Flying (connections) with infant

[Anonymous]

We're planning to go to southern Spain, which requires 3 connecting flights to get to. Will this be a complete nightmare with an infant? It'll be our first plane travel experience with child. I guess it will largely depend on DD's temperament - easy going so far at 3 months, will be 6 months then.

[Anonymous]

Not second guess your travel arrangements without knowing them, but there is a nonstop Dulles-Madrid flight (and the high speed railnetwork is very nice too).

If possible, I'd try to minimize flight segments because the air pressure I thought was the hardest part of flying with an infant (although changing diapers was pretty close behind).

[Anonymous]

OP here - unfortunately, the direct flight didn't work for us (cost and FF miles). So we're stuck with 3 connections.

[Anonymous]

OP, i flew alone with DD when she was 2 mo with 1 connection. On top of that I was pumping at the time.

It was fine, by the end of a 20 hour journey I was wiped out of course, and dd was getting cranky, but it was much better than the disaster scenarios that I played in my mind before traveling. Also, it's amazing how nice and accomodating and helpful people were.

Of course it didn't go without little adventure, DD pooped just as plane landed in our connecting airport, but I had to run to make it to our connection, so I was running all over Paris airport with a stinky wet DD in a baby bjorn. I changed her as we reached our gate. I was glad I had extra onesies and clothes for DC because hers were covered in poop (I'm sure you discovered the need for this anyway by now), and also bring a couple of plastic bags (like giant or safeway type) for dirty stuff.

I bruoght way too many pampers and wipes with me on the plane, probably would've made it with a quarter of the amount I brought with me.

During take off and landing I just stuck a bottle in baby's mouth (definitely easier at 2 than at 6 months) so there were no ear problems.

At 6 months, you'll need to think more about entertainment for DC - so bring something with you.

Don't worry about it, there will be 2 of you to give each other a break and you'll have a great time.

[Anonymous]

16:18 here again: definitely take with you nose drops (saline), the air is dry in the plane, and this helps clear nose - so easier to breathe and also makes take off and especially landings much easier.