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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To fly with a baby?

121 replies

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:00

We have to move abroad for DP's work early next year. His company will pay for us to go over in Dec to do house hunting. But we have a young baby and i'm not sure about the 7 hour flight.

Is it unreasonable on the baby and other passengers? Baby will be 3 months. Would flying business class make any difference?

Cheers :)

OP posts:

MyLastDuchess · 13/10/2012 19:02

Some airlines won't let you fly business class with a baby/child.

YANBU. It would be much easier than flying with a toddler (which I've done, 24 hours over 2 flights). People do it all the time

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/10/2012 19:03

DD has done 14 flights now in her less than two year life. 3 months was her first. Four flights, two of which were long haul at that age. If you BF, it is seriously easy. Just shove a boob at her and she will love the opportunity to sleep and cuddle with you. I wouldn't recommend 18 months though .

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 13/10/2012 19:04

Flying with a 3 month old baby is much easier than with a toddler, especially if you breast feed (because you can do that to ease pressure on take off and landing, feed to sleep, generally feed to stop crying). On a long haul flight you can (should/ must) book a bassinet which I believe will be in the bulkhead, no need for business class I don't think. Prepare in advance, which you have plenty of time for, take all reasonable measures to keep baby happy and comfortable and therefore calm, and YANBU at all, esp as it is for a move not a luxuary long haul holiday!

Ra88 · 13/10/2012 19:05

We went to Cyprus when my dd was 5 months old and out of all of the children on the flight of various ages . . She was the quietest ! Didn't hear a peep out of her the way there or back she had a feed just before we were due to take off ( I timed it like this ) so went straight to sleep !

mutny · 13/10/2012 19:09

I am flying long haul with ds soon, he will be 22 months. I flew long haul when he was almost one.

I flew with dd as a small baby and it was easier than the flights with ds. Dd didn't even notice and slept loads. The younger the better imo. I am dreading the flight with him this time.

As pp said, some airlines will not let you fly business class with a baby and that may be more stressful for you. If there are people working or sleeping and have paid more for some peace and quiet you may end up worrying more about disturbing them.

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:13

Thanks all. I just have visions of a screaming baby and everyone staring at us with malevolence.

I do bf but it's not great sadly. he doesn't seem to like it much and prefers me to express to a bottle. i can only feed from one boob and ds gets frustrated with it - he doesn't like it for comfort, just shakes his head and punches it. I'm not sure how long i can persevere.

OP posts:

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:14

yes i thought that about business class.

OP posts:

TheEnglishWomanInTheAttic · 13/10/2012 19:17

If the BF may not last maybe introduce a dummy if he doesn't have one already, as its the next best thing (for the flight, not commenting on BF/ bottle/ dummy use in a more general sense). If you don't like dummies you can wean him off it again soon after you arrive :o

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:20

yes he already has a dummy.

OP posts:

MrsKeithRichards · 13/10/2012 19:20

Piece of cake!

catgirl1976 · 13/10/2012 19:22

YANBU. I have flown with DS and he was fine. I bf him on take off which seemed to help but if hhe won't have boob just try to give him something to suck. You should have plenty of space in business which will help.

Anyone who had an issue with my baby in busines would get very short shrift from me. I am only aware of one airline that doesn't allow them in and will never fly with them for that reason

pumpkinsweetie · 13/10/2012 19:22

I flew with my pfb when she was nearly 5m old, it's a piece of cake as they sleep on your lap with the double belt provided

catgirl1976 · 13/10/2012 19:23

Actually, AFAIK its only 1st they are banned from on that Airline (Malaysian)

All the others are fine with babies I'm pretty certain

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:23

he gets reflux and sometimes cries for hours. i think i would cry to if that happened while flying!

OP posts:

cheaperthantherapy · 13/10/2012 19:24

Took dd to Australia when she was 4 months. Tbh it was 30 hours of hell. Screaming / unable to settle etc. our mistake was timing the flight at night time - thinking she would just sleep.. We hadn't considered how bright the lights are for security / boarding etc and although it was only 7pm ish it was past her bedtime (was 6pm-6am sleeper). It only got worse do by the time we boarded at 9pm all was lost. She cried pretty much non stop for hours. We will do it again soon with ds6mo and dd 2yo but we will time it for the day this time!!

catgirl1976 · 13/10/2012 19:24

If you are flying business there should be enough complimentary booze you get you through

TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 13/10/2012 19:31

Totally agree with catgirl. If anyone in business class wants the right to dictate their fellow passengers, they can hire a private jet. Otherwise you are all travelling within the airline's t&c's. If someone else is paying fly business.

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:32

Sadly catgirl i wont get pissed on planes (even if i wasn't in charge of a baby and bfing). I have an bizarre idea that the pilot may die and i might have to fly it to safety. Obviously, the only barrier to me doing this is being drunk - not the fact i have no fucking idea how to fly a plane!

OP posts:

catgirl1976 · 13/10/2012 19:35

Ahh boo.... :( But fair enough

If I am ever in a plane crash and see a woman with a baby and no flying experience rushing to take the controls I shall shout "Spuddy! It's you!"

TheObfuscatoryOven · 13/10/2012 19:35

We flew with DS1 when he was 4.5 months (business class) and it was fine. Much better than when we did the same journey with him at 13 months! We are planning to do the same trip - to see family - again next year, when DS1 will be nearly three and DS2 will be around seven months. Now that I'm really dreading!

Alligatorpie · 13/10/2012 19:38

As others have said, this is the perfect age to fly. My four month old has been on three long haul flights and I haven't had any problems with her at all

Original poster

Spuddybean · 13/10/2012 19:38

you are all making me think i may be able to do this. Good tip Cheaper (my sister had the same problem when she flew night time with twin babies), I would book a morning flight as ds sleeps from 10am - 6pm (with a lunch break) then tends to be fractious till midnight and then sleep on and off till 10am.

I would go business because of the extra space and because i'm not paying . i will practice my fuck off face for those who disapprove and have a very important presentation to prepare and don't i know how busy they are for god sake.

OP posts:

kiwiscantfly · 13/10/2012 19:39

My DD is 21 months and we've done 18 flights (sometimes 3 in a row to get to NZ) starting when she was 3.5 months. Earlier was much easier, as was me by myself with DD as opposed to DH with us. I think by that stage (8mo) she was playing us a bit?? Anyway, if you are by yourself and you request the bassinet you will probably have a spare seat because the bassinet takes up two spaces, so you'll have more space for your stuff. Of which I had plenty! My advice, go for it, economy is fine, smile lots and be polite (goes a long way with the flight attendants) and have dummies at the ready! Good luck!

youarewinning · 13/10/2012 19:41

I did a 4.5 hour flight with a 6 week old! Choe a night flight so he slept through check in, fed on take off, fed on landing and after we got through customs. He slept the rest of the time.

Best of luck with relocating.

LittleBearPad · 13/10/2012 19:49

It should be fine. A lot of babies settle at three months and cry less - don't hold me to this...

Plus in business class all the passengers will have snazzy noise-cancelling headphones.

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