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So, it looks like I'm going to need to fly back home in the near future (family illness), Perth to Brisbane. It'll probably just be me and Bub (might have company one way).
Should I try and get a bassinet on board? What else would you suggest to make the flight easier?
What else does a 2mo need for a trip away? I'm organising a car seat and bassinet and will take my stretchy wrap, so won't need a pram.
How many sets of clothes for say, 5 days? He's not a spewy Bub.
What else do I need?
TIA
We flew to Adelaide from Melbourne when DD2 was three months old. We didn't request a bassinet for the flight, I just held her. She mainly slept and breastfed for the flight. I double the amount of clothes (she wasn't spewy either) that I take. We took the baby carrier and that was it - but we had a cot available to us from our friends at the other end.
If you can, get the bassinet. Make sure you are wearing comfy clothes, and easy to feed in tops. Attach bubs for take off and landing as this will solve ear pressure issues without fuss.
Qantas staff are excellent with kids and especially mums flying solo with young bubs.
Take two changes of clothes a day plus sleepwear, and wash as necessary, I would suggest.
I have flown Perth-Melbourne about a dozen times from 2 months old onwards, almost always by myself with 1 or 2 kids, so have pretty much worked it out. ;) LOL
Oh, you want almost *no* carry on, especially if you plan on wearing bubs. Pack a small backpack with a change of clothes, a spew rag, a few nappies and wipes, your phone and wallet. Anything more and it is just going to be too cumbersome and annoying.
Good luck! :)
Oh, and take a spare shirt just in case bubs doesn't like the take-off or landing and spits out milk. Both my boys were not spewy but didn't like take-off or landing so they would pull off the bottle teat and spit a mouthful of milk everywhere.
I've done lots of flying Perth-Melb with bub, from a few months old. Try to get a bassinet but keep in mind they may not like being put down in it! Having a spare seat next to you is also wonderful in lieu of a bassinet IF you can get it- try to check in early and plead with the check in staff. If you have pillows (provided on board) and baby's own blanket/swaddle/bunnyrug and a toy or something familiar from their own bed you can lie them down on the spare seat for periods to give both of you some space to stretch out a little.
Other than that have dummies, burp clothes, wipes etc easily accessible (ideally in a small separate bag at your feet) so you don't have to try and pull things down from overhead compartments with one hand, with a wriggly or upset baby in the other.
I breastfed DD at take off and descending when young, it calmed her. I don't know how much choice you will get with booking flights but where I could I also tried to book flights that coincided with nap times so that DD would sleep through part of the flight.
boobs and zip lock bags!
What everyone else said is perfect, but also take a change of clothes for you on the flight, just in case bub does have a sick or explosive number 2!
I was nodding along with this going "Yep get the bassinette if you can, yep, spare seat next to you, great idea, hang on what now?":
I'd never put an infant on a seat on their own. Sorry to be all negative about it but it just isn't worth the risk. Even in a seatbelt - adult or infant - they could come loose and there have been too many flights where I've hit unexpected turbulence for me to be willing to risk it. I was even uneasy with the bassinette for the same reason, but they at least have the mesh you can put over it.
I'm not an alarmist. I'm not a helicopter parent. I just don't take risks that I don't have to. You won't always get warning from pilot/flight crew that bumps are coming up and if you don't get the chance to grab them, well, it just isn't worth the risk.
Anyway, I highly agree with minimal hand luggage. Might seem ok while you are breezing through the airport with your nifty wheelaboard but if you don't have a second pair of hands to help you stow that bag or hold the bub, it can be tricky.
Definitely fly Qantas if you budget stretches. They are ace (mostly ;) ).
Having the spare seat isn't to put the baby on to sleep or anything, it is so you have a place to put your bag, and arrange yourself, to enable you to be undisturbed by having to climb over people or having them try and get past you.
It has also means having a table tray to put down for your own meal if you are holding/feeding a baby.
There is always the chance of bumps that is true - but if you are travelling on your own you may very well need to put the bub down on the spare seat for example, or place in the bassinet for two seconds without the mesh (I have never seen one with mesh - on all the flights I took just a belt and they just insist you remove if encounter any turbulence) - and it isn't without risk, but you are probably safer doing that then you are driving in the car to the airport - so personally I wouldn't worry too much about it if you need to put the bub down in the next seat.:
I am not sure how long the flight is, I have only used a bassinet long haul international, but to Darwin which was 5 hours it was fine with DS just on my lap (4 months) , with occasional forays to seat next to me which was spare. I second the minimal hand luggage, and easy access BF clothes (although make sure you remember to readjust your clothes if walking to the loo - something I failed to do on one flight, and walked down to the toilet with boob still poking out the top). I also lived dangerously and only take a spare top - I figure I would rather just clean myself up and change when get there, then carry too much around. Feed on take off and landing whether they are due a feed or not.
LS, definitely a seat is great for stashing stuff. I was referring to Ladylove's post about putting a baby there.
I do see the validity of needing to put baby down sometimes, I do. I just wouldn't be comfortable leaving them there for a period of time.
Some planes have anchors which you can attach your car seat to.
Id ring the airline and ask which plane models have these maybe if you are interested in placing ur bub in a car seat
Thanks for the awesome suggestions everyone. Lots of stuff I hadn't considered (wouldn't have even considered a change of clothes for me!)
What do you do with Bub if you want to go to the loo? Need to change clothes?
Guys I didn't mean leaving the baby there for *long* periods or even to run to the toilet. Just say you've dropped something or you need two free hands for a moment. They are in the infant seat belt, head isn't lolling because of pillow support or whatever. Anyway whatever the individual feels is safe for their baby. I would never ever do something that even unwittingly put my child in danger. Plus yes the seat is very handy for extra easy to reach luggage.
Ask the flight attendant to hold them for a moment. When I have flown, that is what I do. They are usually happy to hold them just outside the toilet so you can hear them.:
Yes can ask flight attendant, or a fellow passenger to hold. I have left sleeping in bassinet and asked passenger next to keep an eye on. You can use a wrap/carrier on a plane (not allowed for take off and landing normally) and keep the baby in that and manage the toilet. When travelling solo with babies I actually found that using the toilet on the plane is much easier than trying to use it in the airport.:
Yes, I can imagine going yo the toilet on the plane would be easier than going at the airport!