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Breastfeeding and trip to Aus...

7 replies

Sunshinemum12 · 17/01/2025 20:36

Hi there,
I'm travelling to Australia from UK in April to introduce baby to family and looking for some advice if possible please. Baby is 18mths and still breastfeeding. I'm pretty exhausted with it (he's up 4 times a night every night without fail) and keen to stop but wondered if it would be worth it to keep feeding until April in case it helps with things on the flight? Anyone had this experience and did breastfeeding really help or would bottles suffice? Any advice/thoughts much appreciated. Thank you

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Cormoran · 18/01/2025 02:41

I live in Australia and have traveled many times with the DC. At that age, I don’t think breastfeeding was as helpful. They get distracted, have strong opinions about being strapped for take off or landing and when in the rage, the breast doesn’t help. Have a seat for them, little surprise bags with little toys and treats, download shows on an iPad and you will be fine. Don’t keep breastfeeding for the sake of a trip. No two kids are alike. It might or might not help.
Also , do you really want to keep getting up at night during your Oz trip? Stop now, and with luck, by April he will sleeps his nights.

Sunshinemum12 · 18/01/2025 16:08

Thank you so much @Cormoran for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it. That is such helpful, practical advice. I think I'm going to try and get hubby to put him to sleep tonight and see how we go but you're right, I definitely don't want more sleepless nights in Aus if it's possible to avoid them and if it's not guaranteed it will help, it's probably better to stop now.Many thanks again x

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Cormoran · 18/01/2025 19:58

Who are you flying with? Some companies, like Singapore airlines, allow for Inflight convertible beds, a inflatable cube that allows a toddler to lie flat. Look here https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/gb/travel-info/special-assistance/travelling-with-children/ under " seat".
Those didn't exist when my kids were that young, and I would put a trolley and coats on tops to make a make-shift seat extender.

Also make sure to pack a change of clothes for you as well, as toddlers move in unpredictable ways and a glass or whole tray might be knocked on your lap.

In case you are travelling with a lot of snacks, make sure to leave behind all the FRESH food, such as fruit, cucumbers, uneaten sandwiches with ham, and so on. Australia has very strong laws to protect agriculture, so anything fresh you have, leave on the plane to avoid crazy fines. Have pens with you to fill the incoming card. When I had the three kids with me, I always found it easier to have all the passport numbers on a little card with the flight number , instead of having all the passports next to me with the risk a juice getting on them or having to stand up, take bag down, put away.

If you are flying through Hong Kong, there is a second security check at the airplane doors and all liquids will be taken. Not formula of course, so have the water in baby bottles to which you can add formula later during the flight.

If you manage to wean him off the breast and he gets used to a comforter of any kind, buy spares of that one, be it a soft toy, a blanket.

Breastfeeding and trip to Aus...
Fupoffyagrasshole · 18/01/2025 20:07

I travelled to Japan when my daughter was 20months I’d just stopped breastfeeding around 18 months

we got a little seat for her instead of a bassinet - it went in same place the bassinet goes but it looked more like a bouncer chair and she actually slept really well in it!

with the breastfeeding you could start trying cutting it down to just once before bed and don’t offer it at night - could dad do the night wakes? We do that with my little boy now and he doesn’t look for milk if husband goes in and he seems to sleep longer stretches if dad puts him to bed and he isn’t fed 🤷‍♀️ I think the night waking for milk is just habit at that age not because they need it.

Sunshinemum12 · 19/01/2025 21:37

@Cormoran @Fupoffyagrasshole thank you both so much for your detailed responses and super helpful tips, honestly you're so kind and so organised! I'm definitely adopting lots of these suggestions for the flight in March! Love the tip about the incoming card! Brilliant! We're flying Emirates so will check what assistance they are able to provide and I love the idea of a bouncer chair or cube, will defo suss these out. Thanks so much again xx

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dresscakereaction · 19/01/2025 23:11

If bub is ok with a dummy, and you're not opposed, they're brilliant for equalising ears on takeoff and landing. Obviously breastfeeding is great for settling midflight but it doesn't work when the seatbelt light is on. Bottles also work for this purpose, but can be more of a faff to have ready to go at the right times.

Sunshinemum12 · 20/01/2025 09:24

Great advice @dresscakereaction thank you so much!He did stop dummies about a year ago but considering re-starting for the flight....will try bottles first and see!x

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