Is flying stressful for babies?

Unfortunately, babies don't quite understand how to cope with (or avoid) that unpleasant sensation. As a result, they may get irritable and cry—especially during take-off and landing. Parents and guardians traveling with infants can get ahead of this ear pain and the tantrums associated with it by planning ahead.



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Air travel increases a newborn's risk of catching an infectious disease. Babies born prematurely, with chronic heart or lung problems, or with upper or lower respiratory symptoms may also have problems with the change in oxygen level within the air cabin.

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Changing cabin pressure during a flight causes temporary changes in middle ear pressure. This can trigger ear pain. To help relieve the discomfort in your baby's ears, offer your baby a breast, bottle or pacifier to suck on during takeoff and the initial descent.

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Experienced traveling families already know this, but in most cases the hardest time to travel with a child is from when they become squirmy and mobile by about 9 months old until they hit the age of reason bargaining/cartooning/snacking at about 18 months.

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This is one of the toughest ages to travel. 1-year-olds are just starting to assert their independence. They want to do everything themselves and they want to get down and explore, but they have very short attention spans and can do absolutely nothing to be helpful.

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It is hard to say whether flying during the day or night with a baby is better. After the first few weeks, some infants may sleep more reliably at nighttime than they do during naptime travel. If you and your baby can sleep on the plane, a late-night flight may be the way to go.

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In general, doctors recommend you wait to fly until your baby's immune system is better developed. This could be as soon as one month for full-term infants, though most doctors recommend anywhere between three months and six months.

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They may be in pain because of pressure changes at takeoff and landing; they may be tired and find it difficult to sleep without their normal surroundings; they might want to move around instead of being stuck in a confined space or they might be disoriented and scared.

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To calm babies, parents should take a bottle or pacifier or breastfeed. Also, airplane cabin noise levels are loud, especially during takeoff. Parents can also consider using cotton balls to limit a baby's exposure to this noise. This may help make it easier for the babies to sleep.

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Be prepared with plenty of formula, milk or healthy snacks, and bring more than you think you'll need. You never know when a flight will be delayed. Also, bring along essentials like diapers and wipes, a change of clothes (or two) for your baby, and antibacterial wipes for cleaning the tray tables.

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On long-haul flights, you can request a bassinet/sky cot for your baby to sleep in. You'll need to book a bulkhead seat (a row with no other seats in front) to get those though. Contact the airline as soon as you know you're travelling to see if you can reserve one (Flying with a baby, 2018b).

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If you think your toddler is likely to cry, yell and be noisy on the plane, you might want to book seats near the back of the aircraft. This section of the plane, behind the wings, is generally noisier, thanks to the engine, and the background hum might cover the sound of your child.

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Use a Pacifier or Bottle During Takeoff and Landing The sucking action can neutralize ear pressure and calm—so pacifiers, bottles, and other sucking toys work, too. Consider a Boppy pillow, which helps babies sleep and feed more comfortably, says Dr. Grow.

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Toddler Airplane Activities for 12- 18-Month-Olds
  1. Window Gel Clings. Window clings are great to pack for your flight because they are inexpensive and easy to clean up. ...
  2. Play Foam. Play foam is similar to playdough. ...
  3. Themed Play Packs. ...
  4. I Spy. ...
  5. Non-Toxic Wax Sticks. ...
  6. Coloring Books. ...
  7. Finger Puppets. ...
  8. Animal Erasers.


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Tips for Flying With a 1-Year-Old
  1. Snacks, Snacks, and More Snacks. Snacks make every flight easier. ...
  2. Schedule the Flight Around Nap Time. This is one of my favorite tips, but I think whether or not a flight is timed well will depend on your child. ...
  3. Bring New Toys and Activities. ...
  4. Pack Smart. ...
  5. Go With the Flow.


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