flying with an infant.  

My child flew frequently when he was a baby. I must have made at least 4 flights (including one lloonngg international one) before he reached the age of one. Depending on the plane that you're flying in, normally, the first row on the economy class has more room and some flights offer bassinets that you can attach to the front of you. Try and request for those seats. Also, during take-off and landing, allow your baby to suck on something...whether it's a bottle or a pacifier. That will relief the pressure on his ears i.e. no crying! :) Make sure you have enough snacks and toys for him. Include a few new toys he's not seen before. That should keep him occupied for awhile. Don't be anxious as your baby will be able to sense your anxiety. Just play with him lots, cuddle him and all will be ok. And if he fusses inspite of everything you try to do to pacify him, don't worry about the mean looks you get or what people will say. Just think, after this flight, you will not see these people again. Just concentrate on your kids and all will be fine. It's really not as bad as you think if will be. Just relax and enjoy the flight and I'm sure your baby will too.

You are right there will be those people who will act disgusted because there is an infant on board but those kinds of people really just have to get over it - I mean it's all a part of life!!!

As for your lil one - does your infant drink juice yet?? If so then definitely keep that available to them and if not then keep water handy - it seems like it helps them to swallow when drinking which will release that awful ear pain we all get since your lil one can't chew gum yet!!!

We did end up 1 time having to give our youngest some benedryl for a flight when he was an infant but that was mainly because it was a super long flight and he was very colicky at the time so it totally relaxed him and we made it through the flight with no problems at all!!!

I wish you the best and hope that your older kids can maybe help you out with the lil one!!!

my middle son was almost 7 months his first plane ride and i was so worried. he did very well really. he had a binky but really didn't take it much so i was very worried that the pressure would get to him. i had some new toys for him that i bought for the trip and some snacks. he really liked the window. the first plane was a small one and i was very worried about that but being we left so early he slept but one the next plane he did not sleep at all. when he did start whinning the people were very nice about it and talked to him and he would stop. i had his cup and bottles with juice and gateraid. so i think you might be surprised at how well he does. just take lots of toys and keep giving a different one some new ones are nice and a cup or bottle and some snacks and just keep him busy. i think he will do ok. i was scared to death taking mine on a 10 1/2 hour flight but he did really well. good luck