Advice about flying with little ones

[MumToBe88]

Hi Everyone,

So, I've found out this week that I'm expecting my first baby next summer. I'm absolutely over the moon and so so excited but we've just spent a fortune on a holiday to Florida for next christmas and now I'm worrying as the baby will only be about 6 months old :-s

Does anyone have any advice about travelling with little ones? I don't want to be the woman on the plane with the crying that everybody dreads sitting next to haha!

Thanks, Emma xx

[Pickle]

Don't worry, you'll be fine. I've done the return trip to NZ many times since having children with them at a variety of ages (3 months, 10 months, 15 months, 2.5, 3 etc.) and have survived to tell the tale. Heading off again in a couple of weeks by myself with them (now 2.5 and 4).

There have been some great posts full of helpful hints, which should come up in a search.

P x

[alieh]

In some ways, the younger the better. Our best trip by far was when my son was just 2 months old - they're too young to get jet-lagged (or else they don't sleep really yet anyway!), can be held easily and just fed for the whole flight, etc.

We did a trip when my son was nearly 6 months, with a long flight to San Francisco, side trip to Napa Valley for wedding, trip to Toronto on the way back, etc. and it was completely fine.

The trips started getting bad once he hit about 8 months or so (very aware of being away from home, getting harder to manage him on the flight, etc.) and after flying with him for 8 hours on my lap at the age of 20 months, you couldn't pay me to get on a long flight now until he is 2 and has to have his own seat!

[Mrs_P]

Hi Emma,

Don't worry your little one will be fine. Just make sure you take enough milk, water, baby snacks, toys to keep baby happy. My daughter was 10 months old when we first flew and she slept for most of the flight 3 out of the 5 hours. A relative of mine at the time gave me some sound advice which was to give the baby 2.5 - 5ml calpol before boarding the plane because if they start to get ear pain upon take off they won't necessarily feel it as the calpol would have kicked in. Calpol sachets are the best for travelling. I've had a happy baby on all flights and she's now 3 and loves it every time we fly! Put it down to pre-empting a drama in an enclosed space and keeping baby happy!

Good luck! :)

[Mrs_P]

Oops forgot to say ... Congratulations by the way!!

:))

[sophiechristophy]

I just flew a 6 hour flight followed by a 9 hour flight with my daughter who is about to be 6 months. Best tip - call your airline and make sure you reserve a bulkhead seat with a bassinet. I flew BA, and they have these baby boucer-esque (without the bounce) seats that you can use on the platform that folds down from the bulkhead - my daughter slept in it for the 9 hour flight, only waking up once to feed! I did the outbound 9 hour flight on my own, and although a bit challenging at times (eating the meal was interesting, and changing her nappy then going to the toilet myself felt like completing a challenge on the crystal maze), it was actually completely fine.

The good news is you get to board before anyone else!

S xxx

[born&brED]

I did a USA trip with my then 6-month old and found it a really good age to travel. We booked evening flights (GMT time going, NY time coming back) and he slept nearly the whole way. He wasn't crawling and bearly sitting up so wasn't restless. I really wouldn't be keen travelling with him at the mo - 11 months. So go for it! Be equipped with a dummy and bottles of water (esp if breastfeeding as really difficult to on plane and not allowed to on take-off anyway, plus they get very dehydrated). As Sophie said above, you do get to jump the boarding queue too! I'd also def recommend a ligthweight umbrella fold for your trip - one that reclines at least part way for that age group. They can be picked up cheaply from this forum!

Congatulations on your pregnancy - enjoy!

[MumToBe88]

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for all your advice. I've noted it all down so hopefully by the time the baby arrives and we do head off to the christmas sunshine I should be well and truly clued up!! It's true a worry shared is definitely a worry halved, i feel so much better!!

So where did everyone go on their travels? Is there anything that HAS to be seen? I must say I'm very jealous of NZ, I've always wanted to go there! Everyone seems to have done so much of America too..maybe I should branch out from Florida?

[civilservant]

I'm a bit worried about the advice to give your baby Calpol as a sedative and/or analgesic, and also the advice about not breastfeeding. The best way to deal with ear pain is to breastfeed - the sucking action helps even out the pressure.

We travelled a lot by plane when I was on maternity leave - though only to European destinations - and although it was easiest when the baby was tiny, it was never very difficult. I was never prevented from breastfeeding at take-off, landing or during the flight, not even on Ryanair!

[Grotty]

Just got back from NZ trip with 6 month old - was nervous before we went, but it was absolutely fine. Like many of the people before have said, its a pretty perfect age for travelling - my daughter hardly even noticed we were doing something "different" - she continued to be hungry as normal, tired as normal etc... - if anything she was rather sleepier than usual - the buzz of the plane, the excitement (who knows?) - the only times she did proper crying - like the kind i was scared of, and as a passenger before babies, the kind of crying that i dreaded when seeing a little baby on board - was during landing, and that was only when i failed to get her drinking/sucking in time - pretty much as soon as they say that descent is starting (usually about 20 minutes before actual touch down) get your baby sucking (whether boob or bottle) - i had been advised that breastfeeding wasn't the best idea, so in the couple of weeks before we left i dropped down to half and half, but actually whilst flying found it useful to have both options available! The time difference was another big worry, but we just did our best to keep busy and outside during the days once we arrived, and she settled (both going there and coming back) within 2 days and was back to sleeping proper times. The whole thing was really so much easier than i thought it would be...

[canadianlisa]

I have flown quite a bit with our little girl who is one now. I don't think that there is any problem with breastfeeding on a flight at all. I think that actually it was much easier to be breastfeeding when you are away as it is very comforting to the baby and you don't have to worry about bringing lots of supplies with you. I tried to be relatively discreet on the plane and it worked fine. The other advantage is if you have a long delay you don't have to worry about being stuck somewhere with no formula, dirty bottles etc.

It might be better if you are comfortable with it to delay weaning till you get back as it will avoid a lot of mess and hassle. Also remember not to worry too much about packing everything as there is lots of shops there that sell everything. You will have a lovely time.