Traveling Mom Shares Her 3 Uncommon Tips for Flying With a Baby
Being a parent is tough, being the parent of an infant is exceptionally hard, and being a parent with a baby stuck on a long flight- well, that's just living life on Extreme Difficulty Mode. Parents are all too familiar with the trials and tribulations of flying with their babies, and any viable tip, trick, or hack that can help make air travel with children less challenging is a welcome one.
New mom Karina Hendry just cleared a first big parental milestone: taking her six-month old daughter on her first flight. For a first-time flight, Karina claims that it went off like a charm. Before you call it "beginner's luck," though, you may want to hear what Karina has to say. She shared three "game changing" uncommon tactics that she used to make Baby's First Flight a breeze!
Parents have tried countless tactics to keep baby calm on long flights- toys, tablets, special inflatable baby beds for airplane seats. I've even seen one set of parents intentionally skip their baby's naptime to get her tuckered out for the long flight. But @karina.hendry didn't use these particular tactics on her flight, and her baby's first trip was a success nonetheless. So what did she do?
Firstly, she boarded last, NOT first. Karina's reasoning was that it decreased the amount of time they'd have to spend on board the plane. That might not be ideal for all parents, especially those counting on grabbing some overhead space for their carry-ons, but it's something to consider.
Once on board, Karina used a travel sound machine that emitted the same white noise she used for her baby a home. Not only did it help drown out those loud, scary airplane sounds, but it also created a more familiar and relaxing environment for her baby. Naturally, she kept the volume set low to avoid irritating other passengers- though I imagine they'd still rather hear a white noise machine over a cranky baby.
Lastly, Karina recommends that parents opt for an early flight like she did. Her reasoning is that babies have more energy early in the morning. As the day goes on, babies are more likely to get tired and overstimulated, upping the chances of a screaming tantrum. The earlier the flight, the better- at least in Karina's book!
How To Prepare For a Flight With Your Baby
In practice, Karina's tips took a ton of stress out of traveling with her new baby, and her advice was practical, easy, and affordable. Ultimately, though, there's no "one size fits all" answer to flying with young children that'll fix every possible problem- just good ideas that you can try to utilize.
That said, if you want to take a few additional steps to safeguard yourself against airplane tantrums, here are a few additional ideas that can help. Try buying a few cheap new toys (or a baby book, if they're old enough to appreciate them) at a dollar store, and don't reveal them to your kiddo until the plane's in the air. The novelty of the entertaining toys can keep them distracted and engaged, buying you some extra time.
Take care of their inner ears, too! As Ayla Ellison explains on WellTogetherBlog.com, young children often have underdeveloped Eustachian tubes, making them more susceptible to ear pain from pressure changes. Swallowing or suction helps, so try giving your little one a bottle, pacifier, or (if they're old enough) a lollipop during takeoffs and landings.
Flying with young kids can be stressful and unpredictable, but it helps when you have ways of counteracting potential problems. I hope your family's next flight is smooth soaring!
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