To be bloomin' terrified at the thought of a 12 hour flight/jet lag/3 weeks at th PIL's with a demanding 5 month old...

[Okonomiyaki]

Argh, survival tips please.

I'm bricking it. In a few weeks we are off to the inlaws for nearly a month. The journey involves a 12 hour flight, 2 hours in an airport, another flight and a car journey. Nine hour time difference.

Much as I love both the country and my inlaws I'm worried about having a shit time.

How will I cope? AIBU to be worried or just pfb? Have been struggling with mild pnd so have kind of lost a sense of perspective.

Any tips for coping gratefully received...

Vajazzhands, as I had barely left the house at 8 weeks, you definitely win! Or is that lose

Well, fingers crossed the anti-d's start to kick in before we head off. Though I'm not so much depressed as terminally anxious.

The early months are a great time to travel long haul with a baby. Spare clothes and more nappies than you think you could possibly need for that length of time!

Tbh I think a month with the ILs (however lovely they are) will be by far the hardest! We've done this many times and I feel that the fairest all round is to be clear early on that you've had some pnd and might need some alone time. Welcome advice but politely do your own thing. It's amazing how much resentment and annoyance can build up over little things when you're not on your own turf and feeling wobbly. Use this very very precious time for your ILs to soak in your baby and don't stress if routine gets knocked out/they do things differently. They only get a few precious weeks at a time and you have him forever.

Can you tell I feel guilty that all the GPs have missed ot on so much of their grandkids by us being overseas...?

Have fun! Japan is amazing. It's so terrible that they're having to go through such a tragedy right now. Amazing people.

Relax, 5 month olds re good little travellers compared to anyone who is crawling or walking, and they sleep. Bring plenty of nappies for the plane is the only advice I can give about the trip itself, and watch out for baby's ears popping (something to suck on for takeoff and landing).

Take time for yourself (every afternoon for instance). Company is nice, but even your hosts will need a little space.

MrsTerryPratchett -- do not worry one bit about annoying the (presumably adult) person next to you. How annoyed they feel about your baby is up to them to deal with. Take care of your baby and take advantage of priority seating to claim the common armrest or bfing will be uncomfortable. Don't give up that armrest. Ask for blankets from the staff to cushion your arm. Whip out your boobs as much as you need to and expect your neighbours to be gracious enough to look away. If you go into the experience with apologies written all over your face, some people can smell your timidity and make it a miserable trip.

Good points mathanxiety. If I don't claim the armrest I'm sure DD will . I was going to buy a Hooter Hider but the woman in the very proBFing shop told me to brazen it out (since I normally don't bother). I have an image of a 15 year old boy sitting next to me being kicked, embarrassed by boobs and kept awake by DD. Although that will cut the teen pregnancy rates a little I suppose.