I am off on an adventure for the next several weeks. In honor of traveling I am updating an old post. When I asked Lauren if she wanted to share any travel tips, her immediate response was “don’t travel with an 18 month old.” Sweet, busy Coby certainly kept them on their toes during their most recent flights to and from Michigan.
When is your baby old enough to fly?
There are many different factors to consider, so there is no one simple answer to this very common question.
In ordinary circumstances, I would prefer to have the babies wait until they are over 2 to 3 months of age and have had their first set of immunizations (keep in mind that the first shot does NOT give full protection against some serious illnesses, but it is a start.)
No situation is exactly the same. The size of the baby as well as the time of year are important factors.
There are certainly some circumstances where people make the choice to fly if there aren’t other easy options.
Adopted babies might fly within the first week in order to get to their new home. Other folks may choose air travel earlier than we are really comfortable with in order to see an aging relative or deal with a family crisis.
If the travel is for vacation purposes, I would think long and hard before taking a young baby on a plane if there is a surge of covid, flu or ‘who knows what else’, actively circulating,
Keeping current on the news is important. Try to find a trusted and reliable source.
Regardless of how old your child is, if you are planning a trip here are some tips and things to keep in mind.
Before you leave
Murphy’s law is watching. Prior to the trip, do a little scouting to see what urgent care facilities or ERs are available.
Check with your insurance company in advance to see what the best method is for having out of state or international doctor visits covered. Some insurance plans are much easier to deal with than others. Some plans will only cover an emergency room and won’t reimburse for an urgent care. Others need prior authorization from your primary doctor. Be familiar with your plan and figure all of that out ahead of time to avoid a hefty bill.
If your child has a history of wheezing or any type of chronic condition it is wise to bring all medications along even if they haven't needed them in a while.
Keep in mind that infrequently used asthma inhalers may need to be primed before use.
If you are traveling somewhere exotic it is worth checking with a travel clinic to see if there are special travel vaccines or malaria precautions necessary. A good travel clinic keeps current with all the ever changing recommendations and considerations for each country and season. Plan in advance because some vaccinations need to be given several weeks in advance in order to be effective.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel is a good starting point to figure out what you might need.
If you are traveling out of the country where there is potential unrest, it may be worthwhile to register your journey with the state department https://mytravel.state.gov/s/step
Make sure that a friend or family member has a copy of your passport information.
Surviving the flight
On a flight years ago I sat next to a mom with a very young baby. She was so concerned about the possibility of getting evil looks from the other passengers that she had actually brought ear plugs to hand out to the people sitting around her. What she didn't have was anything to soothe her baby. Please always make sure that you have Tylenol or Motrin with you on the plane (not packed away in your suitcase). It is okay to bring small bottles through security. They need to be smaller than 3.5 ounces. It isn’t usually necessary to give it ahead of time if your child is acting well, but I am quick to medicate during the first sign of fussiness.
Many parents ask about giving Benadryl to help them (you can decide which ‘them’ I am referring to) get through the flight. This is an option for a child who is over 8 months with a long flight ahead. It helps dry up any congestion and makes 90% of kids who take it deliciously sleepy. Aha, but what about the other 10% you might ask? It turns those little darlings into hyperactive, wild hooligans. You do not want to find out on the plane that you are the parent of the 10%. You may want to give a test dose a few days prior to the trip to make sure it is a viable option for you.
There is no such thing as infant Benadryl and many labels will warn not to give it to children under 4. Obviously you don’t want to give it for no reason, but it is generally considered to be safe, so many doctors routinely ignore the label. Check with your doctor for their opinion.
I really prefer NOT to give any medication unless it is necessary but my instinct tells me that it is important to have tools with you to manage a horrible flight.
Having an antihistamine with you as part of your travel meds makes sense. I had a patient who had an unexpected allergic reaction to something on a long-haul flight over the pacific. The fact that they had zyrtec with them stopped it from being an emergency.
While I would usually err on the side of less medication, it is important to be reassured that Benadryl/zyrtec and Tylenol/Motrin can be given at the same time.
Seats
It doesn’t always work, but try selecting the aisle and window when picking your seats. The middles are the last to go, so there is always a chance that the middle will remain empty, or if there is ANY other place available, the person next to you will happily relocate.
Ear pain
Babies and young kids can have trouble with their ears because of the anatomy of their eustachian tubes. It is usually worse during the descent. Sucking can help. Try to nurse or have them feeding during takeoff and landing. A pacifier is another good option.
Unfortunately it isn’t just young kids who can be impacted. Raise your hand if you have had ear issues when flying (my hand is up)
If you or your child has a history of ear trouble, bring along some of the little reusable gel heating packs in your bag. You can activate them as needed and the warmth feels great to a sore ear. For adults and older kids, you can equalize the pressure by holding the nose and gently blowing until the ears pop.
For older kids, have a lollipop or chewing gum for older kids. Ayr saline gel is a nice thing to have along. A dab at the base of the nostrils can moisturize the dry air and make breathing easier
Motion sickness
If you or your child has issues with motion sickness? This blog post has a long list of things you can try. Plan ahead.
Diapers
Take WAY more diapers with you than you think you need for the trip. I was once on a flight when we sat on the tarmac for three hours. There was an unfortunate family behind me who had planned on a short little trip and was out of diapers long before we took off. It wasn't pretty. Plan accordingly.
Many folks automatically bring a change of clothes for their baby. It is also worth bringing an extra outfit for yourself. If you have a long flight ahead of you with a child on your lap, it may come in handy (I learned that one the hard way and sat for several hours covered with poop.)
Changing your baby on the plane can be a challenge. It is helpful to have little changing packs, with a diaper and some wipes, in individual zip lock bags. This will prevent you from having to take the entire bulky diaper bag with you into the tiny bathroom.
Bring some disinfectant wipes along and give the tray table and any surfaces a nice wipe down before you use them.
Snacks and warming bottles
You can't count on airlines giving you any reasonable snacks, so it is important to bring along enough provisions in case of delays. Bring more than you think you need. Bring an empty water bottle that you can fill once you are through security If you are bringing anything sticky, make sure you have accessible wipes.
If you might need to heat up a bottle, bring a large plastic cup and get some hot water from the flight attendants. My daughter Lauren says that a hydroflask is another good option for keeping a bottle warm for hours.
Activities
Some planes have screens and games, but don’t leave it to chance.
Download some activities or shows ahead of time for your laptop or tablet. None of us want to overdo screen time, but if you have managed to keep it special, a long flight is the perfect time to make use of this tool. Make sure you have charging cables and headphones so that you aren’t driving the other passengers nuts.
Don't forget about the old fashioned low tech options!
Here is an absolute winner that kept my kids engaged for hours,
If you are visiting family, print out a bunch of photos of the people you are going to see. You can use these for all sorts of art projects on the plane. Make a paper doll family! Glue the faces onto some popsicle sticks, This can help your kids recognize folks that they don't see too much of.
Wikki sticks are also a great activity to bring along. They are lightweight and not too messy. Reusable stickers will stick on the window. Don't bring anything that will make you sad if you lose it in between the seats.
The story below is one of my more epic fails.
Long ago when my daughter Lauren was two, I got creative as I was planning for an upcoming flight as a solo parent. I had seen a craft in a magazine where a necklace had been made of cereal. This seemed like a fabulous thing for an airplane trip.
Unfortunately, not all ideas turn out to be good ones. Lauren and I strung some Cheerios onto elastic and she proudly wore her new necklace onto the plane. Soon after take-off Lauren decided to eat some of the Cheerios. I noticed with some dismay that as she bit off a Cheerio, a portion would go into her mouth while other parts would shoot off like little spitty projectiles. They were landing (unnoticed by anyone but me) on just about everyone within three rows of us. As soon as I realized what was happening, I tried to see if there was a way for her to adjust and nibble them off without making a mess. When that didn't work, I tried to take the necklace off to make it easier or to have her stop eating them at all. But as mentioned, she was two. My choices were clear... tantrum on the plane or unsuspecting fellow passengers having little pieces of spitty Cheerios in their hair.
I opted for peace (besides, ignorance is bliss, right?)
Once you get to where you are going
Make sure the place is adequately child proofed. This is also a discussion that is worth having with your hosts before you get there. I had one situation where a 3 year old opened a drawer and got into grandma and grandpa's medications. Have folks do a little child-proofing before you get there.
Is there a pet where you are going? Make sure that any dogs are safe with children.
Do they have unsecured weapons? You can’t assume the answer is no. Ask.
If you are staying in a vacation home, do a quick safety check. Do they have working smoke detectors? Carbon monoxide detector?A fire extinguisher?
Is there a pool? Is it safely enclosed?
Jet lag
Time zones are tricky. My best suggestion is eat when you are hungry, sleep when you are tired and just do your best. Staying hydrated and getting fresh air are essential. Sunshine is a bonus.
Melatonin is a reasonable tool for older kids.
My friend Oran wrote an excellent piece. This link has wonderful information for dealing with jet lag.
Sleep Training and maintaining a schedule
You can reset when you get home.
Even the best sleepers may have a period of needing a sleep training tune up when you get home.
Do the best you can
You can have lots of fun while you are away and it is wonderful to see family. But, in my opinion, if you are traveling with children under the age of seven, don't call it a vacation. It's not. It is a TRIP (we used to call our visits to the various grandparents the "bad bed tour.")
A little preparation goes a long way and remember that some of the more challenging moments make for the best stories!
There are some things in your control and things that are not.
Plan the best you can to be prepared for the flight.
Bring snacks and activities.
Have Tylenol with you on the flight just in case
Don’t bring things that will make you sad if you lose them, and leave the loud chirpy toys at home
What isn’t in your control is the other passengers.
Indeed there are unpleasant folks out there, but I think most people are very accepting. Focus on the smiling faces, but let anything else slide off your back.
’
No comments:
Post a Comment