I think we are ready for our trip. Think is the operative word. To be honest, I am terrified to fly on an airplane with Henry. I don’t get nervous about too many things, but this experience is up there on the list. This is our first flight together, and as someone who flies frequently for work, I so don’t want him to be ‘that baby.’ I’ve got a bag of tricks, Baby Mum Mums, and activities that will hopefully ward any meltdowns off. Any other advice?
Fingers crossed! At least the rest of the brood is ready. My brother-in-law is pet sitting, the car is packed. I’m ready for our New Orleans trip. I think? See, it’s that word again…
Yesterday, Kristien booked me a massage with Debra Toth, the clinic’s new massage therapist. How nice is that? If I ever needed a massage, it was yesterday.
Debra does deep tissue work, and it hurt so good (know what I mean?). I had just gone on a three mile run, so it felt extra amazing on my legs. And she paid a ton of attention to my right arm and wrist. I’m developing Mommy Syndrome from carrying around that 17 pound chunker all day. Debra was great – if anyone local needs a massage, definitely check her out. She also does one-on-one yoga.
Aaaaand speaking of the clinic, we spent last night crafting. Nicole and Isaac came over to help us put together some marketing materials for a booth that the Husband is working at today (and then we’re driving directly to the airport). They even brought dinner – Thai! Are they the best friends ever or what?
Apples!
Chip clips! No one can resist a good chip clip. 
And I did some materials for my Operation Beautiful on Sunday (that’s why we’re flying to New Orleans – I’m tabling at the Girls on the Run conference).
Whew. So many balls up in the air!
Have a good Saturday. I’ll seeya in the Big Easy. Assuming we survive the flight.
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{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve flown twice with my little lady, when she was 2 months and 4 months. It’s not too bad! Although my flights were short, thankfully. Have him suck on something for takeoff and landing to help with his ears. And see if you can make nap time fall during the flight! Good luck
My best advice is to try and relax ( I know Not easy) and as my husband reminded me, you will never see those people again. I booked out flights during naptime and myson slept through both flights. I also wore him through security which was so much easier. You have to take him out of carrier during take off and landing but otherwise he slept on me.
Did you pack a copy of his birth certificate? I was asked for one in Dallas even though he was only 5 monts old.
OMG thank you. I didn’t even think of this.
Lots of nursing or bottles!!!! I’ve been flying with my bent since she was tiny, and without fail she falls asleep while nursing on the plane. Shes also quite entertained by a tablet. You’ll be fine. The thing that Sufis about flying with baby is that, in the end it is out of your control – its up to them and their mood. Most people that are flying are very understanding even if baby cries. Take a deep breath and go with it – a relaxed mama makes a world of difference.
Not sure what Sufis was doing there… curse auto -correct.
I think you’ll be surprised at how well he does on the plane. I took my twin girls from Rhode Island to California when they were 6 months old. I was completely terrified. All I could think about was two screaming babies and the entire plane hating me. To my surprise they were amazing. As we got off the plane people were coming up to me telling me how good they were and how they didn’t even know there were babies on the plane. I think the plane noises helped a lot. They are very soothing so they slept most of the time. When they were awake they were happy just looking around at their new and different surroundings. One tough thing is changing babies on a plane. Mostly because its so cramped in there and the changing table is so hard. I would recommend bringing a changing mat. It will make you feel better about all those germs too. I’m sure you’ve also heard to feed him during take off and landing so his ears will pop. Good luck! I’m sure Henry will do great
Here is a post that Joanna of A Cup Of Jo wrote on this topic. I found it to be quite helpful for our 5 hour flight to Mexico last month. You and the little will do great, especially with the Husband to help with aisle walking and baby entertaining.
http://joannagoddard.blogspot.com/search?q=flying+with+baby
Thanks!!!
Sometimes little ones surprise you. He’ll do great! And even if he does melt down- in my experience- all people want is to see you TRYING to get him to stop. Honestly, flying with my baby was (seriously) one of the best experiences of my life because it really brought out the good in so many people around me. Everyone was uber-nice and just tried to make her smile and laugh.
Feed him on the way up and down and he’ll do GREAT! We did that with Kay and it was a piece of cake!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Enjoy the big easy! It is so so much fun!
Growing up my mom always gave me and my brother “airplane gifts.” Usually I got some sort of coloring book and crayons and my brother got a mini lego set or something, but it was something that my brother and I always looked forward to and was also something my mom knew would keep us preoccupied and quiet the whole trip. Obviously Henry is too young for legos and crayons, but this idea of an airplane gift — a toy that’s new and therefore very intriguing — might not be a bad idea…?!
I brought a couple of HappyBaby pouches with us when we flew with Bennett at 11 months. And a sippy cup of water – one of the vendors will fill it for you once you are through security if you just ask. The pouches were awesome – I just gave him one right as we started to ascend – not too early though or it won’t last for long enough – and he sucked it down and didn’t even notice that we were going up. Same thing on the way down, although for one of our flights he wasn’t hungry on the way down so I just kept giving him sips of water from his cup.
Hey Caitlin! I’m planning on flying with my twin boys in the next month and it’s ALREADY giving me anxiety haha. I saw this article a month ago and I’m definitely going to do something like this….it’s helped ease the anxiety. It’s kind of an apology in advance….hard for the passengers to hate you toooo much if things happen to go awry
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/fly_cry_cuties_s0QddpY1tyIorneVm9KmfI
We flew with our daughter for both thanksgiving and christmas. I would highly suggest toys that attach to their wrists or are on a chain of rings that you can hold on to. I also wore her through the airport which worked out well but they will check your hands for explosives, which is really no big deal and in exchange for having the baby in the moby wrap from check in to the gate, I’ll take it.
My parents like to tell me that I was small enough on my first flight (18 months) to fit under the seat in front of them. I slept there practically the entire flight. I’m sure they don’t let you do that now, but I managed it. It’s a fun story.
Good luck! Hopefully Henry sleeps or can stay entertained most of the flight (hopefully it’s not a terribly long one?).
I don’t know how worth it it would be to do this, but I saw an idea on pinterest. The parents left a candy on each seat with a note as if it was coming from the baby saying, “hi this is my first flight blah blah blah thanks for understanding and here’s a little treat from me. If you need ear plugs my mom and dad are in row 3. Please feel free to pick them up”. Seemed like a really cute idea. But maybe more work than it worth.
You will be totally fine! My baby loves to play with the safety card and the SkyMall magazine when we fly. What really kept me from freaking out when I first flew with my daughter was remembering that people (thousands of people!) do this every day. Your flight crew and most passengers will be totally understanding. You will be much more concerned than they are. Good luck! but again, you will be totally fine, I know it!
Flying always aggravates my tummy. I would think about giving some herbal gripe water before the flight / mixing it in with his feed and (if you are comfortable) gas drops. Good luck and have an awesome trip.
Even if he has a tough trip, you’ll never see those people again! (That’s how I make myself feel better)
We flew with our 6 month old this past week and he did way better than we anticipated! He’s a super people person, so he was entertained the whole time with the people around us. At one point, the flight attendants even walked around with him. Of course, we live in Turkey where that’s totally normal… but I think you guys will be fine
A pacie and a few toys was enough.
The chip clips are pretty genius- I never have enough.
A roll of blue tape! Just stick it on let him pull it off…your seat, you, tray table! Make a design..hours of fun with easy clean up! Also I always had some little things wrapped…unwrapping something new was fun! Scratch and sniff books!! Worked for every trip we ever took! My youngest is 21 years…!
Hey Caitlin! We took Zach on a plane at Henry’s age to arizona (4 hours!!!) and also to cincinnatti (only 2 hrs). I blogged about our “tricks” http://upsanddownes.com/2012/11/08/traveling-on-a-plane-with-a-baby/
One cute thing Ive seen sabrina (rhodeygirltests) post was wrapping some of her baby’s toys in tin foil so he could “open them” which occupied him greatly. good lucK! it is fun! do NOT worry about others on the plane!
I hate flying..I love to travel though at that Girls on the Run Conference looks awesome
Try not to worry the noise of the engines does something magical to my kids, I flew by myself with a two year old and my five mo baby, it is so loud for them, they both slept or were so entertained by the new place they did not care. Best of luck, just don’t expect to do anything for yourself, like eat or read, it is not really possible. The only tricky part was the diaper change, just have husband near as a hand off so you can go to.
Heard on NPR this am that the National WW2 Museum opened there in NOLA this weekend. It sounds really, really cool.
Safe travels!
Good luck, Caitlin! Hopefully Henry will be more excited by the airplane than anything else
Enjoy your trip!
Whoa- your description of the massage made me so jealous. I checked out Debra’s page on the clinic’s website- and I’m totally wishing I lived nearby! I’ve never had a massage but am dying to try one, and it just sounds so nice (and really not as expensive as I would have assumed). Maybe I’ll end up in your neck of the woods sometime and make an appointment! Enjoy your New Orleans trip- it’s one of my favorite cities!
Have a fun and safe trip!
I’ve flown many time with my little girl and as people said they tend to be pretty good.
I’ve done many domestic flights in NZ (which are all short flights) as well as flying international.
Take twice as many nappies as you would normally need (something about flying can make them poop more – pressure change maybe?)
Totally agree on linking toys together and then you can chain it to you so you don’t ahve to constantly pick up things from the floor
Food and water can be a great distraction – sippy cup is great
have a great flight
Just feed him as much and as long as possible. Chances are he will fall asleep in your lap for the whole trip. My little one slept through most of the flights she took in her first year. I’m nervous about the one coming up later this month – she is just shy of two and very active!
Charlotte to NOLA is a pretty short flight, isn’t it? It seems like a good starter flight.
Have a good trip!
You’ve totally got this! It’ll be busy for sure, but what a great opportunity ahead of you. Sending you many well wishes and luck!
I hope the flight went ok! Have fun!
Have so much fun in New Orleans! I know it’s hard when you don’t eat seafood, but try to find as much amazing South Louisiana food as you can! Annnd it’s technically Mardi Gras season (officially starts January 6th every year), so you should try some king cake. Mmmm.
(I am just a NW Louisiana native who has recently moved to Colorado, and the one thing I really miss about home is the food, haha.)
Jealous of your massage. Last massage I got was during my half-marathon training and it was so wonderful. First thing I do when I become a millionaire is hiring a personal masseuse
You must go to Cafe du Monde! It’s open 24 hours, so if Henry keeps you up late…
I’d recommend The Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter, but I don’t know that they have great vegetarian options.
I’m sure Henry will be fine! Maybe you’ll get lucky and he’ll sleep
Can’t wait to hear about your trip!
My New Years goal was to restart a blog I had given up. It is for new mommies all about literacy. Just thought I’d share for you and/or any of your mommy followers:
Cuddlenread.blogspot.com
Would love any feedback!
I ALWAYS feel like I am forgetting something when I leave the house. I can only imagine that that feeling will triple when having children..!