Travelling longhaul to Oz at Xmas with 3 mo - any good tips ?

[pescatore]

DH and I will be travelling to Oz at Xmas with our 3 mo bub who's EBF. We're travelling Qantas / BA from Frankfurt - Singapore - Sydney - Melb. We've requested a bassinet seat.

Does anyone have any good tips on travelling with a v small bub ? I've already seen some good ones on here about having a change of clothes for us as well as bub, taking along breastpads and feeding him on TO and landing if poss.

I'd be especially happy to hear from anyone who's recently transited through Singapore / Changi as we've been told we can't retrieve our stroller during the transit through Changi ie we have to check it in at Frankfurt and will see it again in Oz....is this really true ?

There are lots and lots of threads about this. I would do a search.

I believe it is true about the pram.

Take extra nappies etc. You never know if you will get delayed.

Feed, feed, feed! Especially during take off and landing. Helps to equalise the pressure in the ears.

Remind the airline 1000 times that you have a baby.

What are your feeding plans for the flight? You can buy formula at boots. You can order ahead and pick up after security.

Don't bother with a pushchair use a babysling instead. bf will really be helpful to you as nothing to take along with you. Have a small rucksack with nappies, wipes & changes of clothes in case of huge nappy. A cloth with plastic type backing would be good for nappy changes on your lap

At that age and EBF you'll find it easy peasy!

Don't worry about your pram at Changi, use a sling. Wear comfy clothes and layer, as you'll be leaving the cold and going to hot. Take a couple of spare tops in case baby throws up on you (I doubt you'll need spare trousers). Wear flat comfy shoes as Changi is huge and you'll walk quite a way between gates.

Take a rucksack for the baby with all you need eg wipes, nappies (take way more than you think you'll need!) and a couple of changes of clothes. Dress the baby in babygrows for the trip as they are comfy and easy to change.

Don't assume that because you've requested a bassinet seat you'll get one - check in early and make sure you have a bulkhead seat with bassinet. If there are lots of babies on the flight they may separate you and your DH so you sit at the bulkhead with your baby and your DH is seated elsewhere.

Have a good trip!

Thanks heaps for the tips so far - really helpful.We have a didymos wrap sling ATM so I will either have to get practising so I can tie it a bit quicker or we'll get a babybjorn-style one.

HTSerenity - we are flying ex Frankfurt so unfortunately Boots isn't an option (but quite useful to know about it for next time I fly ex LHR so thank you). Feeding plan is pretty much to BF him all the way, though may take a bottle of EBM if I can. I have looked through quite a few of the other threads but I admit to being a nervous nelly about checking in the pram as have had a few bits and pieces munched over the years by the baggage handlers on this trip.

for the pram could you borrow one from friends family rather than taking one on thge plane?

bluecardi - that's a great idea, why didn't I think of that ??! I will ask around a bit and see if anyone might have something for a loan

We went to Oz with DS this summer, he was about 14mo. I thought at the time "why didn't we do this last year?!?" as I watched mother of 3mo have a MUCH easier time of it than we did!

Sling is a good idea, we took ours and it was ideal for transfers etc. We bought a cheap stroller from a supermarket in Oz once we were there, about £15. Didn't lie flat but you may find something suitable. It will be very hot over there so if you have a sunshade thing for pram maybe take it with you or consider buying one there.

Car seat regulations are different in Oz so you will need to buy, borrow or hire one there rather than use a UK one. Our car rental company did one for a smallish extra charge. Basically they hook onto the back of the seat with a strap as well as using the lap belt - I was quite impressed with this as looked very secure to me.

Have an amazing time!

Don't be afraid to ask the crew for help. They will be thrilled to help a Mum with a LO. Whether that means holding the LO while you go to the loo or while you get your gear together when leaving the aircraft.

The crew are also very accommodating when it comes to meal times. If you are feeding or LO won't settle, ask them to hold onto your meal so that your DP can eat first and then when he has finished you can have yours. Saves having a cold meal!

Have a great trip. Changi is a great airport and VERY easy to transit through.

The sling is a great idea but we have taken our pram through Changi airport many time. If you do, take a pump if you have inflatable tyres as ours deflated due to the pressure.

thank you so much for these tips - they are great.

Grumpla thanks especially for the info on the car seats - we weren't planning to rent a car (as my parents live there) but we did think we could take our UK seat as long as my parents got the additional anchor point installed in their car. I'll have to check again! Do you know if the additional anchorage point unclips, ie can you take the seat in and out of the car ?

My parents are currently accumulating a ton of borrowed stuff through a secret grandparental mafia network I never knew existed - it's great fun to watch !

Since you're planning to BF a lot during the trip, I recommend taking a BF pillow / cushion. You'll be holding your LO for ages and those tiny airline pillows don't provide any support at all. It will save you from having aching arms and shoulders and is worth the hassle of an extra thing to take with you.

Also second taking more nappies than you think you'll use. You'll be surprised how fast you run through them!

And I've managed to get a pushchair when I transferred at Changi en route to Oz, too. The trick is to convince the airline staff to store the pushchair in the cabin rather than the hold, which they will do if there is space and you're one of the first to ask. Beg, plead and give sad, desperate looks - it always helps. However, if LO is happy in a sling, it might be easier and less stressful than a pushchair anyway.

Enjoy your trip!

Bfing during descent can help a lot with ear pain as the sucking action clears the ears.

BFing while travelling was a huge relief to us. DD did a few transatlantic flights, the first at 3 months or so. Once she was popped on, I just kept switching across and let her comfort feed and sleep most of the journey.

Do take spare clothing for the LO, and make sure you get plenty of water especially as you are BFing, and maybe a few extra nibbles (we normally pick a couple of big bottles in the airport; my appetite was insane and I ate like a horse!).

At 3 months using a sling may be easier and faster than waiting around for airlines to unload a pushchair, so if you can plan to get to Australia without it, do so. If the grandparent mafia network can loan you one, consider this. As we did a lot of travelling we had a cheaper one which we would not be heartbroken if it got ruined in the hold.

Generally, flight staff are brilliant about helping people with young children. Don't be afraid to ask for extra pillows to support yourself whilst BFing.

Bassinet - do call ahead and be insistent. We never managed to get one on all of our flights BUT it all worked out well. I would get rests when my husband walked DD up and down the plane. At 3 mths they are also starting to get curious and DD loves to people watch (still does!).

Also, be prepared for the cooing and reminescing from other travellers.

Safe journey and have fun

I've never flown BA with a baby but Qantas are FANTASTIC. They could not do enough for us.

3M old is a doddle. Other passengers are really kind - you will get lots of "happens to us all" smiles if baby kicks off.

Deffo check in early, though, and make sure you have the bulkhead all the way through to Melbourne. Heaps of Aussie expats in Singapore and they will be joining the flight home for Christmas hols.

If you have an umbrella stroller you should be able to take it to the door of the plane. I wouldn't take something giant and expensive, but if you do (on one long-haul flight we were moving, so we had to take our Xplory) ask them to top-load it. This means it goes on last, sits on top of everything else, and comes off first so is waiting for you at fragile baggage collection point.

Each car has a fixed (in the parcel shelf, roof, or boot of the car) anchor for the extra belt. The anchor belt is attached to the actual car seat, so there is no point bringing your UK one to Oz. The tether belts don't come off the seat.

You can hire car seats from the red cross here (Adelaide) so there maybe places where you can do the same there. Babies aren't allowed to travel in the front of the car here, either.

How long are you coming for? I would recommend bring nappies for the trip & asking your hosts to buy you some form here. They take up valuable space in suitcases!

Call the airline & book the bassinet. But be aware that if you hit turbulence, you have to take baby out. We hit quite a lot & it was a pain, as each time she settled, we had to lift her!

I am pretty sure Singapore did strollers on loan. We booked ours in. in the UK & didn't see it until Oz. They don't tend to unload during 'transiting' even hold baggage.

And if you are going to be there a good few hours, think about booking into the transit hotel. That was a god send for us!

Definitely change of clothes for all! Practice changing nappies in confided spaces!

Also, small thing...expect your baby to be cooed over...a lot! I had people asking for pictures with dd. She was blonde at time & blue eyed & it was a combination that the Singaporeans (is that a word) loved! I mention it, because it greatly unsettles some people!

Excuse spelling errors, have a toddler on my lap!

Thank you so much to everyone for these tips - helped so much ! We have decided to take our stroller (Maclaren XLR + carrycot) but to check it in all the way through on the way out - we have a pretty short transfer in Singapore, I know the airport really well and I think should be fine with the sling.

I will double confirm our seating arrangements. We currently do have allocated seating for FRA-SING which would be the bassinet spot but it is Xmas and I expect the plane to be chockers. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that for the first time in my life, we're paying to go business (my father had an attack of 'firstborn grandchild of only child syndrome' and generously offered half the fare).

differentnameforthis you're spot on, there seem to be heaps of places in Melb that hire carseats, including a couple that will fit the car seat to your hire car at Tullamarine. My mum is going to check out hires. If we have a good experience I will post it here !

I also found a good blogsite from an American lady who seems to be the sort of AR packing cell obssessed longhaul frequent traveller that I was before I got pregnant - for anyone interested it's www.deliciousbaby.com/

Excellent on the car seat hire! Saves you precious luggage space too!

Hope you have a fab time!

We flew LHR - Hong Kong last christmas with our then 4 month old DD. It was absolutely fine, much easier than expected, even though we were delayed 6hrs on the tarmac before leaving!

My DD was ebf too - we also took a dummy (although she hadn't previously had one) because it did help her ears as well as bf.

The background noise of a plane and slight movement seems to act as comforter to little babies - our DD slept for 8hrs in a row!! first time in her life. And when she woke the lovely air hostess took her off to first class to show her off!

You will be fine. Take lots of changes of clothes for your baby - lots of babygrows - the changing facilities on board the airplane are really bad - tiny - above the toilet.

Enjoy your holiday!

I have done this trip 5 times with children in the last 3 1/2 years. Trust me - DO NOT TRY TO TAKE THE PUSH CHAIR THROUGH THE AIRPORT!!! Every time I have missed a flight, had delays etc, etc it was because of the stupid push chair. (Including in Singapore!).

You cannot use the push chair in Australian airports now at all. For awhile some flights would let you and not others, but now it's a blanket rule - even in business class. So while you can use it in Europe, it can then become - 'lost', so to speak.

If you check it in, Maclaren do a bag which you can use for their buggies which will prevent it from being battered in overseize luggage.

BTW, you will have a much nicer time of it in business class!!! The last time we flew was business class, and it was absolutely fantastic!!!!! . Enjoy!!!!

We are also flying out to Oz with toddler DS and 2 month old DD this Christmas. Having done this trip when DS was 4 months old I think everyone else here has covered all the essential tips...except I would add - take your own little sheet and blanket for the bassinet - they aren't always that clean. Definitely go for a change of clothes for both of you, last time my DH said he didn't need a spare t-shirt which resulted in him arriving in Sydney in my spare t-shirt after DH let rip all over him on take off from Singapore. His Mum couldn't stop laughing when she saw him.

Good luck, I am sure you will be fine, DS slept most of the flight last time we went and I just made sure I fed him often to afford dehydration.

Have a great time.

I just wanted to come back to this thread and say thank you for all the tips. Despite all the snow at the time, we got through the trip both ways just fine.

I learnt that there is a big baby hire market in Melbourne for just about everything - change tables, car seats, and prams. Some local councils even sponsor a car seat hire program for from-birth size seats. Most hire places will fit the seat but you can fit it yourself. We had a safe and sound polo capsule, which goes in and out of the car but which I hated - it was huge (v wide)and DS could roll around in it even with the restraining straps at their tightest and he screamed every time we put him in it. We bought a special cushion to pad it out and then ended up exchanging it for a more padded one which didn't lift out of the car. I also learnt that it's best to book car seats well in advance as many places were out of stuff for Xmas.

We ended up taking our pram as it is v light, but we did check it through using a maclaren bag and took a sling for the flight, which worked just fine except when DS poohed all over it (and DH) on the very last leg of the journey so thank you to those who suggested a change of clothes for BOTH of us. We were v glad for our room in the transit hotel to clean up the mess...I also saw that for babies who can sit up, there are pushchairs available in Sing airport.

We did have the bassinet spot on most sectors and it seems that the newer planes have a kind of webbing thing that hooks over the top of the bassinet and acts as a seatbelt so you can leave your baby to sleep when there is turbulence. The one sector where we didn't have a bassinet spot was fine - DS slept 4 hours v comfortably on my tum !

One last tip from my SIL (who's a doctor) I wanted to share - we gave DS a dose of Otrivin just before take off. It helped keep his nose from drying out during the flight.