It’s never easy to travel with a young child but try putting a four-month-old baby on a plane for 10 hours. It can also be frustrating for your fellow passengers who might have to listen to your little one complain occasionally.
One mother recently found a solution when she and her baby were traveling across the globe to visit family.
On Feb. 12, Dave Corona was settling in for a 10-hour flight from Seoul to San Francisco. He was surprised when a woman began to pass out some baggies. Inside was a note, some candy, and a few other items.
“Hello, I’m Junwoo and I’m 4 months old,” read the note. “Today, I am going to the U.S. with my mom and grandmom to see my aunt.”
The bag also contained a set of earplugs, a particularly thoughtful gesture.
“I’m a little bit nervous and scary because it’s my first flight in my life, which means that I may cry or make too much noise,” the note continued. “I will try to go quietly, though I can’t make any promises. Please excuse me. So, my mom prepared little goodie bags for you! It has some candies and earplugs. Please use it when it’s too noisy because of me. Enjoy your trip. Thank you.”
Corona is a cameraman and just happened to have his equipment in his carry-on.
Impressed by the mother’s gesture, he took a few pictures and shared them on social media.
The passengers were touched by the amount of time and effort that went into preparing bags for 200 or more total strangers.
The flight was long, but they made it safely to San Francisco.
As for baby Junwoo, he was as good as gold the whole way there. Corona said they didn’t end up needing the earplugs at all.
Flying with a baby, especially internationally, can be incredibly nerve-wracking for parents. Being trapped in a box in the sky with a lot of strangers and a cranky infant isn’t an experience that anybody wants.
Thankfully, there are a number of ways you can make your baby more comfortable while you’re flying.
One important thing to remember is to always pack more than you think you’ll need. When packing for yourself, the adage is to pack light, but that doesn’t really apply for infants. A child in diapers can have a blowout through one outfit, they can have a blowout through two. Pack twice as many diapers, wipes, and snacks as you think you’ll need.
Another important thing to do is to make sure your baby’s ears are comfortable.
Air travel, especially during take-off and landing, can involve a lot of changes in pressure. This can be uncomfortable with the new sensation making some children panic. This causes the tantrums that fellow passengers (and you!) dread. Giving your baby something to suck on, like a pacifier, can help during that time.
If all else fails, stay positive and polite, and consider keeping a stash of candy on hand to placate your fellow passengers.
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