Flying with Baby

Sleeping in Daddy's arms on the plane

We took our seven month old bambino to Portland, Oregon, over the holiday break to visit his west coast family. It was his first time on an airplane and I was not looking forward to the plane ride, which is exhausting enough without a baby. Luckily, it went fairly smoothly. Here are a few things we learned: 

Choosing a seat: 

We flew United's (only) direct flight from Dulles to PDX. Babies fly for free in a caretaker's arms until they are two, so we held our bambino throughout the flight to try to make things easier and cheaper.

If you do book a seat for your infant, he needs a car seat. We asked at the gate if there was an empty seat for him (there wasn't) before we gate checked his stroller and car seat combo.

Admittedly, we booked a widow and aisle seat hoping that no one would book that middle seat. Someone did each time and we simply switched with that person (who wants to sit in a middle seat, especially between two parents holding an infant?) Luckily, on the flight home, the person next to us switched midway and we did end up with some extra room.

Feeding:

Since I’m nursing and supplementing with formula, we packed plenty of travel sized liquid and powder formula. At security, I was surprised that they only inspected one small bottle of the liquid. We were prepared to buy bottled water if they took the liquid formula and we needed to prepare the powder.

The doctor suggested feeding (nursing or bottle) our bambino during take-off and landing to avoid his ears from popping. Since he didn't cry during either (or afterwards), this seemed to work.   

Luggage: 


Our carefree days of traveling without checking luggage are over. To help lighten the load (somewhat), we ordered diapers, wipes and more to be sent to his grandparents' house so they were there when we arrived. 

We gate checked our infant stroller (both parts: the car seat and the base) in these bags. Maybe that was overkill, but we wanted to make sure that they stayed intact and safe for future use. (One stroller we saw returned at the end of the flight had a broken wheel.) The stroller bag worked well as a laundry bag throughout the trip.

Toys:


Friends recommended bringing a new toy on board. We did bring a new teething ring and he seemed quite interested in it. An old favorite toy probably would have worked at this age. 

Changing Diapers: 

Some friends warned that their babies needed to be changed very, very often on the plane. We brought enough diapers and wipes for an hourly changing (and more, in case of delays.) We didn't find that we needed them all, but I'm sure every baby is different (and different at different times in his life.) We did find it very useful to have disposable underpads and lots of plastic bags to collect garbage. Our flight did not have a changing table in the bathroom, so we changed the bambino on our laps. 

This website does a wonderful job of summarizing what you may need and the Mayo Clinic addresses other safety issues. What other advice would you add?

Four Month Birthday!

Asleep during a walk in the carrier

Our son recently celebrated his four month birthday. Like every parent, I'm amazed at how quickly he's grown and changed. And I'm still amazed that I'm his mamma.

He's now smiling, laughing, vocalizing new vowel and consonant sounds, sitting up with assistance, and, it seems, starting to teeth. He's gone through a few diaper sizes and is now wearing size 6 month clothing.

Sometimes he sleeps through the night, and sometimes he doesn't, but a general routine is starting to emerge. We are becoming better parents as we get to know him and he's calmer as he continues to learn about the world around him.

Our bambino is starting to pay more attention to books when we read to him and he likes to look at clear patterns. He loves to pump his legs in a rocking chair. His eyes and head follow us when we move around a room and he smiles when we lean close. He's already showing some preference for certain toys, books and songs; he cries when he hears me read Shel Silverstein books. Our bambino also shows preference for his right hand when he reaches and grabs objects (or hair.)

I didn't know what to expect and I did my best to make plans and listen to sage advice. Our baby is thriving and our family is happy and making it through, even if there are some tired and stressed out moments in between. My sense of time has completely changed and I'm still writing.

I love hearing him "talk" and going for walks with him close in the carrier. When it is just the two of us, I chat with him in Italian about everything we see and things we might do together, as well as things I've done. He's attentive, at least until he falls asleep from the rocking motion.

I'd say this new adventure is going as it is supposed to be. I look forward to all of the months and years ahead.

Happy four month birthday, mio bambino!

Essentials for the New Mamma

Sure, there are endless things to buy for the baby (here are some things I recommend to help with infant sleep.) But what about the new mamma? 

I often find myself in a position where I can't move. It can take a while to feed the baby (who sometimes takes lots of breaks and falls asleep in my arms) or I'm pumping. I need to be comfortable and have something to read, listen to or look at. Sure, it would be nice to spend all of the time looking deeply into my baby's eyes while nursing or bottle feeding him, but he eventually closes his eyes.

I've set up a bit of a nest for myself in his room. On the (adult) guest bed in his room, I've piled lots of pillows (including a "husband" pillow for back support) and keep some essentials within reach on a breakfast tray:

Magazines, books and book light (great for keeping the room darker before naps or during night feedings)
iPad (also great for reading during nighttime feeding, streaming movies with the subtitles on and the sound off or listening to podcasts)
Easy to eat snacks (dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, etc.) and water
Nipple cream

Nursing releases sleep-inducing hormones (as if caring for a newborn didn't already take care of sleepiness). If someone is nearby to watch the baby and lets you nap after a feeding, have an eye mask and ear plugs nearby to ensure that you can sleep deeply and well for at least a short period. (Of course, don't wear ear plugs if you're responsible for baby.)

Nearby I keep a heating pad that can be heated up quickly in the microwave. It offers a great muscle relief. 

What tools helped to make you feel more comfortable? 

Vaccines for the human tribe: Keep us all safe

It hurts our hearts to see our bambino cry. Deciding to do something that will cause him pain, even if it is ultimately in his best interest, isn't easy. Vaccines fall in that category. Helping the nurses to hold down our infant son to vaccinate him in this thighs was difficult, but vital to his health and the health of our human tribe.

Following the recommended vaccine schedule helps to keep all babies healthy and safe. Many diseases have mostly vanished because we are vaccinated against them. Some babies have medical conditions that do not allow them to receive the vaccinations; if other babies receive the vaccinations, they keep those children safe.

There are many public conversations about possible connections between autism and some vaccines. Public health and medical organizations have not proven this connection. The American Academy of Pediatrics has a very clear page about vaccine safety, including a linked page about autism and vaccines. Here's what they say:

MMR and Autism
Q. Is there a link between measles vaccination and autism?
No, there is no scientifically proven link between measles vaccination and autism. 
Extensive reports from both the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Institute of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conclude that there is no proven association between MMR vaccine and autism. 
Autism is a chronic developmental disorder, often first identified in toddlers from age 18 months to 30 months. MMR is administered just before the peak age of onset of autism symptoms. This timing leads some parents to mistakenly assume a causal relationship. There is no evidence that MMR causes autism. 
Increasing evidence indicates that autism is determined while the baby is still in the womb, early in the pregnancy.

Our bambino was quite fussy for about 48 hours after receiving his first round of vaccines. He had a low grade fever, resisted sleep and didn't want to eat without extra coaxing. A little baby Tylenol and many, many cuddles helped him through. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to help your baby after vaccinations.

Vaccines help to protect everyone. Follow your doctor's advice and keep us all safe. 

High Tech Poop: Baby Connect App

Here's something I didn't imagine when I was daydreaming about being a mother - the pediatrician asks us how many diapers the baby has had and we can answer definitively because we've been using the Baby Connect app. We track his diaper changes, feedings, naps and medicine on the app and have set up our babysitters to do the same. 

While it sounds like something only obsessive new parents would do (ok, maybe), it has been really helpful. We take shifts at night and wake up able to check the app to catch up on the baby's feedings and more. I can keep track of how long I've been breastfeeding, which isn't easy when he naps in the middle, and which breast the bambino last fed from. Since breastfeeding has been difficult for us, it has been encouraging to see how different days compare, not to mention how we are improving. 

My husband may be a statistician, and I may be the furthest thing from one, but both of us find the app really helpful and easy to use. 

What baby-related-apps have you found useful? 

First Time Breastfeeding

The benefits of breastfeeding are undeniable, starting with protecting baby and mother from some illnesses. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least six months and then continued with solid foods up to age two and beyond. The American Academy of Pediatrics agrees.

Before giving birth, I imagined breastfeeding to be an idyllic and tender moment between mother and child (unlike these strange Victorian images.) I was convinced of the medical importance and beauty of it all. 

I wasn't prepared for how difficult it would be and I haven't even tried to breastfeed in public yet. It has taken the bambino and I some time to figure out how to breastfeed. And, even with the time and coaching from lactation specialists at the hospital, the Breastfeeding Center of D.C. and our pediatrician's office, we still have some trouble here and there. 

It has been hard to remember that we are both new to this process. He's new to eating and I'm new to feeding. Luckily, there is a lot of help out there (including very generous friends who have shared their stories.)

For more resources, I recommend the La Leche League International and the Breastfeeding Center of D.C.

Happy Father's Day!

My husband and I have had many theoretical conversations about parenting, discipline, sleeping schedules, feeding schedules and more. And then our bambino was born three weeks ago and we had to learn quickly and reassess what was possible, impossible and reasonable.

I want to wish my husband the happiest of Father's Day, today on his first of many Father's Days. He's been an incredible partner during this hectic, exhausting, hormone-fueled period (which includes the pregnancy, birth, hospital stay, and the beginning of our time at home together. The books might not be clear about it, but this is a challenging period. More on that later; maybe.)

Our bambino is lucky to have him, as am I. Our son is calmed when he is held in his father's arms or placed to rest on his father's chest. He is soothed by his father's voice. I fall in love with my husband even more deeply when I watch him gaze at our son's wide open eyes, even late at night when they should theoretically be closed and his parents are exhausted.

To my husband - all day today and all year long!

Our two week old family