You can't give Benadryl to a 4 week old baby. My pediatrician avoids prescribing medicines for baby 6 months and younger unless they are sick.

It's a good idea to have a fresh diaper just before boarding. You should be able to find a change room or adequate toilet facility near the departure gate in most airports.If you choose to change your baby in your seat, you will not be the first to do so. Remember to be sensitive to your neighbours.

Please check with the airlines as to what age a baby may start to fly. Friends of ours adopted a baby in Colorado and had to drive her back to LA because the airlines wouldn't fly someone that young.I don't know that I would get an infant seat for that small an infant---it's a short flight and she'll be more comfortable in your arms. I too would nurse the baby during take off and landing---put a "receiving blanket over your shoulder and her head and ignore the rest of the plane. Agree--from SF to Phoenix is so short a flight that a dirty diaper shouldn't matter. Change her right before departure and plan to change her on arrival. You do need to investigate alternative driving plans should the baby not come on time---my first was 3 weeks late! Good luck, and a baby that young won't bother folks on the plane---she'll just sleep and eat. It's the 8 monthers who shreik and stand up on Mom's lap to look behind them that make the rest of the plane crazy! Hope all goes well for you!

American Airlines' website states that it allows infants as young as 2 days to travel, although they recommend 7 days. You did not mention what airline you were flying but I suspect most airlines' websites contain this information or it can be easily ascertained by calling their customer service number.

I can't think of a more asinine thing for a caring parent to do than to take a four week old, or younger, baby on a plane trip for "pleasure". You will be exhausted from getting up nights, the baby will be subjected to who knows what.
Go see the relatives later, and remember to put the infant first in your lives and in your love and put your pleasure trips in the background for a little while.
You won't regret it, look at the bigger picture.

The most private seats you want are the bulkhead seats. When making reservations ask for the bulkhead seats. You'll have the most privacy there.

We had to fly from Honolulu to California for my sister's wedding when our first daughter was 5 weeks old. Like yours, it wasn't optional. Nursed her for much of the trip, and put her in the bulkhead bassinet when she slept. She was just fine. Like others mentioned, germs are thwarted by the nursing, and diapers don't smell. Do take some plastic pads - at the birth, the hospital will give you those blue disposable ones...save a few - to do any changing. Diapers can leak or explode, and babies drool and spit up, and that would not be nice on the seat.

Arrange for a family friend to watch baby during the wedding, then do show and tell at the reception.

Same daughter went to Japan for two weeks at 4 months as we had a free trip that would have expired. She was still nursing, and didn't sit or crawl yet, so it was also very easy.

We've travelled with our 2 girls for 17 years now, and only once did we have any problem with noise or excess energy on planes. My secret was to plan ahead, bring lots of activities and snacks, choose flights during the good times of their daily routine, and if they got antsy, go for a walk up the aisles. Main thing is to not just sit there with an unhappy kid, hoping your neighbors won't notice. If you look like you're struggling to calm them down, they won't resent you.

Ed-on domestic flights the bulkhead is actually the worst place to be with a baby. The armrests do not go up and everyone is going up and down the aisle to first class,lav,etc.I would chose the middle section somewhat near the wing for seating(rides smoother) and see if you can get the aisle and window. I would definitely recommend nursing your child for takeoff and landing as their ears are so small and they block easily.Nurse your child at the window seat and no one will be the wiser.If you do change your child at the seat-please place something under him and put the dirty diapers in a burp bag that is disposed of in the lav garbage receptacle.Good luck-its hard traveling with one that small on so little sleep!

1. Buy a seat for the baby - put him/her in a car seat. If you are lucky s/he will sleep. It's also safer.

2. Do not breastfeed in the bathroom on plane - or bathroom anywhere else. Would you eat in a bathroom? It is easy to breastfeed very discretely if you are creative - use scarf, blouse and sweater, etc. As long as you are not exposing yourself, few people will notice.

3. Check with MD - both for you and baby. What if you are late and have a c-section 2 weeks late. You will be in no shape to fly then.

4. On a flight of that length, chances are you can avoid diaper change.

5. Bring more baby clothing and diapers in carryon than you can possible imagine you will need. Bring a clean shirt or 2 for you. Messes happen at the worst time.

6. Make plans for what to do with baby during ceremony. No matter how close you are to your brother, no one wants a screaming baby to interrupt their wedding ceremony.

7. Hope this works out for you. It is going to be a lot more exhausting and difficult than you can imagine - I had to fly several times alone with our son when he was quite young as my father was dying 1000 miles away from home. Careful pre-planning makes it possible, but not easy. Good luck.

You have gotten lots of excellent advice and I didn't read every response but would add that I don't think it is necessary or even advisable to buy a seat for the baby. He/she will feel better in your arms. You might consider a Baby Bjorn for carrying him and being "strapped in" on takeoff and landing. You will really want to encourage the sucking at those times as has been mentioned.

Regarding the suggestion about using a Baby Bjorn carrier on take off and landing - it will not be permitted. Those carriers, like airline vests, are not approved for take off and landing. Also, you may want to check if you can use the rear facing infant carrier on the plane. A girlfriend of mine took hers when her son was a few months old. The flight attendants would not let her install it rear facing (even though that was how it was designed) because the seat backs were designed to collapse forward in the event of a crash. So, she was forced to put it forward facing which simply does not work with those carriers. I just noticed that you said you may get a seat for the baby. I strongly suggest that you do so, even if it means buying a different carseat. Babies make incredible projectiles in the event of turbulence. It simply is not worth the risk. Ask for the 1/2 price fare for infants. You chould change the baby in the restroom out of respect for the other passengers. Many planes these days have changing tables in them. One last suggestion. If your baby has ear pain, get two styrofoam cups with wet, hot paper towels in the bottom of each. Hold them over the baby's ears. It will create a vacuum and cause the ears to pop, alleviating the pain. It looks funny, but it works.

I flew when I was nine days old, Pan Am gave me a certificate for this. I would say keep baby hydrated and I am not sure what the pressure will do to their little ears but I suppose the airline would advise if this was a serious issue. They make earplugs for kids but infants?

What can you do kelly other than see that naptime coinsides with take off and hydrate?

Kelly, I had the unfortunate experience of changing a dirty diaper on a full plane before they had changing tables in the bathrooms. (To readers who don't want to read about diaper changes, skip the rest of this post.)

My husband and I were in the middle and window seats; another person was in the aisle seat. We apologized, and then my husband held up an opened newspaper to shield the poor guy next to us from the view; we pulled up the armrest for enough room, and were able to accomplish the change pretty easily. Dirty diapers only start to stink when the baby gets more than breastmilk. Make sure you carry a few extra plastic bags to wrap up the diaper and wipes. Ask the flight attendant where to throw the bag away. On one flight, this rather disgusting woman just slipped one into the seat back pocket.