Traveling with Infants: 15 Tips to Follow on Flights to India
Are you planning on traveling with your little one? You should be careful will the stuff that you carry along when traveling with your baby.
However, you cannot be sure about what happens during the flight, but planning ahead can help in avoiding hassle during your flights to India.
Before you book flights, you should know the exact age permitted for your baby. Check this:
What is the best age to travel with an infant?
However, there is no official recommendation regarding the infant’s age, but you should know that there is a huge difference between the immune system of you and your baby.
When you travel with kids for an international flight, know that the air in the flight is recirculated one.
This might even contain germs, bacteria, and viruses, so maintaining the safety of your baby can become on your round trip flights to India.
Also, airlines like United Airlines have fixed an age limit that is seven weeks before the baby can travel in the flight.
Moreover, Delta Air Lines and American Airlines will not permit infants less than seven weeks without a written recommendation from the doctor.
So, it is advised to ask for assistance from the pediatrician and know about the infant policies of various Airlines before booking flights to Mumbai.
After you know a safe age of traveling with your baby, check the following tips that might help:
1. Make a Checklist
Creating a list of items that you should carry along is a must. This will prevent you from forgetting essential items during your flights.
Also, make sure that you start packing in advance so that you have plenty of time to pack your baby stuff.
Here is a general list of items that you cannot miss on your flights:
- Wipes and diapers
- Receiving blankets
- Extra pair of clothes
- Feeding Bottles
- Toys and rattles
- Baby-Friendly Snacks
- Ziploc bags
2. Book Direct Flights or Long Layovers
When you are traveling with a kid, try and make the number of connecting flights to the minimum. Changing seats and adjusting to a newer one can be quite a task for your infant.
And not only this, but landing and taking off each time also comes with some extra pressure on your baby’s ears, so it will be better if you choose direct flights to India rather than multiple connecting flights.
Also, you will not like to run around the airports with diaper bags and car seats.
Board a flight, adjust the baby stuff carefully, and land at your desired destination in one go. It is that simple.
3. Carefully decide your Check-ins and Carry-on
Before you board your flights to Mumbai, you should know what items you could carry in your check-in baggage and the carry-on.
For this, you can contact your airlines and know the list of permitted items.
Any last-minute change in the baggage at the security check can lead to a mess, especially when you are traveling with a baby.
Also, keep the stuff handy that your baby might require during the course of your journey.
4. Visit Restrooms Before the Flight
It is advised that you board the airplane with a dried diaper. So, one must hit the restrooms one last time before the final boarding.
As your journey on flights from the USA to India is going to be a long one, you should make sure that your baby does not feel irritated.
When you freshen up your baby in the restrooms, you surely avoid one less trip to the airplane lavatory.
5. Take Pre-Boardings
Some people intentionally avoid getting into the airplane before the flight-scheduled departure timings.
This is because they think, in this way, they will have to spend less time with their toddler on the flights.
But, it is always advisable to settle down before anyone else when you are traveling with a toddler.
Already, traveling with a child is no less struggle, so try not to increase it by buckling up your kids before anyone else is on board.
6. Preferable Buy a Separate Seat for your Child
You might be aware that when you book international flights to India from the USA with a toddler who is less than two, your child can travel on your lap for free.
However, it would be better if you get a separate seat reserved for them to avoid unnecessary trouble.
This is safe as well as allows the adult to relax during a no-haul international flight.
7. Keep the Baby Buckled
You will be pleased to know that when you travel with your baby buckled in the car seat on the airplane; you can be sure that he is safe and comfortable.
Also, in case of unexpected turbulence, you need not worry about your baby feeling uncomfortable or falling from your lap.
As you cannot restrict the movement of your baby otherwise, keeping them buckled is the best way to keep them as safe as possible.
8. Carry Extra Pair of Clothes for you as well as your Baby
You will surely not miss packing an extra pair of clothes for your baby on their flights.
It is because you already know that your baby can blow-out anytime in the middle of the flight. But what about yourself?
When you are traveling with your baby, there are equal chances that your clothes also get spoilt. So, to avoid any inconvenience in the mid-flight, it would be better if you have your pair of clothing handy.
It would be better if you add a compact pair of the outfit in the carry-on for convenience.
9. Pack a Lot of Snacks and Milk
Your baby will feel irritated in the middle of the flight for nothing. And, this is the time when packing a lot of snacks will help. These will keep your baby engaged, and with his tummy full, you can avoid less mess on your flights to India.
Also, it is advised to feed your baby one last time before the takeoff.
Moreover, you can even plan to make your baby fall asleep. This will help them adjust better, and you can also settle down things in a better way.
10. Keep Your Baby Engaged
You might have experienced this once in your flight, that the baby on the seat by your side is trying to climb the seat ahead.
You definitely do not want your baby to follow the same. So, when you are packing the stuff for your baby, try and pack their soft toys along.
These will not only keep them engaged, but will also reduce your stress from preventing them from falling.
11. Deal with Strangers
Although you have been trying hard to ease your baby in the plane, you cannot entirely avoid and stop him from crying.
And you will surely come across people who feel irritated with your baby’s loud cry.
The best you can do in such instances is to avoid the haters and strangers.
Try dealing with the baby in every possible way and make them feel comfortable without worrying about strangers.
12. Baby Medications
Your baby might start to feel sick during the journey. Carryover the counter medications along with prescriptions to avoid your baby from falling seriously ill during the journey.
Also, you should know the TSA liquid limits before packing such medicines.
Also, when you carry these medicines on flights from the USA to India, you should keep them in their original packing so that they can be identified easily.
13. Prepare Baby for Take-Offs and Landings
You already know that there is a sudden change in the pressure of the cabins during taking off and landing of the flights.
This change in the pressure can lead to paining ears, and your baby will feel disturbed. You should ask your baby to chew chewing gum during such instances.
Also, if your baby is too young to chew, handing him a bottle of pumped breast milk can help.
Moreover, you should be aware that carrying breast milk after booking your airline flight tickets is exempted from the 3.4-ounce liquid rule.
Moreover, if your baby is not interested in taking bottles, pacifiers, and sippy cups can also serve the same purpose.
14. Dress them Comfortable
This is yet another way to ensure a safe and comfortable flight journey for your baby. When you dress them comfortably, they feel less irritated automatically.
Also, as your flights to India is going to be a long one, sitting in the same positions with irritating clothes can be a trouble for your baby’s soft skin. It is better to choose soft fabric for a happy baby.
15. Plan Ahead and Relax
When you are traveling with your baby, you can forget what to carry and what to avoid when it is a last-minute packing. And when you plan ahead, you have enough time to assemble all the necessary items well before time.
You can never be sure of smooth travel experience when traveling with an infant. However, being prepared can be very useful to avoid any mess.
This will not only give you a feeling of relaxation for your journey, but you will also feel confident to handle any circumstances. Follow the tips mentioned above and reach your destination fresh and energetic.
