Flying with a baby for the first time can lead to serious anxiety during the weeks leading up to the flight. Befriending other passengers as soon as you board can help to cultivate support, so if your baby does kick up a fuss, you are more likely to be met with sympathy rather than annoyance. Here are five more tips to make flying with an infant easier:
1. Prevent Earache Due To Changing Altitudes By Feeding Baby
Feeding baby when you take off and when you land can help to prevent the earache resulting from changing altitude. So pack your baby bottles, formula or pumped milk, and a travel bottle sterilizer.
As annoying as a wailing infant might be to other passengers, the baby is wailing for good reason. Your little one may well be in a great deal of discomfort as changing altitude can cause painful popping inside the ears. While you can explain what is happening to children and adults, the pain is a complete mystery to an infant, and crying is their best method for communicating their discomfort.
2. Book Your Flight At Baby’s Bedtime
Don’t book your check-in at bedtime, but aim to be in the air during sleep time. This shortens the journey for your little one, making it easier for everyone. If you pack headphones and keep your little one listening to calming classical music, they will enjoy a deeper state of sleep and be less likely to wake when passengers move around or make noise. Arriving at the airport just before nap time might mean your little one is a bit cranky and tired, but once you have boarded and you’re in the air, it will be well worth it.
3. Declare Your Fluids To Security Prior To Boarding
Packing bottles and water for feeding is perfectly innocent, but with strict fluid limitations, you may run into problems if you don’t declare what you’re bringing on board. For long flights, the baby will need sustenance, and the fluids will be permitted. However, it’s still important to declare these things to ensure you have a smooth and easy experience. Packing a little extra is a good idea to ensure you have enough for feeds during takeoff and landing.
4. Overpack
Extra nappies, bottles, formula, water, nappy rash cream, and wet wipes are worth packing, especially for long flights. It’s not just about having it on hand – under these strange circumstances, and your baby is likely to break the usual routine. You might find a little extra milk to be soothing and comforting, which will naturally result in more wet nappies. Add a few extra comfort items and perhaps a new toy or snuggle item for amusement.
5. Avoid Booking Routes With Connecting Flights
Connecting flights can be stressful at the best of times when you don’t have children to consider. Flights run late and can cause you to have to rush to make your next one on time. Navigating foreign airports on a tight schedule with a baby in tow is incredibly stressful. Sometimes connections are unavoidable, but when direct routes are available, they are well worth the extra expense to save you the stress.
Take A Deep Breath
If it seems like your infant becomes crankier when you’re stressed out, you’re probably right. You can enjoy an easier flight by trying to get your own mind into a calm space. While essential oils can’t be applied to babies, having a soothing scent like lavender on hand can help you keep your nerves under control, and when you’re relaxed, the baby will be calmer.
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