Your list of essentials for travelling long haul with a 9 week old?

[Yarrawin]

We are going to be flying from Brisbane to London (only one way thankfully!) when our baby is nine weeks old. As a first time mum I'm feeling excited but a bit daunted in general and the idea of travelling so far so soon is adding a whole new level to that!

So, I've decided to compile a list of essentials based on the experiences of other parents.

This is my list so far:
HAB (figured it'd be great for getting through the airport and if bub doesn't want to be put down on the plane)
Several changes of clothes for each leg of the flight for bub, plus a clean set for both DH and I just in case we get pooed or chucked on!
The usual change bag stuff but with enough to get us through each flight.

I plan to bf but if that doesn't work out then I'll think about plan B and bottles, formula etc and how all that works.

We also have two nights in Malaysia (KL) but stuff for that will be packed in our suitcases.

Okay... so I don't exactly have a comprehensive list and I would love input from anyone who has 'been there, done that'.

Thanks in advance!

[onthefly]

The first thing that springs to mind is get onto any feeding issues early - line up help before you have your baby. It is going to be sooooo much easier if you're breastfeeding. You're sitting down anyway, so can just feed constantly if your little one is unsettled.
I didn't fly with DS till he was much older, but can't really think of anything else essential - carrier, wipes, spew cloths and changes of clothes, yep

[trishalishous]

PATIENCE!!!!
Id recommend loads of doing nothing on your stopover, so bubs isnt too overwhelmed.
And contacting the ABA is a great suggestions, Id seriously never travel if I had to worry about bottles and formula!

[Maruschke]

Some kind of pain relief, just incase their ears are affected by take off and landing. If you get a bassinette seat, a familiar blanket from home etc.

Good luck, hope it goes well! We travelled long haul with a 14 month old and it was fine.

[meow]

Hmm... we'll be flying long haul with this baby when they are about 12 weeks old and I'd forgotten they'll need a few changes of clothes. And loads of nappies at that age! Darn it. We were planning on filling our carry on bags with food for our uber-fussy toddler!

I'm going to be really focusing on establishing BFing and nurturing baby & I during those early weeks so that hopefully all is well and it's just all about feeding and sleeping.

HAB is a perfect idea- they're so good for carrying newborns and you'll be able to use it as a place to lie baby down too.

[ladybirdflies]

Have you seen those little pure wipes? They are the size of a mint and you just add water, it's a pure cotton wipe, take up less room and no chemicals on such a small baby. A long haul flight sometimes you need refreshing water. Make sure you are well feed and watered to be able to attend to bubba. But I agree with the above, great sling, hopefully you can breastfeed it will be much easier!

[Maruschke]

By the way, if you have an infant with you, you are usually entitled to carry on an additional bag used as a nappy bag, so you don't need to cram nappies etc in your own bag. Might want to check the rules, you don't get additional check in luggage though.

You would be able to check in a pram for free priority, meaning it will be unloaded first thing, loaded first thing, so you don't need to worry about that either. We brought formula with us (powder) no worries but they made us empty the water first.

[del.k]

Hiya

My husband, DD and I travelled Sydney to Birmingham (and return!) when our DD was 11weeks old.

HAB definitely a good idea, but some airports may make you take your baby out of it to pass through security, so just be aware of this. I was wearing DD in an ergo and because I was wearing a hoodie underneath they told me I could walk through wearing DD, but needed to take the hoodie off! Not possible unfortunately without disturbing DD (who was asleep at the time!).

Other things I took were:
a couple of cloth nappies for burping / spews etc
plenty of breast pads for me (massive leaking issues)
2x wraps for DD (I actually took her woombie which was heaps easier than wrapping esp on the plane)
Infacol (DD had big wind issues)
Baby panadol (didn't need it though)
Blanket for the bassinette (they provide one, but wanted DD to have something familiar)
Favourite soft toy (again just for something familiar)
Nappy wallet (so that everything was all together to simply take to toilet for nappy changes)

Other tips are just to make sure you confirm with the airline that you've got a bassinette seat, also confirm that you're on the aisle the whole way through (part of our trip back we weren't on the aisle seat and it was a real pain). Also try to avoid your bubs getting overstimulated at the airport before you leave. This happened to us and DD took a bit to get settled initially.

Definitely make the effort to get breastfeeding established as it makes things heaps easier, and just be aware that when you're BF on the plane you don't have much elbow room - took me a couple of feeds to get used to this at the time. To avoid ear pain, feed on take off and landing if possible.

DD travelled really well actually overall, she fed on each take off and most of the landings she was actually asleep for. I think the hardest thing was initially when we left Sydney and she was so overstimulated. I did get thrown up on twice though and DH got pooed on so changes for you and DH are a must, DD also went through 3 changes of clothes on the flight over.

Good luck!