10 Tips for Flying with a Baby

Aaron Bradford — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:57:51 +0000

Originally posted on Travel Asia - Travel Europe| Bangkok to Krakow.com

photo from Flickr by: Andrew Morrell Photography

Having just returned from a trip to Hong Kong with our 3 month old, I feel like a seasoned veteran in the art of flying with a baby already. There is so much conflicting advice on the web and a huge amount to think about before and during the flight. Now that we’re back in the UK, here’s 10 pointers we picked up along the way:

1) If you think you need 90 minutes at the airport before the flight, think again. Take whatever worse case scenario number you have in your head and add 30%. There will always be unexpected events (nappy changes, feedings, tantrums) when you’re flying with a little one. Heathrow & Gatwick airport are particularly busy (remind me never to look at Jobs at Gatwick Airport) and you will definitely need the extra time here.

2) Always make sure you book a bulkhead seat. Most airlines won’t allow you to do this online so you can either make your booking online and call the customer support line to request a bulkhead or just call and make the entire booking over the phone.

3) Call the airline ahead of time to reserve a “skycot”. These nifty little baby cots are a god send and will allow you to sleep as well as baby.

4) If it’s logistically possible, bottle feed baby during take off and landing. As we’ve all experienced, pressure in the ear can be extremely painful and this is magnified by about 10 for the baby!

5) If your baby is anything like our 3 month-old, they’ll get bored quickly so have a steady supply of toys ready to distract them. Resist the temptation to bring more than a handful though as you have to carry them around with you and they’re just one more thing to keep track of.

6) Don’t worry about other people on the flight. Babies cry and other passenger need to deal with that fact! This can be a massive stress point for parents, so don’t worry!

7) Always ask the cabin crew for help. These folks have seen it all before and (in general) are always willing to help out (whether it’s warming up a bottle or taking baby for 20 minutes). Seriously, they love it! I was really impressed with the team on our flight and it made me think a bit about getting an airline or travel agent job!

8) Try your best to relax and enjoy the flight. It will seem hard at first (particularly in the first hour of the flight) but after that, giver yourself and your partner an opportunity to relax and chill out. It’s your holiday after all!

This is a guest post from Andrew Hunter, Community Manager at Adzuna.co.uk

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When Zofia asked us to chaperone her on her Wizards tour at first we were taken aback. We didn’t realise that there were wizards of the female sort. She assured us that there were with talks lined up in Luang Prabang, Angkor Wat, Dubai, Shiraz and Gaziantep. How could we refuse our little wizard and these exotic locations!

But seriously, taking a 7 month old baby on a 7 month trip must make some wonder whether we’re just a little bit crazy. Made us wonder that too… for a little bit. When the first thing the midwife said was ‘She’s got travellers feet!’ we knew were on the right path in following our dreams!

Although our precious little chicken may not understand the journey we are about to embark upon, the impressions and moments she will experience will definitely be unique. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of travelling for an extended period, we understand we need to maintain familiarity and routine to keep stress to a minimum. With all the growing, learning and teething she’ll already have going on, travelling will need to be as run-of-the-mill as possible, if that is possible :) She’ll obviously have her Mama and Papa, and in order to provide a familiar environment we’ll be taking a few of Zofia’s favourite things;

her play mat
her blanket
wooly
wizard sticks
and her monkey clan

Wherever we set up camp one of our first tasks will be to set up Zofia’s play area and sleeping quarters :)

At home our daily moments are mandated by Zofia’s needs. Our trip will be no different. This is a family trip and compromise will be made for every member. Our journey days will be dictated by nap time, feeding time, play time and down time for us all. Travel will be slow so we will remain stationary as long as possible keeping travel between destinations to one or two days, maximum. Although keeping to the main tourist route for the advantage of more convenient health care, we plan to engage in activities that are relaxing and non intensive. I think this will suit all members and be favourable to daily rituals.

Hygiene will be a challenge, from all accounts especially in South East Asia. Although we have started introducing Zofia to solids, she will primarily be breast fed. Hopefully this will alleviate any food problems she could encounter. The humidity will bring plenty of germs so the First Aid kit will be kitted out with disinfectants for those curious little hands. On the flip side it will probably do wonders for her dry skin. As she will probably be just learning to walk towards the end of the trip, she’ll be a little easier to watch and keep close. Zofia has also completed her first 6 months of vaccinations protecting her from nasties like Hep B, Diphtheria, Polio and Pneumococcal.

Now for the logistics. We purchased a new umbrella McLaren pram for the trip which is only 5kg. Papa (aka The Pack Horse) will be carrying this when we are not using it or can’t use it. We also have a sling although this may be better suited for the cooler climates rather than the humidity of South East Asia. Nappies may be difficult to purchase in some areas so we’ll make sure we’ve always got several days worth. We’ll also be taking 7 cloth nappies and we have been infant potty training Zofia which will minimise nappy use. We’re taking several changes of clothes in her current size plus one size up. Not too worried as we can buy things on the road if she needs them. The First Aid kit will include Zofia specific preparations for teething, skin irritations, colds and tummy aches.

Preparations and organisations are obviously even more critical and laborious with a baby. The ‘what ifs’ are endless. Although we’re feeling as comfortable as we can be we’re not in denial that its all going to be smooth sailing or that we won’t be caught off guard. These thoughts are very scary. There have been moments in the last 6 months that have really terrified us. Being a new parent can give you some powerless situations that call on courage you never thought you had. We trust in that courage and that no matter what the circumstance, we would do what it takes to keep our baby safe, at home and abroad.

We only hope that this is the beginning of many such adventures for our little family. We are not trying to get travel out of the way before the next event in our lives. We want travel to be a part of our lives and of our childrens life for a long time to come.

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10 Tips for Flying with a Baby