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| Keeping your baby healthy and happy during a long
flight |
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Flying with an infant can be all work and no play: The infant's confused by the
noise, turbulence, and altitude; you're rattled by the change in your comfort
zone, surroundings, and schedule. But even with all this, the fact remains that
infants travel by plane every day. Parents and their children get through it
unscathed, and so will you. It just takes patience, flexibility, and a good
dose of planning to avoid pitfalls and attend to problems as they arise.
Before You Leave Home
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It is advisable to carry a maximum of 20 Kg with 1 piece of cabin baggage (not
more than 5 kgs) per person. Do take extra care of your belongings on tour.
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When making your flight reservations, you'll be faced with a few options. Most
major airlines allow children under the age of 24 months to travel free,
provided that they sit on their parent's lap during the flight. However, you
may luck out if the seat next to you is empty--in this case, your child may
occupy it, as long as you've brought a car seat along. (Be sure to attach an
index card to the car seat with your name, address, and phone number).
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Infants traveling on most international flights need to have a so-called
"infant ticket." While these special tickets vary in price from airline to
airline, they usually cost about 10 percent of a regular adult fare and allow
the child to travel on the lap of the accompanying adult. Again, one infant is
allowed per traveling adult. Infant tickets need to be purchased prior to
departure and can be arranged through the airline.
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If the thought of having your baby on your lap for six hours isn't appealing,
you may want to play it safe and reserve a seat for your little one.
(Discounted fares for infants--up to 50 percent off adult fares--are available
on most major airlines.) And, if possible, plan your itinerary around the
baby's sleep schedule and request a bulkhead seat for additional space.
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On international flights, some major airlines provide bassinets (large enough
to accommodate a six-month-old baby) free of charge. Keep in mind that they may
only be used when the Fasten Seat Belt sign is turned off. Just remember to
request a seat near the bassinet area when making your reservations.
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When packing for your trip, make sure to bring a separate diaper bag along with
all the necessities. Of course, wet-wipes, rash cream, pacifier, bottle,
Band-Aids, prescription medicines, diapers, pediatrician's telephone number,
healthy snacks (for mom), and a change of clothes for both you and your baby
are all must-have items. For safety reasons, always carry a recent photo of
your child with you. And don't forget to pack a blanket for your baby to cozy
up to, as airplane cabins can get quite chilly.
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On the day of your flight, allow yourself plenty of time to get to the
airport--you'll need the extra minutes to organize yourself, your belongings,
and your baby. At the gate, take advantage of pre-boarding and get yourselves
comfortably situated before the plane takes off.
While the Baby's on Board
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During takeoff and landing, try nursing or bottle-feeding your infant, as the
baby will likely need to be comforted most during those times. Also, drinking
or eating helps to alleviate any ear pain caused by the pressure as the cabin
adjusts to the altitude. Flight attendants may warm bottles for you, providing
they have the time to do it, but you'll have to furnish your own formula and
baby food.
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The hum of a plane in flight and its slight lurching and bouncing actually help
to soothe some babies. But there is a good possibility that your infant will
respond to her confusing environment by shrieking and wailing. Give her a
pacifier, try to feed her, distract her with a toy, hold her close, get up and
walk around the cabin--do whatever usually works to calm your baby down.
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If your efforts to console her fail, apologize to those around you and keep
your cool. Your baby is likely to sense your irritation through the tone of
your voice and the tension in your body, which may prompt her to cry harder.
Relax and know that this, too, shall pass.
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And lastly, remember this: People all over the world are charmed by infants.
Just smile, introduce your baby to fellow travelers, and enjoy some quality
time with your little one.
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