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The Physician Answers:
You ask for both tips and safety in traveling on an airplane with a 3 month infant. If your child is not ill (e.g. congested, earache, flu) it is generally safe to fly with an infant.

My recommendation regarding safety is to buy your infant a ticket (usually half-priced) so he/she can be in the safety of their own secured car seat. The problem is that a rear-facing car seat doesn't always fit on a plane, so check your individual car seat in your car with the lap belt -- not the shoulder belt -- to ascertain a good fit before you fly. If you do not pay for a separate ticket, your infant is not guaranteed a seat. When you purchase an airplane ticket, although it is more expensive, should the plane hit some rough air, your infant remains secure.

I have recommended that parents fly with Sudafed Infant drops to help equalize their ears and also with Auralgam ear drops to further help with pressure problems. This ear drop is a solution, which when placed into the ear canal, helps balance osmotic pressure and also has a numbing and pain killing medicine in it. It works great for ear pain caused by a build up of pressure, it should not be used in the case of a suspected or documented ear infection. Speak more to your doctor about these two medical options. Again, I would take them with you but only use them if absolutely necessary.

As for the entertainment aspect, I would get several age-appropriate toys that your infant has not seen before and allow him/her to explore them on the plane. Many upscale children's toy stores can give some time-tested suggestions.

Lastly, if you are nursing, or even bottle-feeding, I suggest to time your infant's feeding with boarding the airplane. This will serve to decrease pressure build up in the ear canals and also will help comfort and relax your child -- possibly resulting in a flight during which where your infant actually falls asleep.

Good luck, and enjoy your trip.

Dr Jane Forester
Family Physician
Glencoe, IL