Babies on planes..

[claudib]

any tips for helping a 4 month old through it?
She is part BF/FF

Twinmam, I had the readymade cartons confiscated as they are over 100ml. I just bought more on the other side of security, but is so stupid and annoying. Seems like a scam to sell things at inflated airport prices to me!

With regards to formula, it depends on the staff at the aiport on the day. Have flown regularly with dd since newborn and have had sealed cartons opened or thrown away so tried taking boiled water and powder to mix, but they insisted it was mixed before we went through, or emptied the water out. You can buy cartons in Boots/Superdrug once you are through security and you can phone the branch in advance and ask them to put aside however many you need so you know they will have them for you, then all you need it to take empty bottles.

Definitely a sling is a godsend especially if travelling by yourself and the airport has stairs everywhere

Absolutely! What bastards! Are they suggesting you somehow got explosive into the cartons then resealed them?! Honestly.

This is from the Gatwick website:
"Q:
What about a bottle or carton of prepared milk or sterilized water, do they need to be a maximum of 100ml?
A:
No, nor do they have to fit in the resealable bag. However, the amount must be sufficient for your trip only and you will be asked to taste the liquids by a security officer. There are no limits on powder formula and bottled water is available in shops after security and airlines can provide water during the flight."

So pre-mix cartons no good as they have to be tasted (which is what they did to me) and thereofre won't last long enough for anything but the shortest of flights.

Then again, I have smuggled them though about 50% of the time - I always try!

I've recently flown from Gatwick with a 14 week old. We carried water in his baby bottles and powder seperately. We had to taste each of the bottles but did not have to make up the milk. Feeding on take off and landing meant no ear problems and the motion/sound on the plane meant that DS slept the whole flight. My only word of caution is to watch out for the effect of air pressure on baby bottles as we had 3 minutes of screaming after milk shot into DS's eye from the bottle.

I used a carrier to get him through the airport as we had a buggy at the other end. Flying on my own in a few weeks with him and worried about if I need to got to the loo or anything while travelling as DH will not be on hand to hold him. Suppose I will have to hold it or hang him in his sling off the back ofg the loo door

Lozza, just get one of the flight attendants to hold the baby while you go to the loo.

TMI coming up here, but i have always travelled alone with the baby since he was 10weeks. i used a basic babybjorn carrier and it is possible to go to the loo whilst still wearing one...ahem, what you have to do.

too much variation between airlines, airport staff and cabin crews for my liking, all a bit random.

Or just leave the baby asleep in the bassinet?

Lozza, chances are if you get a bulkhead seat and a bassinet, then the people sitting next to you will also be parents with a baby and bassinet (those seats are like gold dust!) so be friendly and try to arrange loo trips so that you either watch (if sleeping) or hold each other's babies when necessary.
Singapore air flight crew are amazing with babies by the way...they'll definitely be happy to hold a baby while you pop to the loo.

Call the week before and then again the day before to confirm your request for bulkhead, and then get to the airport really early. It really makes a big difference especially longhaul.

Bring more nappies that you would for that amount of time usually. Don't know if it's the air pressure or the airplane food filtering into breastmilk, but on every flight dd's been on, she has poo'd loads and several times. We went through 6 nappies in 10 hours.

That aside, I found our flights at that age great. We just fed fed fed.

Lack of oxygen and constant white noise will probably mean that your baby sleeps.

And second the nappies - ds had gone through half of his before we even got on the plane.

Have travelled twice NZ to UK (24hrs) with 3month old then again when he was 15mths. Definitely easier when they are younger as the noise and motion of the flight helps them sleep. If you have a stopover, consider paying for use of the lounges if available. All airlines I have travelled with have stocks of nappies, formula, bottles etc so do ask if needed!

have done UK to NZ and back with 7 month old, thailand with 11 month old, and malaysia with a 2.3yr and a 4 month old. about to do NZ with the both of them - here are my tips

check you have a bassinet booked - often you can be bumped if a younger baby is on board - not a nice surprise at the airport!

make friends with whichever air crew are looking after your cabin - they will do all they can to help you out!

we always get our meals staggered - normally they will give you your meals first and will stagger them if you ask.

take a couple of favourite toys on the plane as well as a couple of new ones.

on the last trip we gave ds1 a small rucksack of his own with small crayons, little book, couple of toys, and his own water bottle and a few snacks in - he loved it.

prepare that they may forget your child meal - we always (after disaster on a previous trip) have oatcakes, breadsticks and raisins for ds1, just in case. pre cooked toast or cheese on toast or for the start of the journey pieces of chicken are useful as well.

you can have as much formula as you need for your trip so long haul you can take all the boiled water you need as long as you're prepared to taste each bottle - i measure out the formula powder into unused breastmilk storage bags - much easier to tip in for mixing. and always take an extra bottle i think someone also said.

nappies - take twice as many as you think you'll need and at least 2 or 3 changes of clothes for babies.

if you have a child who is prone to throwing up take at least 2 changes for yourself for LH flights! we last landed at wellington with me wearing a wrap dress that was my third change of clothing and ds1 had thrown up all over that as well.... and take changes for dh if you're travelling together - he doesn't escape either!

as someone else said don't forget familiar blanket etc - especially when they get a bit older - it can be a lifesaver!

we do the calpol as well, unless i forget and end up giving medised at about sleep time.

take a plastic bag with you to put by your feet for rubbish - it just means you keep all rubbish together and you're less likely to trip over anything while getting up in the dark for 20th nappy change / loo run

think that's it - god i sound sanctimonious don't i

On the way back from Sweden we got stuck in a very small airport lounge for a 7 hour delay.

I was very glad I had taken more nappies than 11 month old DD would have normally been expected to get through on the 2 hour flight.

She had the most fun of all playing with a plastic cup on the plane.

Ive travelled on my own to Slovenia with my 6 year old daughter and 8 month old son. My tip is to have as much as you can for them to do whilst keeping your hand luggage to a minimum. Have a bottle for take off and landing to stop ears popping for baby and sweets to suck for 6 year old. If baby not hungry a dummy is also good. Get up and walk about, most people coo at babies on planes and dont be afraid to ask the air hostess to sit with your child whilst you freshen up or go to loo. Enjoy

Ok, my 18month old has the carbon foot print from hell but his father is a pilot so we often tag along on trips.

We have done NZ twice, Atlanta, NY, Boston,Middle East x2, Canada, West Coast America and Japan etc etc

Keep calm - they will cry and people will whinge. I have one response - Sir, have you opened your mouth and spoken since we have been on the plane

Answer..well yes, I spoke to the crew

Well,my son has told me he needs food and water but he does that by crying.

If you can not keep quiet for 12hrs then how do you think a baby will....

1 nappy per hour of flight minimum and if you get stuck in Bangkok for 2 days because the plane develops a fault, remember to double the weight of the nappies you buy, otherwise they look like G strings!!

Travel packs of formula and double what you would normally need.

Healthy food goes out the window, if he fancies it (bar choc)he can have it. Favourite food in excess, in our case yoghurt+++

Ellas kitchen smoothie fruit packs are excellent and sealable, suckable and fun.

toys are rationed slowly, and let them get up and walk. You can not stop them and they will fight you.

Familiar blanket and bottle of milk is good for going to sleep and an extra pillow for all those sharp bits.

It is stressful but if you remain calm then so do the kids.

Book late night flights if possible, then more likely to sleep.

I second all of the above. Forget the stroller/buggy. Bring a carrier/sling (ergo-type thing is best, or a stretchy wrap if they're still small).

If you're BF, especially, buy yourself a couple of bottles of water before getting on the plane. Flight attendants are helpful in general, but that doesn't always extend to giving passengers sufficient water to drink.

Am following this thread with interest as I am flying long haul on my own with my two little ones aged 4 and 23 months in Feb. All tips no matter how small gratefully received.

think this may be covered already but will post anyway for emphasis if nothing else

...take enough changing / feeding kit to last 24 hours...air-pressure induced vomiting and poo-leakage AND delays need not be an issue

...take a baby carrier and buggy - there's usually a significant period of time when you'll be without your buggy and a seat and you're ok if the airline loses / breaks your buggy

...when at the airport - keep your buggy tidy - you'll have to unload and re-load it at security and unload it again for folding at the boarding gate...just try to keep what you need to carry in your backpacks...ooh yes - backpacks for handluggage to keep hands free and minimise damage to back

....and aim to enjoy - baby most likely will and most of your neighbouring passengers will too

Maybe flying with the baby this year - where on a plane do you change the baby's nappy?

Second get a bassinet if possible.

Water and powder for milk.

Feed on takeoff/landing.

Take more nappies/sleepsuits than you think you'l need.

Both mine slept at this age so hopefully you will be able to relax.

Enjoy your trip x.

I've flown with DD, now 2, many times to my parents who live abroad and it is much easier with a baby than with a toddler, esp. a bf one, as the noise does just make them sleep. I look back on those times wistfully now as I battle to entertain a toddler on a plane! Baby Bjorn a must have. Also, remember it will be over. If they cry the whole flight then that's awful but the flight will end. Also, I figure that I spent so much of my time putting up with crying babies on planes before I had one that there must be some kind of karma being on other side now!

Some great tips on here. We fly many times with both DCs (both still under 3) to the US and Germany/Austria and my number one tip is.........

medised after boarding the plane. You might feel odd about it, but trust me, it will help.

Also, beg & plead to get your pushchair onto the plane. If they must gate check it, ask to be sure that it will be available at the plane door upon arrival. If you're made to wait till baggage to collect it, your arms will fall off carrying baby, coats, bags, etc - especially when they're older!

HTH