Advice needed for long haul flight with 7 week old.

[Nadene]

Anyone have any advice for a 24 hour journey I am making on my own with 7 week old baby girl. I know this sounds bad but has anyone used baby aspirin or something similar for this incase she gets all worked up?

Hi Nadene,

I've not travelled with a 7 week old but I have travelled extensively with my DD from 10 months. I've just done the flight to Sydney from the UK with her on my own, so I can understand your concerns!

I would ask your gp about medication to be honest. I think aspirin isn't recommended for under 12s? I think your DD is young enough not to need sedation, but may need help with the air pressure. This can be dealt with by sucking, either breastfeeding or bottle.

I have a friend who has travelled to the UK from Australia several times with a newborn and each time has been fine, her daughter has mainly slept and been adored by all of the staff.

Are you breastfeeding? If so, that will make your life a great deal easier. If she has any discomfort at take-off and landing, feed her. If you're bottlefeeding make sure you bring plenty of stuff, although the airline staff will help with warming up feeds (check with your airline though, just to be sure).

Book a bulkhead seat with a skycot for your DD to sleep in too (or ask for it at check-in, you will get priority but get there in plenty of time).

Take plenty of changes of clothes and nappies, more than you think you'll need.

I hope this helps, good luck with your trip!

lots of good advice from pinoy

IME, when you are bf a small baby on a long haul it is not plain sailing exactly but very very useful as.

Pack a small change bag to take to the loos with you as there won't be much room for a full sized one. Restock it after a change ready for the next time.

take change of tops and trousers for you too

and don't feed baby until you are on the runway cos you could easily be in a queue to get on runway and you don't want to have a baby full up with milk and so not want it when you need it

and the same coming down wait until you start coming down before feeding

IYSWIM

if you want a sky cot you'll need to phone the airline directly and book it, weeks before you fly. if your plane is old-fashioned with a projector screen in the middle bulkhead, then the lights will shine directly above the cot - insane!!! So make sure you get a seat on the side bulkheads if this is the case.

I've done Vancuover to the UK a couple of times, the first time when DS was 8 weeks. He slept practically the whole way, I think the aircraft vibration is a Godsend at that age.

Spot on advice from Soupy and RTKM re: changing and also feeding during take off and landing.

Take some sort of strap to secure your sprog on the change table - I've yet to find an aircraft that has one attached.

If you have enough room, take your own pillow to feed on as the airline ones are miniscule.

I have done plenty of travelling with my children at various ages although not alone.

My son was 8 weeks old when we went to Atlanta. Most airlines give the youngest babies the priority so you should be ok with a sky cot.

Try and keep her awake before take off and landing as you will have to have her on your lap with her own seatbelt.
Don't worry if she does cry as that will help to clear her ears and don't get yourself worked up being concerned for other passengers we've all been there.

As others have mentioned it is easier at this age as the plane moving and noise of the engines will get her to sleep.

Take something to eat that you can manage with one hand , just incase she prefers your arms instead of the sky cot for her beauty sleep.

Have a good trip.

highlander good idea re pillow

or pack a pillow CASE and stuff your sweatshirt into it

planes can get quite cold or can be warm

ooh, RTKM - pillowcase a fab idea.

Take food as they don't give you enough for a b/f mother, and it's not at regular enough intervals. Oatmeal bars are good.
Take a bottle of water too as the plane will dehydrate you and your baby and you need to drink more to produce more milk. They never seem to give enough water!
Have not used any medicine to calm down the baby but I think a small glass of wine did me some good and if you are relaxed, the baby will pick up on that.
I think another MN suggested a cot sheet and some clothes pegs to rig up something to stop the overhead lights glaring into the skycot.
Enlist the help of a nice stewardess as soon as you get on board.