There is something about being on a airplane with a child, particularly a baby or toddler, that seems extremely daunting to many new moms (or even some veterans out there!). I suppose it could be the idea of being confined to one seat, with a child on your lap, for at least several hours at a time, not knowing if the person next to you will find your child endearing or annoying, as you frantically try to entertain him with the 25 toys you’ve jammed into the diaper bag and your own version of “Wheels on the Bus”! Or maybe the fear creeps in at the thought of your little one crying (or even screaming) in pain from the ear popping that can be so painful as you change altitude levels. And, if none of those pictures convince you, one only needs to consider the germs that are embedded into nearly everything your child touches which will most likely lead to, at best, a minor case of the sniffles. But, whatever the reason, I think it can be said that there is most definitely an understandable level of anxiety, or at least apprehension, at the thought of traveling with little ones.
Having recently ”flown the friendly skies” with my 6 month old son to visit family out of state (some with help and some solo), I have been determined to find ways to make our journeys with as little stress, and as much joy, as possible. And, while I know my “bag of tricks” will inevitably have to change as Will gets older, I am grateful for the few little gadgets I’ve found that have helped make our trips thus far quite uneventful…which in the world of babies can be a very good thing!
In an effort to help anyone who may be anticipating traveling during the holidays, I’ve decided to post my top three traveling necessities. I had thrown them in my diaper bag “just in case” and they turned out to be life-savers! Will has managed to endure his recent flights with grins and giggles, and we all survived without getting sick! Thank you, Lord!
Baby Tooth and Gum Cleanser~Who would have thought a little soft bristled, rubber toothbrush could work such wonders on a baby? I think this little gadget kept Will entertained and quiet for at least 15 minutes straight! It doesn’t hurt that he is in the very early stages of teething so I’m sure this felt good on his gums. But, he loved gnawing on our fingers and letting us “brush” and massage his gums with it. I vowed to buy an extra just to keep in the diaper bag. (Hmmm, could it also be perfect for church?) It’s made by Gerber and comes with baby toothpaste, though I have yet to try it. Maybe we’ll save the flavored touch for when the “toothbrush” gets old!
Teething Feeder~ I think this is one of the all time greatest inventions for babies! The one I have is made by Sassy and it’s designed to introduce little ones to solid foods before they have the ability to chew and to prevent choking. But, it also helps with teething. Many of my friends have them and put pieces of apple, carrots or other fruits and veggies inside to allow their babies to gnaw on something hard while still getting some flavor, juice or at least a few nutrients. But, since Will has just begun to start solid foods, I have only used this with ice. It certainly does the trick! On the plane, I just asked the flight attendant for an extra cup of ice and refilled it for as long as he seemed interested. And, since the ice melts, it forced him to swallow frequently so it also helped with his ears. Another 15 minutes of sanity! It has also proven to work wonders when eating out!
Antibacterial Wipes~ Since new air travel regulations prohibit you from bringing liquids on planes, our hand sanitizers had to be packed in our checked luggage. This was a big disappointment since I for one am well aware of the germ fest that lies aboard any aircraft! It’s pretty gross actually. But thankfully I had thrown a travel pack of antibacterial wipes (which are different from regular baby wipes) into our carry-on luggage. These actually proved to be far better than the hand sanitizer because they allowed me to wipe down arm rests, tray tables, and even the seats themselves. And their fresh citrus scent smelled far better than the stale air and burnt coffee that I had previously been so familiar with when flying.
Again, these are just a few of many little remedies I found that made traveling with a 6 month old a little easier. What are your life-saving traveling tips?
