Looking for Suggestions for Flying with a 6 Month Old

First of all, I wouldn't bother taking your breast pump onto the plane in a carry-on. Pack it in your suitcase and check it. Your son will want to nurse on the plane, so you shouldn't need your pump. Try to nurse him during take offs and landings, so that he will be continuously swallowing and popping his ears. Give him a dose of infant Tylenol about an hour before you take off then again 3 hours into the flight (for landing, just in case). You really won't need much of anything. Maybe buy a new toy that he hasn't seen, diapers, wipes, nursing cover (if you choose). You will be shocked how the hum and constant movement of the airplane will lull him right to sleep. I've flown with my daughter twice, once at 4.5 months and once at 9 months, and she slept almost the ENTIRE time for all the flights (8 in all). I wish you well and hope this helps! Good luck. Oh, and be prepared for the "death" looks you will get as you board the plane. People automatically assume your baby will scream the entire time (which he won't, I promise), so just look at them and SMILE!

I traveled to texas with my youngest when she was 5 months old and like your self had help on the way there and none on the way home, the Airline was super the re booked my flight home on a red eye flight, there were very few people on the plane and it was way past her bed time she fell asleep shortly after take off and slept the whole way home even through getting off the plane and getting my luggage. They let me take her car seat on board because of the limited people on board so that was a blessing. Hope this helps you out.

Good for you for breastfeeding your son! It's the very best thing you can do for him! I'm not sure why you need to take the breastpump, though, if you are going to be with your baby and family. I'd nurse him during the flight when you can. I travelled often with my first, breastfed baby, and it was great to be able to keep her happy with my milk. Small baby toys, cardboard baby books etc. might help too. Have fun! I breastfed 4 children and never owned a breastpump, though I know they're quite common now. I rarely left my babies, though I always had a little hand-expressed milk in the freezer someone could try to give if I had to be away. Usually they refused to take it anyway!

hey S.. i just got back from a trip also. we took our 11 month baby with us on a 5 hr plane trip. well it was and 1.5 hours then about 2.5 hrs or so. he slept most of the time both ways. when we left he got up very early and when we took off he was ready for a nap. the second half of the first flight he also slept.,i guess either he was bored or still tired from getting up early and plus fighting an ear infection.but on the way home we left around 11 am and it was maybe 30 min to that flight he fell asleep again!! the second flight he also fell asleep so we got lucky. but just make sure to etiher nurse him or bottle feed him on take off and landing and his ears should be good. but bring some toys from home and find some new baby toys. and with all new faces he will be happy looking around iam sure. i know a lady who sat behind us and next to us enjoyed talking to our son or playing peek a boo. good luck.

S.,
I recently flew solo both ways with my 9 month old son on a 2-1/2 hour trip. Luckily, on the way there, he was in very good spirits and kept the whining and crying under wraps until the last 20 min or so of the flight. On the way home, however, after a 10 day vacation, he was fussy on and off the entire trip. He would not nap either way although he was well overdue for one which led to constant climbing on me and wiggling about in order to stay awake and observe his new surroundings. I found that just pulling out small toys or snacks one by one kept him occupied. On the way home, I tried a little hard to force a nap which led to a fit. The flight attendant graciously took him for about 10 min which allowed me to get over my embarrassment and go to the bathroom. So, let them help you if they offer it or seem to have the time. One of the earlier respondents was right- the flight will feel like FOREVER, especially if your child is fussing or crying. It was agonizing whenever my little one would start to fuss as I felt like I was disrupting the entire plane. However, most of the passengers around me said that he did such a good job on the way off the plane so just hang in there if things go awry. One other thing- my son did spit up both ways so yes, have something handy to cover yourself with or change into! Good luck and happy journeys!

Sounds like you are a nursing mom and i have to say that i think it makes airplane flights much easier. Don't be afraid to use nursing as a way to calm a fussy baby, get him asleep or to just keep him occupied. I remember a flight with our 6 week old and i felt like a human pacifier but truthfully, that is still a lot better than a screaming baby! I would always be as discreet as possible but even if you have someone next to you, bring a blanket and nurse baby to sleep if thats what will keep him from crying.

6 months is hard because at that age, they like to grab and do things but attention spans are very short and being stationary is tough... plus they are too young to use food or snacks as an activity. it will take a lot of work to keep them busy for 5 minutes and 4 hours will feel VERY long! But sometimes babies do better than you expect cause they are interested in all the new sights/sounds, plus they have your undivided attention which they love. I would just bring a few toys with different textures and maybe do some hand games/songs softly. It can be a little agonizing but it won't last forever! we have had lots of success with our little ones although we did see lots of interesting reactions when boarding the plane. We were happy to prove to them that babies can be happy travels too!

Make sure he drinks his bottle/cup on the takeoff and landing for his ears. Take any of his favorite toys and snacks. Snacks are a big help! And don't forget, you can take your stroller and they can check it in right as you get to the airplane's door:-)
When I travelled alone with my son, I brought a backpack filled with stuff and his diaper bag:-) Have fun.

The thing that I found best to pack is a clean T-shirt for you
in a zip lock bag. That way if his tummy gets upset and he spits up all over you you don't have to sit in a smelly spit up covered shirt for 4 hours. Smaller planes are like cars and made it easy for my kids to sleep.

You've received lots of great advice already. The only thing I want to add is, I soooo wish I had one of those baby slings when I flew with my daughter when she was 6 months. She fell asleep...and of course I was uncomfortable and my arms and legs were falling asleep, but I did not dare move because who knows how they'll be if they wake up.

We also brought a lot of books and small baby toys, but what gave the most entertainment is the people behind and on the sides. People love babies and someone is bound to start making faces.

Good luck!

N.

We had been living in Germany and just flew home with our 10 month old. 18 hours of travel in total door to door. Whew!

Plane rides can be tough. I would suggest getting some interesting (cheap) toys. Even something like an old magazine works wonders. My daughter seems to prefer anything she thinks she isn't supposed to have! ha ha ha

There are lots of things to see on the plane, so it will be tough to get him to nap. First, if you can afford to get him his own seat and have him sit in the car seat, that will allow you some freedom from time to time. Also, sitting next to the windwo is a good option as babies like to look out. However, if you are traveling alone with him and he is sitting on your lap... I can see how that might not be the best otherwise you'll be crawling over someone the whole flight to go to the bathroom and such.

Lots of patty cake and things like that. Short bursts of interaction work well intermingled with something to keep his hands and mind occupied on his own.

To help with the ear thing... either nurse him, bottle, or paci on take off and landing. My chiropractor also gave a great suggestion that we have used every time we've flown with our daughter. Tug on their ears... and up and out motion. You can't hurt them. She said their ears aren't in their 'final location' at this age ... their head grows and with it their ears will move. Because of this, their eustachian tubes can get 'kinked' ... and then the pressure change can cause irritation. The gentle tugging helps keep the tubes kink free and also helps 'pop' the ears. We've done this every time we've flown with our daughter (she had her first flight at 9 weeks!) and we've had NO issues at all. Not one peep of discomfort.

Good luck!

Bring lightweight/umbrella stroller and you can check the stroller in at the gate. Pack a back pack with diapers,wipes, toys, snack(I like the gerber food snack the star shape one, I forgot the name) and changing clothes for you and baby. Some airplane has a seat that has a crib in front of your seat, try to get this seat, this really help, you can put your baby there when the seat belt sign off. Feed/nurse the baby during take off/landing. Ask flight attendants if you need help with warming bottles or food, etc. Regarding nap, depending on your baby and the flight schedule. When my first baby was 10 mo we had a 13 hours plane ride abroad and she slept about 10 hours in that plane (she always been a deep sleeper). But with my second, she was 6 mo and she only slept 2 hours of 13 hours (she always been a light sleeper).