Travelling to Australia with 4 nth on my own!

[chocciemousse]

Hi All,
I was hoping someone may be able to help. I am travelling to Australia with my LO who will be just 4 months in a little over a week. Unfortunately I have a long layover in SIngapore (6 hours) and am wanting advice on basically everything. My LO is milk intolerant hence on nutramigen and I am only able to breastfeed her once a day due to a very painful thrush infection in both breasts which has not responded to any treatment.

1. what do I do in regards to water for her formula? Nutramigen is only available in a powder form and the trip (as long as there are no delays) is approximately 30 hours.

2.any tips for a 6 hour layover in singapore?

1. any general tips?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

hi chocciemousse- hope this isn"t too late for you.....
I haven't travelled when mine were so young but it will be easier believe it or not to take a young baby rather than a toddler!

1. with regards to water for formula- I would take a large flask of slightly cooled boiled water- perhaps enough for about 4 -5 bottles worth- i'm pretty sure that this would be fine to go through security although you may be required to 'taste it'! Could take a second smaller empty flask and then get them to boil/cool some more water on the plane and then you have a constant supply of fresh. again could re-stock with boiled water in singapore airport?
2. think there is a hotel in singapore airport where you can book a day room so you can freshen up/get a bit of sleep!
3. take plenty of changes for baby and yourself- there will always be some unexpected delay/baby sick down you etc. Baby carrier/sling may be helpful to give you a free hand, if baby unsettled. make sure you have some calpol/teething gel/powders etc in hand luggage.

good luck and have a good trip

what about bottles for the journey- are you going to take some of the disposable pre-sterilised ones?
Could take a few of your own sterilised and a few disposable so you can ditch some and lighten load. or perhaps several of your own plus a small supply of washing up liquid and mini sterilising kit- ice cream tub with lid and sterilising tablets- again count on needing more bottles due to any delays etc.

obviously if you are still managing on BF a day then you may be able to BF slightly more in an emergency!

I've done the flight on my own (with my dc) a few times now.

It's not easy. I made the ridiculous mistake of taking my buggy and a pullalong suitcase for my hand luggage. How I thought I was going to push the buggy and pull the suitcase I don't know.

My dd also had milk issues and I had to take the milk in liquid form through customs. You are allowed to take milk for infants that is above the 100mls limit but I had to taste all nine bottles.

When you need to go to the toilet, ask someone to hold or watch your baby. I've never had anyone say no.

I took a sling so I could go to sleep or at least rest and know where dd was.

Cant help with the milk but Changi airport is just the best. There is a guide available online. There is plenty to do. There are buggy things that can take your baby and you hand luggage. You can't take them outside the airport so you would struggle to take advantage of the free tour of sinapour as its quite a long walk, although you could use a sling.

Here is info I found on where there are baby rooms
Image of buggy at airport they recline and sit up.

airport guide We had 12hrs in the airport and it went really quickly. We went swimming which meant we could shower at the same time. If you do that use suncream for the baby. My dds had tan lines from a hours swim. A baby would probably have burnt.

Enjoy your trip

My advice would be as follows:

Go online and look at disposable sterilised baby bottles and buy them (test before you leave just to be sure your LO will take to the teat).

Take powder with you. Don't bother with your own water. Security varies so much and I have barely been able to get anything through security with DS when he was little. I certainly wouldn't bother brining bottles ready from home because if you do get them through security you will have to taste them and TBH there is no where onboard to keep that many pre-made bottles cool and onboard can get very warm.

Airside after check in, go to a restaurant and ask them to fill a bottle with hot water in enough time that you have a bottle cool enough and ready mixed for take off.

Cabin crewe will fill bottles with hot water when you need them. You just need to be in a bit of a routine feeding wise so you have a bottle ready in time, ie again for the hot water to cool enough to add power and for LO to take it.

B/F in an emergency if you have to.

Take a sling and check your pram/buggy in leaving your hands free for security etc.

Don't be frightened to ask for help onboard.

Take more nappies and changes of clothes for LO than you think you will need.

Remember to eat and don't forget you won't see these people again!