Baby on board: Traveling with youngsters

5. Proof of age required. No, not yours, the baby’s. Babies under 2 fly free if they are held in someone’s lap instead of occupying a seat of their own. The person holding the baby must be at least 16 years old. Recently, airlines started cracking down on the 2-year-old baby that looks to be more like 4, demanding a birth certificate or passport to verify age.

6. Get some space. If you are taking an extremely long flight, or you are shepherding older children as well, it might behoove you to buy an extra seat for the baby. Many airlines have infant fares available, and the extra money you spend could save your sanity. As a flight attendant, I’ve talked to many parents with lap-held children, and the universal comment after a sold-out, nine-hour flight is: “Never again.”

7. Safety first. Pay new attention to the safety briefing, for you are handling precious cargo and want to be prepared for all circumstances. If the flight attendant does not bring you an infant life vest before take-off, ask for one. Do not, and I repeat, do not buckle the seat belt over you and the child. If the pilot hits the brakes for any reason, your weight could crush the baby.

8. Courtesy is a two-way street. If your baby cries and cries, get up and go to the back of the airplane and try to calm him down. If you are unsuccessful, at least you tried. People will be annoyed — true — but they’ll get over it. They were once babies, too, and some of them still are. Note to more understanding passengers: If you see a parent in distress, offer a hand and cut the pour soul some slack.

My first flight was a small nightmare. I think my son sensed my apprehension. He cried, he went through three diapers and one set of clothes (his and mine) and he never quite got settled. When I met up with my wife, I told her I could have used that cocktail in first class. But something miraculous happened on the next three flights we took, because my boy was a perfect angel. He behaved like a regular frequent flier, and never once complained about the meal service.

My wife made the obligatory embarrassing announcement from the cockpit about her precious onboard cargo, made a perfect landing, and sat beaming as many cockpit photos were taken. It was a successful trip, and I had managed it without giving in to the first class temptation. But I will be honest with you, if they had offered me the first class seat or nothing, I would have taken it in a second, and I probably would have enjoyed that cocktail, as well.

James Wysong has worked as a flight attendant with two major international carriers during the past fifteen years. He is the author of the "The Plane Truth: Shift Happens at 35,000 Feet" and "The Air Traveler's Survival Guide." For more information about James or his books, please visit his Web site or e-mail him.

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