Getting ready for long flight/travel time with 9.5 month old. Started to freak out
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Anonymous
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A week from Sunday, we will be relocating to Argentina with our 9.5 month old. This entails a flight to Miami from Boston getting in at 8:45 and leaving at 11:15 for Santiago and arriving at 8:45 am and leaving at 3:45 pm for an hour and a half flight to Cordoba. I'm nervous about the flights, but we are loading up on music, toys, snacks, bottles, etc (DS is on soy formula). And with the longest part of the flight being overnight (and the suggestion from our ped to give him Benadryl) I'm hoping things will go smoothly. However, I have no idea how we are going to entertain him for 7 hours at the airport. I know we can roam around (and we'll have a stroller) but it still entails him either being confined to his carseat/stroller or us chasing him around. He's an active kid.
I guess I just need some words of encouragement. I'm the type of person who gets super embarrassed if I feel like people are judging me or annoyed by my actions and I'm worried I'm going to be stressed the entire time trying to make sure DS isn't bothering people. Also, totally dumb question, but DS has his own seat and will be in his RF car seat. Does the base install easily onto a seat? I've never paid attention to other kids flying before. Thanks!! |
Anonymous
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1) Relax! There's nothing you can do differently, but he may pick up on your anxiety, so just tell yourself over and over "I'll never see these people again" and do your best. Who cares if they are judging you? What's going to happen if they are?
2) I believe you install the carseat without the base on an airplane, but check with your airline 3) make sure to pack extra clothes for ALL of you, not just the baby. You don't know if he'll spit up or pee on you, etc. |
Anonymous
| Its an easy age, so just looking around is entertaining. Don't discount that. Agree with extra clothes for everyone. If DS needs to cry (so much is happening easy to imagine he will need to, let him cry and ignore those around you. Babies tend to be more welcome Latin cultures, so you will be fine. |
Anonymous
| I did the World's Longest flight (18.5 hours) with a 11 month old. Won't be doing that again anytime soon. |
Anonymous
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7 hours? Leave the airport! Go take a cab into miami, sit on the beach and eat lunch. Let him play in the sand.
Then return. |
Anonymous
| Test the Benadryl before you go. Seriously. Some children have the opposite reacton (hyperactivity). I'm assuming that would be a disaster. |
Anonymous
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OP here. The 7 hours is in Santiago, not Miami. So not able to leave the airport.
Planning on bringing a carry on loaded with extra formula, clothes, diapers, etc. I have flown enough times to have had my bag misplaced several times. Very true on the looking around. He loves it. Good to know about the carseat. Will have to look into that. Thanks! |
Anonymous
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I did a 10 hour flight with my then 9.5 month old son (and 3 yr old son) and was freaking out beforehand, but it went really well. Far better than I could have hoped.
Just focus on getting through an hour at a time. Lots of snacks. Randomly my son really loved playing with the headphones on my iphone with music playing. Definitely move around a lot during your layover and try and wear him out. Good luck! |
Anonymous
OP here. We tried it! I had heard about that reaction as well. Thankfully it made him drowsy. |
Anonymous
When I had to fly with a little one that age I found a corner in the airport and set up a little perimeter with a blanket on the floor and let her crawl around there. It won't do for the whole 7 hours but maybe you can do it for a little while. Good luck! It's only one day. 
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Anonymous
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What I do in that kind of situation is research the airport. Scan their website (some have playgrounds, but I don't see any evidence Santiago does). The website mentions a "nursery" but I'm reading it in translation and I'm not sure what that means.
There does appear to be an airport hotel adjacent to the terminal (i.e. you can walk there); it has a pool. One option might be to reserve a room; however that's going to mean you'll have to go through customs & immigration in Chile, and then return through security. By the time you do all of that, you'll only be there for 3-4 hours. I'm assuming he'll nap at least once during that 7 hours? Otherwise just find an empty gate with a view of planes and let him tire himself out. |
Anonymous
| I've been on 15-hr flights with babies nearby that seemed to get on surprisingly well. Then again, we took our 18-month-old on a cross-country flight on our laps and she didn't sleep a wink. She slept or otherwise contentedly monkeyed around our laps when she was younger. I suspect your 9.5 month old is young enough to be in the favorable category. It's when you push two years old without getting them they're own seat that it starts to get tricky, I think. |
Anonymous
OP here. Wow thank you for the help! He'll nap at least once (hopefully twice!) during the 7 hours, so you are right, that will help. We are not shipping anything so don't really want to have to go through customs and immigration with a baby, 4 carryons (if you include laptop bags, baby bags, etc) and 5 suitcases. Dreading having to go through it once haha. |
Anonymous
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Yeah, you install the car seat without the base. If you can find your instruction manual, it might show you a diagram of how to do it. It's the same instructions you'd use if your car didn't' have the Latch system.
I would try not to worry so much. I mean, there's only so much you can do. It's a stressful time for everyone and I don't know how you're doing that along with worrying about the relocation etc. Definitely try the Benedryl out ahead of time, just in case your kid goes berserk on it. I'd also probably grab a glass of wine (or maybe just do some vodka shots?) when you get on board so you're not so stressed. Good luck and safe travels! |
Anonymous
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Anyone who judges the family of a 9 month old based on the behavior of a 9 month old is an idiot. So go ahead and judge them right back. Families have to fly, have to travel. What would they suggest: that you take the chicken bus? Tell THEM to take the chicken bus. Airplanes should be reserved for children and families who have to get someplace FAST.
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