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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding on a plane

37 replies

Fantail · 21/08/2011 11:39

Am travelling on Wednesday with DD aged 6 months on Easyjet. I always thought that it was recommended to BF on take-off to help with ears popping, but according to Easyjet's website this is not allowed.

Any tips on how to manage take off and landing. DD will drink a little bit of water from a bottle (but not long enough to help with popping ears and certainly not if distressed) and doesn't take a dummy.

OP posts:

Scootergrrrl · 21/08/2011 11:42

How are they going to stop you? And why would they want to - baby harnesses attach to your seatbelt so the baby is on your lap anyway as far as I remember. We flew a lot with the children as babies and I always fed on take off and landing.

Tamdin · 21/08/2011 11:47

agree with scooter. I have always fed ds2 (7 months) on take off and landing, no-one has ever noticed or cared. I try to get the window seat too so if you feed on the side nearest the window it's very discreet :)

sheeplikessleep · 21/08/2011 11:50

I flew with DS2, he was just 6 months last year. BF him on both take off and landing, he was strapped to me with the harness. I tried to do it discretely though, as I too thought they might stop me. No one noticed.

ComeWhineWithMe · 21/08/2011 11:52

What do they mean "Not allowed"? Can't see how they will stop you TBH.

GirlWithTheMouseyHair · 21/08/2011 11:53

that's ridiculous, what difference does it make? if you're not in a aisle seat the cabin crew won't see you anyway, what would they rather, a screaming baby in pain?

numpties

Bunsouttheoven · 21/08/2011 11:55

I have bf both dcs on take off & landing. Never been tackled over it.

wigglesrock · 21/08/2011 12:09

I know its not breast feeding but I have bottle fed 3 dds, obviously at different times on flights during both landing and take off, the last time being 2 months ago!. As long as the baby is secured in the harness you're fine.

mousymouse · 21/08/2011 12:13

never had problems with easyjet (or any other airline) and breastfeeding.
just go for it!

RitaMorgan · 21/08/2011 12:22

I think it's just that the baby has be strapped in - but you can breastfeed fine with the lap strap on. I've done it twice with no problems on Easyjet.

nightshade · 21/08/2011 12:25

have done it with dd1 and dd2, second the window seat. i was asked on one occasion to put baby upright on my knee for take off and landing and therefore not to feed, but no one enforced this!

i just carried on once attendant moved!

ChunkyPickle · 21/08/2011 12:28

You what? I've breast fed during takeoff, landing, and at all points in between with no issues.

Do they think that you can't breastfeed and wear a seatbelt (and that looping thing that they have you put on the baby) or something?

curlykate99 · 21/08/2011 12:36

Will she suck on your little finger instead?

Catslikehats · 21/08/2011 12:38

I would hope that they mean that you can't take your baby out of the lap belt to breastfeed.

I have never had an issue BF my 3 DC and we have flown and BF from 12 days - 12 mths with various airlines.

In fact when I flew with DC4 at 12 days old she was talk of the plane because she was the youngest baby that many of the crew had had on board (and also the smallest baby that many had ever seen as she only weighed 5lb 4oz) We had a steady stream of visitors to our seats with a lot of embarassed faces when they peered in to see DD2 only to discover she was happily latched on

PacificDogwood · 21/08/2011 12:42

AFAIK this relates to the fact that on take-off and landing the baby is ment to be forward facing on your lap which is obviously not an ideal position for BFing.

In RL, I have often fed on various planes and have never been told not to.
Do what you need/want to do on the day.
The extra infant belt you get which loops into your seat-belt is very adjustable and it is really quite easy to assume a feeding position even with the baby buckled in.

Have a nice trip

papooshka · 21/08/2011 12:59

I'd love to see how they would stop you!! of course you should Bf during takeoff and landing as thats when their ears hurt the most and it will help them. I've never heard of this and have travelled loads on planes with my 2 dc both of whom were bf for a year.

33goingon64 · 21/08/2011 13:19

Depends what position DD adopts to feed. I did a one hour Ryan Air flight when DS was 15 weeks and it would have been impossible to feed him in the cradle position or any horizontal hold, either his head or his feet would have been sticking out in the aisle. Seats are so bloody narrow. If you can do feeding with baby sitting on your lap it should be fine.

MrsMilton · 21/08/2011 13:23

I suppose they're thinking the baby might not be in the best position for take off and landing if it's in a bfing cradle position. Don't think there's any issues of "decency" involved.

I never knew that was the rule until reading it here and have bfd many times on take-off and landing - at the advice of others!

Go ahead, you'll be fine.

maisie215 · 21/08/2011 13:25

I am flying with easyjet in a few weeks with a 15wk old and fully intend to bf on takeoff and landing. Also fully intend to BF in full view in aisle seat while people get on to guarantee an empty row :o

LiegeAndLief · 21/08/2011 13:26

I'd be surprised if they noticed, especially if you have a window seat.

I've also fed on planes during take off and landing with the lap belt secured and never had any problems. By 6 months both dcs would have been spilling out onto the next seat a bit though - fine if it's your dh sat there! (as mine was).

SoupDragon · 21/08/2011 13:30

Realistically, any member of crew will be sitting down during take off and landing so what are they going to do?

do they have a policy on bottle feeding?

BaronessBomburst · 21/08/2011 13:38

How bizarre! I've also always breastfeed on take-off and landing on various airlines, inc Easyjet, and no-ones ever said anything.......

PacificDogwood · 21/08/2011 14:52

maisie, BFing while other people are getting on, will get you an empty seat next to - only ever failed once for me when the flight was totally fully booked .
A noisy, messy feeder who pops on and off to look around and squirts milk everywhere is also good .

AnnieLobeseder · 21/08/2011 14:58

I fed both mine for takeoff and landing, unless they were asleep. Works wonders to keep them calm and happy. The tricky bit is getting them to hold off feeding until you're ready!

rubyslippers · 21/08/2011 15:03

Oh - they like babies to face forward and be strapped in for take off and landing hence the no breastfeeding at these times

Have just flown easy jet

In reality, DD wanted to feed so she did

No-one said anything and actually the flight attendants were so,so helpful to us all

petisa · 21/08/2011 15:05

Agree with everyone - I flew recently and bf most of the way there and back, including take off and landing. Great way to keep them quiet! Had no idea you weren't supposed to T'was Easyjet too. I'd say go for it.

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