Long Flight with a 10 Month Old.

someone also told me about benadryl for my son when we took along trip. I decided to try it before the flight, and the benadryl made my son hyperactive.
Car seat- even if there is no law about a carseat where you are going, I always take one for safety reasons. Here in California I use the carseat because it is safer for my son not because it's a law.

I agree with giving benadryl..1 tsp should work. i went to the caribbean with 7 mo old twins...no carseats are needed. they really don't have any laws regarding that

Never been on a flight with a baby that long before but Aruba sounds awesome! Have a wonderful time:)

This is probably not a good site to mention that you are considering giving your baby Benadryl if he doesn't need it. the mom's on here can be a little judgmental and self righteous. I was advised by my daughter's doctor to give her some Sudafed prior to flying, this will help in preventing her ears from popping and make the flight more enjoyable. If you feel that the baby will need sleep and are comfortable giving a proper dose of medication then he is your son. I will warn you that sometimes the result is opposite from what you intended. Drowsy medications have always caused my kids to be hyper. Try to stay calm and keep your son's current schedule as much as possible during the flight and he should be fine. Bring a few extra bottles (if you use them) so that you can resort to keeping his mouth full if he seems to be crying a lot.

7 hours is a long flight and his ears may start hurting. There is a flight attendant trick to helping them pop. they take 2 cups and place napkins in the bottom. They then pour really really hot water onto the napkins. The napkins soak up the water and they then place the cups over the baby's ears and the warm air helps them to pop.

Another idea is to get some saline nose spray from the pharmacy.(it is usually under $2) it has been proven that keeping the nasal passages moist can prevent viruses from entering the system,. Airplanes use circulated air and you will be so close to so many people. Using a little saline a few times throughout the flight on you and the baby can (possibly) prevent you getting sick during your trip.

I would check the local laws on car seats. If your son is still in a carrier type seat you may want to bring it along. this will give him something to sleep in. they may not let you take it on the plane if you didn't buy him his own seat, but in the hotel it can be a lifesaver. Most of the carriers have slots so that you can buckle the seat into the car without the base.

I know that a lot of mother's may not agree with my methods, but to each his own. Raise your baby your way and don't let people push you around or make you feel bad for wanting a nice trip. If Benadryl was so bad for kids it would require a prescription.

Have Fun!!!!!

We take our kids to Tunisia in North Africa each year. They are 4 and 2 now and we have been twice. All i can say is Benadryl is great but test it beforehand. Some kids react the exact opposite than you think. They either sleep or get really excited. Test it at home first but don't be afraid, even my pediatrician said to use it. It saves my life on the more than 15 hours of travel we have to do to get to my in-laws house.

We bought an approved car seat/plane seat/stroller for the kids when they are little to travel. It looks like a car seat but wheels pop up out of the bottom and it fits on most plane seats ( we have had it not fit, but the flight attendant just checks it in cargo if that happens). it has a 5-point harness and the car seat belt runs over the top and is very safe. If Arubans drive anything close as crazy as Tunisians do, I would say either bring your car seat or invest in the combo type of carseat. Go to the website travelingwithkids.com and look up carseat strollers. They have what I am talking about. It's a great thing to have if you travel.

Good luck and enjoy your vacation!

BRING THE CAR SEAT...
You can use it on the plane and you will need it. Yes the laws say you do not have to have one in the country. But taxi drivers are the worst..
Please do not make the same mistake my Aunt did... Bring the car seat!!!

A., both my brothers are airline pilots, and they believe FIRMLY in carseats for babies on the plane, as well as for traveling in cars. They say that turbulence at the perfectly wrong time could turn a baby into a missile. This, then, is why one might see the necessity of having a sleeping baby, because being trapped in a carseat for 7 hours is no baby's idea of a fun time. If you use benadryl, be sure to test it to see if it does work in knocking your kid out. I didn't, and I had a HYPER kid on a long, awful flight to NYC once.

Another solution is to book a flight during the evening, when your baby is usually asleep, put him in a carseat next to you, and all of you can snooze. Walking the aisles with a crying baby is not only no fun, it's all dangerous for you and baby.

JUst a thought, you might want to try out the Benadryl at home before you go. Sometimes meds that usually cause drowsyness, make some kids hyper. Also you wouldn't want to give him too much and have a medical emergency on the plane or in Aruba.

Check the internet re laws in Aruba re carseats. Is it a direct flight? if not, what if you get delayed at one of your layovers and need to take a taxi in US?

1. Benadryl is not recommended. As many have said, it can make kids hyper or it could be overly sedating.
2. Car seats are for safety, not to use because there is or is not a law.

Overall, realize that traveling with children is different than traveling without them. Don't bother bringing a magazine on the plane unless tearing it up keeps your baby happy. Plan to walk up and down the aisles, feed lots of snacks and drinks, bring new toys (mostly quiet), make sure he is sucking on something at takeoff and landing and apologize in advance to the people around you. It helps to bring chocolate for the flight attendants and buy drinks if needed for the people nearby if your baby cries a lot. Realize it is only a few hours of your life and most of the people on the plane have been there before (and will tell you their stories).
We flew to Maui when our daughter was 10mo and did not buy a seat for her so we shared the 3 seats with another person. I breastfed twice each 5hr flight and she ate her regular foods and played and we walked a lot. Everyone said she was very good even though she fussed some and threw toys, etc. Life goes on and you'll never see most of those people again, but you will live with your decision to give your baby unnecessary medication.

Hi A.,

I have never taken more than a 4 hour flight with my daughter so no advice here on the benadryl. Ask your doctor.

We've always gotten our daughter a seat on the flight and until recently (she's now 3) taken her car seat. She now uses the CARES device with the regular seat belt. However, we've only flown domestically and I can certainly understand if you've decided to save the money and not purchase a seat for your son. You'll regret lugging the car seat around the airport if you aren't able to use it so call the day of your flight to check seat availability.

As to the taxi, car seats are not required in public transportation (taxis, limos) and in Aruba not at all. Of course we all know our kids are safest in a car seat. If you decide not to take yours, it looks like most taxis in Aruba offer the service. Here's a website with information on taxi services in Aruba: http://taxiaruba.com/new/index.html. Maybe it will help you make a decision.

Have a great trip!
K.

A.- HI! Well I've been going to Aruba for almost 15 years (late Jan early Feb for 3-4 weeks!) After Kira was born we started taking her, at strangely enough 10 mos! You must be staying at The marriot? Anyways no carseat laws- we've always taken ours. We now just rent a car and bring ours. She just turned 5. I'm just wierd about that. I mean they average about 2 deaths per yr from traffic accidents. It's easy to take the bus to town and baby can go on your lap. It's a hard call. Travelling taxi to taxi wirh a carseat sounds like a hassle. I'd check out the Buccaneer restaurant because they have fish tanks all over the place with sharks and 10 lb lobsters etc. The Butterfly museum might be fun and taking a trip to the other side of the island is a must. As for the long plane...I was nursing and she travelled really well- always has. Seems like they fall asleep on the plane for some reason. If you feel like bringing benedryl ask your ped. about dosage. I feel like we might have done that once.Feel free to PM me with any questions. I wish I was going!!LUCKY YOU Best H.

Traveling can be fun, just don't let it stress you out too much. most important thing, if he starts to cry don't stress, do what you can to help allieve what's bothering him an soothe him of course but don't get all crazy to stop him, kids cry, it is what it is and he will feel your stress and cry more.

My 2 year old started traveling at 6 weeks and has been to 8 countries (some like australia twice) and 20 states (we travel for business a lot), longest trip was at 14 months for 19 hours, that one was the only time she cried but it only lasted a very short time and it was because take off was at 11:30 at night, very late for a little one to be up, but then she feel asleep once we were airborne and all was well. Of course we were all tired when we got there and we all feel into bed early and slept all night. But I see other parent's just get wrecked when their babies cry and if they'd just relax and run it's course the baby usually will stop sooner.

Bring toys (some he's never seen before) and books and a favorite stuffed animal and blanket, food he likes and juice (you can bring juice and milk and medicine for him -baby tylenol just in case he starts getting a tooth). I love bringing my ergocarrier so I can walk around with her when she gets restless without breaking my back. If he's walking consider a cute little leash (they make them to look like monkeys, doggies, etc) our little one loves to walk up and down the isles and the leash helps us keep her from going into people's seats. Ask for the bulk head so you can get a basinet so he can sleep (I think the weight is 25 pounds max). We never bring her car seat, we've always gotten the basinet at bulkhead and it's great, she plays in their like it's a crib, but they can easy stand up and fall over so you can't fall asleep while they are playing (although most have a contraption that goes over so while they are sleeping and laying down it's safe). None that she's 2, no more bulkhead, but we've always found the seat is good, makes her feel like a big girl.

Don't underestimate the power of walking around, you don't have to be in your seat the whole time. In the airport before the flight, let him crawl around the airport (just be very close so busy travelers don't step on him) then wash his hands real good. He'll need that movement before the connection, seriously. And during take off and landing give him a bottle or sippy cup (this will help with his ears so he won't get plugged up and cry) but wait till your about to take off. We've thought we were about to take off and she sucked it all down and then didn't have it for the real take off so now we know to wait for the plane to actually be accelerating.

Personally I would never give my baby a medicine she doesn't need, so I've never given her benadryl for flying.

You should always put your baby in a carseat for any length of drive even if it's not required in the country you go to. It's simply about safety for your little one.

Our family went on a trip to Hawaii when our boy was 9 mos. We gave him the recommended dose of benadryl right when we boarded and by the time we took off he was asleep. It really helped that he slept for half the flight. Also, you don't need to bring a car seat b/c the taxi company will have one you can rent.

Hi! I have taken my daughter on several long flights. At 4 months, 11 months, and at 18 months. They were 8 hour flights. I never gave her any medicine. I have a very active little one. She was walking at 9 months. On the flights we let her walk up and down the isles. We brought her favorite snacks and small toys. We also brought a portable DVD player and she watched her favorite shows. I think the plain ride naturally helps them fall asleep too. She slept a good bit on all her plain rides.
Maybe you could bring the benedryl, but I wouldn't give it to your little one unless you feel it is necessary during the flight. See how his first plain ride goes, it may be really smooth. I am not a big fan of giving your kids medicine unless they are really sick and NEED it. Too many people want an easy way out of parenting their kids and dealing with situations. My daughter was absolutley fine and enjoyable on all her plain trips. I hope this helps! Take care & God Bless!

Hi A.,

I think it's just preference really. Both my daughters traveled at young ages on 6hr flights without drugs and did great. If your flight is around the time he would normally take a nap then I wouldn't bother giving him benadryl but that's just my opinion since I don't like giving any medicine unless really necessary. I just made sure not to feed my girls until the plane was actually taking off since that helps with their ears and I knew they would fall asleep after eating for most of the flight. Hope this helps and have a great time in Aruba ;).

Joy

I definitely say no to the benadryl. I have travelled with all ages of children and I recently took a 9 hour flight with 3 children. I have had issues with crankiness before, but I still wouldn't recommend it. Definitely have the bottle or sippy cup ready and in mouth for take off and landing and the 5-10 minutes after and before each, respectively. It really does help equalize the pressure in their ears when they are that small and my youngest got a double ear infection the one time we didn't have a bottle/sippy prepped (although that isn't neccessarily common, it was likely the build up of pressure pulling fluid into his ears). Always trust yourself! And I wish you a safe, comfy and enjoyable flight and a lovely vacation!!!

I just came back from vacation this week. If you did not buy a seperate seat you have to check the carseat. It is free but this will save you and your husband time from having to check it if there are no extra seats. Also you can check online for most flights to see if they are full or not. I would check this out with your airline to see if there are extra seats. I wouldn't bring the carseat on bc of the space. The seats are so small and its heavy and bulky I had a horrible time just with my son let a lone a carseat.

Also it might sound weird but I allowed my son a lollipop during take off and your guy is small enough you can take it away and he won't remember what it was.

You want to travel with as little as possible bc of security. When you go to XRay your bags make sure you take out all liquids IE. Bottle, sippy cups water anything they gave us such a hard time about my son's apple juice. Make sure to wear shoes that slip off easily as well.

The carseat is important for traveling but If you can call the taxi company and find out if they have a carseat then that might help especially if its the only time you'll be using it.

RE: Benadryl. In some children, Benadryl makes them "hyper." As an alternative...there is something called "Hyland's Calms Forte- for kids." It is homeopathic, and has no contraindications. It helps to calm them and to sleep. Since it is homeopathic, it will either work or not. If you try it, I would recommend trying it before you go on your trip, to see if it works with your child. For me, I find it is very good, and I like that it is homeopathic. I've tried it with my older child. *Check with your Pediatrician, if you can use it with your baby.

You can find it at any "natural foods" type store. Or here is a link to get it at Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Da...
You can also see the "reviews" on it here too, at Amazon.

Good luck and have a nice trip! Lucky you!
~Susan

I wouldn't do the Benadryl, mainly because I don't believe in giving a child drugs unless it's absolutely necessary. Try to get a night flight so that he'll sleep a lot of the time instead. If that's not possible, then bring things to keep him entertained. Chances are he'll sleep on part of the flight anyway.

I would definitely bring the car seat. You can use it on the plane because your son will be too small for the seat belts. Bring a small umbrella stroller for the airport too (gate check the stroller). I used to bungee cord my son's car seat into the stroller for the airport. It gave us free hands for our carry-on bags (I travel yearly between Germany and California). If you have a bassinet that comes with the bulkhead seat, he won't want to stay in it the whole time. You'll also need the car seat for the taxi. Seven miles seems like a long way to hold a baby on your lap. Why take chances, especially if the drivers in Aruba are a little crazy?

Have a great trip!

Dear A.,

I have taken my baby (now toddler) to Germany 4 times before he turned 18 months old. I always let him run around the airport as much as possible, then breastfeed him after take-off to ease the pressure change (also landing, if he's not asleep). I usually nurse him to sleep. The flights from Dallas to Frankfurt are ten-hour flights over night. I bring toys, and carry him around or let him walk the isle, and nurse/feed him. I would certainly never drug my child with Benadryl or anything else.

The taxi in Germany had a child seat built in (Mercedes Benz) that was raised (for an older child). If you did not want to dragh the car seat through the airport, one could be borrowed for a day from a rental car company if family members arrive earlier than you do, and can come to pick you up.

My personal experience is that children on airplanes do not sleep well in car seats, and better in arms. If you and your husband hold him, he will sleep better and longer, and yo cannot count on a free seat next to you if you did not buy a seat for the 10-month-old. 26 lbs. at 10 months is a giant. A typical first car seat is rated 20-22 lbs and one year of age, so Sebastian already has a larger seat for you to schlepp around :-(

My now 20-month-old is still between 25-26 lbs. but that seems normal with his peers. He was able to use a bassinet (rated to 17 lbs or so) on the airplane on the bulkhead seat and sleep sweetly by himself on our first two trips to Germany.

I wish you a fantsatic vacation! I truly enjoyed Bonaire in 2002. Don't forget the baby suntan lotion, hats, umbrella, swim diaper, etc.

Love, C.

I think the most important thing about flying with kids is to know that when the air pressure changes - just before and during both take off and landing - that pressure change can hurt little ears. Actually, it can hurt big ears, too, but most adults know enough to chew gum or swallow, to alleviate the pain.

Those are the times that you will hear all the babies and toddlers crying on the plane. If you can time it so that they are nibbling on crunchy snacks, or nursing or drinking at those times, that keeps the pressure balanced in their ears, so it doesn''t hurt. (Why the airlines don't ever mention this is beyond me, go figure.)
Bon voyage and good luck!

Hi A.,

Going on vacation to Aruba sounds great! Enjoy it :-)

I have been traveling to Europe with my children for the past 10 years from when they were babies.... 16 hour flights.

I would advice against the Benadryl. There is no reason to medicate children, if they do not need it. And half the time, the Benadryl excites them instead of calming them down. I do however make sure I bring fever reducer in my carry-on luggage and a thermometer.

You son should be buckled in on the taxi ride. If you are not using your car seat on the plane (which I recommend), then request a cab with an infant seat when you schedule your pick-up with the cab company. Stress the INFANT part.
If you ride in a stretch-limo,car seats are not required. But I still recommend it.

I noticed a lot of people recommend something to suck on.... which reminds me, have your baby's ears checked 1 or 2 days before you travel to make sure he does not have an ear infection. If he did flying would be vary painful for him and potentially risky to hos hearing. To aleviate the pressure in his ears (and yours) during take-offs and landings use EarPlanes Earplugs, Flight Ear Protection (any brand will do). I swear by them!

Make sure your carry-on contains:
a change of clothes
snacks (in clear plastic baggies, per FAA rules)
Small juices (no more than 2 oz. each in clear bottles, per FAA rules)
Thermometer
Fever reducer for infants
(decongesting medication)
diapers (more than you think you will need)
Wet wipes for diaper changes.
Moist cloth for cleaning sticky hands
Favorite blanket
Teddy bear or favorite toy
Books
And lots of love and patience :-)

Don't worry, traveling is fun for little ones. Lots of things to see and investigate and lots of people to look at :-)

You must be flying from LA to Aruba(7 1/2 hour flight.) Anyway, my recommendation is to take the car seat for your child's safety. Also, ask(at the gate) if there is an extra seat on the plane because then you will be able to strap your boy into his seat during the flight. Gate check your stroller and carseat if there are no extra seats available. During gate check, the handlers are a bit more careful.
As far as flying, make sure your boy is sucking during take-off and landing, so therefore take a bottle or sippee cup. This will help with the air pressure.
As far as Aruba goes, have a wonderful time. I suggest you rent a car to go explore the island. There is the California Light House on Arashi Beach(which has covered cabanas for shade), Palm Beach is beautiful, Oranjanstad has great shopping and places to eat, there are caves you can explore on the rugged side of the island, and the best family beach, in my opinion is Baby's Beach. The beach has little to no waves, and is shallow...great for a 10 month old. Finally, the resturant by at the windmill near Palm Beach is a good place to eat as is a place called Surf and Turf(I think this is the correct name.) In addition to this, the Atlantis Submarine is a great adventure under the sea along the ocean floor.
Anyway, whatever you do in Aruba is bound to be lots of fun! It's a wonderful place to go on vacation! I wish I were going...again!!!

Yes to Benadryl. I would check with your doctor's nurse as to what the dose should be. My sister is a nurse and she always tells me to go with the weight (which is more important than the age), but I'd check with your nurse since it's his first time taking it, you don't want to knock him out for the entire trip. :)
I've heard that rental car companies (and maybe taxi companies) have carseats that you can use. I'd check with your travel agent to see if that's a possibility. If not, I'd definitely bring one because you never know what could happen.
Have a nice trip. I wish I was going to Aruba! :)

Hi A.,

I'm not sure about the car seat but don't give your baby drugs. I traveled to Europe with my daughter at that age (13 hours) and I just brought lots of quiet toys and activities. They sleep easily on planes because of the vibration but usually they're quiet because of all the immediate attention they get. Have fun!

V.

I think that benadryl is a great idea....if it works. You need to be aware that some children it has no effect on (mine :( ) and some it can actually cause hyperactivity. That said, if you want to try it, and your son is around 20lbs, give him about a teaspoon or almost a whole pre-filled spoon.

Good luck with the flight!

hi A.,
benadryl is probably fine for the flight, but have never given it to my daughter or son for flights. i 'm allergic to it, so i just haven't wanted to take any chances on them. i usually give them tylenol or just fly at a time when they most likely would sleep.
as for the car seat, may i suggest getting a car services? you may find that it costs about hte same as a cab. when you geta car service, they can provide a car seat for you so you don't have to bring one and feel safe that your child is riding in a car seat even if it is only 7 miles. now, with that said, i used to take my daughter in cabs in new york city all the time with out a car seat. there is no law there. just make sure you have your baby on your lap and the seat belt around you only ( i guess this is the safest way to travel with a child on your lap). hope this was helpful.

H.

I have twin boys and have traveled with them alot (they are now 4 years old). I would recommend trying the Benadryl before you fly. Some kids respond to the medicine by getting hyper--I tried it on my twins and one of them had a hyper reaction....not what you want on a long flight. Call your doctor and ask about dosage--depends on baby's weight.

I have given it to my other son and it works really well for him:) Also have a pacifier or bottle for your son to suck on during takeoff and landing. It helps with the ears and the pressure change.
Good Luck
A.

Alittle about me: I am a 42 year old mom with wonderful 4 year old twin boys.

The main reason for one to give their child benadryl is to help with the pressure in the hears when the airplane takes off, and when it lands. From previous experiences, it seemed to be more helpful when the airplanes were smaller. Having missed using it once when my son was under 1 year old, I learned that it was very helpful. Another choice is giving your child a bottle for take off and landing. As far as a suggested dosage, the best person to get that from is a pediatrician as it's based on the weight of your child.

I have always try to have something for my kids to keep them they now try to bring things that keep them busy either on an airplane, or in the car, for long trips.

We have looked on the internet for car seat requirements, but we've always decided to take car seats with us. It was easier for us to not put our children in their car seats on the plane, because 1)chances are, they won't fit, and 2)they won't kick the seat in front of them. We have also taken our own car seats since we've always known how they work.

I suggest that you test out the Benadryl before the flight. I found out on a 5 hour flight to NC last summer that my daughter is one of those kids that gets hyper when she takes Benadryl. It also upsets my little one's tummy, so we had crazy, wide awake baby with bad poo-poo diapers. We survived and it wasn't too awful, but I would have liked to have known it all before hand. Have fun in Aruba! I'm jealous. I get to vacation in NC again this summer.

I dont know if ten months is too young for Benadryl, it wasn't when my son wdas an infant eight years ago, but I would check. I've traveled alone with two babies from N.Y. to L.A. dozens of times. I think you have enough of a support staff, husband and parents, to help you out. Bring lots of food and if there's a dollar store in your area, buy a bunch of stuff, wrap it, they love to unwrap and it buys you at least, I don't know, five minutes. Just kidding. It does keep them occupied. Clay and stickers are great things to give them on the plane to play with. As far as the carseat goes. Ask your holtel if they have one you can borrow or if they can find one for you. Maybe at a local daycare or maybe someone who works at the hotel has one you can borrow. Try, it can't hurt to ask. Traveling with a carseat is bulky, but I wouldn't risk the drive without one. Remember, one minute can change your life forever and things sound like they're going really well for you. You sound like you would do anything for your baby so don't risk it just for convenience sake. Have a wonderful trip and good luck.

Mother of two/studio city ca

Drugging your kid may be the norm, but I can't believe that anyone would do that. How would you like someone drugging you without your consent to get you to shut up? Seriously.

Calms Forte 4 Kids might be a better option, if you want him relaxed.

Kids are kids and the flight is long. My husband has had to stand up in the back of the plane for most a flight with our 1 year old (at the time), since he didn't want to sit still or be quiet.

lucky you! we took our daughter to italy last year (she was 18mo)--the pediatrician recommended testing her with benedryl a couple of weeks before the flight because it makes some kids HYPER, not drowsy. we gave it to her about 45min before bedtime to try it out and she was basically unaffected (darn!), so we didn't use it on our flights. we bought a dvd player (she loves movies & baby einstein) and took little surprises to give her over the course of the flight. (also, i packed the presents away during the trip and they were new again 3wks later on the return flight home.) best of luck & enjoy!

I have flown a handful of times with my kids. I don't do the Benadryl because I don't believe in taking meds that are not necessary.

I just try to plan our flights around when they would normally nap or sleep. Then I have bottles or pacifiers on hand for take off and landing. And I bring a few comfort items like toys or soft blankies.

Definitely take your own carseat and gate check it. Like someone else mentioned if there is an extra seat next to you, you can have the attendant bring your carseat onboard. I always pay for the extra seat for my kids for any flight over 1 hour long. Most airlines offer a child discount. I just can't hold a squirming kid (or two in my case) for longer than that. Plus it is the safest thing for them to be in their carseat. And 7 hours of having to hold your baby will make your flight seem like forever. This way you can safely put your son into his carseat when he is sleeping or to play by himself so you can get a break. And even you are only going to be in the car from the airport to your hotel, I still prefer to have my kids in a carseat. Plus, from the few times I have been travelling in other countries, the drivers in those other countries are crazy with how they drive.

I know that at Henrys Marketplace and at Whole Foods they have some natural herbal stuff you can give babies to help with flight anxiety or ear pressure. It's made by Hylands and is in a Blue and Pink box. I have never had to use anything like that with my kids, but I saw it the other week at Henry's.

Have fun on your trip!

Oh my God....I can't believe that out of 43 responses ...the majority are OKAY???... with giving a 10 month old ANY form of drug?? Especially for the purpose described? It doesn't matter if it's prescription or OTC. There are problems with both. But to give what seems to most a simple 'fix', for what you are anticipating 'might' be a difficult flight unless he's totally either drowsy or knocked out is absurd!!!
If you are looking for a solution then at least think about something that can't have any side affects. Their are 'sleepy time' teas that work, chamomile tea, and other natural products...their are natural drops and things to use for their ears if you feel that the altitude might bother him. If you truly are looking for a 'safe' solution then find yourself at a Whole foods Market or Henrys and ask the clerk the best route to go NATURALLY. I have yet to understand why it's believed that these OTC medications are 'harmless' to children? Their are plenty every year that are adversely affected by them. Just because the majority of the 43 here were ok with it (the benadryl)....does not mean that your son will/or would be.

As far as part 2 goes....the laws don't matter. The safest place for your son whether it be one mile or 100 in a car - would be in a secure car seat to keep him in place in case you are involved in an accident. Which statistically happens more often 25 miles from home...but can also happen on a short cab ride from the airport to hotel.

Have a safe trip.

Signed old Mom...and dissenting opinion.

Hi A.--I would definitely bring your car seat with you. Your baby should have his own seat on the plane--keeping him on your lap would not only get really uncomfortable--it is extremely unsafe. I have family and friends in the airline industry and one thing they always tell me is how they cringe when they see babies on laps instead of strapped into a car seat. One of the most common occurences of serious injury on an airplane is from turbulance--and it can come about fast and unexpected. I know that 7 hours is a long time to have him in his car seat--and if you have to take him out for stretches there is a tether system called Baby B'Air, that is FAA certified. It is a soft vest that goes over your baby's head and around his chest and back-- and then has a belt (same material as the seat belts) that hooks around your belt to connect the 2 of you together. But while taking off and landing the baby should always be in his own seat--those are the most dangerous parts of the flight--when strong turbulence and sudden drops can occur. It is just as important as having your baby in a car seat on the road--which by the way--even though it is only a 7 mile drive to your hotel--accidents can happen anytime at any distance. It is not worth it if something were to happen and your baby was seriously injured because he wasn't in a car seat.

I'm sorry if I sound really blunt, but safety is not something to be taken lightly--even though it can be a real pain sometimes. Believe me--I know--my husband and I just took our 5 children (ages 8,7,5,3 and 18 months) to WA and we checked 7 bags, 1 pack and play, a car seat and 1 booster and we carried on 5 back packs, 1 duffle bag, a car seat (for our 18 month old) and a stroller. Was it a pain--absolutely--but totally worth it for the knowledge that they were all as safe as we could keep them. The baby b'air safety vest is really awesome and totally comfortable (babybair.com) and definitely worth the investment. I hope some of this helps. Have fun! D.
Oh and by the way--I think the benadryl thing is always a good idea. It will not harm him and if it brings you and him some peace--then all the better.

Hi A.,
I have been travelling with my son since he was 6 months old (twice a year to NY). We never used Benedryl for him - the sound of the plane engine would put him to sleep almost immediately after we took off. He usually slept 2 - 3 hours. He would then get up and we'd feed him read books, play his videos (I recommend getting a portable DVD player for the trip if you don't already have one and make sure it's charged up to run for a few hours - it's a lifesaver!) You son may do the same thing and just sleep on his own - so no drugs needed!

I have heard the Benedryl does make some kids hyper. However, my son is 5 now and sometimes gets airsick - we have used Dramamene or Bonine and that relaxs him and he doesn't get sick. Check with your doctor to see if you can give your son one of those. They may make him a little drousy and it will help with his ears hurting on take off and landing. You can take it with you just in case you need it.

I don't know if you plan on buying your son his own seat, but I highly recommend it. 7 hours is too long with a baby on your lap. I have never used a car seat on the airplane and when we get to NY, I sit in the back of the taxi, put the seatbelt on myself, then hold my son in my lap - just like you'll do on the airplane for take off and landing. This has worked out fine for short trips. However, if you are concerned, you can take your car seat with you and check it at the gate.

Good luck! Have a fun trip. PS - if you do buy your son his own seat, sign him up for frequent flier program so he can get his own points

TALK TO YOUR PEDIATRICIAN ABOUT THE DOSAGE!!!!

Be aware that Benadryl can have the exact opposite affect on some people for example when I take Benadryl its like caffefine and I am up for hours. It is rare but it does happen, I have a friend that this does this to also.

Play with your kid, keep him busy, not drugged.

Skip the benadryl. I have 2 small girls and I travel with both of them alone every year from Maui to the east coast. I have never drugged my kids and especially since there will be 2 adults, you can handle it, really. Check the airline and FAA rules for liquids, formula, etc that you can bring with you for your child. And I would bring his carseat, because you may not believe this, but you might want to go someplace else besides just to the resort. Also if (and this is a BIG IF) there happens to be an extra seat on the plane and the gate agent is kind enough to put the extra seat in your row, you can strap the child into his carseat and he can nap or you can go to the bathroom, etc. Bring the carseat with you to the gate and ask the gate agent for the extra seat in your row and if there is no extra seat, you can gate check the carseat.

I have nightmares every year before our trip and although the plane trip is tiring with two (bored) little people, it is NEVER as bad as I dreamed it would be. Have a great time!

My daughter is one of those who have the opposite reaction to benadryl. I'd try it out before you go, like one other person said. Also, do call you pediatrician for accurate dosing!!

Good luck and have fun.

E.

I flew a lot w/ my daughter in her first year.
More the concern is that with altitude changes the fluid pressure in the ears not build up and cause hearing loss. It's also painful & they don't yet know how to clear their ears as we do.
Give him something to dry that up a bit to prevent damage to his ears; the sleep should be a happy side effect (but don't count on it!).
Ask your pediatrician what to give him and how much.

I just went on a plane wtih my 3 girls 4.6, and 12 months by myself for 4 hours and I don't think you should give the baby benadryl before the flight. My suggestion is nurse or bottle at take off and landing, have a passy available for him to suck on to help clear his ears, have finger snacks, board books, and little toys for him to play with and you will be fine. Worse case... have the benadryl and give it to him only if he can't relax.

Regarding the carseat. It is easy to snap an infant carseat into a car, so I would bring it for safety. Why risk the saftey of your baby.
Good luck you will have a great time on vacation

I am so jealous. My husband and I went to Aruba 2 years ago for our honeymoon. We fell in love with everything about Aruba. You are going to love it.

As for traveling from the airport to the hotel, we took a bus. I am sure you can take a cab or rent a car. The island is really small so you won't do a ton of driving. We stayed at the resort until the last day. Then we rented a jeep and drove all over the island. It is really a personal choice. You might even check with the hotels, sometimes they have carseats you can rent for the day trip. If you have time, go on www.aruba.com check out places to go. We made the trip to Natural Pools and it was worth every moment we spent finding it. (Get a jeep though, nothing smaller) If you go to the Holiday Inn, there is a man out front who does activities. His name is Eddie. He is great. Oh yah...snorkle at Baby Beach. You can rent snorkle gear at your hotel and go there on your own. It is much more fun and you have more freedom of time. I could go on and on, we just love it there. We are dying to go back.

As for the plane, it really depends on your child. You will never know if he is natually good at traveling until you try. Maybe ask your doctor about the Benedryl and keep it just in case. Just try flying with him without it first. It takes affect pretty quick so you will have plenty of time to use it if you need to.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me directly.

Have fun and lucky you!!!
T.

Benadryl is fine.I consulted my then 14 month old's pedatrician regarding a possible overdose of benadryl, and her responce was no way no how. So i say go for it. Benadryl was a house hold item for me at one point, The dr said a regular dose is fine, and i would use at times for my little man on those nights when he wouldn't settle down.

i hope this helps.(my son is now 5 and is o.k.) no side effects ever from benadryl. I read a few more responces and it would be a good idea to test first, benadryl does do the opposite at times, and for the record I used benadryl for my son's severe allergies, it was never just to make my son sleep, but go with your gut!!!!! that always worked for me when my son was younger and i sometimes found myself a bit apprehensive with my descions as a new mom.

Hi there!
Couple of things to keep in mind:
1. Get the dose for the benedryl from your pediatrician and then give a trial dose a couple of days BEFORE you go on the plane. Some kids react to benadryl by getting VERY excitable - if your kid is one of those, this is not something you want to find out at the beginning of a 7 hour plane trip! ;-)
2. You can "gate check" your car seat. This way if there are extra seats available (assuming you didn't buy a seperate plane seat for your little one, which after traveling with my guy, I can say is a worthwhile expenditure sometimes...)you have it available for the plane AND you don't have to worry about the airline losing the car seat (since those bad boys can be pricey to replace!) It is true that you and Hubby may end up holding your little angel most of the trip but it's SEVEN hours...you may appreciate having a bit of a reprieve available for both of you. Also, having ridden in cabs in many foreign countries, I can say that I have yet to meet one that didn't scare the heck out of me with erractic driving that made me wish I could be safely strapped into a car seat! Alternatively, you may be able to call the cab company ahead of time and they probably have a car seat that they can bring.

lots of advice, but I will throw mine on too. Get a night flight!!!! WE went to Australia (15 hour flight) with our 8 month old and almost 2 year old, we took the red eye there (perfect!!!! went to sleep 1 hour after we got on the plane, and woke up 1 hour before landing). It was a fantastic trip there. On the way home we took a day flight. Not so fantastic!!! WE asked about benadryl, and they said it woudl be ok, but do a trial run first. WE did, and very glad we did. Both of them were wired for 4 hours!!!!! No benadryl on the flight! It did work for my 8 year old, so I know it has the potential to work. Try it first.
As for the carseat, I can't imagine wanting to "risk it" and have no carseats. Regardless of the laws in Aruba or not. Bring it. What happens if you go on an excursion? God forbid you were in an accident on the way from the airport to your destination. Bring it, it will make you feel better. Just because its not law doesn't mean its safe. We rented one when we went to Australia. Maybe they have that service there too. That way you don't need to travel with it. Good luck!

A.,
Seven hours is not that long of a flight - really - flying to China is a long flight. Here are the many problems with giving a child Benedryl before a flight: the other ladies are ABSOULUTELY correct - many children do not respond the way we want them to. I can't even describe the reaction my daughter had - she wasn't hyper she was miserable. Couldn't relax, couldn't get comfortable - it was simply awful - mostly for her. The bigger problem is that if you "dope" them up during the flight - then they'll be "all rested" when it's time to sleep. So, you get off the flight in Aruba, eat a light bite and then are ready to go back to the hotel and sleep, right? Uh huh - but the baby had a seven hour "nap" on the the plane and is not tired. Sadly, this isn't my prediction - this is my personal experience and the first few days of the VACATION were quite miserable.....take the advice of the other mama's and bring things to do, lots of snacks, breastfeed, pass the baby to grandparents - you'll be much happiers in the long run. Have fun.

if your going to give him benadryl only give him 1/2tsp (my daughter who is 14mo takes it for allergies and her dr said no more then 1/2tsp till the age of 2) about 30 mins before you take off and that should knock him out for a couple hours for you. i assume by you questioning a carseat that your baby is riding in lap. to me for a flight that long i find it best for the baby to have their own seat so your hands are free. also i would bring a carseat even for those short rides because you never know what could happen. im not at all sure what their laws are out there but i would do whats best for your baby and take one anyways.

Be careful with Benadryl. It can also have the opposite affect in children and make them very hyper! It is not a good time to try it for the first time on a 7 hour flight. I have flown with my daughter many times and she has been fine without any medication. I would take his carseat just in case there is an extra seat on the plane and you can put him in it... you never know.

If you decide to take the car seat, try to find a friend that has this or just buy one of those stroller frames that fits car seats, especially if you will fly more in the future. You put your baby in the car seat and the car seat snaps into the stroller. This way you can wheel him around the airport and he'll be comfy. Here is a link to one http://store.babycenter.com/product/go+go+kidz+travelmate.do

A.,
The benadryl is a life saver on flights we used it every time we flew with our little girl and she slept through most of the flight from LA to NY. I don't remember how much I gave her I suggest you call your pediatrician. As far as a car seat, we brought ours for the flight and not so much for the taxi. If you are going on a 7 hour flight you don't want to hold your 26lbs baby the whole time, not to mention he will be able to sleep in comfort.

I used Benedryl-worked great. also VERY IMPORTANT-bring him something to suck on during take off and landing. thats when the pressure changes really bother the ears of the little ones. a pacifier, bottle, something