Traveling with a 5 month old?

Good Luck! Are you going to visit someone is Palm Springs? I'd arrange for them to pick up diapers, formula whatever you don't want to have to pack. I'd have 1-2 days worth of stuff packed in the carry on, but you are coming to CA not a 3rd world country lol

Good luck!

going to family reunion.  I'm super exited to show of my new baby and new body.  Last time I saw these people I was 120 lbs heavier.

do not drug your baby... thats insane LOL.. some people should have to pass more then a pregnancy test to be parents... anyway.... this is what i did... i traveled with my son (2) and my daughter 7 months from florida to philly in october ( not the climate we were used to) .. i dressed them in pants and a long sleeve shirt and put sweat shirts in their diaper bag... i packed enough diapers for the trip and 1 day... it was cheaper buying it there then packing an extra bag which i think was 55$... i did bring both carseats (free to check ) in hopes that they would have an open seat and i can throw them in there so i didnt have to hold them the whole time ( esp my 2 year old)... strollers are free to check as well... binkeys at atlitude changes.. toys so they didnt get bored (quiet ones) ... i also traveled with husband and father... both have traveled many times... however they were USELESS and needed exact directions the entire time.. i think that was worse then traveling with the kids... OHH i also choose flights that matched bed/nap times

toys... would have not taken that. Thanks

This is coming from a OB Registered Nurse. DO NOT give your infant benadryl! Who the hell does that?! Why would you want your baby drugged anyways? Babies have died by this drug so many times. 

To answer the poster: Use ear plugs, they make infant/baby sizes. Use a pacifier for high altitudes. Bring enough formula/breast milk, diapers for trip there. Bring a breast cover for BF if you are BF'ing, this will help keep baby quiet and comfy. Once you get there find the closest CVS/Walgreens/Walmart and buy what you need for baby while on your trip. Also make sure you have at least two outfits on plane just in case baby has an accident with spit up or leaky diaper. If baby is teething have teethers or oragel for comfort. Have a fun trip!

Do the earplugs help with the pain?

I believe it helped my son with any discomfort he may have had on his first flight at 5 months old. My boss, a high risk OB, recommended them and they seemed to help him as they also did me. My son didn't act like he was having any ear pain and the flight was 7 hours long so it's worth trying especially since they are small enough to fit in your pockets. I recommend the pacifier not for the distraction of any noise but the sucking action may help to keep his ears from popping so much.

Here's what I've done:
travel with only the diapers you'll need to get where you are going and purchase more when you get there.
Try to borrow a few toys (if possible) from someone in the location you are visiting rather than bringing toys with you.
If you are planning to use a travel bed, look into getting a peadpod rather than a pack n play. Peaponds weight almost nothing anf fit in your suitcase.
Will you have a car seat where you are going, or do you need to bring yours?
Pack all the bottles that you are taking on the plane inside a big ziploc with ice packs, so that you can easily hand it over to be checked by security.

And in my experience traveling with an infant, drugs weren't needed, the engine noise worked better than any pacifier to put my child to sleep!
You're going to be on a long flight and folks are right, there are no changing stations, so be sure to take one of those travel changing pabs because you may have to change the baby on the floor of the airplane.