Traveling with an infant for the first time will, no doubt, is always an unforgettable experience. But that doesn't mean it has to be a miserable one! There are a number of things you can do to prepare for an airplane trip. With this preparation, air travel with your infant can go off without a hitch. Here are some steps you can take to ensure your trip is free from family "turbulence."

Before You Leave

1. Avoid the Rush Hours and Busy Days.  Less crowds means less stress! If you have the option, book your flights for non-peak travel times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. A flight spanning your child's naptime is ideal, if you can avoid the early morning and late-day business commuter flights. If you're crossing several time zones, overnight flights can help a child who sleeps well acclimate to the time change and reduce jet lag. Avoid late-afternoon and evening flights, since delays are more common and young children tend to be at their crankiest. If you can, stick with relatively short plane rides -- limit flying time to four hours or less. "I would recommend parents to refrain from interrupting a baby's sleep schedule before a flight, which most parents do." says Gurpreet Doad, CEO, IndianMomsAndBabies.com. "Trying to sleep deprive an infant, for example, in order to make him/her sleep on the plane, will often backfire."
2. Lighten Your Load.  Use curbside luggage check-in wherever available so you won't have to find a porter. Minimize hand luggage and try to use a front carrier or backpack for your child so you can maneuver plane tickets, passport, and other papers.
3. Bulkhead Seat. IndianMomsAndBabies.com recommends parents call and confirm their travel itineraries with the airlines ahead of time. At that time, request any special seating requirements, such as asking for a bulkhead seat -- where there is no seat in front of you -- which should offer the most room.

 "Some airlines do not make these available ahead of time and sometimes the bulkhead may be the emergency exit row. The emergency exit rows are typically off limits for parents traveling with young children. "

If you can't get a bulkhead seat, ask to be seated in a "noisy" area of the plane. Most airlines do this anyway, but if not, request for it. Most of the babies were seated in the middle of the plane, right over the engines. Not only does it muffle some of the sound from crying babies, the vibration seems to knock the babies right out.

Parents can also ask airlines if they have any special features for families traveling with babies. "Some companies offer bassinets, gate check for strollers or early boarding privileges."

4. Control Airport Chaos Arrive early, because everything takes extra time with a baby. Many major airports have a play area and a nursery (the latter usually has a changing area, rocking chairs, a microwave oven, a fridge, and sinks for cleaning), so pick up a courtesy phone and track these down.

Don't be in a hurry to get on the plane, even if the airline invites you to board first. The less time a baby spends in a confined airplane, the better. Try this alternative: Have your spouse lug the gear onto the plane early, then stay behind at the gate with your child until the last minute.

In The Airport

Allow extra time at the airport. As you know, everything takes l-o-n-g-e-r when traveling with babies.

1. Try getting The Aisle Seat. If you are not able to make arrangements for Bulkhead Seat then getting an aisle seat should be the second choice rather than the window one. Aisle seat works better and is more comfortable and convenient for both you and the little one. It helps as you have to come out of your seat many times; taking the baby to lavatory for a diaper change, taking him for a little walk in the cabin with you, getting off from your seat to take something out for your baby from the baggage with you and for doing many more things.
2. Airport Security. Security Checkpoints now insist that your infant be removed from carrier or stroller, and carried through X-ray setups by an adult. Most airlines will gate-check your stroller on the Jetway so you can pick it up immediately upon landing. Ask whether there's a family-friendly security lane, which can reduce your wait time and stress level, and wear slip-on shoes so you can kick them off easily. If you're carrying milk or formula, let the security agent know (these liquids are permitted, along with jarred baby food and yogurt in 3-ounce or smaller containers). Bring a compact stroller that folds easily, and be prepared to carry your baby through the security checkpoint. Once you're clear, you can push your child all the way to the gate, check the stroller there, and get it back at the gateway as you step off the plane at your destination. Also keep in mind that airport regulations are in constant flux these days, so call your airline for an update.
3. Be the Last to Board the Plan. Most airlines make parents with newborns and babies board first. Try to avoid and be among the last ones. Don’t worry about your seat, its reserved for you and no one can take it. But boarding last will help your baby from any kind of rush and hustle-bustle. Also the less time a baby spends in a confined airplane, the better your flying experience will be.

On The Plane

Take-offs and landings can be painful for little ears. Bring along ear filters, which buffer eardrums against rapidly changing air pressure. Encourage your child to swallow by offering beverages, gum, or hard candy.

1. Feed Your Baby Inflight.  Nursing Moms will have an easy go of it; nursing Dads should carry a freezer pack with a few extra bottles that the Flight Attendant can warm. Be sure to bring some refillable bottles or "tippy" cups for juice or water. (Open them carefully, as the change in air pressure turns some models into absolute geysers.) As for dining yourself or enjoying that Chocolate coffee, forget it unless there are some adults in your party to hold your baby.
2. Change Diapers Often.  Carry a small blanket or changing mat so that a urine-filled diaper can be changed in an empty row of seats (do this discreetly or some passengers will go crazy). If you must use the lavatory, urge your spouse to come with you, pry the door open with your body, have them lower the diaper changing table (available on a few aircraft) and hold it, and then change diapers with as few sudden moves as possible
3. Get Exercise.  If you have a lap child, strolls are essential to avoid gangrene. Be kind to Flight Attendants by avoiding beverage and meal service times. Plan your aisle visits mid-flight, when air turbulence (always unpredictable!) is least likely to occur.

What To Bring

You probably will have loaded your suitcases up with all the essentials, but don't forget to have a diaper bag -- preferably one you can carry as a backpack -- handy and packed with the following:

• Plenty of diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream for the trip.
• A bag to hold dirty diapers, especially if you use cloth.
• A bottle of hand sanitizer, so you can "wash" your hands when you don't have access to water.
• Bottles and extra pacifiers.
• Nursing pads.
• Your pediatrician's phone number.
• A baby blanket -- good for warmth as well as for privacy when breastfeeding.
• A change of clothes -- or two -- for Baby. You may also want to dress him in layers, since airplanes can be rather cold or get very hot!
• An extra top for you (in case you are breastfeeding and leak breastmilk)
• A travel-size diaper changing pad or disposable diaper changing cloths
• A small can of disinfectant spray or wipes that kills bacteria and viruses to clean surfaces where you change your baby, such as Lysol.
• A bottle of water for mixing formula and for you to keep hydrated! Make sure to ask the flight attendant for a cup of warm water to put the bottle in to heat the formula or breastmilk.
• A bib, bowl, spoon and baby food if your baby is on solids, along with snacks for babies on solids.
• A cloth to quickly wipe up spills or spit up.
• A carrying case that can keep pumped breastmilk bottles cold.
• Some toys to keep Baby entertained.

You may also want to bring an umbrella stroller -- maybe even one that reclines -- or a front carrier to make getting around the airport a lot easier. Typically, you will be allowed to check your stroller just before you board the plane and it will be stored with the luggage. The airline workers will then bring it up for you just after you get off the plane.

Along with your essential items IndianMomsAndBabies.com recommends you try to make friends with those you are sitting next to on a plane. You will feel a bit less guilty when the baby wails or spits up on them.

Ear Pain

When traveling by plane, the change in altitude, especially when taking off and landing, can cause an infant to wail! There are a few things you can do to keep his ears from hurting.

1. Either breastfeed your baby, offer him a bottle or give him something to suck on -- like a pacifier -- during take-off and landing. This will prevent increased middle ear pressure and pain.
2. To keep nasal passages dry and to prevent stuffiness, parents should make sure their baby is well hydrated. Dry nasal passages make Eustachian tubes [in the ear] stickier and more difficult to operate. It is important to begin as soon as the plane leaves the ground or as soon as the pilot announces the descent, for waiting too long may make simple maneuvers such as swallowing ineffective. A decongestant may help with nasal stuffiness and suggests giving the medication one hour before takeoff. Always check with your doctor before giving your baby any medications, to make sure the medication is suitable as well as for dosage allowances.
3. It is NOT recommended to fly with a cold, sinus or ear infection. Eardrums may rupture in those cases.
4. Take your baby to your health care provider a few days before your trip to ensure he isn't harboring an ear infection or other illness. If possible, avoid exposing your baby to other kids the week before the flight so he/she is less likely to catch one of those many kid-carried viruses.

Along with taking care of your precious baby, don't forget to take care of yourself! If you are traveling just a few months after childbirth, don't be too hard on your body. Make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, especially if you are breast feeding, and don't lift anything heavy off the carousel or anywhere else. You could easily hurt yourself. When you nurse on the plane, make sure you use the pillows to support yourself, or invest in an inflatable lumbar support to help your back. It really makes a difference to be comfortable when feeding."

Spit up

If your little one spits up frequently in the car, ask your pediatrician to prescribe an antihistamine (motion-sickness meds aren't safe for kids under 2). Burp him often you can. If he/she becomes queasy during the flight, turn the overhead vent toward his/her face; the cool air may help him/her feel better. Make sure you have an airsickness bag handy. And if he/she vomits, ask the flight attendant for help with cleanup. Most flights can offer a kit that contains a cleaning solvent, a disinfectant, and an odor eliminator.

A Note About Safety

Airlines strongly recommend that smaller children be seated in Child Restraint Systems ("CRS") — in other words, your child's car seat or booster.

Here are the weight guidelines regarding child safety seats:

• For babies less than 20 lbs., use a rear-facing car seat.
• For children 20 - 40 lbs., use a forward-facing car seat or booster.
• For kids weighing more than 40 lbs., use the airplane seat belt .