Hello All,

Not to start/bring up a sore subject...but with all this banter about children....what about children on planes. My whole family (20 brothers, sisters, neices, nephews) is going to Maui next April. Our child will on be10 months old, are we not supposed to go because of the flight. Also because my wife and I do have the money we plan on flying first class. I would welcome some responses to what you would suggest people to do when travelling with infants.

Well, bully for you that you can fly first class. We're all tremendously impressed. If you can afford that, then why don't you pay for a nanny to go along with you, and that will solve all your problems!

Jeff - don't know why that person had to be so ugly - jealousy, I suppose.

But - back to your question. I don't have kids so I obviously don't know much about how to travel with them, but I travel constantly and it never fails that there's a baby seated near me. Of course, there have been some fussy times, but for the most part, babies seem to do fine. I'd much rather hear a baby crying that some boring loudmouth behind me talking loudly about something I care nothing about. I have a lot more patience with a baby than with a rude adult. Maybe if you have the opportunity prior to your trip to Maui, you could take your baby on a shorter trip just to see how he/she handles flying. Flying first class will be much more comfortable and will give you, your wife and your child some room to move around. I definitely think you should go. I do hope you get some helpful responses from veteran travelers with children.

I'm sure the other first class passengers who paid big money to get away from the huddled masses and screaming kids in coach will be just thrilled!! Especially since you have no idea how to handle the baby on the flight. Hawaii is a vacation destination, not a mainland flight to Grandma's house. People want to relax and get away from it all, but unfortunately there will be always be people like you who are absorbed with their own desires, rather than what's best for the baby or what is considerate for those around you. What are you going to, let the baby roast in the sun at the beach all day? Bring it to nice,
upscale restaurants (no doubt at a late hour)that you can afford as well? You'll be even MORE popular!

Now let's hear from all the self-righteous, defensive, idiotic people who bring their babies with them on their jet skis, while snorkeling, etc...etc... Heaven knows you wouldn't want to be INCONVENIENCED just because you now have a baby!

Of course you should go. Don't let anyone talk you out of it. Yes, the baby might cry. That is how he or she communicates. While we all would like prodigal children who can articulate their needs at 3 months, we must face reality. Do everything possible to make the child as comfortable as possible. If you can, bring a car seat on board; you will be very unhappy if you have to hold the baby the whole time. If the flight is not full, you often can get an extra seat at no charge (don't know about first class). Make sure the baby has something to suck on during takeoff and landing (pacifier, bottle) to ease the pressure on the ears. Bring plenty of toys and diversions. Be prepared to walk the child up and down the aisle. You will do just fine. I have a friend who took her 7 month old to Australia to visit family and another who took her 8 month old to Israel. Like the previous poster, I would rather listen to a baby than some rude, loudmouthed adult.

Hmmmm...I guess we did start a sore subject...but i can tell by the not so positive remarks that those people are a little sheepish not to leave their email addresses. So I would prefer no more responses becuase I was hoping to get helpful ideas, concerns etc...but some people would prefer to attack somebody through email....how brave. These people question my intelligence...please....grab a mirror...

anyone that can afford to fly first class should know that the plural spelling is babIES, not babY'S

What a bunch of rude people are on this site any more! I guess anyone with children should go into total hibernation until the kids are at least college age -- do not expose them to the world, and most importantly deny yourself all pleasure because you were so self centered as to have children.
As for the problem at hand. Last night I was on a three hour flight with a 15 month old in front of me and a 16 month old behind me -- I know their ages because the parents compared notes back and forth over my head before we took off. Fortunately the 15 month old slept the whole flight, but the 16 month old pounded my seat and screamed the entire flight while the two parents argued constantly about how to make here be quiet, and slowly absorbed themselves into four drinks each -- who could blame them. It did not make for a pleasant flight to say the least, but no worse than the many adults with body odor, obnoxious voices and other habits. And who am I to judge why these people with the children were on a plane to begin with? It's all part of traveling. I have learned to take the bitter with the sweet. And to those of you who are bitter about some people being able to afford to fly first class, I hope you realize that there are far more people in this world who could be just as bitter with you because you can afford to travel at all.

Is there ANYONE else out there with some useful information for Jeff/Court? Get over it people. Babies fly on planes. Jeff, I forgot to mention before, there is a book called "Have Kid, Will Travel" by Claire Tristam. You should read it. It has some excellent tips for travelling with children. I ordered it off of Amazon.com for about $7.00. Also, talk to your doctor about giving the baby a decongestant before the flight. We are flying to Florida in 2 weeks with our 10.5 month old. Since she recently had an ear infection, it was recommended that we give her the decongestant.

Surely you have a few reference books around the house on raising baby's/children. Dragging an infant on a long trip which includes a jet flight is not a vacation for you or your baby. A child that age is far better off in their own surroundings, going to sleep in their own bed everynight - than being dragged along on a family holiday to be passed around, fussed over by cousins, "watched" by the designee of the moment. You may want to get the advice of your pediatrician forthwith who will explain the perils of air travel for baby's. Is this trip worth severe discomfort, perhaps permanent damage, to your child's ears? Bringing baby's on airplanes is a very sore subject to anyone who's ever been on a plane in the vicinity of a screaming baby (particularly when the parents are "used to it" and merely wait it out...).

I needed a laugh today! You haven't lived until you've changed a baby on a plane!

Ralph is right. Changing a diaper on a plane is a very unpleasant experience--for everyone!! Don't let it get to you . I have traveled to Hawaii, in first class--not bragging, just had alot of free miles, with five children. Talk to your doctor about ways to make the baby comfortable. Ear problems can act up during takeoff and landings. Ask about safe medications for airsickness. Have you thought about flying at night, when the child would be sleeping anyway. Ignore other passenger's dirty looks and stage-whisper comments. Enjoy Maui, but watch out for the sun!! Aloha!

Hey Jeff/Court, I did offer a serious suggestion: Get a nanny to go along with you. I don't see any better piece of advice being given.
And before you start throwing stones, may I ask why you bothered to mention you have money and were flying first class? Was that supposed to impress us? C'mon folks!

Well....to be technical you threw the first stone. PS...the reason I brought up money is because I wanted to know what people's experience was with others who have run into babies in first class, 1)was it better or worse for the parents 2)was is better or worse for other 1st class passengers 3)did the airlines or flight attendants give parents a hard time etc....Also by me stating that we are flying first class was not meant to impress...I have more important things to do (i.e. like get advice on travelling with babies) than satisfy my ego on an internet chat site...

Thank you, Jeff/Court. Your last comment proved my point far better than any additional words from me could have.

noname.....your point is nothing...if you read my first post as opposed to jumping down our throats we were looking for advice for travelling with infants...you quickly jumped to the money thing, get over it. Also who made you captain of this forum? Do you "police" all of the posts trying to find other people that you believe are trying to impress others...damn..you have to much time on your idle hands...

So many parents believe they can bring their babies along with them anywhere. If you're in a store or a restaurant and the baby cries, you can remove the baby from the building and tend to the baby without disturbing or disrupting others. If your baby begins screaming on an airplane (highly likely due to the effect of pressure on a little one's ears), there's nothing you can do to get the baby away from everyone and nothing all the others can do to get away from the screaming baby. I took my six-month old daughter on a plane to attend my grandmother's funeral. I really didn't want to do this, but everyone encouraged me to bring her along because they hadn't had the opportunity to see her yet. I would never, ever do this again. My delighful little girl, who almost never cried, was well beyond being "fussy", and slept regularly and soundly, began howling like I'd never heard during take-off. She screamed (in spite of walking her up and down the aisle - which I really didn't want to do but was desperate) off and on during the entire plane trip. Believe me, having her howl into my ear was not only annoying, I was heartbroken that she was so uncomfortable, and I have never been so embarassed in my entire life for having disturbed everyone else on the plane during the entire flight.

Babies on planes....outside would be good at say 40,000 feet.

Jeff/Court, whoever-the-hell-you-are, you would probably have more credibility when you lecture others if you could spell properly. Then again, someone like you is exactly the type to bring along an infant on a flight to Hawaii. And the other first class passengers thought they were escaping hicks like you! What did you do, win the Lotto?

Jeff/Court--GO!! GO!! GO!! Why not? Sure people might be annoyed if the baby is crying but after they step off the plane and enjoy their time in Hawaii, is the crying baby what they will remember? NO! They will remember our beautiful state and hopefully be the receipient of a lot of aloha! I go back to California once a year and always have a baby or talkative adult near by. It never bothers me since I expect this on my flight. We had a friend visit recently with their 1 yr old and I would have been crushed if they didn't bring him just becuase they didn't want to upset other passengers!

So, bring the baby and enjoy Hawaii. If you want any info, drop me a line. I live on the Big Island and can't say enough great things about it. (Maui is a little busy for me, but fun)