flying with a baby?

hey guys, Am after some advice re: flying with a baby.

Mason will be 4 months old when we fly from Melbourne to Perth to visit a very much loved friend ;)

I think its a 3 hour flight which is a llong time for a little prince so am after advice on what to bring, what not to bring etc.

thanks :D

Hey Danni, I flew with Ashy when she was 3 months old. I breastfeed her when we were taking off to stop her ears hurting then she slept until we landed. I had a bottle to heat up for landing incase she was awake to stop her ears hurting but her dummy was enough and she stayed asleep.
She did pretty much the same on the way back too.
They are pretty easy to fly with at that age, wait til he is two!!!

Danni we flew with Tori when she was just over 4 months to Bali, it was about a 3 1/2 hour flight. My suggestions would be request a bassinet, even if oyu dont actualley use it you will have heaps more room. Try and get a night flight when they are more likely to sleep more.
We took our sling so that she was easy to get on and off the plane.
But really we were lucky she slept both ways, I treid to bf on landing and take off but she wasnt interested so I just gave her a dummy and she ws fine, make sure you got extra clothes in your hand luggage for both Mason and you and DH just in case he has a big spew or something.

At 3 months we found Ella was happy to just snooze in your arms. As the other mums said feed on take off and landing if possible.

I would take dummy, chew toy, and your own blankets (so they smell familiar) as the flight sometimes can get a bit chilly. Also take a baby bjorn as you can walk up and down the aisle if you need to. Its also good to use it up until boarding as you may not be able to use a stroller once you've checked in.

Ann

I flew when Jovie was 5 months and put her in the HAB and fed her at take off and she slept until landing. On the way back she cried at take off and wouldn't feed or take the dummy but it lasted a few minutes & then she settled. DH had to help cover me up while she was fidgeting but it worked okay.

One flight from the US to Australia when Matilda was 18 months she vomited all over me during the landing for our stop over in NZ & I didn't have a change of top so had to sit in a wet vomit smelling top, so I recommend an extra t-shirt for you packed as well ;)

So I guess the most important things would be:
breast or bottle whatever method you are using
dummy if you are using one
extra wraps for vomits (put one between you & Mason jic)
t-shirt for you
1-2 soft toys for Mason
then your normal nappy bag situation, nappies, wipes, change of outfit for him, etc etc

Hi Danni

I think Christy has summed up what you need really well. We did melbourne to Perth when Will was 3 months and we didn't know they had a bassinet on the plane until we checked in - fortunately we managed to get one and Will slept most of the way - top banana! but if you get chance i would ring the airline (if its qantas - not sure if jetstar/virgin blue have bassinets) and try and book one before as there aren't usually many.

Shame you'll be in Perth while i'm in England so i won't be able to catch up. (am really looking forward to that flight - NOT!!)

Take care and have a great trip
Julie x

What a great post - thanks Danni!

I notice most have said they have breastfed on take off.
I am also flying with jnr when he is 4 months old - flight is about 1-1/2 to 2 hours in length. I thought i would add a few questions.

Why did you breastfeed?

Is this ito help the equalisation of air in their little ears... i didnt even think of this?

Do most babys experience this pain?

Has anyone ever had an upset baby on the flight and gotten poor reception from other guests and how did you cope/respond?

Thanks:hugs:

Great advice from Christy and everyone else. My daughter is now 11 months and we travelled to the UK when she was 3 months, to New Zealand when she was 6 months and next month we're heading back to the UK for a short trip so my mum can let me get some rest :dance: !
Definately recommend taking an extra top for you as well as clothes for bub. DD did an explosive in a nappy DH hadn't done tight enough. whilst I was holding her...and we were on a long flight from Dubai to London. Not pleasant at all.

Princessmya - breastfeeding helps with their ears and equalisation. using a bottle if you don't bf can also help. However, if you're on the descent and they won't wake up then they're probably so relaxed that they'll be fine. DD was completely asleep for at least 3 descents and i much as i tried to get her on the boob she wouldn't (she was snoring!) and it didn't affect her at all.

The drone of the engines on the plane actually blocks out more noise than you think. One trip of ours was quite hard but less people noticed than i realised. We even had a couple of people offering to hold her for a little while to give us a break (24 hour flight to the UK) which was lovely. If bub is upset, i find acknowledging it to people who look at you and give them a smile and they'll smile back. Chances are they've been through the same thing.

It's a great age to travel - have a good trip.

thanks heaps guys!

I am flying with jetstar and someone told me they dont have basinetts on domestic flights. I will have to double check as that would be great!

Ok, so I need toi buy a sling too.

Keep any other ideas coming :)

Danni we flew Virgin to Sydney & they didn't have bassinets, but it was a much shorter trip... although with a 3 yr old it didn't feel like it ;)

i havent been to perth since I was 2...

the carrier I have is crap and the HAB he hates cos he wants to see everything.

I need to get a sling so he can see outwards rather than inwards iykwim? As soon as I have a minute spare, I will make a new thread asking for sling suggestions

Hey Danni,
We travelled Syd to Cairns when Natty was 4 months. I didn't realise that babies have to wear a seatbelt that attaches to your seatbelt... at all times when the sign is on. I thought I wouldn't be able to feed her because of this... I thought she had to be facing forward and I knew that her ears were bothering her on descent. :(
However, I've since chatted to other people who said that you can put their seatbelt on loosely and turn them around and feed - it just didn't occur to me :doh: Anyway, just thought I'd let you know in case you were surprised like I was by the infant seatbelt.
Have a great trip!

You can do that in the HAB too, you can have him facing frontwards.

ooooo Danni when are you coming? --->excited Perth person here.

Of course this is assuming you'd want to see me? ;)

yeah i dont think he is strong enough to hold his head up for long periods of time iykwim? He likes to hold it for a while, but he cant be trusted JIC.

Sushee: I am coming on 9th august until 13th. Will be arranging a meet up at cannington shops i think? And yes of course I want to meet you! and the spunkaroonie ;)

I didn't have to use a seatbelt for ash, she just lay in my arms. Danni I didn't have a bassinet or anything, it was easier to just hold her. The air hostess' were great and kept asking if i needed anything (i travelled alone so had no one to help me) and if i needed them to hold ash so i could go to the toilet or have a rest etc (to which i said thankyou but declined)
On Virgin you have to walk out to the stairs and it was raining lightly and one of the ladies that worked on the door carried my nappy bag and held an umbrella over us to walk there.
They were really great

Coolies, Danni. I'm not far from cannington, so am super game to come see you and your little spunk too!

sorry sush, you didnt have a choice in the matter anyhow ;)