Moonlit Miles

I dreaded my first flight with my 1 year old. I was about to fly right after a video of a man yelling about a crying baby on a plane went viral. My hands were sweaty and I was nervous my kid would be uncomfortable and everyone else on the plane would suffer through it. I felt guilty for wanting to travel, then guilty for not wanting to travel. Internet searches did not help but instead gave me more bad scenarios to think about.

My nightmares didn’t come true. He was mostly calm, observant, and able to find entertainment in the new experience. He even slept on one of the flights. But it wasn’t just luck and a lot of prayers. Here’s what we did the months before to make sure we had a successful flight.

1. Public exposure – we took our baby to everything from baseball games to large, loud family parties. We went out frequently and made sure our baby saw his city and other people. I believe this desensitized him to loud sounds, big crowds, and the vibe of exhausted or rushing people. Despite times when I just wanted to stay home, it makes life easier to go out and explore even if in the day-to-day it seems harder.

2. Baby gear- All the gear we used for our baby was something he had used frequently. No new carriers or car seats were deployed. This ensured he was comfortable and familiar with what was going to happen next (how he was going to fit in the carrier, where he was going to be buckled in, etc.). We also picked a car seat that was lightweight and fit in a carry bag so we could wear the car seat while walking through the airport.

3. Lots of food- our baby was mostly drinking formula milk the first time we travelled. We packed several bottles and used them before security check, right after security check, and during takeoff to make sure our baby was full the whole travel time. I wanted to err on the side of full than hungry to avoid any meltdowns. During takeoff, drinking or eating is supposed to help with ear pressure since babies don’t know how to pop their ears.

4. Planning flights – this was a hit or miss. I tried to pick extremely early and late flights so our baby would be tired and hopefully fall asleep. I only did this once, but I realized that I too have to get up extremely early or very late. Now, I just book flights whenever but I aim for mid morning hours so I can arrive at the hotel with some natural daylight.

5. No medicine/drugs – I believe introducing a new substance would cause more issues than be helpful. I also didn’t want to give my baby anything substance that he didn’t need just for the side effects. I am sure there are toddlers and babies out there who need some assistance relaxing on a plane (same as full grown adults who CAN regulate their emotions!). I think experimenting with reactions and administration would be beneficial before the flight. I would worry a reaction would leave you with no medical assistance in the air.

6. Activity plan – we forgot that WiFi was not free on a plane and quite frankly, were planning on using Hey Bear or Miss Rachel videos for some mid flight entertainment. Instead, our baby enjoyed jumping on Dad’s lap, watching the stewards pass out soda and water, and the other people on the flight. We sat in the very back, which allowed C full view of the action in the stewardess’ quarters.

7. Flight length – we started with shorter, 1 hours flights and gradually started booking trips further and further away. We are now up to two hour flights. This is very easy to do with Southwest, as they often have sales and their prices are low.

So… what didn’t work?

What Did Not Work

There were a few things I thought would work but did not. I got C ear protection which he has used at a few events. However, for the flights he would not keep them on so they just stayed in my purse. Drawing/coloring also did not work. C simply was not interested but I believe it will eventually be a good time filler.

One mid morning flight C was fussy but he never fully started crying. Both of us parents took turns bouncing him and lifting him in the air. It was exhausting but I was happy he never broke into a full on cry.

Where to Travel Next

I’m interested in traveling to kid friendly cities but I have not decided on our next trip. Where do you want to travel with your baby or toddler? Please share any tricks or horror stories with me – I’d love to hear them!