Thoughts on flying with an 8 week old please!!

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My baby is due on 17th May and have been invited to my cousin's wedding in Malta which is on 17th July. So depending on when baby arrives, she could be anything from 6 - 10 weeks old. The flight is only 3 hours. I'd love to go and see all my family out there and introduce them to Little Legs but I know there are a few practicalities to contend with so advice much welcome!!

Firstly, I obviously can't book our flights until she's born and I know her DOB, or can I? Obviously it'll also take several weeks to get her a passport.

We'd probably just go for a long weekend and we'd be staying at my auntie's house, so a lot less stressful than a hotel. But then it'll also be about 35 degrees and the poor baby will not like contending with mozzies all day long.

(DH also wants us to fly to 12 hours to Cape Town in December to see his parents, but that's another matter!)

Thoughts please!!

We are thinking of going away with an 8 week old. This thread has given me alot more confidence and I think we'll be getting booked up. There's been some really handy tips as well. One query I had was about the carry cot attatchment for the buggy. It's an I candy cherry. I'm not sure whether it'll fold small enough to go in the hold or whether to take it on to the plane last minute. Any advice?

Really pleased to read this thread! I'm due mid-May with our first and we're flying to Canada at the end of July for a family wedding.

From a practical point of view, was planning to feed during take-off and landing to help the baby's ears equalize. As I will (hopefully) be breast-feeding, I have assumed that I'll have to express and use a bottle for the take-off and landing feeds, as presumably the baby will have to be strapped into the bassinet at those times. Does anyone know if electric breast-pumps are allowed on the flight, or will I need a manual one? (Haven't bought one at all yet, so this might influence what type I get!).

Marquise, even if you manage to get a bassinet, for takeoff and landing the baby is strapped in on your lap using an extender attched to your seatbelt
no expressing needed

fifi, re carrycot, it might be easiest to pack it in your hold luggage, either folded flat if it'll go or in a holdall with all your clothes inside it. Then check the chassis and just use a sling round the airport

hi im off tomo! - with my 7 week old - 5 hrs flight to gambia was so shocked to find no mozzie spray or lotion for him! skin friendly and not harsh! also suntan lotion just in case!
also my gp wouldnt move my 8 weeks check before we went so not happy, tried to get maleria tabs and was told gp would have to do it for me and would call me back and they didnt so now have to get them while over there!
BF so hopefully would be good whiles on take off mode! was told mozzies dont like light clothes or lemon so have a spray that smells like lemons, got light weight stroller and net from mothercares and also taking sling in hand luggage, taking 1 bottle for boiled wattle for him and 1 pack of nappies will buy more over there!
ps - i never done fast track on passport and came back in less then a week! very quick if form filled correctly and a good photo! i done the check and sent in post office much cheaper!( children passports x3 = under just £180.00)

Good luck all who are travelling soon x early flight so im
off to bed now! : )

I would recommend going to a haberdashers/dept store and buying a piece of uncut linen...they can wear a vest and then be held within the linen if it hot houtside - it really helps to keep them cool as it doesn't transmit body heat (ie your to theirs and vice versa)

hi as airline cabin crew a few tips from our point of view.

be at the borading gate on time or early as you are pre-boarded and this saves you stressing if you board last and can't all sit together.

feed baby on take off and landing this helps with the air pressure (don't worry about breast feeding we don't mind. if you want bottle warming give us a much notice as possible (we don't have microwaves)

bring something to entertain it ( this goes for all children of all ages)flying is boring also ask for help where needed C crew should be willing to help and there are baby changing tables in all modern aircraft.

you also must think about buggy and car seat if travelling by car on holiday. hope some of thsi is helpful

im here in gambia and my lil one was an angel and slept from we reached the airport to us being delayed to us being 5 hrs in woke up fed and then back to sleep and has continued that pattern due to very hot weather he, feds and sleeps but when awake in the day he loves to look at things and laughs to him self, no mozzie bites as i bought a johnson &johnson mozzie rub and only put it on when out for late dinner which is not often once so far and we got in at 10pm! i watch him constanly and cover him when i can also sleep under a netted bed and spray the room when leaving and keep doors and windows closed, thank gid for air con and room fans! so glad i bought a mama& papa stroller from argos for under £40 and i love it best buy also got mozzie net for it from mothercares but aint used it for when out late but him in the sling!
the cabin crew did offer to move me but i would of been away from my kids so i decided to stay with them and hubby and i survived, will diff try to get to check in early to get more leg room seat and also the cot which was gone when i checked in

good luck for all travelling with young one but not a bad experience for me!

Have done it twice to USA at 7½ - 8 weeks old, no problems, they had a seat and used a mix of sling and car seat and using plane seat using sling and safety belt to 'retain' baby.

As for mozzies, I have in the past used spray on the car seat / pram edges that don;t have direct contact with baby and used a fine net. Also in the evening we started off one of those burning coils on a saucer.