Any tips/advice on taking a 10 month old long haul?

[CherryBlossom27]

Hi everyone,

My DH and I are planning to take DS to Hong Kong in October to visit family. I felt quite confident before giving birth, but now it seems quite a daunting trip!

I have a million questions in my head, how do you feed the baby on the plane, are you allowed to take formula milk? I'm thinking that I will sterilise the bottles and take the cartons of milk and pour it in as and when required. As for food I'm guessing you can take ready made jars of baby food on as hand luggage?

When we get there, I think DS will sleep in the next room, this has a grown up size double bed, he shouldn't be able to roll out as there's a mosquito net covering the bed like a tent.

With sterilising the bottles when we get there I'm planning to boil them in a pan - does anyone know how long I should boil them for? The water is fresh and DH's nan boils it before drinking anyway so I don't see any problems with this.

Also is it best to get a really cheap pushchair? Will the airline's put this in the hold or can it be taken as hand luggage?

Last but not least, does anyone have any tips on relieving jet pay for little ones?

We took DS 8 months to Dom Rep last year on plane.
You can take bottles, formula etc, but they get you to taste a sip from random selection at security. We did powder and boiled water, but I would think cartons are fine too.
Jars are fine, might have to taste again.

We stayed in hotel that provided travel cot, though took are own too as didn't know this. Travel cot and pushchair (and car seat if taking) aren't included in luggage allowance.
We bought a travel steriliser in boots, and used as cold water one with tap water and tablets. Took travel kettle to boil tap water (which was supposedly safe to drink, the resort treated it or something)

Try Tesco, we got plain cheap blue one for £10. You take it up as far as the gate, then fold it and they sort it for you. You get it back at baggage reclaim/as you get off, depends on airline.

DS slept the entire way there and back pretty much, I would say just let them do as they want, then sort out routine based on what time you arrive/time of flight etc but don't worry too much, they are very adaptable.

I think I answered most of your questions best I can.. hope it helps.

If you think of any more, I'll pop back =)

Have traveled a fair bit with little one aged 4 months to 18 months:

Sterilising - take milton tablets and use a bowl of cold water.
You can take formula and food on plane - security may ask you to taste it.
If you are staying in a hotel call ahead and ask for travel cot
Most hotels will have a kettle in the room, or provide one if not. No point taking up luggage space with one as hotels should all have them.
Ask hotel to get you nappies, wipes, etc or buy when you get there. I always ask hotel to get me some nappies.
Feed (either bottle or BF) at take off and landing to help regulate baby's ear pressure.
Luggage - pack as light as you can, baby won't need as much as you think, don't bother packing toys other than a couple of small things. hand luggage for plane - take a small bag with your baby bits in and your own small hand luggage. Make sure nappy mat, nappies and wipes are close to hand during flight. Take some nappy bags - v useful for dirty clothes, etc.
Take a spare set of clothes for baby and a top for yourself in hand luggage.
Airline will heat bottle for you if you need it, altho by 8 months our LO didn't need milk heated, we just poured from carton.
Yes you can take any kind of pushchair right to the gate where they stick it in the hold. A light pushchair (e.g. babyjogger city mini or maclaren) is handy for space saving in taxis, car rental, etc the other end.
Phone your airline and book a bassinet for the journey. Our baby has always slept well on planes - I think it is the white noise sound from the engines.
Enjoy!!!
My mantra has basically become pack light, light, light... unless you are going to the back and beyond of the amazon or somewhere, you will be able to buy anything you find you've forgotten pretty much anywhere in the world...especially in HK!

I travelled loads with mine from just after birth. In my experience car seats, push chairs are all allowed free of charge.

I think you boil things for two minutes.

I would take cold water serialising tablets. Also mother care do brilliant cold water sterilising bags that contain the tablet and last for 24 hours once you have added the water. They are folded into tiny, tiny sealed packages. I would hang this on the back of the hotel bathroom door just in case of spillages!

Also take one or two instant, ready sterilised disposable bottles just in case of emergencies.

Take spare clothes for you in hand luggage, not only for baby, just in case of a poo or sick moment!

Basically do everything on plane as you would at home. You can go and chat with the air hosts at the back of the plane, they'll warm things up for you or give you boiled water. In my experience,travelling with a proper airline, everything has always been easy - you even get to board first.

I've always taken my big pushchairs so that everything is as normal as possible for the baby but they failed to transfer one and another was badly damaged. Both problems were sorted amazingly quickly by the airline but you might not want to risk it!

Enjoy! The younger they start flying, the easier it is!

Thanks guys, I hadn't thought of he cold water sterilising bags, I will take a look at them :-)

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that DS won't cry too much on the plane, he's generally a good baby and there will be me and DH to calm him down if needed. Hadn't thought about the noise, but I think he will like that, he sleeps well in the car or on the bus :-)

I will take over our own formula milk I think and ask DH's nan to get some nappies in for us. I think for food once we're there the family will be feeding him home coiked food at every opportunity so I'll only need jars of food for the plane.

Starting to feel a bit more confident about this now!