Flying with young children

[omega708]

My wife and I recently had our first kiddo and up until now, we've just dropped her off and Grandma's when we get ready to go on a quick Saturday or Sunday trip.  I've done a decent amount of research on hearing protection for infants, and have validated that her car seat will fit comfortably in the back seat of the Mooney.

My question is this.  What other special precautions should I take when flying with an infant.  We're not planning any trips with more than 2.5 hours aloft, but I am specifically concerned about pressure on her ears.  

 

Should I simply fly at the lowest safe altitude (~ 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle) for our route and plan my ascent and descent carefully to allow time for pressue equalization?

Since most scare-lines pressurize their cabins at a pressure equivalent to roughly 8,000 MSL, will flying in our small plane be any worse if we keep it below 8k?  Which won't present any problems here in Central Texas....

[201er]

I think it's less a factor of the acutal pressure and more about rate of climb/descent. If you keep climb/descent rates below 500fpm, it will be more comfortable than the airliners. They re-pressurize the cabin way too quickly on descent. Even my ears hurt on those from time to time, not so in my Mooney.

[Piloto]

We had no problem with our son from birth to adolecent while flying up to 12,000 feet with no oxygen. However with the availability of low cost oxymeters I would definitely measure the child blood just to make sure there is no deficiency at altitude. Keep descent rates at less than 500fpm to allow for ear equalization. Noise is best attenuated by using ear plugs. Also keep a good blanket and a teddy bear on him. Best if mom seats next to him/she on the back seat.

 

José

[John Pleisse]

When mine were toddlers, we would give them a sippy cup for climb and decent. This constant swallowing at an important time kept their e-tubes open. The cabin noise always put them to sleep. I would tape a sock to the inner- crown of Bose-X headsets for good fit and lay them on their heads. I never cruised with the kids above 8.5.

[ChrisH]

You all are lucky, my 2.5yr old screams, crys, and finally rolls those big alligater tears every time I try to put the headphones on her. Makes flying w/ her less than fun. I've been using a kid headset, but next time will try earplugs. Course she's better than her mom who won't set foot in the plane.

[GTWreck]

I've had both of my kids flying since they were 23 months and 11 months, respectively.  There have been lots of trips to grandma's house to drop them off.  When they were very young, we'd time the 1 hour trip with their normal nap time.  Within 5 minutes of take-off, they'd be fast asleep. The cruise altitude would vary from 7.5 to 10.5.  They would stay asleep until we got there, and usually would wake up when I shut down the engine. 

 

As said here previously, keeping the decent rate reasonable (500fpm or less) is critical.  Before headphones would fit, I'd just put a cotton ball in each ear. 

 

[aerobat95]

We have been flying with my daughter since she was almost 3.  We take ear plugs and cut them down to fit her little ears.  We also have a youth headset for her.  We typically cruise between 7-10k and I try to keep the climbs/decents around 600fpm.  I also don't maneuver as abruptly and I try to aviod turbulence as much as practical.  We also have a game player to keep her occupied.

[aerobat95]

Oh and we have a supply of anti-nausea meds.....Not sure what they have for younger than 3-4 though.

[omega708]

Thanks for the great input!  The trips we are planning for this spring are from Central Texas to South Texas to see my Sister and her family.  We should be able to stay below 8,000 easily and there are no obstacles around any of the airports on our route that would require rapid ascents / descents.

Her car seat is rear-facing, so we have tried putting it in the co-pilot seat and mom sits in the back seat behind her so that she can easily reach her if necessary, and that seems to fit nicely.

We're planning on ordering a set of these ( http://www.earmuffsforkids.com.au/ems4bubs ) or having my wife sew a similar headband for a pair of ear-muffs from a shooting headset.

The "girls" did go on a trip with me, a few months back, from the hangar to the wash bay, and she didn't seem to mind my Browning shooting muffs.

[John Pleisse]

Coupl-a Cutie Pies !!

[231flyer]

Our daughters have been flying in our 231 since they were 5 weeks old (12 and 14 yrs now).  My wife researched and also consulted with 2 docs besides our pediatrician and settled on silicone ear plugs.  They come in packages of 12. You break off a small piece and roll them to warm and then they mold to the exact ear dimensions without any discomfort like foam ear pieces (try them yourself for an hour).  The 500 fpm up or down is an absolute.  Although we normally didn't need higher than 9K ft, we did have the occasional 12k flights during spring tstrm season.  Sipping warm drinks worked well although both girls liked to sleep with the roar of the engine (the 14 yr old still falls asleep in the Mirage within minutes of takeoff). Flying with children is great and lots to do besides the regular trips to Grandma's (once a month atleast when we lived in Dayton (MGY)).  I am sure you will be headed to Disney soon enough (buy shares).  Enjoy and congrats.

[knute]

Quote: omega708

Her car seat is rear-facing, so we have tried putting it in the co-pilot seat and mom sits in the back seat behind her so that she can easily reach her if necessary, and that seems to fit nicely.

[omega708]

Quote: knute

You can still get in and out of the aircraft into the pilot's seat with a front-facing carseat in the co-pilot seat?  I think you're more limber than I am!

I'm very interested in this thread, because my 13-mo old son will hopefully be taking his first flight with me soon.  We tracked down some toddler-sized earmuffs that seem to fit, and have played with them while we vacuum the carpet so that he knows what they're for, and he seems to tolerate them.  Our plan is to put the carseat behind the pilot seat, then put my wife in the rear seat next to him with the copilot seat full forward to give her more room.  (E model, so it's legroom-challenged in back!)

He's flown commercial with us a number of times, and as long as he's eating or drinking on climbout or descent, his ears seem happy, so we're lucky there.  (Something that encourages swallowing definitely makes a big difference)

[231flyer]

We too had the rear-facing/detatchable base seat for our first daughter.  I installed the base behind the pilot seat and took out the co-pilot seat (I ordered extra bases for our cars).  I would jump in and my wife was able to strap in my daughter and settle in very comfortably with all the extra room.  The setup allowed her to nurse in flight without any major contortions (we had a strap on jacket for the baby but only used it on commercial flights). With the co-pilot seat removed, getting the baby and seat in and out was a breeze.  I checked with the local FSDO and it was perfectly legal as long as accounted for in the w/b calculations.