First time plane travel with 5 month old - any tips?

[floradora]

We're going abroad next week for first time with DD - 5 hour plane journey , then 2eeks of staying some of the time with friends, some of the time in hotels... What will I wish I had known? Help me think what I need to know to make the trip as hassle-free as is realistic! DD is pretty cheerful and interested in new people and places on the whole.

Will hold your hand floradora... off long haul with 20 week DS on Sunday, so will watch this thread with interest! Are you taking a buggy? Am not sure whether to do sling or buggy in airports...

The only advice I have is feed your Dd at take off and landing, it helps with change of preasure so her ears do not hurt. For the rest of the holiday, if she is a generally happy child things should be fine and providing that you and her are not too set on a strict routine things should go really well!

Enjoy you holiday!

Hi

I flew with my 6 month old DD last year (alone) and again when she was a year old (with DH). We traveled to the states both times and it was about 24hours worth of travel so some may relate and some may not...but thought I would share all I learned!

I brought the buggy both times. As we had a lay over I found it very useful...however the second time I checked the buggy in with the bags as I had DH and she was walking. I knew we would need it on the other end for the trip but not in the airport. Up to you though as if you have a delay it is handy to have a place they can nap and you can have a little rest yourself.

I got a sling for the trip and I loved it! I was able to walk on the plane with her when she was restless and also was able to have hands free for security and paperwork. Also I felt better having her attached to me in the busy airport but would find quiter places to let her run before we got on the flight.

Bring extra set of clothes (everything down to socks) for you and DD as she may get sick in flight either on herself, you or both.

Bring more wipes than you think you will need. I was anal about wiping the seats, seatbelts, tables, and everything she could touch as she was at the stage of putting everyting in her mouth. Also eating on the plane is a messy experience...but something she will enjoy.

Make sure she has a bottle or something to snack on or a dummy during take off and landing even if it is just a rusk. I made sure of this for my DD and she did not have any ear problems at all.

Bring some pain meds and teething gel just incase. My DD decided this was the perfect time to pop in those molars.

Bring toys and books she loves. Don't bring anything noisy...and I found that Crayola Colour Wonder markers and paper was an amazing purchase as the pens are clear and you don't have to worry about marking on the plane or putting in mouth (non-toxic but still watch). This kept my DD occupied for ages...and I was able to color lol

Bring any formula pre-messured in a container and buy water after you get thru security. Don't bring cartons or pre-made bottles as they will make you open the cartons (which then you can't carry with you) and will make you drink from the bottles.

Bring more snacks than meals as my DD only wanted to snack both times and didn't eat one single meal.

If you are staying with friends first off, ask if they would mind getting a few things for you. I did this with family and they got nappies, wipes, formula and various snacks my DD loved before we arrived. This made things easy in the first few days as we didn't need to go restock and DD was happy to have familiar foods when we got there. I also did not have to pack loads of nappies.

Pack light. You don't need as many clothes for DD that you think you will. Also with friends you will hopefully be able to do a wash.

Hope that helps and I will post more if I think of it lol

5 months is the easiest time to fly, feed on the way up and down to help with the pressure in their ears, you should be able to take a buggy right up to the plane and get it as soon as you get off.

If you are flying budget, with no allocated seating, check which toilet has the changing table. on Easyjet it is the one at the back. We are frequent flyers - DH's family live near Berlin, and always go straight to the back, while all other parents then have to struggle down the aisle with baby to get to the loo!

Mamacita - don't forget if you have hand baggage you will be carrying that as well as baby if you use a sling. We found buggy very useful to use to carry bags too, and you can take the buggy right up to the plane, unlike trolleys.

Take a favourite activity or two - a book or something nice and quiet - "noisy" toys will make you very unpopular very quickly!

if you are taking bottled milk, don't forget to put it right at the top of your bag, as you will need to take it out to go through security. And if you are taking solid food (not sure if you have started weaning?) don't take a knife or fork - even a baby one will be confiscated!

If I think of anything else I will be back...

A great accessory for the journey is this :

www.hippychick.com/index.cfm/children/Products.List/category_id/65/subject/hippychick_hipseat

It was brilliant for walking up and down isle (if you anticipate little one not sleeping) without killing your back. I bought one for a flight to South Africa .... then passed it on to a friend who emigrated. They are expensive new, but maybe you could search for a 2nd hand one. Have a lovely holiday.

Hey, thanks for the tips everyone. asking friends at other end to get in nappies etc sounds like a great idea to cut down on luggage. We can take the buggy/ carseat as far as the plane apparently so that will also help. I'm bf so no need for bottles etc and will do as you say & feed during takeoff. She's not teething yet but it could start anytime, I suppose, so I'll bring some gel too. Unfortunately her favourite toys are the noisy ones but we'll keep them switched off out of consideration (must admit pre-baby I was not the most understanding co-passenger

We flew with DD for the first time at 5 months - 4 flights within a week - and it was fine. We took a buggy, which was great in the airports, but also a sling. I breastfed just before getting on the plane, popped her in the sling and she slept happily through take off for the first 3 flights. The 4th flight she was awake and cried, but by then I'd really stopped worrying about upsetting other passengers! One thing to look out for is what the airline/airport's policy is on buggies. Mostly you can leave them at the door of the plane, and they give them back to you at the door of the plane. HOWEVER! Sometimes (as we found out on flight number 4 into Stansted) they take the buggy at the door of the plane and deliver it back on the baggage carousel, mangled from having hundreds of suitcases dumped on top. Just double-check with staff before you hand it over where it's being stored and where you collect it from. Also found it useful to take a really big light shawl or blanket...which we put on the floor in the departure lounge to allow DD to practice foot-eating skills and have a break from being held all the time.