advice for travelling long haul with 6-7 mth baby

[E1E2B3]

I am in UK and my daughter is in Australia - I want to bring her and her baby - (born October) to UK in April /May - am keen to get advice about how she should fly - with bassinet or own seat for baby - or car seat for baby, best airlines, how to book etc ! thanks in advance

It goes without saying that buying the baby it’s own seat will be a lot more expensive, but it’s the preferable option if you can afford it. On most airlines, bassinets are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis so there’s no guarantee that she’ll get one. Also, both of my children fitted into the bassinets until they were about 6 months old but no way would they fall asleep in one. I always had to hold them, do the rock a bye baby thing and once they were asleep put them in the bassinet. Also, you can’t leave a baby in a bassinet when the seatbelt sign is on - they have to be on someone’s lap for take off, landing and any turbulence.
If you don’t get a bassinet and instead the baby has to sit on a lap, it could easily turn into a miserable flight for all involved! Its not a comfortable situation, especially in economy where seat and leg space is tight. Add any type of drink/food service to the mix - well….!

Is it not possible for you to go there? Much easier if you can. Unless she wants to come here of course.

IME a baby that age is going to spend most of the flight on a parent’s lap, so no point booking an extra seat. Best thing is for her to bring a V shaped or long pillow so she can have them comfortably on her lap (with lap belt on).

She will likely not get much sleep so will need a nap and you to take over for a while when she arrives. Don’t make any big plans for the first day or two.

Bulkhead/bassinet seats are worthwhile, not so much because of baby sleeping in the bassinet but it gives her somewhere to put all the stuff. Also these seats tend to be near the loos/exits and have more legroom, so there is a space to bob up and down with the baby if needed, or let the baby roll around on the floor for a bit.

Definitely get an aisle seat so she can get in and out easily for nappy changes.

Choose stopover carefully - it might be a good idea to have a longish stopover and book a sleeping pod/room at the airport (some big hub airports have these) in case nobody slept on the flight. If that’s not possible then aim for a shorter stopover so as not to extend the journey.

I think that’s a really hard age tbh. Any chance of her coming over earlier? It’s a lot easier to travel long haul with a 3-4 month old that still sleeps a lot, isn’t weaning so no faff with food, and most importantly still fits in a bassinet. But if it has to be when baby is 6-7 months and you would be booking economy or premium economy then I would look at British Airways. They don’t win for anything else but they will let you prebook a bassinet seat for free and for older babies/young toddlers they have a baby bouncer type seat so no worry about them fitting when over 6 months, which I haven’t seen on other airlines although I’ll admit I’m more experienced with the US carriers than the ones that fly to Australia because that’s where we used to live. Also get her a babyzen yoyo stroller that can go in the overhead locker!

that is really helpful thanks

I have just come back form 3 months there - but visa restrictions and life limit scope for that - also 2024 is brother, dad and sister in law milestone birthday year and she wants to show the other grandkids the baby - hence the idea to have a trip to here! thinks for your experience and advice - really helpful

again thank you for really helpful advice !

Don't bother weaning until you get home. We went to France when ds ws 6 months. Ebf until we got home at 7 months old... Made for a much easier trip!!