10 Tips to Surviving a Long Flight with Your Infant – Alone!

I just completed a 16-hour trip including one long flight and one stopover with Karam (19 months now) and it almost killed me. Here are some of the things I learned about surviving a long flight with your hyper infant:

1. While there is a fair bit of debate about the easiest age to travel with kids (eg. when they are 3 months and oblivious vs. 12 months and on solids), it is clear that the 18 month mark is tricky because no airline has bassinets big enough to accompany them, but they are too big to be on your lap the whole time. Therefore, your best bet is to call the airline as soon as possible and every day before you board to ensure that you have an vacant seat next to you. If it’s a packed flight, consider buying a seat or at least upgrading to business class where the seats are wider and the stewards have to be nice to you.

2. Opt for the night flight. At 12 months or so, children need their sleep and will not be likely to stay up through the night. This means that you get at least 6-7 hours of peace without them bouncing off the airplane walls.

3. Buy an iPad. I swear, Apple made this gadget for parents. Download a bunch of free apps for kids and movies and songs and you can buy at least 2 hours of entertainment. Priceless! You can’t play YouTube videos until the skies become internet-friendly but iBooks has a bunch of kids’ books with vivid graphics and realistic page-turning.

4. Consider a mild sedative. Hey, no one’s judging you because many mums before us have done it, and no one ever died of a little extra drowsiness. Cough syrups like Benadryl or Phenergan are popular options. Always clear with your doctor and check the right dosage, particularly with Phenergan as it can backfire with hyperness if not dosed properly (karma is a bitch).

5. If you are in transit, ensure that they give you your stroller at your transit stop or arrange for a loaner one. Duty free shopping is so much harder with a child in your arms.

6. LAY OFF THE SUGAR. In any form. If your child is anything like mine and gets wired just from the thought of being restrained, avoid any form of sugar that could make them hyper. You need to exude mellowness in all that you do and offer.

7. Entertain them with food. Bread, cheese, fruit, water, anything they can spend time counting, rearranging, dismantling or dipping will help pass time.

8. Try not to think about the other passengers too much. Sure it’s embarrassing when your child is going nuts on your lap and down the aisles but some people act like it’s a crime to bring a baby on a flight. They have either never had a child, or forgotten that they were one. Don’t pay too much attention.

9. Ensure that your accommodation is easy to access once you land. If you are going home, great. If not, try to plan it such that you have an easy cab ride to your destination, ideally directly to your hotel or to a home where help is at hand.

10. Ask them to put priority tags on your bags – most airlines will oblige.