In my daughter’s first year, she flew in Polaris Class eight times. The catch? She was in my or my late husband’s lap almost the whole time. That’s the beauty, and inconvenience, of flying with a lap child! But it was 100% worth it. She flew for a massive discount (international lap children still require a paid fare, which is up to the airline), and we got to travel internationally as a family in the most well-rested, well-fed, comfortable way possible. Here are the best tips for flying in United Polaris class with a baby!
Ask for the Seats with Access to a Bassinet, But…
The bassinet comes in handy, especially for single parents who don’t have anyone else to hand the baby to for a second. However, there’s a catch: You can’t leave the baby in the bassinet during taxi, take-off, landing, or during turbulence. The first three are easy enough to accommodate, but picking up a sleeping baby in a bassinet during turbulence (which is probably making them sleep better), is a recipe for a woken-up baby. And you have to wake up and be “on” during turbulence so you can hold the baby, meaning you can’t be asleep. I usually let her sleep on me, or my husband when he was still alive, during my long-haul flights. After the first couple of Polaris flights, I stopped trying to book the seat with access to a bassinet anyway. It wasn’t worth it for us!
More here: What to Do with a Baby in Palau
You Have to Hold Baby when the Seatbelt Sign is On
Speaking of holding the baby, you also have to hold the baby when the seatbelt sign is on for any reason. Whether that’s turbulence, potential turbulence, or the pilot just forgets to turn off the seatbelt sign, you gotta hold that baby! My girl loves to be held, but she hates to be held by a person who’s sitting down. But that’s the rule!
Read on: Travel Hacks for Single Moms Traveling with a Baby
Check the Lavatories for Changing Tables
Not all lavatories have changing tables, unfortunately, which is true of all classes, on all airplanes, on every airline. When you board, take a look around or ask the flight attendants which lavatories have a changing table. You’ll know which ones they are because they’ll have the changing table symbol on the door.
Read next: What to Do with a Baby on O’ahu
Don’t Forget the Shoulder Strap, But…
United Polaris seats all have a shoulder strap for takeoff and landing, not just a lap seatbelt. You’ll have to secure it over yourself, but not the baby, so make sure the shoulder strap is between you and the baby. You can hold baby around the strap. Don’t forget they’re not supposed to be attached to you in the carrier. I’ve had some trouble getting it attached while my daughter was sleeping on me a time or two, but there is usually a flight attendant willing to help if that happens to you!
More here: The Best Ever Air Travel Tips
Ask the Flight Attendants for Help
Every flight attendant on every United flight Iris and I have ever been on has fallen completely in love with my little girl! They are always willing to hold her while I go to the bathroom, and several have even offered to hold her for a while so I can get some sleep mid-flight. The flight attendants in Polaris class have always gone above and beyond to help us have a good flight, anywhere in the world. You really can ask them for help with the baby when you need an extra hand!
Keep reading: What to Do in Key West with a Baby
A Wearable Carrier is Allowed, But…
This is my least favorite rule: Your baby cannot be attached to you in the wearable carrier for taxi, takeoff, or landing. This is not just true in Polaris, but on all flights, in all classes of service. I do, however, always keep the carrier with me in the seat. You’re allowed to put the baby in it during the flight, and I use it often to help her fall asleep either in my seat or while I walk the aisle and bounce her.
Read on: What It’s Like Taking a Scenic Flight with a Baby
Try to Get Your Baby to Sleep just before Meal Service
This might be the best tip I can give you. My baby sleeps so well on planes, and I always try to get her to sleep before the meal service. She’ll usually sleep all the way through the meal, and if not, I can often nurse her so that she’s occupied. Those little hands want to be into everything, especially your airplane food! It’s hard to keep a wakeful baby occupied, so help your baby sleep so that you can eat your meal in relative peace.
Keep reading: The Top 7 Things to Consider When Booking Flights
Pull Out a Diaper and Wipes for Easy Access
For all I love United Polaris, there’s not a lot of storage room for things I need in-flight, and that includes the diaper bag. That’s why I travel with a diaper bag that’s much smaller, which I can pull out and keep with me at the seat. When that tinkle diaper or poopy diaper (or blowout) calls, it’s too much to try to handle the baby, get into the overhead bin, dig in the diaper bag, and get to the lavatory without a bigger diaper emergency happening. I can fit 2-3 diapers, a small bag of wipes, a changing table liner, and even a couple of toys in here, all of which I use on every long-haul flight!
Read next: The Top 7 Reasons Single Parents Should Travel with Their Kids
Want more? Check out my dedicated Travel Tips Page!
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Every tip SO useful!!
Thanks for saying so! That makes my day!
Great tips!
Thank you so much!