Jet setting with Duck

This is Honey Bun. We had a great Thanksgiving but it was bittersweet as my grandfather, who we usually celebrate with, was very ill and had to stay home this year. We live pretty far away from one another and I was down in the dumps about missing this opportunity to spend time with him. ACP is great and he bought me a ticket to go see him this upcoming weekend. What a great surprise! The only thing is that my parents are begging me to bring Duck. I'd like to bring her, but I am feeling a little nervous about plane travel with an infant. I did find these helpful tips:

First: Stick to a regular schedule Try to schedule the departure of your trip around your baby's regular naptime or bedtime. That way your baby will sleep for at least part of the trip. "I would recommend that a parent refrain from interrupting a baby's sleep schedule before a flight," says Daniel R Bronfin, MD, clinical pediatrics professor at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans and physician at New Orleans' Ochsner Foundation Hospital. "Trying to sleep deprive an infant, for example, in order to make him/her sleep on the plane, will often backfire."

Second: Plan ahead
Catharine Shaner, MD, FAAP, a pediatrician and advisor with the American Safety and Health Institute in Holiday, Florida, recommends parents try to schedule flights during non-peak times or days, so it is less crowded and less over stimulating for your baby, which can make for a very fussy baby. She also 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," Dr Shaner says. 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, recommends frequent flyer Phoebe Dey of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. "I think most airlines do this anyway, but if not, I would request it," she says. "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."

Third: What to bring
I plan to have a diaper bag handy and packed with the following:

Plenty of diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream for the trip. (Ask friends or relatives to have some diapers on hand for you at your final destination).

A bag to hold dirty diapers, especially if you use cloth (I don't but you might).

A bottle of hand sanitizer, like Purell, so you can "wash" your hands when you don't have access to water.

Bottles and extra pacifiers.

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 her in layers, since airplanes can be rather cold or get very hot!

If you are new to nursing, an extra top for you.

A travel-size diaper changing pad or disposable diaper changing cloths

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.I'm planning to get a six pack of the formula that comes pre-mixed and packaged from Similac.

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 Duck entertained.

I'm also bringing BabyBjorn.

They also recommend bringing an umbrella stroller -- maybe even one that reclines -- or a front carrier to make getting around the airport a lot easier. Typically, travelers will be allowed to check strollers just before boarding the plane and it will be stored with the luggage. The airline workers will then bring it up for just after you get off the plane.
I was planning on bringing my stroller that can snap in Duck's infant car seat just in case there is an extra seat available and I can strap her in (rear facing) on the plane. What do you think? Rear facing car seat or umbrella stroller?