Flying... help!

[BabyJoy]

So I have to fly from Cairns to Rockhampton on Sunday with Laura who is now four months old. Problem is that the flight jumps along the way making stops at Townsville and Mackay so that we take off and land six times!!
What can I do to make Laura more comfortable in regards to ear pressure, etc, because I don't think she will breastfeed each time we take off and land, and she also refuses to take a dummy?? :(

HELP PLEASE!

[newmum2one]

I'm sorry I can't help but I'd like to know the answer too DH is a keen flier...

[limlib]

Firstly I must say I LOVE the name of your daughter - I think Laura Amelia is absolutely beautiful.

On to your query, if she won't take a dummy will she suck anything else? I mean some babies have a special blanket or other toy they suck - it is the motion of sucking that is supposed to help the baby's ears.

I have flown a lot with my son and I was really worried like you and always tried to get him to drink or suck his dummy , however, on some occasions he wouldn't take anything and apart from one flight he has never had any problem or even shown any awareness of landing. You may be worrying and she may not feel any effect at all.

Some parents medicate their babies but I never have.

Hope all goes well. Sorry couldn't offer any other suggestion.

[BabyJoy]

Thanks Limlib for your advice and complement on my daughter's name! :D All my family were very relieved we chose a more traditional name instead of something weird.

I've decided to take a dummy (just in case she takes it) as well as teethers, a wet washer, and a cup of water, so if she doesn't breastfeed she will hopefully take one of these things to suck on and help with any ear trouble. I'm actually hoping the noise of the plane will send her off to sleep and she won't even notice! Every time I vacuum she goes to sleep, so cross fingers the hum of the engines will have the same effect.

[mumma bear]

I flew a couple of times with DD when she was 8 weeks and again at 9 months. She never really had any problems. At 8 weeks i feed her on the way up and down, but it was a 4hr flight so that was easy. The return trip she was asleep on the way down and didn't bat an eye. At 9 months i didn't really do anything. I think i gave her something to eat.

I have heard that as long as you get their jaw moving it helps their ears to pop. Anything to chew or suck on should work.

Good luck!

[sam's mum]

You could try asking the hostess if they have any of the eucalyptus cloths. They are little wet cloths, about 1cm square and in a pack like a kfc wash cloth. You just smell them and the eucalyptus helps to clear your airways. The smell drifts quite a bit from the source and so you wouldn't need to have it close to Laura at all. Good Luck.

I took Sam on his first flight two weeks ago and I was worried, but he went to sleep before we took off! :smiliedance: