- Arrive at the airport early. Don't get stuck thinking that if your baby has fallen asleep in the car on the way to the airport that s/he'll be able to continue sleeping all the way through security and onto the plane. At security you'll be required to remove your baby from the car seat and carry them in your arms through the detectors. Arriving early can give you some extra time to soothe your baby to sleep once you arrive at the gate prior to boarding.
- Arrive at the terminal early (hopefully this will already be a consequence of arriving at the airport early). Ask the attendant at the gate if there are any empty seats on the flight. If there happen to be any seats available, I've always had luck with getting my seat switched so that I'm seated next the the empty spot. This will provide room for a car seat to be carried on board and your child to sit in it, or just extra space/nobody seated next to you. It's especially helpful if you end up needing to nurse while on board.
- Bring a carrier/wrap. You may not be able to bring a car seat on board if the flight is full. If this is the case, a carrier will allow for both of your hands to be free while on board. We tried the Ergo on our first trip, but Maks didn't care for it much since he likes to be carried in a hip hold while in that carrier (not conducive to sitting on the plane). The next time around, I put Maksim in a BabyBjorn carrier ($4 steal at a yard sale!) facing out. He much prefers to be able to see whats going on around him. This worked like a charm, and even though our flights were scheduled in the middle of the day, as soon as the engines hummed, he fell right asleep.
- Try to travel with a companion. It's loads easier to travel with 4 arms as opposed to 2. Especially when you have a car seat, stroller, carry-on/checked bag and diaper bag. If you travel solo, make sure to research the airline's "traveling with infants" policy. See next.
- Do your research. Most airlines allow you to gate check a car seat and a stroller (although some restrict jogging strollers such as our BOB Revolution SE from being gate checked). If your airline doesn't allow a jogging stroller to be gate checked, I'd recommend skipping that stroller altogether and bringing a collapsable unit that your car seat can adapt to (we use an infant car seat stroller frame for our Graco SnugRide 35...if you've invested in a travel system, that should cover all of your bases). Unless you have a travel bag for your stroller that will keep it safe amongst the forceful arms of the baggage clerks, it's not worth risking ruining your expensive stroller. Additionally, diaper bags are commonly free carry-on items and do not count towards your allotted carry-on and personal item allowance.
- Stock your diaper bag. We've been lucky to have direct flights and/or short layovers on connecting flights. Pack an extra set of clothes, a blanket (flights tend to get chilly), diapers, wipes (also good for disinfecting your baby's area on the plane - right now everything ends up in Maksim's mouth!), and an entertaining toy or two.
- Be prepared to nurse, if necessary. This will help equalize the pressure in your baby's ears. Another suitable option would be to allow your baby to suck on your finger or a pacifier. I was planning to nurse Maks as our first flight departed in order to help keep his ears open and minimize any pain. However, he seemed to have no problem with the altitude changes during takeoff or landing. Maks appears to enjoy the pressure and engine hum during both ends of the flight, so I now rely on that to keep him happy (and most times it'll put him right to sleep). Nonetheless, nursing is a great way to soothe your baby if s/he becomes fussy at any point during the trip!
- Wait as long as possible to bring your baby on a plane. I wholeheartedly believe in allowing as much time as possible for your baby's immune system to develop. Additionally, as your baby nears 6 months, s/he will nap more regularly, be more easily entertained, and be a bit more predictable behavior-wise.
**Just a small bit of advice for nighttime flights: If you are planning to travel on board with your baby in a car seat, make sure it has a sun shade. If you're using a carrier, one with a hood is ideal. These covers will help keep the baby's face dark and maximize the chances of them staying sound asleep as the cabin lights pop on and off throughout the flight.**
Happy travels!
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