Flying with 4 month old

[Selma22]

For reasons I am not going to go in I will need to fly (short haul 2.5 hours ) with 4 month old DD.
I am using Ryanair.Could someone who has done this please advise on how to manage it best?

I’ve flown withDD when she was 9 weeks old and totally easy, literally the easiest age to fly when they aren’t at a walking crawling stage.

Are you taking a buggy to the plane? You are literally leave this at the plane door.. and collect the other end. Makes life easy.
We bottle fed, so I took ready made cartons with me on the plane and a couple of bottles. Nappies , wipes etc.

They sit on your knee , most likely sleep and it’s just easy.

Main issue will be needing to change a nappy if she poos on the flight. Toilets are a bit cramped. Otherwise not a very big deal. Are you breastfeeding? Feeding on take-off and landing helps the air pressure in their ears equalise so it's a good idea. Bit trickier with bottles to get the timing right I would assume but still worth it.

I'd take them in a sling for easier moving up and down the plane if getting a bit cranky.

Presumably you’ve got a passport already sorted for her as well?

Yep agree, definitely the easiest time to fly with a child! You shouldn’t have any issues. Just take a couple of large muslins just in case of projectile vomit (speaking from experience!).

For reasons I am not going to go in I will need to fly (short haul 2.5 hours ) with 4 month old DD.
It sounds like someone has been in your ear suggesting there is something wrong/difficult/unnecessary/whatever about flying with a baby and it's made you understandably defensive and a bit worried. It's really fine. Flying with a 4 month old is nothing you need to explain or defend. It's a totally normal thing to do.

Yes, it's pretty easy when they're tiny. I flew short-haul with dd at 9 weeks and long hall at 6 months, both very manageable

Easiest age to fly with. Give them a bottle when taking off an landing so ears don't pop. Otherwise it's fine

Double nappy.
Then any potential poonamis are contained and you already have a fresh nappy underneath for changing.
Toilets are very cramped.
Presume you have a sling for the airport to make security etc a lot easier.
Sometimes they get funny if you walk through the scanners holding the baby. But if you are travel alone then you have no choice.
If you are taking expressed milk - be prepared to explain that it's not a dangerous liquid.

Good luck - it's a good age to fly (honestly)

Oh my.This has really relieved quite a bit of anxiety. Thank you!
Buggy was a worry but if they take it then that's a problem solved .So you just carry on the baby and they sit on your knee.How is their safety managed on taking off and landing?
Also did the plane pressure aggravate them?

So you just carry on the baby and they sit on your knee.How is their safety managed on taking off and landing?
They get an extender belt that loops round your belt and you can just hold them.
Also did the plane pressure aggravate them?
It's only an issue on take-off and landing. Feeding during that time alleviates it so they are generally fine. I never used bottles but I've seen people on here talking about pre-ordering ready made bottles from Boots and collecting after security to make like easier if you need bottles.

Thank you all! Was really worried as for some reason I haven't really noticed babies on board before .I know...of course they fly but till you have one its not really something you think about

Dont load the pushchair with too much stuff... you need to take it out at security!
Check what happens with pushchair at arrival airport, some you don't get it back to baggage reclaim. Sling is always a good back up. (Especially if you have to go up and down the plane steps instead of a walkway).
Use hold luggage and only have bare essentials as hand luggage. Its a lot easier.

People I find are lovely with babies on planes too… when I flew with DS when he was about 13-14 months one of the staff offered to have him whilst I went to the bathroom! I had a lovely lady next too me who kept playing with him… everyone is lovely with children

Recently took my 3 month old on holidays to Mexico, the 11 hour flight was a breeze. I think he liked the loud white noise that you always get on flights. I fed him on take off and landing, although I think its only really landing you need to worry about. We flew over with British Airways and they gave us a little seat belt for him, flew home with American Airlines and they didn't give seat belts, just said to hold him. Don't know what Ryanairs policy is.

At this age, I think most babies are happy just being held and snuggled and fed for hours on end so flights are no problem for them. We used a carrier and bought a folded travel buggy that we were allowed to bring right to the door of the flight and we collected it at the baggage area on the other side.

Thats great.Thank you !

I flew by myself with a 4 month old 32 hours non stop travelling time to NZ. Hopefully you’re breastfeeding as if you are it’s a breeze - no food and no bottles! But if you are FF I’ve seen cabin crew be really helpful with bottles etc etc. can’t really think of any particular tips, 4 months is a great age for a short flight like that. Passport is your main issue!

I did it recently and my DC cried for 2 hours due to air pressure. The air stewardess told me always dose them with calpol as it helps their ears. I did it on the flight back, it was a totally different experience and my DC was very happy. Funnily the same air stewardess was on the return flight and asked if I had used calpol as she could tell they were a lot happier!

Take a sling. You may or may not get your pushchair back until baggage reclaim.
Take a spare top for you, spare clothes for baby, enough milk and nappies for the whole journey, plus a couple of spares.
Dont take too much stuff as hand luggage - you need to be able to carry baby plus all your stuff by yourself (unless you have a second adult). I used a rucksac. Put a mini bag of nappy change stuff that us easy to grab rather than gaving to take everything with you. Please dont change a dirty nappy at your seat. The people sitting behind you can smell it for several rows (wet is ok if that's what you prefer).
Baby will get a seatbelt that slides onto your to your seatbelt.
Consider taking a sachet of calpol with you.

Agree with sling suggestion, much easier to get up and down the steps to a plane as well. Buggy you can fold and lift with one hand. I use a rucksack for hand luggage as it's easier to juggle that and baby. Click and collect baby stuff to boots airside so you don't need to take it through security. Dummy clip for dummy if you use one so it doesn't disappear. There's usually a family lane for security at big airports so use that. Take spare clothes for both of you in hand luggage.

Airport staff in bigger UK airports tend not to be helpful or friendly in my experience so security checks can be a bit hard work. We certainly help out other parents in the queue, I've held babies before and DH has folded pushchairs to get them through the scanners.

I found a sling generally easier around airports but I was a sling user anyway.

You will be given an extension belt for the baby.

Take extra clothes for them and you in hand luggage. The pressure changes can cause explosions at both ends.

DD is 11 now so rather a long time ago but we did a lot of trips before she turned 2 and seats became chargeable. Under 6 months is possibly the easiest point as it's milk only you need to sort.

Sling is definitely v handy. If you travel entirely without a buggy it's doable but you will need to manage the loo yourself while "wearing the baby". The changing table folds down over the airline loo so there is no way you can strap your baby to that while you pee. That said you will not be short of 100's of cooing complete strangers offering to hold/help if you need it.

Babies often have a bit of a poo explosion due to the air pressure. A well travelled friend recommended two disposable nappies one on top of the other to stop leakage which works amazingly well but def bring change of clothes for baby and a top for you. Nothing worse than being stuck in vomity/pooey clothes. Keep baby's clothes as simple as possible for easy changing

Feed on take off and landing if you can and you shouldn't see any ear issues. You'll be given a seatbelt to strap the baby to you around their waist. Beware the long queue to take off in some airports. DD had finished her feed and was fast asleep by the time we actually picked up any speed.

Pre mixed Bottle formula can be tricky. Airport security only want you to take enough for the flight so if you are taking a weeks supply of cartons in hand luggage they may object.

Spain, not sure about France have a baby logo on bottled water that has a low sodium content for making up bottles.

Feed them or give them a dummy if they have one for take off and landing. Check your main bag so you’re only taking the stroller and nappy bag through the airport. If you are formula feeding do the ready made cartons and empty sterilised bottles. Make sure you have enough of that and plenty of nappies in case of delay. Spare change of clothes for both of you in the nappy bag (small stuff like babygrow and leggings/top so it’s not bulky). Honestly it’ll be fine! 4 months is a really easy age to travel with in my experience it’s the bit between being mobile and having a long enough attention span to watch cartoons that’s the hardest. My top tip would be if there’s a family lane at airport security then avoid it like the plague. It’s full of faffy infrequent flyers with loads of stuff struggling to collapse their pram, there’s lots of extra liquids to inspect and it takes bloody ages.

Also, get a yo-yo pram, you can take them in the plane and even put it up in the aisle. So easy.

I am considering buying a seat for her however I cannot find budget friendly car seat that is approved by a ryanair :/

Get a huge muslin cloth like the Aden and anais ones and put it between you and the baby. Mine was so sweaty on me so it was nice to have that to absorb it. She also did an awful ooo and leaked through her trousers but the muslin meant I was ok. Definitely pack a spare outfit for you and multiple for the baby. We had got through two in the airport before boarding and another on the plane!