Any tips for taking a 10 week old on a plane?

[FreckleyGirlAbroad]

In a couple of days we are flying back to the UK which means a 4 hour flight in the evening. DS is an uncomfortable little baby, not sure if it's colic, trapped wind or reflux issues but he cries a lot, like most of the day . He is ebf so I always have that to help him of he gets upset.

I just don't want him to get stressed and make me that stressed out parent who feels the whole plane is eye-rolling and judging me and dh.

We took dd flying when she was 6 weeks - I was really stressed about it too. Try to make sure you bf on take off and landing as swallowing helps with the pressure in the ears. If you can and you need to get up and move around with him, do. As much as you can, do whatever you would normally do to soothe him, and in this instance just think about yourselves and stop worrying about anyone else :)

(When I was stressed before flying home with the then 8 week old dd, my mum said to me that dd, dh and I were the most important people in the world, and everyone else could get stuffed. Not advice I would usually adhere to, but in this instance it helped - I knew I would do the best I could to keep her calm and quiet, but if it didn't work, I didn't get stressed!)

A few things that worked for me - using a buggy around the airport but also a sling for being at the gate and getting on the plane.
If you normally have routine don't worry and just follow your babies lead with regard to feeds and sleeps.
Breastfeed on takeoff, and when you start to feel the descent (seatbelt sign may not yet have come back on).
Walk around on the plane - stretches your legs and relieves boredom for your baby.
I did 2.5 hours on my own and that's about the limit I think if you are squashed between 2 people on a Ryanair flight with a baby in your lap. Ok if you can swap carrying with someone else but if not I would consider buying a seat so you could lay them down for a sleep next to you.

Not my own advice but read some tips recently -don't start bf until literally just before take off, they recommended waiting til you hear the engines fire, and secondly prepare individual changing packs with nappy, nappy sack and clean clothes (apparently air travel can cause explosive poos!) so you're not rooting around for stuff.

Thanks for the tips on bfing on take off and landing. We are only just starting on some kind of routine and luckily, for the flight purposes, his favourite place of all to sleep is resting on my naked boob after feeding so am going that will work for him.

It is a Ryanair flight so am just hoping dh and I can get seats together and on an aisle.

The sooner ds gets used to it the better as he's going to be seeing the insides of lots of planes during his childhood!!

I flew with ds at 6 and 9wks -a good blanket to wrap him in si we could sleep was great. I didnt feed up or down on the 4 flights and had no problems. No other special problems like crazy poos but I did have nappies etc to hand in a side pocket of my bag.

Also, a nice little rub behind the ears works wonders on take off, and decent. My dd2 was 3mo when we emigrated to Oz, so know too well what it's like.

I flew on my own with ds, it was fine don't worry too much.

A spare top for you I case of sick! So easy to have spare stuff for a baby and not you!

I have taken lots of flights with my DS(20 weeks) as we live overseas and have to travel a lot. His first flight was at 6 weeks. He generally falls asleep (also on the breast). Feeding taking off/landing doesn't make any difference to him.

• We take a blanket as extra padding around the seat to make things more comfortable.

• Drink lots of water as it is easy to become dehydrated BFing on a flight (IME). Also take some snacks in case you get hungry but can't face the airline food.

• if you can feed your DS in a sling/carrier and he falls asleep it is then easier for you to sleep (as he is attached and can't slip out of your lap).

Please don't worry. I have found people to be super in helping me with luggage etc.

Good luck!

We took our refluxy 8 week old and it was a little painful but manageable! The sling was key, it was easy in the airport and then let DS sleep on the plane.

We dressed him up cutely and said hello and apologised to our neighbours in advance, which was good as we had an hour of crying. The crew were awesome though, they let us come and stand in the back so we didn't disturb everyone and then DS fell asleep in the sling, so I could sit down and just stand up and jiggle him back to sleep whenever he awoke. We used the ergo, but a soft sling like a moby would also work well.

It'll go faster than you think! And if it's terrible, just remember that you will never have to see any of the other passengers again Also, feed on takeoff and landing to avoid ears popping!

Saw this and thought it was brilliant but would be a faf for just a four hour flight

bf as much as possible as also little can't cry when bf. A change of clothes for your ds and a small nappy change bag with a cloth & wipes in case you need to do a quick change on your lap if suddenly all comes out

Mortified, I love that and had seen before somewhere and maybe when we go to see family in Oz we might try it but I don't have the time or energy to get my arse in gear to sort that out!!! Such a great idea though!!!

We have a hanawrap sling which we'll be taking only thing is, he doesn't like being in it when I sit down, only when I'm walking about.

Thanks for all the great tips. Also Ryanair are slacking their policy on hand luggage from tomorrow which should make life a little easier!

I remember standing up for the best part of a 10hour flight with 4mo DS in a sling except when I was BFing. Hopefully your little cherub will go to sleep on boob and stay there.

A full change of clothes for everyone (well top and trousers for you) and at least 3 changes for him. We have had flight poo in the past, although not while on such a short flight. You have the journey the other end to consider too and their bowels can be a little off for a day or so.

Good luck - you'll be fine :) people do it all the time and the other passengers can't expect to have child free flights every time. You win some you lose some.

We took our now 15 months old the first time at around 8 weeks in the plane. He didn't like to sleep much, so we were stressed. But to our surprise, he slept at take off and landing all by himself. I guess, he tired himself so much by looking around before boarding the plane, he dozed off by the time it was time to fly.

I am sure you will be ok, and your little bub may just surprise you :)

we travelled by plane with our DD when she was 6 weeks but it really wasn't that bad. I fed her as much as possible during the flight, and she was so little that she would be walked to sleep in the sling and dozed for a lot of it. She was really good - easier that when we took her on a flight at 11 months old!

Other passengers might not love it, but it is very normal for babies to be on flights, they'll get over it, and if they don't you'll never see them again. Don't feel bad if your baby cries on the plane - that's what they do!