If any one of your children is small enough to fit in a carrier, it's worth traveling with a lightweight carrier that folds down easily. “It keeps your hands free, and for many babies, it gives them a feeling of calmness in the middle of chaos,” says Sandra McLemore, travel industry expert and in-flight TV host.
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The best time to fly with kidsWhile you can't always fly at the optimal time (based on your child's age, that is), it's great when you can. The best times, most agree, are between three and nine months, when kids aren't yet mobile, and any time after age two or three.
9-12 Month OldsAt about the time your child starts to crawl in the last few months of the first year, things may start to get a bit more challenging. If your child is active, he or she may want to spend the flight squirming out of your arms and crawling in the aisles.
They're Easily EntertainedAlthough theme parks, playgrounds and other kid-centric attractions can be as much fun for parents as for kids, there's no need to attend any of these if traveling with an infant. You're more free to choose the activities that interest you than you are when you have a toddler or older child.
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.
According to The Health Journal, the most common reason for their discomfort on flights is because cabin pressure presses down on their sensitive ears. Babies' ears are more sensitive than adults' ears, and they cannot equalise the air pressure in their ears as well as adults can.
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.
Take regular breaksTry to take a break every 2 to 3 hours for a day trip and every 4 to 6 hours at night to change diapers or soiled clothes, or to feed your baby. Never attempt to breastfeed in a moving car. Before hitting the road, be prepared and know where gas stations and rest stops are on the way.
Try and stick to flights during the day to make life a little easier for yourself. She explains: Everyone has a different opinion on this one, but I have always found flying during the day is best with toddlers and young children.
This often means that a newborn should not fly until they're three to six months old. However, these dates can vary greatly from child to child. Some pediatricians will allow some babies as young as one month old to fly internationally. Always check with your pediatrician.
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).
Japan Airlines has introduced a feature on its seat booking system that shows where young children are seated. A child icon appears when a passenger is travelling with children aged under two years.
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.
Use a Pacifier or Bottle During Takeoff and LandingThe sucking action can neutralize ear pressure and calm—so pacifiers, bottles, and other sucking toys work, too.
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.
Each airline will have its rules about who can sit where, but a bulkhead seat is generally considered an excellent option for families traveling with young children. The bulkhead is at the front of the cabin and sitting in those seats usually guarantees you some extra leg room.
Traveling with baby is intimidating, but it's certainly not impossible. In fact, family travel expert Corinne McDermott believes traveling with an infant is often easier than traveling with an older toddler. “They're not mobile, they're not wiggling and they're eating and sleeping around the clock,” she says.