First Time Flying with a Baby

Last week, Erin and I flew for the first time with our 5-month old baby. Our annual trip back to Chicago for early xmas with the extended family was the occasion.

Both Erin and I were anxious about the 4+ hour flight as well as the 90 minute wait prior because, as first time parents, we just had no idea how Sevrin was going to handle the airport, security, the takeoff/landing, and the monotonous hours at 35,000 feet. Some friends empathized and sympathized for us and others told us to quit whining and be thankful that we were not traveling coast to coast...or even worse, to Europe or Australia.

Thankfully, Sevrin was impressively behaved throughout both legs of the journey. Of course, Mom and Dad learned a few things along the way that we thought would be worth sharing:

1. Avoid taking a taxi to the airport at all costs. You would think taxi drivers might be a little more careful knowing that a baby is in the car (in a car seat of course)...yeah right! Search and search and search some more for a friend, relative, or neighbor to take you and your child to the airport in a car.

2. Don't forget the baby seat AND THE BASE! We purchased a third seat on the plane for Sevrin so we wouldn't have to hold her the entire 4 hours--smart move. But, in order for your car seat to buckle down on the plane you also need the base (just like in the car). We remembered to bring the base, but almost forgot it in the taxi in the midst of unloading all of our luggage, etc. An easy way to NOT leave it behind is to keep that back door open until you remove the base from the car.

3. The stroller goes through the xray machine--yes, the entire stroller! Thankfully, our Bugaboo Cameleon collapses fairly easily. So, after rookie Dad tried to push the stroller through the stand-up metal detectors and was chastised by security personnel, he was able to quickly break it down and shove it through the tube. Whew.

4. Baby sits in the window seat. While keeping baby in the middle may be a picture perfect Kodak moment, FAA regulations require that the car seat be placed in the window chair because it sticks out forward enough to block anyone else from getting out of the row. When buckled down, the car seat stretches forward within a few inches of the plane seat ahead of it, thus leaving no room for anyone to squeeze by in the row.

5. Feeding during takeoff and landings helps the ears. I'm not talking about Mom and Dad's ears here (though a silent baby is aurally pleasing)--the swallowing of formula or breast milk helps pop baby's ears. We saved about two ounces of formula in a bottle for the up and down. Worked like a charm.

6. Politely inform the passenger sitting in front of Baby that his seat back will not recline. If you don't, the guy will try to recline his seat back the moment your child falls asleep in the car seat. Because of the spacing issues described in #4 above, his seat will not recline and in frustration he will pound his back and head against the seat back trying to force it down. Meanwhile your child will be thrust back and forth as if she was on a carnival ride from the frustrated passenger's unsuccessful attempts to recline his seat.

7. Don't fret the crying. Your baby is going to cry during the flight. Recognize this fact. Other passengers on the flight who are Moms and Dads will understand--especially during the holiday season. Most others will understand as well. Those heartless and selfish individuals who sneer or sigh at the sight of your baby or during his crying don't deserve your concern--just hand them a poopy diaper and ask, "do you mind throwing this away?"