A few weeks ago my fiance & I took a trip with our 11 month old to Oahu, Hawaii & the week before that we took a trip to Orange County/Anaheim, CA. She was a lap baby for both flights so she was FREE. The flight to Hawaii from San Francisco was almost 5 hours & the flight to Orange County/Anaheim was about 1 hour.
To make things easier, I used a backpack as a carry-on so I could have my hands free when needed. We checked in a stroller at the gate so we were able to maneuver through the airport easily.
1) Make sure you & your baby are dressed comfortably. You don't want to have to worry about fixing your clothing while trying to hold & play with your baby on the plane. Along with dressing your baby comfortably, dress them in something that will be easier for you to take off & on in case you have to change their diaper during the flight. Also, don't have them wear too many layers in case it gets hot. You can always use a blanket if it gets chilly.
2) Change your baby's diaper right before boarding or right after you board the plane. This saves you a trip to the cramped airplane bathroom (assuming he/she didn't do a #2 during the flight) & ensures that your baby is dry & comfortable. During our flight to Hawaii, I couldn't figure out why she was still so fussy, after being fed & napped. DUH! Wet diaper!
3) Once you've found your seats on the plane & have settled in, take out the essentials or at least keep them in a bag that's easy to get into without disturbing your neighbor. I kept my baby's sippy cup, snacks & toys in the pocket in front of me so I could easily access them & had her pacifier attached to her. I also had a backpack carrying my baby's blanket, formula, diapers & wipes which I kept under the seat in front of me.
4) My 11 month old would rather play with a cell phone charger cord over any toy of her's so bring items, other than her toys, that might keep her entertained for a while. My baby loved playing with the drawstring of my hoodie, a set of keys/key chains, my ear bud headphones, an iPad & a napkin from lunch. Hey, what ever keeps them happy right? Of course keep an eye on them in case any small parts come off to avoid choking.
5) Let your neighbors keep them company. My very social baby would climb me just to look at the passengers sitting behind us. I was very thankful that they weren't annoyed because she was constantly peaking over at them & yelling to get their attention. They would even play little peek-a-boo games with her & that kept her busy for a while.
6) Make use of their blanket if they're not already holding it. It'll keep them asleep longer if they nap on the plane because of the familiar smell, warmth & feel of the blanket. My baby slept between 2-3 hours on the way back from Hawaii because she was nice & cozy.
7) Last but not least, if all else fails, walk around the cabin while holding them. What baby doesn't like to be held & if your baby is like my baby, they'll love looking at the different people & possibly other children on the flight.
I hope some of my tips may have helped you. Please feel free to comment & share any tips of your own. I'm always looking for new things to add to this list.
Happy Flying!
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