Flying With Babies
by Louise Parsons

The Little Aviator: Our grandson Paul enjoys his first small airplane ride in N4409R His ears are protected with both gel-type earplugs and foam blocks held in place with his cotton "aviator hat".

Tips for Flying with Babies.

Piloting a small plane with babies has a "personal minimums" aspect to it. You will need to ask yourself carefully and honestly if flying with an infant will excessively distract you. Folk's reactions to babies vary tremendously. You may feel fairly laid-back and realize that some crying is normal. You may be familiar with --and philosophical about --the baby. In this case you can generally differentiate between mere agitation and genuine discomfort in his or her crying. However, if you are the kind who can't stand to hear any baby cry without feeling seriously distracted, it is best not to pilot with an infant. This is not a "good vs bad" thing at all. Both types of reaction are perfectly normal. Some folks just aren't used to being around babies. If by chance you aren't comfortable piloting with a baby, you don't have a thing to apologize for. On the other hand, if you think that you might enjoy it, here are some hints for a smooth --and hopefully --a reasonably quiet flight.

Consider the baby carefully in your pre-flight. For purposes of weights and balances, you may need to consider the baby a full passenger. A safe baby seat and typical baby gear will add considerably to the actual weight of even a small infant. And speaking of small infants...Seek the recommendation of the baby's doctor for an age appropriate for a first flight

Remember your emergency briefing and preparedness. Place the infant seat so that a responsible person can access it in an emergency. Remember that the baby is only safe during ground and flight operations when fastened properly in their own seat. Since even a small baby in a seat can kick a dual yoke or in turn be bopped by it, it is safest to install any infant or child seat in a back seat, rather than the right front seat. Follow both POH and seat manufacturer's instructions for properly installing baby seats. It is best to install the seat on a trial basis in advance of the planned flight to make sure that all is OK. That will eliminate stress and provide a chance to remedy any problems with design and compatibility in advance. Older tots could reach flight controls from a poorly-positioned front seat. Even a well-disciplined tot could kick the second yoke accidentally in the excitement of takeoff or landing. If you are competent to pilot alone with a baby, consider installing one of those mirrors that are available for monitoring back-seat babies and kids.

Avoid flammable clothes and blankets. As Jack Mykrantz pointed out in a Crosswinds article about sensible dressing for flying, synthetic fabrics aren't recommended for anyone flying. I reiterate this here because so many popular fleece baby clothes and blankets are made from materials that would melt disastrously in an emergency fire. The difference between fabric behavior, even in a minor fire, could mean a life either large or small. Always use cotton or wool and then layer as needed.

Be especially flexible in your flight plans. Until you know for sure that the baby can be content and enjoy the flying, it is best to stay local. Plan a short flight with conservative altitudes on a nice calm day. Some babies, especially preemies, may be highly susceptible to hypoxia. Seemingly normal "baby-sleep" could be the first symptom. As with car travel, the airplane ride will tend to soothe and to induce sleep anyway, but you don't want to just assume that all is well. With infants, it is best to have someone who can watch those little finger nails and lips for any blueing (cyanosis) or abnormally pale color.

Plan to make easy descents and climbs, especially if the baby shows any signs of restlessness. 200 to 300 FPM is best. Stuff that makes ears pop is unpleasant for any passengers, but even barely-noticeable ear-pressures could be quite painful to an infant. In circumstances where some discomfort cannot be avoided (commercial flights, for instance) a bottle of water or a pacifier may help.

Small objects such as pacifiers or teething toys should have those nice stout clip "tethers" that are available to avoid having loose objects migrating around in the cabin in the event of turbulence. Tots may as well be taught from the beginning that toys must be stowed for a safe flight. You could reserve a special soft or stuffed toy, or a hand puppet "helper" for flying if this becomes an issue. If you are certain that you can effectively and safely "tune-out" the wee ones at the frequent times when flying demands your full attention, sharing flying with the whole family can be a true joy.

Paul and Grandma P.

Paul at home: "Wow, I just love my all-cotton "warbird" suit !"

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Page updated 04/02/03