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Original poster

6 hour flight alone with 9 week baby

22 replies

Tch1 · 08/08/2017 08:33

Hey!
I've had a look through the old threads but can't find anything.
I travelled to have my little one for better medical facilities but now I need to fly home which involves a 6 hour flight alone with a 9 week baby. I am breast feeding and worrying about what hell the whole flight will be! Has anyone experienced this?
I am told I need to hold her the whole way on my knee.. this seems almost impossible! Any hints or tips? How do you even go to the toilet?! Is it better to purchase 2 seats? Even in this case though she is already 60cm and won't fit laying on the seat next to me?!
As you can tell I'm stressing massively but there is no other option, we need to get back to life and daddy!
Someone please have some positive experiences??
Thanks

OP posts:

eurochick · 08/08/2017 08:34

Can you try to get a bassinet seat?

Lenl · 08/08/2017 08:37

Some flight companies offer sky cots, usually you have to request them but you could ring and ask.

I also think you should get a sling of some kind then you can have your hands free. Baby may fall asleep being walked in a sling and then you can sit back down with two hands.

If they don't offer a sky cot and you can afford it I'd be tempted to get a second seat (or fly on a higher class if it's cheaper) just for the extra space for all the stuff babies need. Then you can spread your stuff out a bit x

laura1306 · 08/08/2017 08:38

I don't think they will let you purchase 2 seats because of the age of the child but I'd try standing at the back of the plane and bouncing baby if they don't settle or a few walks up and down the aisle. Perhaps do a little shop before you board the plane with some new teethers and rattles to shake around and fascinate the little one. Good luck, let us know how it went when you land!

blueskyinmarch · 08/08/2017 08:39

Bulkhead seat with bassinet if you can get it. Otherwise you just have to manage. If it is a decent sized plane you will be able to walk around holding her. I guess the issue will be eating a meal. You will have to hope the cabin crew and your neighbours will be helpful.

ForTheSnarkWasABoojumYouSee · 08/08/2017 08:40

I'd never thought of the going to the loo problem. I assume cabin crew would hold baby for five minutes when necessary. Or you could use a sling of course.

stealthbanana · 08/08/2017 08:42

There should be a bassinet/sky cot. If not and you can afford it, get a second seat and bring your car seat - you can strap it to the seat and your LO can sit in that.

Going to the loo - you take her with you! Although most flight attendants love babies and will probably hold her for you if you want. Breastfeeding makes life v easy - just feed in your seat (do NOT worry about people looking at you or be tempted to feed in the loo) on demand. Bring a few blankets to put over the hard plastic seat edges etc. And a little hat to pull down over her eyes. And lots of changes of clothes in case of poosplosions etc.

Would also recommend an ergobaby for the airport - much easier to eg put your cabin luggage in the overhead when they're strapped to you. Also the babyzen yoyo can be taken on board and you can even wheel it down the aisle of lots of planes. There's a newborn attachment if you want to go down that route.

Good luck! You will be fine. I did a 22 hour flight with a 10 week old and it was fine. You can do it!

Crumbs1 · 08/08/2017 08:42

Sky cot is way forward. Could you afford business so you could lay flat and cuddle up together?
Young babies are much easier than toddlers.

PotteringAlong · 08/08/2017 08:49

Put the in the sling when you go to the toilet!

fizzytonicplease · 08/08/2017 09:06

I took DS at 6 weeks on two flights one was four hours then I got the connecting flight that was 1 hour.
He was fine I was worried as I was on my own but the cabin crew were so helpful. I was also breastfeeding and found making sure it was feeding on take off and landing helped his ears.

I had him in a Bjorn carrier so my hands were free & so he was nestled into me for most of the flight, he slept nearly the whole way.

The cabin crew would hold him when I needed a wee and assisted me to help change him ( took me to the back of the plane for privacy) on the second flight they had some spare seats and let me move so I had more space.

It so much easier flying at that age than when they are toddler's. I also found staff at both airports to be more than willing to help me.

fizzytonicplease · 08/08/2017 09:09

My flights were low cost flights, and it was the first flight with easyjet that moved me not the second flight. They were all so helpful.

Batoutahell · 08/08/2017 09:11

Don't worry! It will be fine. And you can feed if she cries. Don't over think it.

fizzytonicplease · 08/08/2017 09:11

I need to stop hitting send when I'm not finished!
Also you won't have to hold her the whole time, I had to take DS out the sling for take off and landing so the belt was over us while I was feeding him.

ICJump · 08/08/2017 09:12

I flew London to a tiny Aussie town with my seven week old. It was fine. I fed lots, people were kind. Someone even brought me a bottle of water at Heathrow. The airline staff were super helpful too.

Avebury · 08/08/2017 09:47

Honestly it will be the easiest flight you will ever do with your child. She won't be wriggling around and wanting to crawl down the aisle, you don't need to worry about running out of snacks and entertainment and people love a small baby so will go out of their way to help you.
Settle in, enjoy the enforced cuddle time and cluster feed to your heart's content.

Sluttybartfast · 08/08/2017 09:49

Travelling with a newborn is a piece of piss compared to travelling witha toddler or older child, especially a breastfed newborn.

Buy a sling and wear baby through airport and on plane other than when seatbelts need to be on. Boob as much as needed. Go to loo with baby in sling. Baby will probably sleep most of the flight! I've flown with mine at 6/7 weeks and it was by far the easiest flight.

StraffeHendrik · 08/08/2017 09:59

If not and you can afford it, get a second seat and bring your car seat - you can strap it to the seat and your LO can sit in that.

I don't think you can take rear facing car seats on the plane, only front facing ones.

Bassinet seat would be best if poss

I think most airlines would let you buy an extra seat for the baby but you often have to book over the phone rather than online. If you can afford it this would be more comfortable - not only for the extra space but because you are not right up next to another passnger (which will be stressful if baby howls). Some airlines have the seats by the window in pairs rather than threes so if you could get a pair for you and baby that would be perfect.

Virgin used to do a thing where you could book the seat next to you for just the cost of the ticket (no tax as there would be no passenger, which makes it less than half price). That would be great if you could do that...?

We took our 8 week old on a 4 hour flight, it was absolutely fine - there were lots of older children on the plane and they looked like much harder work- ours was too young to really notice the difference. If I had had to have her on my own with no extra space it would have been ok, maybe quite achy arms at the end though

parrotseatemall · 08/08/2017 11:42

I did this quite a lot on my own and I never didn't get a bassinet. I thought all airlines had them but I guess I could be wrong!

I agree that a little non-sitting baby is so much easier than 12-18 months. They sleep and feed most of the time. Fingers crossed it'll go well!

A couple of memorable solo flights include me getting hideous tummy troubles during the flight and having the stewardesses mind baby while I went frequently to the loo, and another time having the baby develop a fever while on the flight. She was fine at takeoff.. was glad I had packed baby panadol.

LIZS · 08/08/2017 11:46

Skycot/bassinette or you could book a second seat and use an infant carseat but you still have to hold baby for takeoff and landing.

Original poster

Tch1 · 08/08/2017 11:47

Ah amazing thank you for all the encouragement and advice!!
I have bought a baby carrier. I spoke to the airline about bassinets but no one seems to know if they'll have them or not. It's classed as a Mid-haul flight and it's a standard Thomson holiday flight with no chance for upgrade of class. No other airlines fly direct from U.K. Either! I guess I will make do and all will be ok.
Thank you so much for the replies! I'm not dreading it as much now

OP posts:

oeufdepaques · 08/08/2017 11:49

It will be easy. Feed on take off and landing. Request a bassinet - call in advance for this. Put baby in the sling when you need to go to the loo.
Look back fondly on this flight when you're doing it with a toddler (not difficult either just more tiring for you)

riddles26 · 08/08/2017 16:16

Thomson flights don't have bassinet facilities or an upper class (as you rightly mentioned).

If you feel it's worth it, pay for extra legroom seats but baby of that age doesn't take up too much space. I personally found a breastfeeding pillow to be the best thing ever to take on a flight with me when I flew with my daughter, she stayed on breast and fell asleep comfortably plus my arms were free. Other thing I loved was a breastfeeding cover/apron thing - I never use them in public here but I didn't like the idea of being in that close proximity to strangers without something covering me so it was wonderful.

Sling is a godsend for walking around airports and walking on the plane. Stretchy wrap is a cheaper alternative if you don't otherwise use a baby carrier

Good luck

Gunpowder · 08/08/2017 16:42

DD1 was such a tricky baby but was amazing on planes as a newborn. She slept almost the whole time. Almost considered getting flights just so I could sleep! Agree a sling really helps if your baby likes them.

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