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Hi :)
My husband and I have recently booked a one month trip to Ireland to see his rellies and for them to meet our new (and first) baby. She will be nine months old then and I am a bit apprehensive about travelling with her (jet lag, sleeping patterns, getting home, baby on a plane etc!!).
Does anybody have any advice or could you share a few stories if you have had a similar experience? Thanks, Pip
We did it when our DS was 18 months. Long haul to Ireland. I think the key is to relax and go with the flow. DS slept the first leg as we laft in the evening. (To KL) So we put him in his PJ's at the airport, and his sleeping bag as that was routine for him.
We didn't really have any problems with jetlag (lucky there I think!)
A tip - ask if the flight is full. If not, request that they keep the seat next to you empty for some extra room. We also bought snacks and a few fave toys.
Also if you are bringing bottles/food etc, expect customs to make you open and taste everything. It is a precaution since the whole liquids scare! (you are able to bring over 100mls of liquid if travelling with an infant)
there are a few posts on this in here - i know i have replied in a few - so maybe doa search with key words flight or something like that and some advice should come up (sorry i am feeding atm so cant do a search for you).
in a nutshell here is some advice:
1. book the seat with the basinette - even if you dont use it you will have some more room - you need to call and arrange this
2. i use an ergo to carry ds1 on flights - around airport etc, this is great as it leaves my hands free
3. chg of clothes for you and baby - you usually end up with food/spew or something on you so it is good to be able to get changed and freshen up a bit (esp in b/n the flights)
4. can you use a lounge at the stopover - either if you are travelling bus class or if you can buy a ticket into lounges at some airports - you can shower, bath baby, the can crawl/walk around, eat etc.
5. take some toys with you - i usually tie a few to a long piece of ribbon, easier to pick up when they get dropped
6. takea few 'new' toys - i usually wrap these like presents (though your bub may be alittle young for this)
7. books are good on the plane
8. hire stuff over there (or borrow) - the less you have to take the better (portacot, pram etc)
9. take some fave snacks for the baby with you - the airline may or may not provide food but these are good to use up time and make them feel at home
we did a long haul to the uk when dd was 9 months. i took little cosmetic bags/pencil cases with funny little odds an ends in....whatever your lo is into, dd loved ribbons, lace, zips,feathers, they were great to pass tens mins here and there, especially when your so short of space packing and playing on a plane. like has been said before, stick to your routine, get in to pjs and sleeping bag at normal ish time regardless of whats going on. i was surprised how easy it turned out being.
as for jet lag, dd would just pass out at about 4pm (1am our time) for the first few days, couldnt wake her atall and she would sleep all night. only took a few days though. Coming home was worse took a few weeks to really get back into it, waking all night!!
good luck and have a good trip.
Thanks for all your replies everybody, it's good to hear that it can be done!!