Are you ready for take off?
Flying can be a scary ordeal in the first place, but it gets even more overwhelming when you bring an infant into the picture. Imagine being thousands of miles in the sky with your baby crying nonstop.
After only a few minutes the other passengers start looking back at you and sighing. Looking at the unhappy faces of the passengers, do you know what you would do?
If you’re going to be flying with an infant, you’ll need to prepare for any type of situation. Read on to learn about 3 tips to help you have a smooth ride from take-off to landing.
1. Make a Checklist When Flying with an Infant
Having a checklist ahead of time will prevent you from accidentally forgetting a must-have item. Create your checklist at least a week before your flight departs. This way you can continue to add items to the list as they come to your mind.
Here’s an example of a checklist for flying with an infant:
- Diapers
- Changing pads
- Newborn wraps
- Bibs
- Washcloths
- Nursing blanket
- Bags for wet items/diapers
The checklist also gives you a way to start positively envisioning your trip going successfully. To live your best life, it’s crucial you learn how to envision yourself achieving your goals. As you add each essential item to the list, imagine how prepared you’ll be on the plane.
Picture yourself confidently caring for your child, while you have every single item you need. Your personal mental state will play a big role in the success of your trip.
Let’s look at ways you can stay calm and polite when dealing with potentially stressful situations on the plane.
2. Stay Calm and Polite
Flying can a be a tense experience for some people. Because of this, some passengers may be extra irritable or frustrated when they see you have a baby with you. While you might not get to hand pick the other passengers on the plane, you can decide how to respond to them.
Choose to ignore rude comments or looks and instead focus your energy on taking care of yourself and your family. Traveling takes a lot of energy and you can’t afford to waste any of it on grouchy passengers.
If you feel the temptation to engage in an argument, stop and take a moment to breathe. Oftentimes, when we get angry our bodies switch into the fight or flight mode.
Stopping to take a breath gives your mind the chance to calm down. Some people even enjoy taking a long breath, and slowly counting backward from 10. Remember, the flight is temporary, and you’ll probably never have to see the other passengers ever again.
Stay calm and remember all that matters is you and your family. If other passengers are angry because your baby is crying, that’s their problem. Your only concern is making sure you and your baby have everything you need.
3. Protect Your Baby’s Back
Once on the plane, you’ll need to secure your baby’s car seat. Children under 40 pounds should ride in a car seat for the duration of the flight.
This will help protect their back and necks in the event of any turbulence while in the air. It’ll also help your infant stay safe during both the take-off and landing.
Here are 4things to look for when picking the right car seat:
- Does it meet safety standards?
- Age
- Weight
- Height
When choosing a car seat, make sure it meets your babies specific weight requirements. Car seats that are too large will be inefficient at keeping your child secure. Having a car seat also gives you the additional benefit of having your hands free.
Create a Travel Video
Flying with an infant can be an empowering experience.
You’ll realize just how independent, strong and capable you really are. My name is Cass and I made Stayful help people live adventurous and fulfilling lives. It’s important to create memories in life with the people you care about the most.
If you’re planning on taking a family trip, or a trip with friends, you’ll need a way to remember it forever. Check out my latest article about how to create the best travel video.
