To take a 12hour flight on my own with ds 3 months old?

[chardonm]

How hard is it? Is it going to be a complete and absolute nightmare or doable?

If feasible, any tips?

No, easy when they’re that small!! Feed & sleep

One of the major airlines - maybe Etihad, I can’t remember - has sky nannies. I don’t need them but they were on a flight I was on and we’re excellent with a restless toddler.

Basinette and sorted.

Easy with a 3 month old! Snuggle and feed. You may even get to watch an inflight movie.

Easy peasy at that age. And I would say even easier alone than with another adult, as people will help you more (both staff and fellow passengers, in my experience). DEFINITELY request a bassinet and emphasise that you are flying alone so you are morr likely to get it.

It will be easier if they’re breastfed .

Oh wow this is reassuring. Baby is breastfed and I've heard I should feed at take off and landing to avoid sore ears.
My main worries are:

• not being able to use the toilet - am I supposed to take baby with me? -Accidentally falling asleep myself and something happens to baby and - baby hating the plane and we're stuck for 12 hours! (Plus return!)

Travelled with 4 month old DD for over 14 hours. She breastfed and slept throughout. One kind passenger held her for me while I took a loo break. Make sure to book the bassinet seat with extra space etc.

Have 3x 4 (or 8 oz) bottles pre-filled with powder so all you need to do is add hot water on the flight as you go. Have one bottle filled (substitute breast) ready to go before you board and give it to DC as soon as the plane is taking off. The sucking motion will stop their ears popping and prevent pain. Repeat as landing. Carry a box of powder in your hand luggage so you can wash and refill bottles as needed. Biggest issue I've seen is parents with NB's who don't come prepared with food. So silly. Airline chips don't work! Finally I put mine in the baby carrier hooked up to my chest throughout. Most people didn't know I had a baby with me. Fed, watered and dry she slept like a charm! I really enjoyed flying with mine when she was small. Hope this helps...:)

I did it plenty of transatlantic flights at that age (and younger) and it was easy - even when I was nursing and/or using bottles. When you're traveling alone people are keen to help you,y babies were easy and nurses/slept a lot.

I made sure I was organized, so had a little "change" bag ready which was basically a nappy bag and inside was a clean pamper, and little ziplock of wipes and a onesie, so that if DS1 had a poonami on take off (more than once this happened!) the. I could dash to the toilet and change him.

You'll be fine, I'd be more concerned with keeping them occupied now at 6 & 4

You can leave the baby in the bassinet if asleep and ask one of the staff to keep an eye while you are in the loo.

Fellow passengers always help if you are comfortable with it. I've offered to hold babies if I see moms are traveling alone.

Travelled with Sri Lankan airlines when DD was very young and and they were very helpful. Extra snacks and drinks for me because I was BFing, checking on me etc.

iwunder

The baby is breastfed.

This is probably the best age to travel with a baby tbh, it's all eat and sleep

Request the bassinet as early as possible. There’s only a few on the plane. People will hold your baby if you need the loo, or even the flight attendant. If you’re worried about leaving baby with someone, at least one toilet had a baby change table. Just strap baby down on there for a moment.

Forgot to add call and request it now. I’ve requested one for a 14 hour flight with DS who will be 3 months old already as there were only two on the 747 (and one was already booked!)

I did this multiple times when my dc's were little. It's the best age to travel. You can leave the baby while you go to the bathroom. It's not like someone is going to kidnap him and run off. And often fellow passengers are willing to help. Make sure you book a bulkhead seat because they are the easiest to manage a baby without its own seat. Also on BA the bulkhead seats have the bassinets.

Bring extra nappies for delays. Bring a change of clothes for yourself. Ds once threw up all over me, 45 minutes into an 11 hour flight. I had a change of clothes for him, but not for me!! Bring a water bottle for yourself, so you are not relying on balancing a drink on a table.

I travelled with two young babies on international flights and the younger the easier - but you need to consider what time you fly if you have options. Ie during a night flight the cabin will be darkened and quieter and easier for them to sleep. A day flight could mean 12 hours of sunshine if you are changing time zones - ask your travel agent. Also I used a baby borjn carrier - helpful if you want to walk around with them and an option if you need to go to the toilet and no one can help you

I would second don't forget a change of clothes for yourself! At that age it should be easy. I once flew long haul with a 14 month old who wanted to walk up and down up and down the aisle to show off his new walking skills. I took him into the toilet with me and was so tired I fainted. 3 months is easy, you'll be fine.