Traveling abroad with a 10mo on the plane

[Vitallyli]

Hi, I'm finally going to see my family and introduce them to my son. We are going to travel to London about 3h and then 4h on the plane. What shall I pack for the plane? I'm so nervous. He's a good crawler and pull up to standing, cruise but not walking yet. He never wore shoes, shall I buy him a pair? I'm planning to get filling snacks but mess free for the plane, Fred him before the plane in a cafe. The flight is at 6pm hopefully he'll sleep. I got a crib from the airline, not sure how it's working. The plane has 3 rows, I decided to seat at the aisle in the middle row so that if he's sleeping people could leave both ways. I want to take just essentials, new toys, download a cartoon. I've got a travel pram. What would be better a backpack and a structured sling or a bigger very light sports bag over the shoulder and a ring sling for hip carry? I'm combi feeding and wondering if they'll allow 1-2 bottles of ready made formula on the plane... what else am I missing?

I flew alone to Dubai with my son at this age. He was combi fed too.

1. we had a air cot which for this age was like a bouncer seat. He slept in there really well and tbh he spent most of the time in that as I had to sleep too
2. he wasn't crawling or walking but at that age I could keep him quite contained in our seat
3. I took lots of snacks and breastfed as much as he needed on the plane. It was easy to do. You're also allowed to take as much formula / pre boiled water with you as you need for the journey. I took 2 bottles with preboiled water in. I also had the tin of his formula in my hand luggage.
4. I downloaded a couple of cartoons but didn't need them at all
5. I had a fold down pushchair which I requested to use to aircraft door. I did take my sling as well to use getting on and off the plane. I'd also been warned that sometimes the pushchair does go to baggage reclaim rather than the aircraft so a sling is good for passport control.

Try to breastfeed or give a bottle for takeoff and landing. It helps with the ear pressure that can cause babies pain.

@RaspberryThief good tip, thank you!
@Twizbe thank you for all the info. It's nervous on its own but even more so with the pandemic.

Take a change of clothes for your son, and also for yourself (My daughter vomited during her first flight, completely covering me, and I had to just sponge it out and sit in stinky and stained clothes for the rest of the flight)

I used to take a bag with some new cheap toys, just little bits they’d not seen before. If they got fractious I would dig one out for distraction, did this for years changing choices as they got into toddlers then youngsters.

If you don’t have another adult flying with you I’d consider the aisle seat not middle, it will mean you can get up to change the baby, settle the baby etc without disturbing others and will make you feel less stressed trying to settle them when seated.

Definitely don’t forget a lightweight change of clothes for you too, mine never got sticky but one poor lady on a flight we had spent the entire flight in sick covered clothes bless her.

A large light shawl that you can wrap around you both, I’m still taking them on flights now and my babies are adults.

Pain killers in your carry on, just in case of ears. Feeding the baby can help with any ear discomfort too.

Snacks for you, kept easily reachable in case you get snuggled with a sleeping baby and get bored 😉

I flew long haul a lot, I took reading books and toys that weren't too annoying for the other passengers, umbrella buggy is allowed on board usually. Backpack with normal changing stuff doubled up in case of delays and 2 changes of clothes (sleepsuit and day outfit for arriving) I breastfed so no bottles and ba back then provided baby food, I wood also take baby crisp things and feed them the bread rolls, fruit etc on board. Cabin crew always wanted to help me, especially when they were very young and fellow passengers were offering especially travelling with 2 under 3's alone (stereotyping but 70 ish year old women on their way alone to see their grandkids always wanted a cuddle and walk up and down. Both ran by 10 months so 10 mins of running then pjs and into the bassinet. They flew over 100k miles so did get used to it

I used to take upto 8 ready made cartons of formula on the plane. There’s no limit for young babies so take whatever you need. They put them in a special machine to test in the U.K. in other countries they may open one and ask you to taste.

It can be cool on flights so some light trousers or leggings otherwise shorts with a muslin to cover legs.

Put your nappies and wipes in a small bag that you can grab to take to the toilets. There’s not much room in there! Take double the amount of nappies you think you’ll need. Also put spare clothes for baby in a ziploc bag, the whole outfit, so again you can grab to change if needed. Take 2 sets in different bags. Something to do with the pressure always made my dc poo and leak on flights. Didn’t normally need clothes changing much.

I’d get him some slipper type shoes, if he does end up on the floor it’s filthy from experience of crawlers up and down the aisles on occasion! You can get little leather slip ons with grip on the sole which are good.

If you can get him his own seat you can take your car seat on. Sometimes this isn’t much more than the lap charge.

I’d take a backpack so hands free but decide what you find more comfortable. Ours usually slept on flights once they’d had a feed the engines would lull them to sleep.

Take a sling/carrier. Some airports don't return buggies until baggage reclaim. (Like Gatwick...)

All good points made by others so I won’t repeat apart from a few extra baby gros … they don’t take up much space .
I flew with mine repeatedly from 9 weeks to many destinations.
It was all much easier than you think,
Good luck and enjoy your trip .

I would suggest the structured carrier and a backpack as it leaves your hands free to hold passports etc. I had a tula for several flights. I found that flights were far less stress than anticipated. People are often happy to help and from less than a year old babies are often fascinated by all the faces.

I would take the ready made milk rather than water and powder. I would buy some soft shoes. Take a blanket to cover you both as it can get chilly and some socks for you. Your stroller will probably be in cargo so maybe a sling? Something to read to the baby (my DS would always settle when I read to him).

Aircraft staff and other passengers are usually more than happy to help so please ask if you need to leave the baby so you can go to the bathroom or eat something.

Easily changed clothes. Like popper up the front babygro. (No tops/trousers...)
Make sure you have a change for both of you.
Baby WILL spill your drink all over you. It happens EVERY single time

Thank you everyone! Brilliant advice and lots to think about! I'll test out both slings with the bags over the next few days, going to the shops and back to see which option is comfier.