Flying with a baby

[starangelk]

Hi Mrs P

I recommend a sling or carrier so you can wear your DD and go for walks so she can look at all the other passengers. I found this invaluable with DD and it also helped me to rock her off to sleep as well. Toy wise we did a few teething things, sleep toy, some Lamaze toys - these were good because they are sort of activities as well. I took some ribbon for her to play with too. If you have space, you can sit DD on your lap with the tray down and she can play with her toys on that as a table. Foodwise I took cheese, rice crackers, apple, dried fruit........food was actually the hardest thing, when the flight attendents came to offer food, DD thought it was all for her - LOL

Good Luck!!

[Mrs P]

Thanks starangelk - glad to see you survived the flights ha ha! Yep forgot to mention the carrier - we have a friend's baby bjorn but I really don't like it much now DD is bigger (7.5 kg) so we're borrowing another friend's ergo. Am actually quite looking forward to using the ergo while we're away as I am contemplating purchasing one (if I can find on on sale) to still use with DD and bub #2 (if we are blessed with another bub of course!).
DD has just started on dried fruit, yesterday she had sultanas which she loved, today I'm taking her to the library and just packed up some dried apricot chunks, dried cranberries and sultanas with some blueberries (another new discovery and another new favourite!) so I guess things like that would be good. She loves the lamaze toys, she has the owl attached to her carseat. I think I will splurge on a new one, just got to pick which one!
DH is getting nervous about the trip as DD is not really keen on sleeping anywhere that isn't her cot But hopefully the excitement and doing stuff all day will tire her out and she will sleep! I have a snooze shade so that should help...

[starangelk]

We have an ergo and it was fabulous!! I bought a new lamaze too, just for the flight - it is the butterfly one and I got it for $10 at Big W - woohoo. The sleep thing is tough, DD didn't sleep just snoozed but I think the thing is to remember to try and wear them out prior to boarding the plane. OUr flights were at really odd times so DD was totally out of routine so pretty dazed/tired on the way back. Just keep a backup toy/trick up your sleeve in case the tears come out and you'll do great!!

[raffy]

We just got back from Perth the other day, DS went great guns on the plane. All up, there and back, we had to catch four planes and every time we had 3 seats for me, df and DS even though DS sat on our laps, so that helped heaps as DS now fusses and wants to be put down when he's tired so we just laid him on the seat between us and he slept the whole time pretty much. We did give him a bottle for take off and landing, take off he was fine, landing he squealed so we were alternating between the dummy and the bottle. For when he was awake I tied his toys to a piece of ribbon and hung them from the seat in front of us so he just sat on my lap and played. They always tend to put all the passengers with babies towards the back and together so you don't feel so bad when other babies are crying to lol and there are always loads of mums and dads walking up and down the aisles trying to keep bubbies happy lol. I no it's easier said than done but dont get stressed or overwhelmed if they cry, the other passengers can just get over it coz crying actually helps equalize their ears so chances are if they cry a bit they will also settle quicker.

All the best Hun