feeding infants and baby while flying
It’s that time of year: upcoming holiday travel is on the horizon, seemingly ready to unravel any schedules you may have well established with your little one. Feeding routines may seem particularly tricky, especially if you’re flying and have a baby who is still breast or bottle-fed. Luckily, there are some tips to keep in mind that should help the whole experience run a little more smoothly.
Before even leaving your house, think of your baby’s eating (and sleeping!) routine. Try to book flights that fall within your little one’s napping window. The sucking and swallowing of feeding may help the ear pressure infants feel during takeoff and landing and, if you’re lucky, may soothe them right to sleep.
In terms of packing, remember:
-All liquids needed for feeding baby – breast milk, baby formula, and water – are allowed on the flight. The TSA classifies them as “medically required liquids.” Just be sure to bring more than enough (especially for any delays) and build in extra time you may need at security, just in case they need to conduct an extra screening of your goods. Bring your own filtered water to mix baby’s formula to ensure you have a safe option when you need it.
-If you’ll be breastfeeding during the flight, remember to stay hydrated yourself! Cabin air can cause dehydration, so bring a reusable bottle from home, fill it up beyond security, and ask the flight attendants for as many refills as you need.
-If you’ll need to warm a bottle in-flight, bring a jar or container from home to do so; ask your flight attendant to fill it with hot water when you board.
Finally, do a little research ahead of time to see if any of the airports you’ll be traveling through have a private space where you can nurse or feed your little one. Many airports now have special lactation rooms for mothers and families. Remember that the airport and airline staff can provide help if you need it; oftentimes, it’s just a matter of asking and knowing what will be most helpful. More than anything, keep the final destination in mind – the joy of sharing the holiday with your child will far outweigh any temporary travel pains. Good luck!
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