Travel tips with infants - what are yours?

[Riss10]

Hi all,

We are heading back to Australia later this year with a 14 week old via LA and Hawaii. I'd be keen to hear from other parents of any tips/words of wisdom they can pass on to me.

Thanks!

[YoYo]

With a 14 week old I wouldn't worry about a thing. If you are BFing, even easier

No tips really...you don't need to worry about food, you don't need to worry about entertainment...just enjoy the movies

Good luck and safe travels!

[RhiChiChi]

Yeah, I agree with Julia - easy as with a newborn! Just make sure you have enough nappies, a couple of changes of clothes & anything else your bubs has / uses in day to day life.

I remember travelling with my DD who at the time was just over one from Fiji to Melbourne and I forgot to pack her sleeping bag (which was one of her sleep associations) and she screamed the whole way home Like I said, whatever your bubs is used to in day to day life - pack that. Enjoy your flight home!

[Swoop]

Most airlines prioritise bassinets for the youngest babies on flights, so you should be fine with that.

I'm guessing you will have heard about feeding them on take off and landing so that the sucking can stop the pressure hurting their little ears.

I'd take a sling to use, then you don't need to worry about strollers in transit.

Make sure you take spare clothes for yourself as well as bubs; getting thrown-up on or a number 3 nappy during take-off isn't too great if you have a 14 hour flight and no spare clothes

As Yules said, at that age it should be pretty straight forward, so I wouldn't worry too much.

[meow]

We just travelled Australia to the US with our roughly 12 week old.

I suggest:
A good sling
Ask for the bassinet- our son slept in it a lot of the flight and it was awesome to be able to be hands free and stretch out.
Plenty of nappies & wipes. We had enough for a change every 2 hours and had a few left over so it was nice not to stress over.
At least 3 changes of clothes (we used them all)
A couple of wraps and a baby blanket for the floor if you can fit it (or else the wraps are fine)
Remember to check what is in your nappy bag and don't take too many liquids (baby creams etc).
Wear shoes you can slip off easily while walking through scanning points with baby
Pack a clean top for you and your partner. My H got to wear pooslopsion on his t-shirt for almost our entire journey.

[Kazzo]

When I flew to America with DD1 when she was 14wks, we found it extremely easy. She slept pretty much the whole trip. Amelia was however a baby that would not feed if she was not hungry so When I thought about the pressure on her ears and her not feeding to help everyone suggested a dummy, but with that they don't really swollow, just suck on it. So I took a syringe and used it to give her a drop at a time of infants friend (which she got daily for wind anyway) and this worked well for me. Because it is seen a medicine, customs had no worries with me taking it on board. I did use bottled water on an internal flight though as I had forgotten to put it in the nappy bag from the suitcase, worked just the same.

[Phteven]

Make sure you take spare clothes for yourself as well as bubs; getting thrown-up on or a number 3 nappy during take-off isn't too great if you have a 14 hour flight and no spare clothes

^ that is probably the best advice you're going to get. Nothing worse than trying to wash baby poo off your clothes and drying them off with the hand dryer in a distant airport with one eye on the clock so you don't miss your connection.