Longhaul with baby on lap

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We're looking at TUI longhaul deals for a hot January holiday with 5mo DS, but TUI do not do bassinets. So it's either have DS on our laps, cough up £500 for another seat (which pushes it to be unaffordable, tbh) or don't go.

Anyone done this?

I flew to Australia with my 20 month old. I had a bassinet for first leg but she spent half the time in my lap due to turbulence and second leg in my lap the whole time. Tiring but fine. Even better if you're breastfeeding as that helps keep them calm and ease ear pressure.

Baby carrier so they can sleep on your chest? You’d need to take them out for take off and landing though.

I’ve gone to the Caribbean with a 6 month year old baby and we had a bassinet on the way back but she was on my lap on the way out. Truthfully, it was hard work due to lack of space and a lot of crying but you do survive it! There will be two of you which does help. Not sure where you are going but in my experience, longhaul and hot with a baby didn’t turn out to be the relaxing experience I was hoping for. Keeping DD out of the heat was a nightmare, added onto that was the time it took her to adjust to the time difference. If you are going to do longhaul with a baby I’d really recommend going somewhere temperate not tropical, it’s just more pleasant for everyone!

Do you really need to go on holiday with such a young one?

I managed with a 10m old on my lap (on my own), it was not that bad really. You just need to take turns to hold him so the other one can eat/go to the toilet.

At 5 months is should be ok - but yes yes yes to the sling.

In my experience, your baby will want to sit on you whether you get them a lap, bassinet or individual seat. We flew long haul with dd many times before she was 5 and she spent the lions share of every flight on my/dh’s lap regardless of her own seat entitlement! She slept across the two of us quite happily. Take the sling, save your money.

5 months should be fine on lap. I found it harder from about 8 months onwards - sleeping less easily and more keen to be on the move.

If they're not crawling, they're much easier to hold, either sitting or sleeping on a lap. Bassinet is a great feature if available, but totally doable without one.