Long haul, alone with 12 month old, advice please

[LongHaul2345]

I'm taking my DS to meet my family soon, it will be a 6 week trip. It will be worth it, but I'm suddenly panicking about the flights. The layover particularly. It's a 13 hour flight followed by a 3 hour layover in Heathrow and another 2.5 hour flight. I'm NOT changing terminals at Heathrow, thank god.

I'll have DS, the yoyo pram (as BA accepts it in the cabin) but a backpack won't cut it. A wheely carry on feels like too much work to drag around? How do I do it?

I'll need spare clothes, nappies, toys, AND food for DS. Can I take ice packs? DS has allergies (dairy and egg) so can't eat almost anything anywhere out and about, I have to bring enough food for 24 hours. He's breastfed so at least I don't need to bring milk.

DS is suddenly walking btw so it will be hard to keep him contained.

Posting for traffic in AIBU. I know it's a mad journey but my grandma is 86 and is saying she's holding off dieing so she can meet DS! She's a bit cheeky like that but I know it will make her SO happy.

Find some new (quiet) toys to keep them entertained on the flight, and take spare clothes for yourself too in case of any accidents!

Sorry he's allergic to soy too, which is actually the bigger reason he cannot eat anywhere. Anything that caters for dairy and egg, invariably has soy in it!

@curiouscat1987 I've got toys and activity books covered. He's too young for screen time, even ms Rachel keeps his attention for about 10 seconds only.

I'm more wondering how many bags I should take on the plane? One wheeled carry on? Or a bagpack and another small bag.

He's currently refusing the pram entirely which is an added complication. So I need to take the baby carrier too? DH disagrees with that, he says if DS protests, tough luck, force him in the pram as it's not the time to pander to him but I can't take him screaming around the airport.

I’d take the carrier too.

I found travelling alone with a one year pretty easy to be honest, minimal toys were needed in the actual airport as they were happiest just exploring.

Ice packs sound a faff though, there just be things that don't need to be refrigerated you can take for them to eat? At least with bf you have an easy backup, I'd be looking at packing things like crackers and fruit/veg to give them something to do more than anything.

For the flights little bags of random toys worked best for us, things that were new to them, I'd raid the charity shop in the days before our journey to get a nice collection of interesting things.

I'd do a backpack and a buggy bag so you don't have to worry about not being able to carry everything. But a 3 hour stopover I'd choose pram or carrier, you can't manage everything 🤷🏻‍♀️

Honestly, if you need to, take him round the airport screaming. He needs to be in the pram whether he likes it or not. Take one backpack and one bag that can hang on the pram.

Thank you! You're right, I need to go for peanut butter sandwiches and similar. Maybe a weetabix and some almond milk. He eats A LOT of food, he's always hungry 😅 breastfeeding is down to morning and evening only now.

Thank you! You're right, I think a backpack and a bag that can hang over the stroller. Don't think I can wheel a carry on.

Not peanut butter for airplanes, often you’re told not to have nuts and seeds hen you’ll be stuck without one of the meals for him.

Interesting, that makes it even tougher. Nuts seems to be the only thing he is NOT allergic to. Will get creative.

Have you booked him a seat?

Pack an extra top for yourself in your carryon.

Signed,

Mum whose toddler puked in the first hour of a long haul flight.

No but we're flying business so he can sleep flat next to me.

You’ve had some great advice on here.

All I can say is this - my friend travelled with a baby of a similar age plus another preschool child on her own several years ago when they were these ages. Long haul.

Let’s just say that whatever happens you will get there and survive.

Obviously the allergy advice is really key but that’s been covered.

Flying business will be a HUGE help

Definitely don’t do peanut butter due to the air conditioning system

Thanks! I take allergies very seriously and I would never do this now that it's been pointed out! Just hadn't thought of it!

I took a soft sided chiller bag for flights once. I made chicken risotto cakes. Meatballs or the like may suit you. Or chicken nuggets. Small cakes. Muffins with loads of rolled oats in them for bulk. Plan each meal and snack. Lots of finger food and a tea towel for laps.

I found a wide mouthed plastic jar and filled that with ice at home. I tipped that out at security when I was told to. As soon as I was airside, I went to the bar and asked them to fill it with more ice. I made it clear that I was happy to pay but wasn’t charged. Everything stayed beautifully cool.

I changed the ice once on the plane and again at Dubai.

A four wheeler carry on bag means you have an extra platform that can be stacked with another bag for ease of movement. Practice things with dc like the food you want to take on the plane, walk down the street with bags and stroller saying that mummy needs to practice.

Have a lovely time.

Don’t forget your child has had a 12 hour flight too and will want to walk around. You have 3.5 hours to find a gate in the same terminal. Let the child walk. Is there a play area?
Tell your husband to sit the pram and see how he likes it!

With regards to food, I think I would bring a full days worth of you can.
Alternatively, is it possible to pre order food at any of the airside restaurants?
Or to have a couple of jars, if any are suitable.

I live overseas so have flown long-haul with DS since he was 3mths old. My top advice is changes of clothes for you and the baby, in case you get thrown up on; take more snacks/food than you think you’ll need in case of delays or getting stuck on the tarmac. I always found a baby carrier and bags easier than a buggy, but I packed as light as I could. Take a little bag of inexpensive toys that you can share gradually during the journey. (Stickers were good - my son would decorate the wall, and I’d clean it all up before we disembarked.) Feed on takeoff and landing if you can, as it helps with ear discomfort due to changing air pressure. Always ask the crew for help if you need it. They’ve always been great in my experience. You won’t get much rest but it will be easier than you think!

A rucksack is fine, you can wear it or stick it on the pushchair, rather than a sling how about some reigns, they take up a teeny amount of space but mean he can safely have a good walk around.

As someone who has flowm business with a toddler, the baby seatbelts are extremely awkward when attached to the adults until you have your seat in the fully up position. If you lay down the baby/toddlers waist will be in line with yours, if its a seat that has a diagonal belt they’ll be at your hip which is annoying.

New toys, small but multiple, that way they’re more exciting, most terminals at heathrow have a childrens play area with a seperate area for babies/toddlers.