How to Fly With a Small Baby - Without Tears

Flying with a small baby can be scary if you have never done it before. But the truth is that flying with a young baby is much easier than flying with older kids! Here's some tips for smooth sailing in the friendly skies.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Well stocked diaper bag (preferably a backpack)
• Infant Tylenol (optional)
• Stroller
• Car Seat
• Infant carrier, moby wrap, sling, or some other hands-free baby holder

1. Pack that diaper bag. It's really best if you use a back pack instead of your usual diaper bag. This will give you the option of wearing it on your back, freeing up your hands. Make sure you have extra diapers, wipes, a change of clothes, a clean shirt for you (in case of spit up!), bottles and formula, pacifiers and anything else you may need for baby.

2. Talk to your pediatrician abut Tylenol dosage. I always gave my babies a half dose of Infant Tylenol an hour before taking off so that their ears wouldn't hurt so much. Make sure you know your baby's current weight and discuss this option with your doctor to make sure it's OK.

3. Even if your baby will be flying as a free "lap child" bring the car seat with you to the gate. If there is an empty seat on the plane, you will be able to put baby in the car seat which is much safer - and easier! And if there is not an empty seat, the flight attendant with gate-check the seat.

4. If your baby is in an infant car seat that is part of a travel system, it will be easy to get the car seat through the airport by snapping it into the stroller. If you use a regular size carseat, it will be a bit more challenging. There are car seat bags available online and at Babies R Us that have wheels on the bottom for pulling the carseat. You can also buy a nifty little contraption that straps the seat to your carry-on sized suitcase.

5. For transporting baby, you want a stroller and some kind of hands-free carrier (a sling, wrap, snugli, or anything else you like to use). Just having a carrier is not good enough - you have to take it off to get through security and will need some place to set baby down while you strap it back on (if you are traveling alone). Also, if you are delayed for an extending period of time, you will want a place for baby to nap. Bring a stroller that reclines - not just a small umbrella stroller. The best part is that bigger strollers is the big storage space for diaper bags and drink holders on the top.

6. When you get to the get, ask the flight attendant if there are empty seats on the plane. If there are, ask to be moved so that your child can have a seat. If there is not, get a tag for the car seat so it can be get checked. Either way, make sure you get your stroller tagged for gate-check.

7. Ask for help. Don't be shy about asking for assistance getting you, baby, the stroller, the car seat and your carry-ons onto the plane. Most flight crews are more than willing to help.

8. Preboard. Don't feel bad that you are getting on the plane first. Preboarding was designed for people like you. You have a lot of stuff and you have to settle both you and baby. Give yourself plenty of time.

9. Give baby a bottle or pacifier during take off and landing to help ease the pressure on baby's ears. Nursing is also an option but if baby is in the car seat, it's much safer for baby to stay strapped in during take off and landing in case it's bumpy.

10. Wait until last to get off the plane. People tend to get pushy (not always on purpose) when exiting the plane and you do not want baby to get hurt.