Is it ok for a 4-5 month old baby to travel a long flight?

[Completely 3]

l'm planning to travel soon after I give birth to be with the father of my baby. He's from NY, USA by the way and I'm from the Philippines. I'm gonna fly from here to Japan, then from Japan to NY. The whole trip will approximately take 20-22 hours including time in between flights. Do you think I can handle it? This will be my second time to go there but my first to travel with a baby. I don't really know what to expect. I know it's gonna be hard. I would only get economy class ticket and I'll have the baby sit on my lap. Let me know what to expect. Thanks.

P.S.

The baby and I will fly most probably during winter season around December and January cuz my due date is August 26, 2008 and I still have to get our baby a Consular Certificate of Birth Abroad and a US passport.

Shai

Hi there..

Last 2006, we travelled with my 4 months old baby from Kuwait to Texas.. It is almost 21 hours including the stopover in Frankfurt. I did ask first the doctor before we travelled and he told me that it is okay as long as he is vaccinated for the first 4 months and get him hydrated on the plane.. My husband is so kind to bought us a business class ticket for me and my baby.. We can lay the sit like you are laying in the bed, because the seats are wide, spacious and adjustable.. I was breastfeeding back then, but still did bring an extra bottle with me just in case, I will be tired and I will not be able to produce milk.. The baby will get air sickness like vomiting and crying.. but he/she will be fine... Dont panic. just give him water or milk to keep him/her hydrated..

Here are the stuff I prepared and brought with me on the plane:

1. Diapers (lots of diaper) trust me.. there is no free diaper on plane sometimes..

2. Pad to put under your baby during diaper changes. You can buy disposable changing pads at supermarkets or reusable ones at baby stores

3. Blankets-the plane gets colder, so you need to bring a blanket for him/her to make her warm..Bring a few — you'll use them to lay your baby on, cover her, cover yourself if you're nursing, protect your clothes from messy burps, shade your baby, and more

4. Plastic bags to put vomited clothes, or diapers, or if ever she poop and get mess with your shirt.. Carry a variety of sizes for storing soiled diapers, clothes, and blankets

5. Extra clothes (at least 3 shirts in your handcarry)... Do not wear heavy jeans, just wear jogging pants, and bring 1 extra walking shorts with you just in case something get messed up..

6. Diaper rash cream

7. Baby Wipes

8. Small bottles of disinfecting hand gel, baby wash, and baby lotion

9. Tissues

11. Extra pacifiers (if your baby uses one)

12. A few of your baby's favorite toys

13. Washable bibs

14. Lightweight plastic feeding set with utensils, and baby food

15. If your baby's eating solid foods Formula, water, and juice if appropriate. Extra bottles, nipples, and sippy cups if appropriate

16. Energy-boosting snacks for you to munch on

17. Nightlight- So you can keep the room lighting soothingly low during middle-of-the-night diaper changes

18. First-aid kit - Tempra/Tylenol, oresol etc. thermometer..Little Tummies..

10. Aciete Manzanilla..(this is just a filipino thing.. but this really helped us a lot on the plane.. The baby gets a lot of air in the stomach that caused her to cry.. So you may to bring this just in case to massage her belly..

19. Baby pain reliever and supplies for treating minor injuries

20.. Sling or front carrier, Lightweight, hands-free way to keep your baby close in crowded places like airports

21. Car seat for safer travel by car or plane

22. Collapsible stroller Can be gate-checked or stored in the overhead bin of an airplane

Packing Tips

Start preparing to pack a few days before you travel. Keep a running list of things to take, or put items out on a table or dresser as you think of them.

Use a diaper bag with a waterproof lining and a shoulder strap.

Pack an extra shirt for yourself in your carry-on bag.

Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in resealable plastic bags.

Keep your baby's outfits together in one suitcase so you can find them easily.

[macutelit 0]

Congratulations on your upcoming delivery!

I'm not sure how much of a concern this will be for infants but when my son and I came over on that long trip, he developed an ear ache due to the changes in pressure. Perhaps you can also look into what can be done to prevent this happening to an infant seeing as they can't really tell you if their ears hurt.

they say thats the best time to give a bottle is during take off and landing cuz the sucking helps with the pressure in the ears.

[Ano 0]

I previously worked for an American Airline and what I would advise is you carry a "Letter of Consent" and your baby's American passport and all the baby stuff you would need for two days (and of course anti-bacterial/viral wipes for anything you or your child will touch and for both your hands, also do not use any water from holding tanks for your child, only bottled water). The airline should have a seat available for use at the airport for you, at least we ALWAYS did, call and ask them, then you do not have to lug one around. Try to be sure you have a seat assignment before you arrive at airport, use the website SeatGuru, to pick your seat based on airline and aircraft at http://www.seatguru.com/. Then when you check in ask if they have any empty seats and ask if you can seat next to the empty space. If they do not help, ask again at the gate, and finally ask the flight attendant. Be nice and look professional, these people have the latitude to honor your request, if you are real lucky, they might upgrade someone to a higher class to make a seat open for you. But with a lap-child you will 99.99% be stuck in coach when flying on a coach ticket. They do have "hidden seat" on overnight flights for the flight attendants that you may ask to use if your baby gets out of hand, or you can ask them to use it to breastfeed. Have your baby's father send you a "notarized" letter like the example below, modify as needed, you most likely will not need it, but there is a chance you will be questioned when traveling as a single parent with a child due to the fact that children have been abducted by one parent before.

But these suggestions are only what I am going to do when my wife travels to the Philippines with our child.

To Whom It May Concern

I (We), ________________ (full name(s) of custodial and/or non-custodial parent(s)/legal guardian(s)), am (are) the____________________ (lawful custodial parent and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s))

of

Child's full name: _____________________________________

Date of birth (DD/MM/YY): _____________________________

Place of birth: ________________________________________

American passport number:_____________________________

Date of issuance of passport (DD/MM/YY): ________________

Place of issuance of passport: ____________________________

________________ (child's full name), has my (our) consent to travel with

Full name of accompanying person: _______________________

American or foreign passport number: _____________________

Date of issuance of passport (DD/MM/YY):_________________

Place of issuance of passport: ___________________________

to visit ______________ (name of foreign country) during the period of __________________ (dates of travel: departure and return). During that period, ________________ (child's full name) will be residing with ________________ (name of person where child will be residing in foreign country) at the following address:

Number/street address and apartment number: ______________

City, province/state, country: _____________________________

Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): _______________________

Any questions regarding this consent letter can be directed to the undersigned at:

Number/street address and apartment number: ______________

City, province/state, country: _____________________________

Telephone and fax numbers (work and residence): _______________________

Signature(s):______________________________________ Date:_________________

(Full name(s) and signature(s) of custodial parent,

and/or non-custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s))

Signed before me, ________________ (name of witness), this _________________ (date) at ________ ______ (name of location).

Signature: ________________ (name of witness)