Are you about to get on a plane with your baby? How to keep a baby calm during a flight is a problem that many parents worry about. Here are some tips for a stress-free flight that will help you survive the journey with a smile on your face and your baby’s good humor intact.

Babies need the following things to be calm:

  • •Routine
  • Familiar surroundings, objects, and people
  • Exercise and sleep
  • Regular food and drink
  • Physical comfort
  • Calm atmosphere

As you can imagine, some of these things may be difficult to come by on a flight. Therefore you need to prepare for the worst in order to achieve the best result.

 

Routine and Familiar Territory, Objects, and People

Tips for a Stress-Free Flight With Your Baby - Hotels4Teams

Your options for this one are limited but they do exist. Does your baby have a favorite toy, or teddy bear, or game, or book? Bring it along, and if possible, bring spares. You can often buy doubles or even triples of the same cheap teddy bear at department stores. Introduce them early, well before your trip. That way, if anything happens to that favorite one, you can whip out an identical spare and stop the tears before they begin. This will also help you to remove soiled teddies before your baby has a chance to chew on them and possibly get sick; because who wants to start a vacation with a sick baby?

Does your baby have cues that soothe them? Try to learn what soothes your baby and prepare to do it, whether it’s reading the same book over and over, or singing, or throwing a blanket over the heads of both of you and making a little dark nest to sleep in. The ambient light on even a darkened plane can upset your baby, so darkness can be a good soother. It doesn’t matter what your neighbors think of your singing voice; if they have to choose between you singing “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” a thousand times or your baby having hysterics in their ear, they will probably opt for you! Singing doesn’t carry nearly as far as screaming, either.

 

Exercise and Sleep

Are you flying between time zones? If so, do everything you can to book flights which will reach your destination in the evening. That way you and your exhausted baby can go straight to bed when you land and will adjust a great deal faster to the new time zone.

Don’t assume that putting your baby into the bassinet will necessarily mean that they sleep well; if they wake up in such a strange and enclosed space, they may well freak out. Still, persevere if they aren’t completely against it: it will allow you and your lap some free time to sleep as well.

Is your baby able to crawl or walk? If so, make sure that you break up the trip if possible, so that they can expel some of that energy in the more spacious airport, rather than trying to tire an energetic toddler out in the cramped aisles of the plane.

 

Food and Drink

Tips for a Stress-Free Flight With Your Baby - Hotels4TeamsWill your baby need solids or formula milk on the journey? If so, take at least twice as much food or milk as you think you will need, because delays inevitably happen and they are made exponentially worse the hungrier your baby gets. You can buy long life, single serve cartons of good brand formula which does not need to be refrigerated. While they will make your carry-on bag heavier they are well worth the extra weight.

If your baby is on solids, remember that you can buy similar single serving sizes of long life milk and these are still great for a hungry toddler.
Buy packaged baby food, which will last longer in the warm plane air. Also, try to buy resealable packages as much as possible and bring several spoons.

Note: If you are travelling internationally, you will be required to taste a portion of your baby’s milk and food. You may need to open up to one third of all food items to taste. So, bring an empty plastic container with tight-fitting lids to place the opened food in and bring some extra bottles for opened milk, remembering to use the opened ones up first.

If your baby has started solids, plan ahead by requesting an infant meal for your baby. However, don’t assume that it will be any good or meet your baby’s needs. If you don’t like what you have been offered or if you did not request an infant meal, many airlines stock emergency prepackaged infant meals. Don’t be afraid for one.

Ask if the staff will rinse out or wash your baby’s milk bottles, so that you don’t risk leftover old milk going off if you need to reuse the bottle. Airplanes are warmer than you think, and opened milk and food will go off more quickly than you expect. Good airplane staff will also ask you if you would like your meal kept until your baby has finished theirs. Definitely ask for this!

 

Physical Comfort

Keep your baby as comfortable as you can by changing their diaper regularly. Airplane toilets may not be the most comfortable places but they all have a pull-down change table that is generously sized and easy to manipulate. Have your baby’s changing equipment; spare diapers, wipes, disposal bags, spare clothing, change mat liners, and so on; on hand in a plastic bag with handles. Then when you have to go, you can just whip open your carry-on bag, grab the change bag, and head off. There is usually a hook to hang the bag on in the toilet area as well.

Remember: Cloth diapers have no place on an airplane. They will use up space and are prone to leaking and smelling. Use disposable diapers and wipes only.

Other ways to help your baby feel better include changing their outfit at least once, asking for a warm damp cloth to wipe your baby down, offering milk and water regularly, and being mindful of overheating. An undershirt or singlet and a onesie are good clothing choices.

 

Maintain a Calm Atmosphere… Even if it All Goes Wrong

Practice calmness, patience, and a thick skin.

Be prepared for the fact that even the calmest baby may lose it at least once on your journey.  Airplanes are extremely noisy, bright places, full of new and frightening faces.  There is nothing familiar except for you.  Throw in long days and inconsistent sleep and you have a recipe for an inconsolable baby.

It is likely that you will be more stressed out by a full on crying attack than the majority of your neighbors.  Frequent travelers understand that babies have to travel and sometimes have to cry.  Most will be sympathetic and those that aren’t will likely have earplugs in anyway.

Stay calm as this will help your baby to calm down sooner.  Ignore your neighbors and your location and focus all your attention on your baby. He or she needs you to be at your best! Speak or sing softly, or walk, or pat soothingly and let it run its course. Finally, look on the bright side: after a serious crying session, your baby will be exhausted enough to sleep for a while!

 

Remember that you will laugh about this one day and enjoy the experience of travelling with your baby. It can be hugely gratifying and memorable for all the right reasons. Remember, a positive mindset and great preparation go a long way.  Happy travels to you and your little one!