Travelling long haul with baby

[Kiwi]

Hi Ladies,

Unfortunately my mum is really unwell and I need to travel to New Zealand in November with my baby (who will be 3 1/2 months at the time) to see her. I am really nervous about the flight...Does anyone have any tips on surviving long distance travel with a baby?

 

[isobel84]

sorry your mum is not well
hope someone can help you xx

 

[MrsR]

Tbh because baby will be so young the flight shouldn't be a problem, the problem comes more from when they're older and need entertaining x just take some toys that baby likes in your hand luggage x also if you can try to time it so that they're feeding on take off and landing it should lessen any ear problems from the altitude change though I took DD away when she was 14 months old and she didn't have any pain from taking off and landing and she slept the majority of the time x hth x so sorry to hear about your mum x

 

[Rosie's Mummy]

I would suggest putting her on the breast for take offs and descending. Sorry to hear your mum is unwell, hope she gets better soon xx

 

[Lau's]

Request a bulk head seat, phone up your airline and prebook it especially, it will be worth its weight in gold. They will be able to give you a cot for bubba to sleep in. If you explain you have a baby they will know what your after. Like the gals have mentioned, put bubba on boob or bottle for take off and landing.

Let me know if you need any help with this (i am cabin crew)

 

[Kiwi]

Thanks for all the tips guys! Ideally, I wouldn't do such a long flight with such a small baby but needs must. Will be worth it for mum to meet her granddaughter though.

Thanks for the tip about the bulk head seat Lau's - travel agent has put in a request with the airline for this but apparently Air Malaysia won't guarantee it so hopefully it will come through. Am exclusively breastfeeding so at least I won't have to faff about with bottles, formula etc.

 

[sammystewpot]

We travelled to NZ in January with our little girl, she was quite a bit older than your little one at 18months but I think these tips still apply. BE PREPARED! have plenty of spare clothes and entertainment - with such a little one you wont have to find such a big selection of these!Might be a good idea to take a nice soft blanket that smells familiar too - airline ones are a bit scratchy. another tip I found useful was to put a couple of nappys with a few wipes inside a nappy bag and put it in the pocket in front of you or somewhere to hand so you dont have to fumble around with your change bag in the compartment above you so much.
I think there is a very high chance you will be given the bulkhead seats, I am a travel agent and airlines normally do their best, it is in their interest too that your LO is happy! unless their are a large number of small babies on the flight you'll be fine. The bassinets (cot) are great but you do have to move your LO out everytime the seatbelt signs go on - bit of a pain.
The good news is that despite being really stressed about the prospect of taking my baby who is very restless and difficult to get to sleep normally I was amazed at how well she did and the whole thing was no where near as bad as I antcipated. Good luck x

 

[Kiwi]

Thanks Sammy - it's reassuring just to know someone has done this trip and survived it!! Just wondering - did you get access to your pushchair/stroller for transit? x

 

[Lau's]

If you can buy a cheap as chips stroller and take it with you on the plane, they will let you if its small enough. Then you have it for when your in transit, as i am unsure whether they let you have them back inbetween flights.

 

[Momma`Kat]

Fantastic! Was going to ask this myself in a couple months as I am going to the middle east early next year! Fab tips

 

[Kiwi]

If you can buy a cheap as chips stroller and take it with you on the plane, they will let you if its small enough. Then you have it for when your in transit, as i am unsure whether they let you have them back inbetween flights.

Thanks Lau's have ordered a chip as chips one half price in the Mamas and Papas sale x