Travelling to Singapore with a baby tips and advice?

[AshleyMaddie]

Hey! I was wondering if anyone had any tips and advice on travelling with a 5 month old baby to Singapore from England?

I have never been on a plane with my baby and i'm a first time mummy and freaking out about doing this.

How exciting!! Firstly, get in there and book the bassinet seat/request the bassinet itself with the airline. Will make life so much easier! If you’re breast feeding then that’s food sorted, if it’s formula then take those ready made cartons. Feed during take off and landing to stop any ear pain. Pack a change of clothes for everyone in case of travel sickness. Lots of new toys for baby! Be prepared to do a lot of waking up and down. And if they don’t usually return buggies to the aircraft doors at Sing (ask the airline) and you don’t have a YoYo buggy that goes in the overhead locker then get a sling for the walk through the airport.

Definitely get a sling. Handy for walking up and down the plane with your DC.
Plenty of nappies and have nappy change stuff in a separate bag so it's easy to find.
Try to remember- it's so much easier to fly now than when they're mobile

Sling. More nappies, wipes and changes of clothes for both of you than you could imagine needing. Plastic bags for soiled clothing. Lots of formula and sterilised bottles if bottle feeding. Ensure you get a bassinet seat. It’s a great age to travel, you’ll be fine!

Take a hat to pull over LO's eyes and ears to help with sleep and to keep head warm if the air con is too strong.
Even though you'll probably get given blankets by the airline on the flight, still take LO's own blanket as it will have a familiar smell and texture.
Put hand luggage in a back pack so you have your hands free.
I've used this baby sleep balm and it works a treat www.babipur.co.uk/lgr-organic-baby-sleep-balm.html There are loads of other baby sleep balms on the market that are a bit cheaper. I think Boots sells some.
Try to take toys with a clip or attachment that you'll be able to fasten to the seat or tray table to stop them falling on the floor. We found a really good Lamaze toy with a suction pad that we could stick on the tray table. We also took a mirror that we could fasten to the back of the seat in front which DS loved!
If you're taking a dummy, bring a dummy clip to attach it to LO so it doesn't fall on the floor.

I used to live in Singapore and used to take my kids (although not babies) back and forth to the UK. Without a doubt the best airline to fly with is Singapore Airlines.

Their cabin crew is very good and patient with small children and help with any requests - for example heating up bottles, hot water etc.

I’ve often seen their (female) flight attendants holding an infant so that a mother travelling on her own can nip to the toilet or have a hot drink. I currently live in the US and the cabin crews are nowhere near as helpful with parents and little ones.

I always bought my nappies on holiday- just the local brand but I took swim nappies (enough for two or three a day) - they were much more expensive. Also I found that not many places sell nappy bags.
Pack a plug in night light.
I'd take a swim ring. with a float suit, you still have to be guiding them the whole time because if they tip forward they might not be able to right themselves. A swim ring will allow you more freedom.
Rinse or bath your LO after being in the pool because their skin is more sensitive to chlorine.
Take your own sponge for bath time and perhaps a universal bath plug (so you can turn a hotel sink into a baby bath. just put socks over the ends of the taps).
If your LO is sharing your room, it might help to bring a headtorch if you have one so you can do nappy changes etc... without turning the main light on and disturbing your sleeping OH!
For first-aid I'd take calpol, piriton, sudocrem and a thermometer. You can get Calpol and Ibuprofen sachets in handy 5ml sizes.
A baby monitor is also useful.
Don't forget bibs and beakers and a few plastic spoons.
Make sure you have at least one change of clothes for him on the flight and bring a spare top for yourself. Just in case! Layer him up so you can keep him comfy through the flight. Take a hat to pull over his eyes and ears to help with sleep and to keep head warm if the air con is too strong.
Even though you'll probably get given blankets by the airline on the flight, still take LO's own blanket as it will have a familiar smell and texture.
Order all your toddler food and nappies/baby wipes that you will need while you’re at the airport (both ends) and during the flight from Boots for collection after all security checks. You can order baby milk, food, nappies, bottles, suntan lotion, makeup – basically anything they sell. When checking out, select delivery to store. This will hopefully save you some time in the security queue as you will have less liquids to be checked and will save room in your carry-on luggage.
We found a really good Lamaze toy with a suction pad that we could stick on the tray table.
I've used this baby sleep balm for the plane and it works a treat www.babipur.co.uk/lgr-organic-baby-sleep-balm.html There are loads of other baby sleep balms on the market that are a bit cheaper. I think Boots sells some.
If you're taking a dummy, bring a dummy clip to attach it to LO so it doesn't fall on the floor.