Wed 5 Jul 2006
What is it About Airplanes?
Posted by Liza under The Real Live Boy
On the whole, Noah was a great traveler. The only time he was even fussy on the plane was during descent, and that was not too bad. Plus we were expecting takeoff and landing to be hard on him.
What we were not expecting was the air pressure changes to make him poop.
But boy howdy did they ever. Twice on the way back.
Luckily, nothing leaked. But I will never again travel without a change of pants as well as a spare t-shirt. At least not while I’m traveling with Noah as an infant in lap.
Our decision to leave at the crack of dawn was a good one — we got up, got ready, loaded the car, etc, and THEN woke up Noah to drive to the airport. He didn’t enjoy being woken up, but at least we were able to get ready without having to keep him entertained.
We have another plane trip at the end of the month. Any other recommendations or ideas or warnings?
July 6th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
i read somewhere to give them a pacifier during take off and landings. it helps with the cabin pressure. also, seeing as how he is a big pooper on flights, try putting him in the next size up diaper. we do this with Kennedy at night and it has helped with leaking.
congrats on being back in your home! there is no place like it.
July 7th, 2006 at 11:49 am
We’re traveling by plane next week, ourselves. I’ll be checking your comments to read any tips you get.
Where did you change Noah? On your lap?
July 7th, 2006 at 12:18 pm
I lugged him to the airplane bathroom — they have one of those fold-down changing tables. He loved it, since there were mirrors on both sides.
My recommendations:
1) Mini-diaper-changing-kit in the diaper bag. My bag was too big to haul to the airplane bathroom, so I took out a diaper, and the wipes, and the changing pad, and a cloth diaper/burp rag/peepee teepee.
Next trip, two sets of those, plus a onesie & rash cream, will go in grocery bags in the diaper bag. I still like the diaper bag as my carry-on, since it fit toys, blanket, & water as well as plenty of dipes etc.
2) Both of you go to the rear of the airplane, if the diaper-changer also needs to use the facilities.
There is no way for Mommy to “go” while managing baby and gear. Hand the baby out the door to the other parent, and then go. (A Daddy could maybe go while managing the baby & gear, if he planned it right.)
3) Hand sanitizer in the diaper bag. Normally, I’m not such a fan of the stuff, but I make an exception for airplanes and airports, esp since both trips the sinks in the airplane bathrooms didn’t drain well.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
Oh yeah, and feeding during takeoff and landing totally helped. Noah even fell asleep during the first takeoff. Try to wait as long as you can before you start feeding him, though. He needed it more later, and trying to get him to eat when he wasn’t hungry was awful.