Every parent can agree that traveling with babies can be challenging and frustrating, especially during long flights. Keeping your baby calm on a flight seems to be impossible because they tend to do a lot of crying.
The screaming and howling surely bother other people on board which makes traveling uncomfortable for you. Add changing diapers and feeding to the scenario, and parents will do almost anything to avoid a flight.
If you're flying with a baby, we have some tricks to make toddlers calm and entertained from takeoff to landing. After all, these little humans only need to be comfortable and busy on the plane.
Why Babies Cry on a Plane
There’s a reason behind a baby’s restlessness during flights, which can affect their general state.
Aside from the new environment, they also experience pressure in the middle ear, just like what adults experience due to the atmospheric pressure.
With adults, it’s easy to neutralize the ears with swallowing on purpose or yawning. Meanwhile, toddlers and children have no choice but to suck it up with a blockage in the ear, which is pretty uncomfortable.
Those mid-air meltdowns are caused by the discomfort or pain experienced due to the atmospheric pressure. Add to that the sniffles and cold, which cause congestion in the nasal passage.
Anyone who has their sinus clogged due to colds can have a hard time clearing the Eustachian tubes, a link in the middle ear to the back of the throat.
So, babies aren’t only being grumpy, but they experience discomfort that’s why they’re crying.
Tips to Calm Babies on a Flight
A number of tricks can be effective to make a baby calm on the flight. Parents can provide ease in the ear discomfort of babies by feeding them, buying sucking toys, and keeping them entertained.
Here are some flying tips to get a smooth flight with toddlers and infants.
Feed the Baby to Neutralize Ear Pressure
Sucking on the pacifier, eating baby food, and breastfeeding help to mitigate the effects of ear pressure in babies.
The ability to suck something brings suction to the ears, clearing the blockage. This is just the same with adults chewing bubble gums or eating candies during flights.
Before the flight, parents can buy more pacifiers and sucking toys that babies can play with. Choose colorful ones to interest them throughout the flight.
For breastfeeding moms, a trick that works best is to feed babies before takeoff.
Distract with Toys
Just like with pacifiers, parents can also calm the babies with a bunch of toys on the flight. This is applicable for both infants and toddlers.
Make sure to bring more than one toy for long-haul flights, otherwise, kids can be easily bored and go back to crying. Bring new toys every hour or two to engage kids and keep them busy.
Because babies can associate calmness with movements, also try walking the baby through the aisles, accompanied by a small toy or stuffed animal. They are less likely to cry because they can see more things and people.
Get Medication
Although this isn’t the most natural way to keep babies from crying throughout the flight, giving medications help to neutralize the ear pressure. Touch base with a pediatrician to get the right medication
Common meds include Ibuprofen for six months old and above and Tylenol for better sleep quality. Additionally, Tylenol also keeps babies comfortable when administered in therapeutic doses.
Takeaway
Follow these baby flying tips to your baby on the plane and make traveling a smooth affair. It will save parents from uncomfortable situations with other passengers, and keep the little one happy too.
