16 hours on a plane with a 6-month baby

[islandbaby]

Hi

so, I am facing the reality of a 16 hour plane journey in July, just me and my 6-month-old son.

Can anyone share their experiences of this? Any advice you can offer? Any special things I need to consider to keep him healthy on the trip (do babies get DVT? Should I wriggle his legs about!?!)

Am I being ridiculously optimistic in hoping that the movement and general buzz of the plane might just send him to sleep for most of it...

Thanks in advance

OK, I haven't done long-haul alone, but we relocated to the Philippines for a year-ish in summer 2009 when the kids were 7, 4, 2 and 3months, and came back to UK summer last year when they were 8, 5, 3 and 13 months.

We flew overnight both times and that really helped. DD3 was a good sleeper anyhow and didn't mind the bassinet. I would highly recommend an overnight flight if possible - coming back to the UK, DD3 slept 10 out of the 13 hours on the Singapore-London flight.

The real problem of doing it alone is going to the toilet. If baby is awake then they have to come with you, if asleep, you have to find someone to watch them and go when there's no queue - awkward. Also, eating is a pain if your baby is awake.

6 months is actually a good time to fly long-haul because they're not mobile then, so take some toys and books too, but at least you won't have your baby crawling round the aisle!

Good luck - where are you off to?

I haven't done 16 hours but I did take two little DDs half way across the US and on to Dublin, and have also taken two of the others to Dublin from the US midwest with stopovers in JFK and Heathrow at age 1 and 4.

Enlist the help of some nice woman near you just to keep an eye on the baby when you go to the loo, and ask the staff for help whenever you need it. Take advantage of time when the baby sleeps to go to the loo. Don't wait til you're about to explode.

Get a bassinet the airline provides or book a second seat and bring the baby's carseat along with you for sleeping. Try to relax and sleep when the baby sleeps.

Ask the staff to hold onto your meal until the baby is sleeping if that's possible. Eating is very difficult when the baby is awake.

Ask the staff for help with bottles, etc. If the baby is used to a warm bottle, now is the time to gradually introduce cooler formula, not when you're in midair and no-one can help you warm a bottle. If you're breastfeeding, keep drinking.

It's easy to get dehydrated when you fly. Drink more than you think you need.

Bring more nappies than you think you could possibly need. Ask the staff for a secluded spot for nappy changes and to dispose of soiled ones.

Don't go nuts trying to entertain the baby. Keep it low key and follow the baby's rhythms. Let the baby play peep with passengers in the seat behind but don't wear them out. Bring little toys that don't make too much irritating noise, and board books. Let the baby rip magazines. Walk up and down occasionally for a change of scenery and to stretch your legs.

Try not to get tense if the baby cries. Ignore the rude tutting of other passengers if you encounter a rude few. Resist the urge to slap them.

Crying will sound much louder to you than it will to anyone else, in reality.

Make sure your carry on bags are streamlined. Don't carry anything extra beyond your passport and ID and some money, plus toiletries for yourself in your handbag. Bring a bulging baby bag on board and do not put it in the overhead bin. Keep it where you can easily reach it.

I flew on my own with 7mo dd1. Actually easier at this age before they are moving much.

If you are bf, bf on take off and landing - helps with ears popping. Or give a bottle if bottle feeding. Good tip about getting him used to cooler bottles before flight.

I took mine to the toilet with me and just sort of held her on my knee but you could ask someone to watch him. I didnt' find she needed that many toys to entertain her at his age, she was quite happy looking around and doing thigns like scrunching up paper. I had a few little cheap toys that made noises and stuff - the noise of them is drowned out by the noise of the engines really.

I foudn the hardest bit was not really gettign much sleep myself as I could only sleep when she did and I didn't seem to go into a deep sleep - too aware of her there. I also couldn't eat a couple of the meals as she was on my lap so you may want snacks in your bag or the staff will maybe save your meal for later.

You may want to let the airline know you are travelling alone with a child, they may give you some extra help. I flew with Singapore Air and didn't let them know I was on my own - but one of their staff spotted me at the luggage carousel on my own (on arrival). She got all my bags for me, whisked me through the express lane for immigration and customs and had me out into the arrivals hall in about five minutes - fantastic.

Sorry, I meant to say I flew on my own for 23 hours with dd! An 11 hour flight followed by a 12 hour one.

Thanks for the advice, that's all really great. And good to know that others have managed it ok. i think I'll be anxious about it up until it's all over.

I'm going back to Easter Island, where my partner (and DS's papi) is from. It's a beautiful island for a little child to grow up in, something of a retirement village for those of us who can't surf and are more at home in London...

Lots of changes of clothes, for you as well as baby! (I speak as someone who got puked over 2 hours into a 24 hour flight from Sydney and had to do the rest of the journey, including a 3 hour stopover in Hong Kong, in Virgin's natty (!) upper class PJs...)

A sling for carrying around the airport -it may be a while til you get the buggy back, not all airports give them back at door when you land.

Take up any offer from the stewardesses of holding/taking him for a walk!

Don't worry about DVT, he won't be still enough for that to be an issue