My wife and I are planning an upcoming trip and we had some concerns about flying with our son who will be just over three months old on the flight.  I posted a query on the topic on Twitter and Facebook and almost immediately my cousin, who works for a major airline as a flight attendant chimed in with a ton of great information.  I am including the tips she gave me below.

From the Pro

First, disregard all this info if the baby is sleeping, just let him sleep. I hoped this helped and don’t freak you out!

Why Babies Cry

Why babies usually cry when flying, aside from the normal tired,hungry, dirty diaper, is their ears start to hurt. There are 2 times when this is likely to happen, during take-off and landing. The tubes to their ears are very small and they do not know how to "pop" them like adults. The airplane changes altitude very fast during take-off so your ears probably only pop once or twice.

What to Do

Feed the baby a bottle or give them a pacifier if they will suck vigorously. The sucking helps them to swallow which will cause their ears to pop. Altitude change happens fast during take off so they should not have to suck for too long. Landing is the much more problematic time for ear pain. The plane starts to lower altitude when you are about 20-30 minutes out. When the seat belt sign goes on and the Flight Attendant says we are on initial approach, the plane is going to slowly descend. 

The babies ears are going to need to pop numerous times. Start feeding your baby when Initial Approach starts and try to continue the feeding as long as possible. It is actually easier to fly with a baby who is a few months vs. a baby who has just learned to crawl or walk. After learning how to be mobile babies do not want to be stuck in a car seat or on someone's lap. Take a bulb syringe and some saline solution with you. If the baby has any congestion, it will cause their ears to hurt even more. I would say 90% of my flights, babies have no problems. the other 10%, once they start to cry from ear pain, you can't get them to stop. The crying makes their ears hurt even more.

Just put whatever you need during take off in the seat next to you or the seat pocket in front of you. When the plane makes the big U-turn for take-off and you start to race down the runway, start feeding if he is awake. Store the diaper bag under the seat in front of you. Also, buy the ready to go formula bottles. There is not really a good way to heat baby bottles on planes. We usually just stick them in a coffee cup of hot water--doesn't work to well.

What to Bring

Take a bulb syringe and some saline solution with you.  Also, take your stroller and car seat through security to the gate. You will have to load it on the security belt to be screened but mine have always fit. Ask the agent at the plane if they have an open seat available so you can use it for the baby's car seat. If they do not, the agent can "Gate check" the car seat and the stroller for you. You leave it at the door of the aircraft in the jet way and when you land the ramp agents bring it right back to you at the door of the aircraft.

What if baby does cry during the flight?

The best thing to do for him is just try to soothe him, keep trying to offer anything he will suck on--nursing, bottle, pacifier, your finger,a toy. Don't worry about the other passengers. You are doing the best you can and you have no control over the size of the tubes in your babies ears. Plus, both of your flights are probably pretty short, if it does happen they wont have to listen for too long.

Where is the best place to change a diaper?

There are only a few planes with actual changing tables in the bathroom and these are all larger planes.  Go ahead and change him at your seat but take the diaper to the bathroom to dispose of it.

What about Breastfeeding?

I have seen lots of moms nursing on planes. She can cover up and nurse any time she needs to in her seat.