Hello,
My husband and I are taking our 7 month old son on a plane for the first time. We are going to a beach resort and will also be visiting family. I am nervous about the pressure on his ears, I always have to chew gum etc. He has had a cough and a running nose, I am worried that he may get sick or his ears my really bother him. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Also, ideas about what to do what not to do while at a beach, by the pool etc. Thanks a million moms!!
Thank you all so much for the great advice & encouragement. We had a great trip and the baby was not bothered at all by the flight. We did everything: bottle, pacifier, called the pediatrician, cotton balls in the ear! At the beach we stayed out of the sun during the heat of the day and went out in the early evening, he loved it!
Thanks so much!
M.
Either breast feed or give him a bottle right as the plane is starting to taxi away and goes up in the sky......by the end of the bottle he may fall asleep + stay asleep for awhile - it always worked for me!
Going up + coming down are the hardest part on the ears.....
hi, M. I have three kids and know how you feel. As a mom myself my advise to you would be give a little tylenol for any pain that you dont know the baby maybe feeling and bring a pacifer for the plane ride that always seems to work.
good luck!
My doctor suggested giving a decongestant prior to flying and have the baby suck on a pacifier or drink a bottle during take-off. Also, if your son is prone to ear infections as my daughter is, have his ears checked before flying, especially if he has had a runny nose! (We learned this the hard way!) Good Luck
Have a doctor check his ears - you shouldn't fly with him if he has a ear infection. If he is fine - if you are breastfeeding - breastfeed during take of and landing . Begin when you start to feel cabin pressure changing. If you bottle feed - give her a bottle with formula and a slow flow nipple. Slow flow nipple is important or else they drink everything too quickly while the cabin pressure is still adjusting. Plan meals and drinks in advance so that she doesn't starve and can make it to take off, but is hungry enough to eagerly take it when you want her to have it. Worked really well for me and I have been to Europe 4 times since my 3 years old daughter was born (my son is 16 months old and he was there already twice). 3 years old gets a sippy cup with milk obviously. All the children on board of the plane were crying - mine were perfectly fine. For security - they do let you take formula on board. Good luck and have fun on your vacation!
Try timing it so your child is drinking during take off and landing. Usually when the pressure is noticed. The sucking action helps stop this.
Hi M.-
We have a condo in sunset beach, NC which is a half hour north of myrtle and we took our son on a plane to myrtle beach for the first time when he was 9 mos old. Now, every kid is different but the plane ride seemed to not have any effect on my son as far as air pressure! Just make sure you have sippy cups/bottle and you try to get him to drink while taking off landing...and if he is in discomfort, the plane ride is so short it won't be too long of a stress for you. As for things to do..definitely check out broadway at the beach...there's a little carousel park that you can check out and a great Ripley's aquarium! Enjoy! Have a great trip!
I would have a bottle or two on hand which should help with the ear problems on the plane. If he is still sick, place a phone call to the pediatrician to get his ok (I'm sure he will give it) but just to be safe. At the beach/pool, stay under an umbrella, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and plenty of fluids and just have some fun and relax!!!!!!
I flew with my son at about 8 months old. He constantly sucked on his pacifier which according to his pediatrician would alleviate any pressure in his ears. So we had no problem flying. I guess it has same effect as chewing gum.
Hi M.,
We traveled with our 6 month old daughter from CT to CA...6 hour flight. Per our doctor's suggestion, we packed infant tylenol and made sure that she was sucking on a bottle (with juice or milk) at takeoff and landing. We never needed to use the infant tylenol. Our daughter ended up sleeping almost the whole time, which was great! We brought her infant car seat and put it in the third seat backwards, in an almost flat position. I was really nervous before we left, but it wasn't nearly as bad as we thought!!! Good Luck :)
Hi M.
I took my son on a plane at 8 months for the first time to the bahamas. two things worked really well 1- if you are breastfeeding, breast feed on the ascent and the descent. This basically does what gum chewing does for adults, if he won't use a pacifier. The sucking is the key 2- bring two or three new toys that have never been seen.
if you can, sit in first class or the bulk head seats. once in the air, letting him stand holding onto your knees works.
Have fun in Myrtle Beach
Hi
of course have a binky /pacifier with you and small bottle of water or water down juice when the pressure makes him fussy.
the sucking helps alot.
If he has a history of ear issues, ask the doctor if he can give him a mild decongestant to take on take off and landing ......you would do it 20 minutes before the take off and 20 minutes before landing.
take tie on hats and loose tees.
they make the sleeved bathing suites which are good protection.
get an umbrella or see if the family had a small tent to pitch.
keep him hydrated and put cornstarch in the diaper to avoid diaper rash in the heat.
have a nice time.
A.
Hi:
When traveling with an infant, the worst time is the take off and the landing because of the changes in the air pressure. I was told by my pediatrician to do the following: Make sure the baby's fed at take off and at landing. The act of sucking on the bottle or the breast will help with the uncomfortable feelings, especially in the ears. I always brought a bottle of formula, juice and water ready for them (I had two children 1 year apart). Once they are older, you can give them fruits or something else to chew on.
Hope this helps.
i don't know why this works but it does, we did it to my 9 month old on the way to california during take off and landing and my parents did this to me when we were little.
take small bits of cotton, small enough to cover his ear hole, but large enough to not go into his ear and just place them over the ear hole. do this during take off and landing and he should have to pressure problems!
M.-
Myrtle Beach has plenty to do for kids... the afternoons are really warm... so you might want to look into going to the aquarium, indoor water park, etc. My son loved it. Also, for the plane ride... a couple of things you can do. If he is using a bottle, take one with you and during take off and landing, let him have the bottle- the suction of the bottle will help his ears.
He might just sleep on the plane, depending onwhen you are flying...
IN regards to his cough or runny nose, check with your pediatrician- She/He might reccommend something for flying.
Have a great time!
MammaW
One thing I have learned traveling back and forth from California with my daughter, that everytime we would fly she would get a ear infection. The last time I flew out she was already a little sick with a cold. I learne from another parent flying with me that she suggested giving my daughter a decongestion like dimeutapp. So on the way back I did and she didn't complain once about her ears. Also when you take off and land have him suck on a bottle or pacifier so it opens up the ears. I would also research on a doctor that is in your plan in the area where you are traveling too, just in case. And for the beach and pool just make sure the baby is hydrated fill bottles up with water and put ice in it. And make sure you wet him every 15 min or so. Babies tend to overheat really easily. Have fun...
I just flew for the first time with my 10 month old. here are a couple of suggestions:
1. if possible either fly during nap time and he will most likely fall asleep or take a red-eye flight because it is less likely to be full and you may have more room.
2. hold off the bottle is possible until take off and the ears shouldnt be a problem. I used a pacifier for the landings since he wasnt hungry again.
3. Bring lots of pacifiers because he will most likely throw them (even the ones tied to the ribbon) and they will go under the seat where you cant reach them. i brought about 7.
4. If you dont have carry ons, bring an extra bag of toys for the baby and buy two new ones that he has never seen. wear each toy out separately so you dont run out of toys for him.
5. bring an extra change of clothes, a ziplock in case of any dirty diapers and something that smells like home, like his favorite blanket.
hope this helps.
It's helpful if your son has something to suck on while taking off and landing, either a pacifier or bottle. That helps ease the pressure in the ears the same way it helps us when we chew gum. On the beach, make sure he has sunscreen on and make sure you reapply after some time. It's also a good idea to bring a tent or something he can be out of the sun in. Most of all, take lots of pictures and enjoy your time together! They grow so fast!
