First holiday

[Coletteypie]

Hey all !

We go on holiday this weekend to Spain, my little girl will just be nearly 3 months. Looking for any hints or tips for:

- airport travelling
- keeping cool in the sun
- general advice!

Taking sterilising tablets with us and formula - as she is on hipp organic which I can't get out there (already checked). When I booked this it seemed like a great idea but now I am so nervous! She can be good as gold when she wants to be but am dreading the flight in particular. Travelling with my parents so that has calmed me down a bit!

Just wondered if anyone that has done it could pass on some pearls of wisdom!

TIA xx

 

[Lucyboo]

Colettypie hope ur good, right take bits to try and distract her and try to time a feed for take off if it works out. You prob won't have push chair until you are at carousel when you land so consider this when you are working out your hand luggage.(good idea to take backpacks or carrier) some people who say they get them at the door depends on the airline. Seen so many people with 20 bags and having to carry a baby. You can keep it until you board the plane with most carriers. Cheekily ask the crew if there is any spare seats...if I think of anything else from the airport/flight side ill pop back xx

 

[Lucyboo]

You can order baby bits online too to collect in boots at the airport to save on your baggage allowances

 

[Pin badge]

We've flown twice with DD at 8 months and 13 months. It's not so bad! a few things we learned...

Take a new toy for the flight baby has never seen, some sort of teether would probably be nice at this age, a familiar blanket or muslin for a nap on flight maybe. We had DD travel in a vest and sleep suit and carried some lighter summer clothes, hat and small sun cream to change when we got there as it can be quite cool on the flight.
If possible give a bottle or breastfeed during landing and take off as the sucking helps the pressure in their ears to balance.

We had a lightweight carrier for the airport and got use out of it when sightseeing too...baba sling summer packs into changing bag.

For keeping cool we bought a UV sunshade for the pram and a clip on kids fan (eBay) it was amazing and DD loved it...it had foam blades so didn't hurt when she stuck her hand in! She also spent most of her time in a nappy and vest to be honest and most of her clothes came back unworn!

Get up and out nice and early while it is cooler and quieter so you still get to see things but you avoid the hottest part of the day and the crowds. Winner winner!

At night time it was a little tricky as it was still too warm even having air con to cool the room. (We turned it off at night as it was noisy and I wasn't sure about the effect of it on her chest etc) DD usually has a sleeping bag and I bought a light one to take but she mostly ended up under a thin blanket, just play around until she's comfy.

Have a lovely time, it will be great, we always said we wouldn't go abroad until she was older as it sounded like a mare but we had 2 weddings, one in Barbados and one in Crete...we loved it and would go but next time will be a baby and toddler eek! Xxx

 

[Pin badge]

Just remembered a couple of other things we took...
Magi-cool spray which you can spray onto skin, (not directly for baba) car seat, pram etc for instant cooling. Lush for grown ups too lol!
A sunshade for hire car window. (A muslin would do.)

Don't forget to separate any liquids in babies change bag too...I forgot and got held up at scanner because there was a tiny nappy cream in an old pouch in DDs bag. Grr!
Also check what baggage the airline allow, Ryan Air allowed a changing bag in addition to 2 pieces of hand luggage for me...in the end we took a back pack, trunki and changing bag between my husband and I but we could have had 5 items.

Sorry it's a bit disjointed, I just wrote as I remembered things! Xx

 

[Taboo917]

I've just flown three return journeys in about 6 weeks with Caleb - twice solo - I was petrified about the flights but he's been good as gold.

At security you'll need to give them any milk you're taking on board, I also got held up at the scanner because I forgot I had a bottle of sanitiser gel in his nappy pod! I didn't take any liquids in bag for me so it (should have been) just the milk to get out. I was only flying to London though.

As said before try and feed on take off either bottle or boob - Caleb has been fine each time but I still have a bottle/dummy on hand.

Take enough toys to keep them entertained (although his favourite was the safety leaflet!), something new is a good idea as well as an old favourite.

Caleb is terrible at falling asleep for naps now anywhere other than cot/pram/car seat but I took a bunny on board that he cuddles in his cot (unfortunately quite large) which was invaluable for getting him off to sleep. Your wee one may not have this issue though! I also took a blanket to wrap round him as it got a bit chilly with all the air blowing.

Oh at check in I also asked if the plane was full and to be moved to an aisle and towards the back. Caleb loves looking out of the window but the aisle is less stressful in terms of getting up if you need to. Twice we were given a row to ourselves which was amazing.

Only other thing is I was so stressed about what people on the plane would think and there was just no need-people are far kinder and more tolerant than I have credit for. Last time Caleb was getting tired and had been whining for about 20 minutes and I was really stressed about the noise when an old lady came past on way back from toilet and commented on how well behaved he'd been!! Last time I flew I also had a girl on the other side of the aisle chat to Caleb the whole flight, hold him for me while I found the dummy he'd lobbed and she then carried all my bags off the plane so I could put my baby carrier on, and the first journey I also had a lovely lady hold Caleb while i set his pram up. I know you're not flying solo but people are far lovelier than I ever thought they'd be!

 

[Coletteypie]

Really useful advice so far. Thanks a lot - really appreciate it

 

[JD.Deedee]

I'm going to like keep advising people this until there's no more unsettled babies of the plane with mothers who only find out after someone tells them 2 years on...


Nose spray/saline spray!!!

This opens up the nose to the ears preventing ear ache from flying, in case of present ear ache after flying this also helps to sort it out and have your usual child back!!!

 

[OMGbabyno3]

Possibly too late, but with regards to Hipp organic, some places do sell it. Where about are you? Overseas supermarkets, branded as Iceland are a godsend...have loads of British brands and ready made milk etc!

 

[Miss_impatient]

I'm going to like keep advising people this until there's no more unsettled babies of the plane with mothers who only find out after someone tells them 2 years on...


Nose spray/saline spray!!!

This opens up the nose to the ears preventing ear ache from flying, in case of present ear ache after flying this also helps to sort it out and have your usual child back!!!

JD - do you use the spray just before take off and landing as a preventative measure or use if bubba is becoming unsettled?

Hope you have a good holiday colletteypie!

 

[JD.Deedee]

I'm going to like keep advising people this until there's no more unsettled babies of the plane with mothers who only find out after someone tells them 2 years on...


Nose spray/saline spray!!!

This opens up the nose to the ears preventing ear ache from flying, in case of present ear ache after flying this also helps to sort it out and have your usual child back!!!

JD - do you use the spray just before take off and landing as a preventative measure or use if bubba is becoming unsettled?

Hope you have a good holiday colletteypie!

The flight attended told me about 40 mins, although it was about 10 mins before take off and still worked, am sure I repeated sometime after being landed and heading home, though if there's any signs of needing more just give at landing too. You can always drinks too, there's no limit on taking ready milk or ready made bottles with you.. Depending on whether you use ready or powdered.. You can also take it with you as hipp does not sell ready milk abroad in all countries.. I once took about 30 cartons haha. If you do take ready milk and leave it closed you do not need to taste it at security however liquids poured into bottles has to be tasted!

Also do check under 2 years old you automatically get priority boarding whether this is specified or not you just make them clear you're travelling with an infant and they should move you up into the priority lanes if you arrive on time

 

[Miss_impatient]

^^- thanks for all those tips. My husband has a conference in Florida in November, LO will be two and a half months. I'm trying to decide whether I can be brave and go with (its in the keys so will be two flights in total - travel time of 18 hours possibly more) or whether to be a single mum for 10days in miserable weather...

 

[OMGbabyno3]

Definitely go!!!

 

[Miss_impatient]

I'm leaning towards going - need to register the birth and get passport sorted asap!