Lucy has now been on 6 trips in her short life that involve flying. If you missed it, check out our first post about flying with a baby over here where we focus on the 0-6 month age range. Since babies change so much, we decided to do a second post for the 6-12 month range.
1. Get an Extra Seat if You Can
On a couple of the last few flights that we took with Lucy, we asked the desk before we boarded if there were any open seats and if we could sit in that row. If the flight wasn’t full, they were happy to accommodate us. Because Lucy could sit up and was/is pretty mobile, it was sooo nice for her to have her own seat. And when she fell asleep, we could easily lay her down on the empty seat to nap.
2. Embrace the New Environment
New environments can be very exciting to a baby. Lucy LOVES it when we fly because there are so many new people and new things to see! She absolutely loves watching all the people walk past her as they board the plane and likes to play with the people sitting around us. Babies are naturally curious (it’s how they learn) so let them explore the best they can from your lap. Lucy was fascinated with the tray table lock, the TV screen and the light buttons and air vents above the seat. She also loved playing with empty cups and straws from the drink cart. I just asked for extra clean ones and the flight attendants were happy to give them to me.
3. Bring Something New
On Lucy’s most recent flights, I have brought something small that is new to give to her on the flight. She has loved getting a new toy or a new book. Again, babies are curious so something new can be very exciting and hold their attention for a while. It doesn’t have to be expensive! I usually go to Burlington Coat Factory or Ross or Walmart and look in their baby and toy sections for some cheap entertainment.
4. But Also Bring Some Favorites
Even though babies are curious and often like new environments, they also like routine and things that are the same. We made sure to bring 1 or 2 of Lucy’s favorite books, one of her favorite small stuffed animals and her small blanket she likes to sleep with. Theses things would often calm Lucy down when she was having a melt down and would help her to go to sleep.
5. Snacks! Snacks! Snacks!
By this age, babies are often eating solid foods in addition to their milk. So make sure to bring snacks for your baby on the flight! Depending on the airline, there may be something suitable for your child from the snack cart, but I always bring extras just in case. If your child can drink from a sippy cup, bring an empty one on board and ask for an extra cup of water or a diluted juice mix for your baby that you can pour into their cup for them to enjoy. Some of Lucy’s favorite foods and snacks are pouched food purees, pouched applesauce (both of these you can bring through security, even if they are over the 3.4 oz rule; we’ve never had any trouble with it), puffs, Belvita biscuits and graham crackers.
Also, the tips from our previous post also apply to this age group. Just remember that as babies get more mobile, they are less happy to sit. So make sure to bring activities (or find things) to entertain them for your flight.
