies to [czarcasm1@yahoo.com](mailto:czarcasm1@yahoo.com) . Noted. Now, what’s the policy on rapid descent? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2004, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887/72 "2004-06-23T19:51:04Z")
> [@sidle](#): > > Noted. > Now, what’s the policy on rapid descent? FWIW, for our flight Monday, we did not request a slow descent. Nor did we give our child any medicine before the flight. She was in good health and cheery spirit right through the flight, before falling asleep during descent. The pilot and co-pilot were milling around the boarding area before the flight, and I did take a moment to excuse myself and ask them whether a quick descent or a slow descent was planned. The pilot assured me that quick descents are never planned – a slow descent is the default, conditions willing. The co-pilot was then kind enough to speak at length about cabin pressurization and also to give a few tips for flying toddlers (pretty much repeated elsewhere in this thread). … FWIW 2, our pediatrician has not only cleared Benadryl for our daughter, she said that Benadryl is essentially “benign” aside from its intended effects. IIRC, Benadryl passes easily out of the body, and is therefore difficult to overdose on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/flying-with-a-one-year-old-tips/250887.md?page=3)