Airplane travel: breastfeeding to "pop" ears? Other tips?

[Blessed1]

I am nervous about our upcoming flight with my almost 10month old nursling.  It's not very long (around 2 hours) but it still has me all nervous :)

Any tips would be appreciated by my main concern is my LO's ears popping? I've read that you should try to nurse on take off and landings but my LO is not one of those baby's who will breastfeed for comfort or whenever I offer.  She literally has to be hungry or almost starving to nurse or she will push away and fuss. And even if she is very hungry it isn't a guarantee that she will nurse because she is a very distracted nurser right now.

I know if I offered her the breast at take-off she will most likely refuse (I will still try though). So..what am I supposed to do to insure she doesn't feel pain from her ears? ??

She doesn't take a bottle or paci either.

If I am unsuccessful at "popping" her ears towards the beginning of the flight, it is almost a guarantee that she will be uncomfortable or scream bloody murder due to the pain at some point in the flight???

I would appreciate any and all advice or tips! Thanks mamas!

I wasn't sure if I should post here or in breastfeeding section, please feel free to move if needed :)

[jenninjapan]

The two hours will go by SO quickly!  I've done transatlantic flights with DS at 7, 11 and 19 months. The younger he was the easier. 

DS was all about the boob so I managed to feed him for most take offs and landings, but for some of them he was asleep and didnt wake or fuss at all.  And had a pretty good time for the rest of the flight.  It was never a problem for us - the only time I really ever heard other screaming babies or had my little one upset was when we were delayed or stuck on the plane for one reason or another. So dont get to the airport too early and try to tire your little one out as much as possible beforehand.

Favourite toys (especially with lights if you travel at night), books and rice crackers helped out a lot.  I liked things like cheerios - takes a while to get little hands around and eat.  If DC is walking going up and down the aisles is always fun or hanging around at the back of the plane was something different.

Also if you think the person you are sitting beside is going to stress you out (as in will not appreciate sitting next to a baby and you will have to constantly worry about your baby touching them or their seat) ask the attendants to change seats - it makes such a BIG difference.  Some lovely grandmother-types have saved my sanity on a few flights.

It will be easier than you think - good luck!

[Blessed1]

Thank you for you advice! I know I shouldn't be too worried but the thought of my babe going through pain and crying makes me uncomfortable (she almost never cries)...lol  My husband is traveling with me so at least I will have him to sit next to me and help out! :)

[1stTimeMama4-4-10]

I flew when DD was 7 months old and she is very much like your LO - distracted nurser, will frequently refuse to nurse unless she is very hungry or very tired.  I was very surprised that when we got on the plane, I got her to nurse both ways while we were taking off. She then fell asleep and slept through almost the whole fight. I think the white noise from the plane helped a LOT. Good luck!

[Blessed1]

Thanks! You put me at ease...perhaps I will sleep better tonight! lol  I really hope I can get her to nurse...thanks!

[jcregan]

Any kind of chewing or sucking motion can help with the ears.  Since your baby is 10 months old maybe some of those puffy snacks or something like that on hand in case she won't nurse.  The landing is typically worse for ears then the the take off.  So at least if it is bad it should be near the end of the flight.

I agree with a PP poster, don't get on the plane immediately if you can avoid it, wait until a bit later in the process as the seats are more confining then the airport.

I flew with DD fairly often and nursing was always what we did on take off and landing... now she gets a little treat to eat.

One other advice for entertainment is to buy or borrow a new toy or book (I usually go to a used kids store so I don't spend a lot of $ and don't care if the toy gets lost or forgotten).  I used to keep it in my carry on bag and pull it out mid flight when our usual entertainment is not working.

[Blessed1]

Thank you! Great tips! I bought her two new books yesterday and I will get something for her to safely chew on. Now, i am trying to figure out of we should go for the two inside seats (by the window) or the two outside seats...lol 

[megannt]

I flew when my LO was just about a month and I had the boob at the ready for the dreaded ear popping and she didn't even fuss at all, on either flight. So, maybe it will make you feel better knowing that it's not a guarenteed thing - just a chance of it happening. It is was so easy flying with my babe, I'm sure it will turn out better than you expect!!

[carepear]

Norah has never complained but I tend to massage next to her ears of take off and landing.  Sometimes I even tug on them a bit when I feel my ears needing to be popped.  I'm not sure if it helps or not but it makes me feel like I'm doing something.  She is a fast nurser so nursing during the whole take off/landing doesn't really work.

[hasya]

But how do you nurse a baby during take-off and landing? Doesn't he/she have to be strapped into her child seat or your lap (depending on whether or not he/she has a seat or not)?

[Blessed1]

Originally Posted by carepear 

Norah has never complained but I tend to massage next to her ears of take off and landing.  Sometimes I even tug on them a bit when I feel my ears needing to be popped.  I'm not sure if it helps or not but it makes me feel like I'm doing something.  She is a fast nurser so nursing during the whole take off/landing doesn't really work.

Thanks. Massaging the little ears sounds like a good idea just in case I can't get her to nurse. :)

Originally Posted by megannt 

I flew when my LO was just about a month and I had the boob at the ready for the dreaded ear popping and she didn't even fuss at all, on either flight. So, maybe it will make you feel better knowing that it's not a guarenteed thing - just a chance of it happening. It is was so easy flying with my babe, I'm sure it will turn out better than you expect!!

This makes me feel so much better! I was curious if every baby has issues with their ears or if it is just a "possibility".  I do hope my babe will be fine. :)
 

Originally Posted by hasya 

But how do you nurse a baby during take-off and landing? Doesn't he/she have to be strapped into her child seat or your lap (depending on whether or not he/she has a seat or not)?

Not really sure.  I was just assuming that as I was holding her in my lap during take-off, I would offer her the breast. 

[megannt]

Originally Posted by hasya 
 

But how do you nurse a baby during take-off and landing? Doesn't he/she have to be strapped into her child seat or your lap (depending on whether or not he/she has a seat or not)?

This post  reminded me of something kind of strange. They don't mind if they are in your lap, if they are buckled in or anything like that, but they made me take her out of the moby wrap that she was in. When they first asked me, I looked at the stewardess like she was kidding. It made absolutely no sense to me! But, she said that I have to, and I didn't feel like making a fuss. Kind of a weird policy, couldn't think of a reason why, but just be ready in case they ask you to take her out of a sling or wrap if you have her in one during takeoff/landing.

[Monarchgrrl]

I just flew with my 5 mo old this past weekend for the first time. It went so much better than I though it would. I had her asleep in my ring sling and no one asked me to take her out during take off. It was easy and painless. She got a little cranky on the decent on one of the legs but I think her ears then popped because she was then happy and content. We will be taking a 5 hour flight next month and we will definitely buy a seat for her so that she can sit some of the time in her car seat. I can't imagine holding her the whole 5 hours, plus she doesn't like to be held that much. I bought two new toys that she got to play with on the plane and that entertained her. I also got the two inside seats (by the window) because I didn't want to have to have her half laying into a stranger's seat when she was sleeping. The window seat has a little extra room on the side. Good luck!

[Blessed1]

Thanks! I hope I have an easy time too.  We leave tomorrow morning and I am feeling a little better about it.  I bought her two new flap books (she loves flap books) which should keep her entertained but I am thinking I should have bought her some sort of toy too..     I have my disenfecting wipes ready to go so I can scrub down the plane! lol  Wish us luck! :)