Advice for travveling with a baby please

[ex_matelot]

My son is 8 months old. He is our first child and we have never flown with him before.
How can I make the experience less traumatic for him, us, the cabin crew and other passengers?

Is flying with a baby so young a bad idea? Should we wait until he is older?

Thanks in anticipation.

[oldbalboy]

plenty of feeds, keep yourself relaxed as he will sense your stressed and get agitiated, if you get any crying dont worry or stress babies do that from time to time!! remember they may cry during ascent & descent as they dont know how to clear there ears so a dummy or drink normally helps, also do remember some babies are quiet & some are noisy and you have as much right to be on that plane as anyone else! enjoy the experience and so will he! Ive been crew for 30+ years and can tell which babies will be noisy as they get on, its the ones with parents who are stressed out & demanding (we call them the first people in the world to have ever flown with a baby), just treat the flight same as how you did pre baby & 8 months is fine the youngest i've had on a flight was 14 days, if anything they tend to be worse around the terrible two's as they dont like being kept in the seat or on your lap.

[ex_matelot]

Thankyou.

ten letters

[obgraham]

Nothing wrong with traveling with a baby. If Mama's still feeding him, the time to do it on the way up and on the way down. 2nd choice is a bottle, same times.
Our first went cross-country at 5 weeks. No issues.

[DX Wombat]

Take a few toys and books as a distraction - especially his favourite toy but under no circumstances forget to take it with you off the aircraft or you will be in real trouble. ;) :uhoh:

[Hahn]

There are two ways to travel: first class and with kids!
(says the guy travelling with three.....)

[DownIn3Green]

Travelled with each of ours at around 30 days, Latvia to USA...It's actually a good deal...request the bassinet seats which are always the bulkhead...usually you are alone cause the airline will try not to seat anyone else near-by...

Pre-boarding, extra attention from the crew...they even warm the formula...all in all pretty much a non-stress issue...

(Of course I'm speaking International...

[Piltdown Man]

Oldbalboy has described the generalities spot on, you'll find most cabin crew very accommodating and airlines very helpful. But there are some specifics. Firstly, where are you travelling from and to and secondly, who are you flying with? Also, will your little one need any food and/or drink? The reason I ask is that if you are flying from the UK, the "Gate Gestapo" ie. security, will attempt to ruin your plans - unless you are prepared for the scum!

PM

[oldbalboy]

Very true make if your travelling ex UK you comply with the liquids and gels ban, check the security section of the airport you are departing from, also if you need Calpol get the little satchets from chemist as bottles will NOT be allowed through, if your travelling ex LHR/LGW or MAN there are large Boots airside.

[CafeClub]

See this thread:

http://www.pprune.org/cabin-crew/488721-advice-new-mum-alone-long-haul-flight.html

[Mr Optimistic]

a) Have the baby's ears checked first.
b) Take some calpol or equivalent.
c) Avoid if at all possible until the age of 4. Babies don't need holidays.

[Espada III]

c) Avoid if at all possible until the age of 4. Babies don't need holidays.

What a silly comment. Flights are not taken, solely for holidays. Maybe visiting grandparents for the first time, or parents relocating for job purposes. Who knows.

We travelled with all three children within a few months of birth. Never a problem with cabin crew and just followed the advice given above and relaxed!

[Mr Optimistic]

Nope not silly at all. Listen to the noise and vibration, think what this might seem to a baby. Ok sometimes it is necessary owing to the arrangements of adults but it must be torture for under 2's. 'Silly ', no.

[NWSRG]

Took our 11 month old on a return from DUB to MCO. On the way out, we had the bassinette seat, but she only slept for one hour out of nine! However, the rest of the time she either sat or stood in the crib, or stood on our knees...she loved the experience, seeing so many new faces, and watching all that was going on. Bring plenty of (new) toys, as these will hold attention for a while.
On the way back we had to negotiate with other passengers for a bassinette seat, even though we had been told by the gate staff that we were seated at one. Not good. Junior cried until we got her into bed, then slept like a baby (funny that) the whole way home.
As mentioned above, it's important for you to be chilled. If baby sees that you are relaxed, there's more chance that she will be too.

[Heathrow Harry]

With small babies the important thing is to make sure they are feeding on ascent/descent as that's when they get the pain in their ears

As they get older go for distraction - games, toys etc plus a big bag of sweets

At least these days on long haul you can stick a pair of earphones on them - in the old days they couldn't see the movie screen...........

[Pub User]

Listen to the noise and vibration, think what this might seem to a baby.

Probably best to stay away from cars, buses, trains, washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, fans or perhaps the TV. Wouldn't want baby to hear anything strange would we?

Fly with your baby, it's no worse than a motorway journey, except a lot safer of course.

[GalleyTeapot]

Do what the majority of parents do when flying with babies, get on board first but still have the aisle full of your bags when the rest of the passengers get on, expecting the crew to lift them into the overheads. Let the little $hitter scream its lungs out while being seeming unaware of it making a sound. If traveling in business class its especially important to be the only person sleeping while the little one howls for 9 hours, wouldn't want everyone to take advantage of their flat beds and miss out on the joy of a babies cry now would you. You should also let them sit on your knee unrestrained or crawl around the aisle when the seat belt sign is on. Don't forget to act like the most important people on the aircraft, someone else will take away those dirty nappies(diapers), used baby wipes, etc etc.
Flying with babies is no fun for everyone else on the aircraft.

[Heathrow Harry]

Dear, oh dear...................

Aircraft are only for business people who sleep the whole way I take it......... a very BOAC 1950's attitude there

Mass transportation means exactly that - we have to fly anyone who wants to go and can afford the fare. If we don't someone else will and we'll be on the dole

[Espada III]

You know Harry, Regtretfully I have been on a flight in business class, where parents did act like that. Just ignored the children and let everyone else have steam coming out of their ears. Clearly the people were super posh aristocracy (it was obvious by the names and accent) and thought everyone else was beneath them.

Having flown many many times with babies and toddlers in Economy, its those passengers who are more concerned with the comfort of the other passengers, many of whom are happy to help the frazzled parents of a whining toddler.

[Heathrow Harry]

we've all had bad flights - small children, business class drunks, rugby clubs, hen parties, so-called VIP's, people who insist they are entitled to whatever seat they fancy

TBH babies are fairly easy - if they aren't mine I just tune them out

[givemewings]

If you're lost as to where to change/ take care of baby's 'business' - please ask the crew, we are happy to show/tell you where the facilities are...

on my last flight more than one mother (after being shown the bins and the empty airsick bags to put nappies in) insisted on putting sh!tty nappies in the toilet/in the towel dispenser/in crew jumpseats and I had to keep fishing them out. Well rank and not appreciated by anyone!

never fails to baffle me as to how someone could think the clean towel dispenser or a jump seat is the place, even if they've never been on the plane before! I suppose they are just pigs at home too....

[teeteringhead]

I've found this very helpful and passed it on to the son-and-heir who is flying UK to UAE next month with partner and 14 month daughter. He was suitably impressed.

So thanks for the helpful comments - any additional advice (or changes to the above) for the toddling stage granddaughter??