Flying with 4 month old - advice?

[Queenofpi]

Next month I'm flying out to Greece to visit my expat mum, taking my baby daughter. Husband isn't coming (no issues, he just doesn't like sunny holidays!) so it will just be me and baby on the plane. Does anyone have any tips? Such as:
Aisle seat or window seat best?
Do other passengers tend to get funny about breastfeeding?
Must haves for hand luggage?
Ta muchly!

Is baby bf? I don’t think you’ll have any issues tbh. Aisle seat is easier if you need to get up and walk to soothe/deal with a nappy! Take wipes, familiar blanket, muslins and if not bf then enough in bottles to feed a bit during takeoff and landing as this helps with ears. There’s a good chance they’ll sleep the whole time Oh and a baby carrier/sling is much the easiest

Oh sorry just seen about bf.

I’ve never had anyone get funny at all and i’ve bf babies and toddler on flights to some conservative countries. A nursing top makes it easier to be discreet. If your bf if really will be very easy.

Definitely a carrier to get on the plane, if you have to go up the steps it’s really awkward otherwise.

(Be prepared to take baby out of whatever you’re using to carry at security-unfortunately even if they’re asleep!)

Sling. Change of outfit for baby and clean top for you in case of baby being sick on you or on self/ leaky nappy. Baby wipes and a couple of rattles to distract with. Carry as minimal as possible to make it easier.

If your likely to visit your mum fairly often ie a couple of times per year, I would get a cheap travel cot delivered direct to her house, and a basic small folding pushchair. Most will be used 3+ years. That way each trip you can travel light with just baby carrier.

Handluggage I recommend a small rucksack that fits under seat infront so everything is easy to get even when seatbelt sign is on.

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.
You should try and give your LO a drink whilst taking off and landing to relieve any pressure in his/her ears. Either that or encourage them to suck your finger or a dummy (that works for longer!).
Order all baby food and nappies that you want/need for the flight and when you're waiting for your flight online to be picked up from Boots at the airport after security. This will hopefully save you some time in the security queue as you will have less liquids to be checked and perhaps save a little room in your suitcase too. Win, win! You are allowed ONE standard airport shopping bag on to your flight in addition to your hand luggage. e.g You can have hand luggage + 1 Boots bag or hand luggage + a standard bag from another airport store.
You can get Calpol and Ibuprofen sachets. Perfect for travel and in handy 5ml sizes. Several airlines now have baby food available as a pre order option for your flight, so check this out fir
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.
If you're taking a dummy, bring a dummy clip to attach it to LO so it doesn't fall on the floor.
Make sure you have at least one change of clothes on the flight and bring a spare top for yourself. Just in case!
Aim to choose an aisle seat near the front of the plane or if the aircraft has a bulkhead seat (usually long haul) try and book one if possible. This will allow you to have plenty of space and will give you the mobility to get up and walk around if you need to, plus you can board and leave the plane much easier. I like an aisle seat when flying with kids as I can easily get up to get things and go to the toilets, but if you’re breastfeeding you may prefer the window seat for privacy.
Some parents do prefer to sit near the bathrooms at the back, but noise levels can be higher towards the rear of the plane, this might be useful depending on how your baby responds to noise, take this into consideration.
Most airlines will allow you to take the pushchair right up to the plane door and then staff will pop it under with the luggage. Ask at check-in whether you get it back on the Tarmac once you've landed or whether it will turn up on the carousel. You should get priority boarding.
Good luck x

Sling for getting to the plane/ off the other side before you get the pushchair back.
Use the family lanes for security and passport
Spare clothes for both of you
Rucksack so you're hands free.
I've found people to be generally very nice on planes with our LO, happy to play peekaboo and wave at him so none of our flights have been as bad as we thought!

Thanks everyone, lots of things I hadn't thought about there so you've been really helpful ☺

I took a buggy bag and put the nappies in with buggy so I didn't have to deal with an extra bag on the flight.