Long haul flight - no bassinet

[olive2024]

Hello everyone,

I'm flying overnight london to Dubai with a 5 month old. There are no bassinet seats available. any advice on what I can take to ensure she has somewhere safe to sleep?

Thanks!

Can you take a sling so she can sleep on you/other adults but your hands are free

Have you chosen seats yet? Can you see if there are any rows with an empty seat that you can hope stays free? If not, could you ask at check in if there are any spaces with a seat free?

Can you take a sling and she sleeps on you in that? Otherwise have you booked her a seat, in which case you could make a nest for her on that to sleep in?

Would also suggest a sling. Your child may well not fit the bassinet as they are so very small.

Thanks for the speedy response! It's a flight just before Christmas so the flight is full :(

Sling then, or just hold her so she gets some sleep. If you have someone else going with you you could take turns.

If you have no bassinet and you haven't purchased a seat for her, then she will be on your lap. So 'somewhere safe to sleep' is on you. You can choose how you accommodate that. A sling is a good idea, but you might both find it quite hot (planes are usually too hot or too cold IME).

Slings a good idea thanks. Yes going with my husband so can take it in turns!

I'd advise a sling also. We've done long haul with bassinet and baby refused to go in it so I held them the entire time any way you also can't put them in there when the seatbelt sign is on (which was pretty much most of the flight!) so I don't feel you're missing much.

I did a 12 hour long haul with no bassinet when DS was three months old (had booked a bassinet seat but they ran out on bassinets - thanks BA!). I was by myself and no sling as was expecting the bassinet so had to hold him in my arms the entire flight but it was fine, even in economy the seat reclined enough that he could easily lie on me and sleep. I didn't sleep much though as was terrified of dropping him! I can confirm it was still much easier than travelling with a toddler - make the most of long haul flights before they start walking!