Hi All,

Baby is two months old, exclusively breastfed (no paci, no bottle), and we purchased her own seat--plan to bring infant carrier. We have a direct flight from SFO to CLE. I checked faa.gov and continental airlines, and didn't see answers to my following questions:

1) Can I breastfeed during take-off and landing in order to help babe's ears pop? Is this safe? The rest of the time we're hoping she'll sleep strapped into her seat.

2) Should I request the bulkhead row? They would not give it to me when I made the reservation-just three seats in one row together. How/when should I request this and why?

3) Where do I change her diaper if need be? Since she's breastfed, it's not too smelly, but I don't want to annoy our fellow passengers.

4) Any advice for if she gets wired and cries inconsolably--bring earplugs for those around us?

Anything else that you can think of that will help make this less stressful for baby/us/fellow passengers? Thanks in advance!

AZWildcat

I am not sure if you can take her out of her seat during takeoff and landing. You used to be able to do so. Check the airline's site. Take off usually doesn't cause ears to hurt, it is just landing. IF you are allowed to hold baby during these times, or anytime you breastfeed, I think it would be appropriate to cover yourself and the baby. While I completely understand the naturalness of this, others don't and in a plane, you can't get up and walk away if it makes your feel uncomfortable. Use a light receiving blanket to cover the baby's head and you should be fine.

I would NOT pick bulkhead seats -- there is no place to store your carryon in front of you on the floor; you's have to put carryon in overhead bin and then get up everytime you needed something - a pain to you and you might find that you cannot get up when you need something due to FASTEN SEAT BELT sign being on.

I assume you have 3 seats together, so you could technically change the diaper using the seats as a surface. Bring some of those disposal changing pad things to keep baby clean and seat too. As for the aesthetics of changing a baby in the cabin.. that is a different matter.

Make sure you preboard, and get settled in your seats before general boarding.

YOU have flown before haven't you?

Also, be sure you know what you can take in your carry one as far things for baby.

TSA.GOV

Hope this helps...
Debi

Ditto on the bulkheat seats (not requesting them). There is more space in front of you, but no place to tuck your stuff. Some airplane bathrooms have changing tables. I'd check most of your questions with your doctor and the rest directly with the airlines you are flying.

This is some info from Continental:

http://tinyurl.com/2n2e8j

Debi

My son was like yours breastfed with no paci or bottle. Yes, I nursed him on takeoff and landing to help his ears. It did help, but landing was still an ordeal.

Bulkhead row is best, Hopefully they will assign it to you upon checkin if you ask.

Changing diapers--this shouldn't be a problem with a 2-month old. Lap, or carry her to the restroom. Your fellow passengers are not going to be annoyed. If they are. . . I wouldn't worry about it.

If she cries unconsolably, get up and walk. Or whatever soothes her at home.

Here's more help:
General Travel info --
http://www.babycenter.com/baby/babytravel/index

and

for changing a diaper --
http://www.babycenter.com/expert/bab...avel/7280.html

Others sitting around do not want to watch you change a loaded diaper. I would recommend using the lavatory. I would hate to see you trying to clean up a messy seat if something unexpected happens. Talk to you Dr about helping baby stay calm during the flight. No one wants to hear a baby crying/ screaming on a plane.

SCORE:
Bulkhead 1
Not bulkhead 2


Everyone has their own favorites! LOL!!

Just want to comment on the request to cover yourself with a receiving blanket if you nurse. I don't know how "talented" you are but I could never use a blanket and nurse. I got really good at being discreet without a blanket. If you are seated across the row, I can't imagine anyone would even be close enough to you to be offended.

As of a year ago, you could nurse anytime... I never found bulkhead necessary... Please change her in the bathroom on your lap...

I am always cold on planes and dressed my baby WAY too warmly the first time. If she gets going crying make sure she's not too warm.

I know others like to be first on the plane... but I 've always found it beneficial to be on last. That way, everyone else is settled and you can just breeze in and not be waiting... the waiting is the worst... especially if the flight is delayed once you've boarded.

OK--- Ilose on the bulkhead seetain. We liked it for the extra rooom.

As for changing the baby---travelkite, a 2-month old breast-fed baby does not and cannot have "loaded" diaper. I won't go into details. But it should not be offensive to people in the adjacent rows if AZ Wildcat chooses to change the diaper a their seat instead of trying to manage in the restroom.

enzian - don't give up yet, final tally still pending. I think I see a dangling chad!

ah, Debi, you are so funny! I appreciate you so much.

But who is going to rule on those hanging chads in this case? I feel my thoughts are hopelessly out of date. I speak simply, from the days when we could hold our babes on the airplane, and breastfeed the without worry or criticism. Maybe things have changed.

I agree w/moneygirl. Get on the plane last. It can be very hot and you don't want to prolong the trip. Change the baby in the bathroom, less stressful for you (no-one is watching), have a bottle of water w/a squirt of apple juice so the baby will swallow when his ears are popping. If the baby cries walk w/him. If it bothers people, too bad! Babies cry, people travel and I'm sure they cried too when they were babies. Enjoy your trip.

Our baby's first flight was at 5 weeks, and we did a lot more with her as a baby. I liked the bulkhead seat, because you could get the the little basinets that hang from the wall. If your baby does not have it's own seat, this makes it much more fcomfortable for all of you. My daughters both slept really well in them. In those days, taking a car seat was not an option.

But, I see you are a good parent, you will have a guaranteed airplane seat and your infant carrier. In your case, I would skip the bulkhead and go for a regular row of three to have the storage room on the floor. Besides, if she does get loud, you are sooo visible in the front row!

Feeding during takeoff won't help ears. strap her in and be safe instead.

When you start the descent, you may need to do some nursing. Unless youre pretty well endowed, this means you have to make a choice...safe in seat or feeding. Other options for helping with ear pain are using a dropper with pre-espressed milk or do as the Indonesians do: pull gently on her earlobes.

Bring some of those disposable blue pads and change her in the bathroom. Some planes now have baby changing trays in them. Breastfeeding is okay in public, especially since your nearest neighbor will be across the aisle. Poopy diaper smells will drift all around!

Good advice above, plus bring extra outfit for you (in addition to baby) - babies tend to leak at inopportune times, like on a plane.

Since your baby is legal to be a "lap baby" I see no reason why you could not breastfeed her on takeoff and landing. Also good if she gets cranked up during flight.

While no one wants to hear a baby screaming, most people realize that they do - and what I think most fellow passengers want from you is to see that you are making an effort to calm her down - it is twice as irritating to hear a baby screaming on a flight and see the parents doing nothing.

My kids were exclusively breastfeed - diaper may not be smelly to you, but it will be to everyone else. Change her in the bathroom and bring ziplock bags to dispose of evidence - don't leave it stinking up the bathroom.

Bring easy to eat food/snacks for you. Something like fruit or energy bar - if flight is delayed, you may find it more difficult to eat at airport and you don't want to be a breastfeeding mom stuck on the tarmac without anything to eat.

Since you have 3 seats, I am assuming there is another adult. Have the other adult board firt
st with all the baby junk, to hook up car seat - and then you board with baby at last minute.

Hi AZWildcat, I love babies and as a mother and a grandmother I have a lot of patience for parents with babies and children on planes and I certainly do not have any problem with a mother breastfeeding their little one.

But, I can also say, as Gail did, that a baby that is breastfed certainly can have a smelly "poopy" diaper for those that are not use to be around dirty diapers. All babies, probably not, but I have experienced family members with breastfed babies and in that it has been years since I have been accustomed to dirty diapers the odor has been shall we say a bit overwhelming..so I can only imagine what it would be like on a plane. Saying that I hate..I loath..airplane bathrooms. Do bring ziploc bags and if you can quickly remove the dirty diaper and get it in the ziploc bag and while you are doing that your husband could be cleaning your little one..that should be acceptable to most passengers I would think or at least hope. We were all babies once upon a time just like if we are fortunate we will all be elderly.

Wishing you a comfortable, safe and easy flight.

Most babies who are exclusively breastfeed WILL NOT take a bottle. They don't know what to do with it. I guess if she is fussy enough, I would try anything but I know from experience that bottles NEVER worked for me.

AZ, I too was very good at nursing discreetly. I don't think anyone will complain. I agree about changing in the bathroom. LoveItaly is right about people who are not used to diapers, it may still bother them. You don't need to give anyone a reason to complain, right?

I will keep my fingers crossed for a smooth trip!

THanks for all the great advice! Especially to send DH ahead onto plane to get settled and then me walk on as late as possible with the babe. I can nurse discreetly, thanks to nursing-wear--the only way someone would actually see anything offensive would be if they were really TRYING--and that's their own issue. And I'll aim for changing diaper in the lavatory.

Thanks again--and any other good tips, keep 'em coming!

AZWildcat

1) yes you can breast feed during take off and landing. It is as safe as any time you hold her on the plane. It should help her ears so go for it.

2) I don't see the point of the bulkhead. All your stuff will be above you in the overhead compartments and it would be so much easier to have it at your feet for easy access. Remember, you could put all your carryons underneath the baby's seat and still have tons of leg room.

3) All planes have changing tables in at least one of the restrooms (on bigger planes, in all). Ask the flight attendent when you board. Do NOT change the baby in the seat. You might be immune to it but no one else will be. Really, there is no question on this one.

4) If she gets wired and cries uncontrollably, do whatever you do at home....swaddle, rock, feed, etc. Obviously, if she is collicky and has a bad time of day, say late afternoon, then don't fly then.

5) other advice...when we travelled with infants (as opposed to the three four year olds we take these days), there really isn't too much to worry about. They are still too young to get really fussy or cranky or need to be constantly entertained or amused. When they were toddlers, my husband would board first with THREE car seats and strap them in and I would board last but with a two month old, not sure that is entirely necesary. You don't have to worry about tantrums or kicking the seat or any of the challenges you will face in a couple of months and years. Just bring more diapers than you think you will need and a change of clothes for you and the baby in case of accidents. Relax. It is so much easier now than it will be...enjoy your trip.

taitai