How to Quiet a Baby on an Airplane

Traveling with young children can be a challenging experience. With airplane travel becoming more popular, many families are finding themselves flying with babies. With children too young for in-flight movies, parents often dread even the shortest flight. With a few hints and tips anyone can stay sane while flying with children.

Things You'll Need

• Small Toys
• Instant cereals
• Pacifier

Instructions

1. Book an aisle seat. A seat on the aisle will allow you to get up and move around. While it is not recommended that you walk around while in-flight, there will be times that you need to get up to change the baby.

2. Pack extra food that the baby will eat. Some great suggestions are instant hot cereals that you can simply mix with water. You can ask for warm water from the flight attendant. Having something familiar and warm to munch on will help the baby feel secure during an uncertain situation.

3. Be well-organized. Have all of your baggage ready to check. Arrive early and make sure the baby is fed and content. With all of the airport regulations you want to have plenty of time to get to your gate.

4. Take turns if you're traveling with your partner or another adult. Plan ahead of time who will take the baby, but remain flexible. There may be times that the baby wants only one adult and no other will do.

5. Nurse the baby or give her a pacifier for take-off and landing. This will help to keep the baby's ears and sinuses clear.

6. Introduce some new toys that the baby has never played with before. Find small toys, books, paper and crayons to distract the baby during the flight. Even if the baby can only grip the crayons and barely make marks, know that she is still entertained and quiet.

7. Provide in-flight music. Put some music on your MP3 player that will be calming and soothing. Play this music for the baby in the weeks leading up to your flight. While in-flight, play the music through your earphones and give the baby one side.

8. Get the baby her own seat. If it is within your budget to book a seat for the baby this can be a great advantage. The baby can seat in an FAA-approved safety seat and feel like she is part of the action. Check with your car seat manufacturer to find out if your seat is FAA-approved.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't be the first people on the plane. While the airlines may call for families with young children first, this can put you on the plane much longer than need be. Instead, board when your row is called.

• If the baby does cry during the flight, take heart in the fact that the plane is so noisy that a baby's cry will mostly get drowned out.

• Don't administer medication to a healthy baby just for the flight. This kind of administration often does not work and it can be harmful for your child.