topic: Baby on a Plane

Michael: During a baby's first six months or so, it's relatively easy to travel with the baby in your lap. Yes, he might burst forth with loud sobs from time to time, but babies at this age sleep so much that, as long as you help the baby with ears popping by feeding him a bottle on ascent and descent, you're probably going to be ok.

From six months to two-years old, however, if you take the airlines up on their allowing a baby to travel for free if he sits on your lap, things can get a little dicey. They squirm and refuse to sleep because there's so much to see. Of course, they end of crying because you're scolding them all the time about kicking and screaming and because they're cranky from lack of sleep.

After one five-hour, cross-country trip spent entirely trying to appease a squirming baby, we spotted a neighbor of ours also walking to the baggage area. Unbeknownst to us, he'd been on our flight. As we chatted him up a bit, the folks who'd been seated in front of us on the plane approached. They were the traveling buddies of our neighbor. My wife apologized profusely, and this is how our neighbor introduced us to his friends: "This is Michael and Anne--they live across the street from me, and, crying baby aside, they actually are pretty cool!"

Anne: Yeah, I have to say that trip was hell. I don't care what it costs, if we fly again in the next year, she's getting her own seat!

Of course, once we got to where we were heading, it was great. I just kept telling myself during the flight: "There are only three hours left...I can do anything for that long... I was in labor for 11 hours, three I can do... There are only two hours and 45 minutes left.... I can do anything for two hours and 45 minutes... etc."

As far as the trip itself, if I were giving any advice to anyone traveling with a baby, it would be: SNACKS! Bring favorites and something new to try. Also, bring a new toy, activity, or book. We tried crayons for the first time on the plane, and she had a great time for about 45 minutes with those.