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Holidays

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Original poster

ideal age to take baby longhaul?

14 replies

loopylopey · 15/12/2006 09:45

hi, i'm desperate to take my 14week old back home to australia for a 2 week holiday so family can meet her, but am worried about how much we'll actually enjoy it depending on how disruptive a 20hour flight will be.. has anyone flown to perth with a baby and are there any ways of getting baby adjusted to new time easily?

OP posts:

Tatties · 15/12/2006 16:17

We took ds to Oz when he was 6mo, it was fine. We timed our flights to co-incide with 'night-time' as much as possible to maximise the chance of him sleeping most of the way. I was bf so that made things really easy, I just fed him to sleep then put him in the bassinet. Make sure you book one well in advance and double-check there is one reserved for you!
The little time that he was awake we would take it in turns to have a walk around, chat to the stewards, etc..
We arrived in the morning, pretty tired, so we had a nap then went to bed as usual, and we adjusted fine. You'll probably find your dd adjusts better than you!

GoodKingWestCountryLass · 16/12/2006 22:06

The best age, imo, is when they are little but before they are mobile (want to crawl/walk everywhere) and after about the age of 2.5 when they can be reasoned with better.

Quick, go now!

Astrophe · 16/12/2006 22:13

we flew from sydney a year ago when dd was 18 months. it was dreadful (but i was also 27 weeks preggers). I can't imagine it being any easier with my 9 month old, as he is so active. He would be very distressed if he had to be held for hours. I would think between 3 and 6 months would be the best time. After 3 months you are hopefully getting some sleep and baby has a bit of a routine and isn't feeding quite so constantly, sleeps for regularly etc. And before 6 months when crawling can start.

After our hellish flight here, we have decided not to go home for a holiday at all, and just to stay the full 3 years! By then mine will be 5 and 3, so hopefully better.

Good luck!

Original poster

loopylopey · 18/12/2006 08:30

thanks!!!

OP posts:

hulababy · 18/12/2006 08:34

BIL and SIL have just taken my niece to Australia to visit SIL's family. She is 6 months and apparantly the flight and everything all went really well.

TheBlonde · 18/12/2006 08:40

Not done a full 20 hrs with a LO yet but have done 8 hrs a few times
I would say under 6 months is easier
Flight at 9 mths was a nightmare as LO was too big for bassinet
Surprisingly found 20 mths was bearable

aDadOnAOneHorseOpenSleigh · 18/12/2006 08:51

Do it soon! Like everyone says.

Or wait about 3 years.

sunnywong · 18/12/2006 09:26

has anyone said wait till she's had all her jabs? You really should

I flew to Perth when ds1 was 5 months old and as I was BF it was a piece of cake as no palava with bottles etc.

My top tip is make the take off the same time as she usually goes down for the night, and go Emirates. You probably know it cuts the journey right in two and makes it much much easier.

As to getting her adjusted, you will just have to forgo the first two days of your visit here and get yourselves in alignment with the time difference, don't try to do anything too stressful and make your family work around you.

We just spent the arvo at Point Walter............ bloody gorgeous

SchneeBallFight · 18/12/2006 09:35

we took 3 different flights to get to america when DS1 was 6 months and he was an angel on the outward and return journeys. He was young enough to sleep a lot and not mobile so didnt want to run around. He actually slept for the whole return flight because it was through the night.

DoesntChristmasDragOn · 18/12/2006 09:37

I've flowl long haul with babies of various ages. Before crawling but when they can sit up is ideal. 18 months is by far the worst age we've done it!

Original poster

loopylopey · 18/12/2006 13:09

that's great - just means we're gonna have to miss out on perth summer and go in their winter! nay mind!

sunnywong - very jealous, i love point walter!!! enjoy. yes, emirates rule!! definitely will fly with them!

OP posts:

oremstango · 03/01/2007 18:07

Any tips on getting the little ones time adjusted given jet lag?

PanicPants · 03/01/2007 18:25

I'd go now before it's too late! M ds is 16months and it's far to late for us for the time being!

eidsvold · 08/01/2007 01:54

we took dd1 for her first flight to Aus when she was 8 months old. We flew out at night think it was the 6.30pm flight and then by the time we got to singapore we had another night flight. Very useful - we did the night routine - she had a feed, put her in pjs and sleeping bag - kept the one she had been sleeping in the days before - familiar smell and she went off.

Having said that - couple next to us had a little boy around the same age as dd1 and he did not settle the whole way to Singapore. SO it can depend on your child.

SIngapore were fabulous.

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