Flying with your Baby
Up in the air we fly
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Up in the clear blue sky
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Probably the most daunting thing after giving birth was travelling with my precious little baby. ; Apart from the paranoia of the then recent September 11 events, I had an enormous list of worries about how both he and I would cope with the flight. What if he cried all the way or got sick? ; What if I needed to go to the toilet or change a nappy? ; How would I manage to keep him entertained? My list of worries went on and on. ; Since then my son and I have travelled considerably and learnt so much. ;
Here are some useful tips that have made our travels a little more comfortable.
Pre-flight
I have always talked to my son from a young age about what is happening and what we are doing. ; Regardless of whether he understands or not, it is good preparation as I vocalised what needs to be done. ; It is great to tell your child about the trip. ; Where you are going, how you are going, how long will it take and what will happen during the journey.
Packing for the flight.
It is hard to pack light when you do not know what to anticipate. ; As a rule of thumb I always take extra nappies. ; What you think you will use and a couple more! ; A spare change of baby clothes and if you have space a change for your self (at least a shirt). ; I usually dress in layers and take one layer off when I get to my seat. That way I have my spare and economise on packing space. ;
Depending on how long the flight is I take a light jacket for myself and one with a hood for baby. ; This saves looking for the fallen hat under seats or dropping it in the airport somewhere.
Take favourite snacks for baby and something for yourself. ; Of course, if your baby is fully breastfed things are far less complicated. Breastfeeding days are the best time to travel - no need to worry about snacks or meals. ; I found these early trips much less complicated. ; Now juggling my son’s food tray and mine and maybe the neighbours, is very entertaining to say the least!
Take a small polar fleece blanket on long flights. ; They are light and take less room. ; It also has the advantage of being non-absorbent in case of a spill. ; Wipes or washers will also come in handy. ; Take old washers that you are happy to throw away when used.
It is also useful to take a small satchel inside your larger nappy bag. ; It is unlikely that you will have room in the tiny plane toilet cubicles for a large bag. Make sure you have the essential nappy change items ready in a small bag, for when you need to take baby inside the cubicle. ; I found if baby’s nappy was just wet and my neighbours did not mind, I would change a nappy in the bassinet or on the spare seat next to me.
Arranging Your Flight
When you book your ticket ensure you tell the airline you are travelling with an infant. ; You can also ask for a “meet and assist” service. ; This means airline staff will walk you to the plane and help you get seated. ;Once reaching your destination this service helps fast track you through customs and out to collect baggage. ; Assistance in carrying bags or pushing a trolley is also available.
If your baby is of a certain age and weight you will be eligible for a bassinet seat. ; Whether you use the bassinet for sleep or not, it is great to have the extra space. ; My son happily played in the bassinet and entertained many passengers from his slightly elevated vantage point. ; If you have an older baby and the bassinet is not suitable, ensure you arrive early to check in. If possible you can then request for the seat next to you to be ‘blocked’. ; This means that apart from take off and landing you will be able to put your baby in the spare seat. Having an aisle seat also makes it easier to walk around as you need to. ; ; ;
It is important to also think about when you choose to fly. ; I usually fly at night if it is a long trip. This makes it easier for baby to sleep during usual sleep times. ; Shorter trips I try to coincide with nap times.
It is also a good idea to take your baby carrier or sling onto the flight. ; I have found this the most useful item to carry in my hand luggage. ; Using a carrier or sling allows you to easily navigate the crowds at airports and keep your baby close to you. ; Airports can be very busy places and easily overwhelm a child. ; If you use a stroller, always park it with the baby facing you. ; Most airlines have strollers that you can use while in the airport. ; This means you can check your own stroller in with your luggage rather than taking it onboard the cabin.
During the flight
During take off and landing baby may experience painful ears due to the air pressure changes. ; Breastfeeding is a great way to relive the pain so it can be useful to delay baby’s first feed until take off. ;
You can request your meal to be brought out earlier or later than your baby’s. ; It is a good idea to pack food for short flights as food for toddlers is usually only provided on long flights.
Post Flight
Despite the excitement of catching up with relatives or friends do your best to ensure you try to follow some sort of routine similar to home. ; Try and keep nap and meal times similar. ;
Travelling with children offers an abundance of wonderful experiences and rewards. ; With a little thought and planning flying can be an enjoyable and memorable experience for all.
Happy Flying!!!
Author - Reema Narayan
Reema is a full time mamma to two beautiful boys. She loves travelling and experiencing the diversity of the world. Travelling with a toddler and a 5 month old is her next big adventure.
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