Advice for new mum alone on long haul flight?
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Advice for new mum alone on long haul flight?
Apart from the obvious "don't do it", can anyone here offer some handy tips for a mum travelling for the first time with a 10 month old?
14 hours on Qantas, if that helps. I think she will take a premium economy seat. No seat for the babe.
(Not sure if this is the right forum - am usually a jet-blaster)
14 hours on Qantas, if that helps. I think she will take a premium economy seat. No seat for the babe.
(Not sure if this is the right forum - am usually a jet-blaster)
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Some people swear by fenergen and other antihistamine/cold remedies to keep an infant docile. All I can say is, aside from the dubious ethics of unneccessary drugs for an infant, be very sure you test before you board: we did, and found it turned said 18 month old into a raging drunk bull. -Some people don't react the way the old wives say. So we just went with parenting. It seemed to work.
If 10months is still breastfeeding, then feeding helps clear ears. If not, I suppose its a bottle but dealing with heating milk when crew are busy in the take-off/landing times is a bit much. The crying will also help clear the ears. Yes, its painful. No, there isn't much anyone can do.
Time passes. Its really not that big a deal, and what other passangers think is immaterial: you have a ticket, you have a right to travel.
If 10months is still breastfeeding, then feeding helps clear ears. If not, I suppose its a bottle but dealing with heating milk when crew are busy in the take-off/landing times is a bit much. The crying will also help clear the ears. Yes, its painful. No, there isn't much anyone can do.
Time passes. Its really not that big a deal, and what other passangers think is immaterial: you have a ticket, you have a right to travel.
Last edited by geeohgeegeeoh; 23rd Jun 2012 at 01:01.
Tricky age (which one isn't?). They want to crawl around and explore. Take book and small toy for distraction.
Hope babe doesn't cry too much and, if other pax object, well, tough; it's what babies do. We aren't keen on sedation.
No easy answer. Rather she than me
Hope babe doesn't cry too much and, if other pax object, well, tough; it's what babies do. We aren't keen on sedation.
No easy answer. Rather she than me
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This might help too:
http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...ng-babies.html
http://www.pprune.org/medical-health...ng-babies.html
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I can't say I mind heating up a bottle before take off, most of the time my boiler will already be warm for my cup of coffee too, so it really isn't a problem.
Drinking during take-off and landing can work wonders in terms of easing the pain for the child and, as such, for the other pax and crew as well.
My best friend is a midwife, and she too says it's about the only way that works for pretty much any baby.
During the flight, keep 'em entertained with books, iPads, IFE,... Personally, I don't mind taking care of them for a while, even when off duty, but I can see why some of my colleagues don't like to. I guess they are not being difficult, I'm just being easy ;-)
Drinking during take-off and landing can work wonders in terms of easing the pain for the child and, as such, for the other pax and crew as well.
My best friend is a midwife, and she too says it's about the only way that works for pretty much any baby.
During the flight, keep 'em entertained with books, iPads, IFE,... Personally, I don't mind taking care of them for a while, even when off duty, but I can see why some of my colleagues don't like to. I guess they are not being difficult, I'm just being easy ;-)
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Patience
Having flown a lot with our twins - starting when they were 1 month old - here are suggestions from my / our experience.
Forget all thoughts of feeding schedules and so on. Baby cries, put bottle in mouth. While it is easy to say "don't worry what the other passengers think" when confined in a small space those glares (understandable when the wailing has been going on and on) really do ratchet up the tension. If you are tense, it all goes pear shaped.
As poster above said, withhold that bottle until ON the take off roll, and somewhere between top of descent and wheels down... Best thing for popping ears is to be drinking/swallowing.
And who cares whether the formula is warm or not... Certainly not baby. Dont get all stressed trying to get "just right" temps. We often used bottled water and Formula mixed. A small thermos helps both you AND the crew, as they can fill it at leisure.
Wouldn't suggest the "make sure bubs is exhausted" option - exhausted babies can either a) crash out or b) wail furiously for hours. Instead try and get on a flight that gels with their normal sleeping time. Dont forget its not just the flight, its the endless queues at immigration and check in you have to cope with. On that: make sure you can comfortably carry everything you need on the plane AND baby. Long walks in terminal.
Pray to whoever your god is that you get grown ups on security too. We've had some real numbnuts that make you scream even before getting on the plane. Make sure you know the rules for security and nursing infants and liquids... And dont be afraid to stand your ground with the apes on the screening. You have the 8 / 12 hour flight to do, they dont. You NEED the formula, milk, whatever.
Take pre.packaged formula (tetra-paks). Baby wants food, crew are busy, you are exhausted... Just pour into bottle and serve. Oh and a few feeding bottles, not just one, so you always have a clean one ready to put in their mouth!!
Try if you can to find a relatively empty flight - hard i know - but that extra seat for all the crap you have to carry makes such a difference. If you get the bulkhead (which is good because of the bassinets) you cant store much on the floor. Nappies, toys, formula, bottles... A spare seat next to you is a god-send.
And DO go for the bassinet/bulkhead. Make sure you prebook this. World of difference.
A carrying harness is great too. You know the ones like a backpack but on your front? Helps at the airport as it leaves your hands free... And then on the plane you and bubs can wander around when all else fails to sooth. Spread the wailing around the cabin!! Seriously though - being able to walk around with hands free is a boon... And the movement, stimulation is soothing for the kid.
Pray you have a good crew. This makes all the difference and is something you have no control over. Crew that anticipate, rather than react.
Forget all thoughts of feeding schedules and so on. Baby cries, put bottle in mouth. While it is easy to say "don't worry what the other passengers think" when confined in a small space those glares (understandable when the wailing has been going on and on) really do ratchet up the tension. If you are tense, it all goes pear shaped.
As poster above said, withhold that bottle until ON the take off roll, and somewhere between top of descent and wheels down... Best thing for popping ears is to be drinking/swallowing.
And who cares whether the formula is warm or not... Certainly not baby. Dont get all stressed trying to get "just right" temps. We often used bottled water and Formula mixed. A small thermos helps both you AND the crew, as they can fill it at leisure.
Wouldn't suggest the "make sure bubs is exhausted" option - exhausted babies can either a) crash out or b) wail furiously for hours. Instead try and get on a flight that gels with their normal sleeping time. Dont forget its not just the flight, its the endless queues at immigration and check in you have to cope with. On that: make sure you can comfortably carry everything you need on the plane AND baby. Long walks in terminal.
Pray to whoever your god is that you get grown ups on security too. We've had some real numbnuts that make you scream even before getting on the plane. Make sure you know the rules for security and nursing infants and liquids... And dont be afraid to stand your ground with the apes on the screening. You have the 8 / 12 hour flight to do, they dont. You NEED the formula, milk, whatever.
Take pre.packaged formula (tetra-paks). Baby wants food, crew are busy, you are exhausted... Just pour into bottle and serve. Oh and a few feeding bottles, not just one, so you always have a clean one ready to put in their mouth!!
Try if you can to find a relatively empty flight - hard i know - but that extra seat for all the crap you have to carry makes such a difference. If you get the bulkhead (which is good because of the bassinets) you cant store much on the floor. Nappies, toys, formula, bottles... A spare seat next to you is a god-send.
And DO go for the bassinet/bulkhead. Make sure you prebook this. World of difference.
A carrying harness is great too. You know the ones like a backpack but on your front? Helps at the airport as it leaves your hands free... And then on the plane you and bubs can wander around when all else fails to sooth. Spread the wailing around the cabin!! Seriously though - being able to walk around with hands free is a boon... And the movement, stimulation is soothing for the kid.
Pray you have a good crew. This makes all the difference and is something you have no control over. Crew that anticipate, rather than react.
Last edited by CafeClub; 25th Jun 2012 at 02:22.
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Everything CafeClub said. Really, that's about the best summary I've read anywhere. There are also some helpful tips in the Passengers and SLF forum: see this thread for example. And on the black art of how and where you leave and re-take possession of your pram/buggy/stroller, see this thread. (But for a single 10-month-old, a front-pack is probably the better plan.)
Just to highlight some of CafeClub's key points for good measure:
Also try to pack so you can get to crucial things (e.g. nappies, wipes, spare clothes) quickly.
This can make a big difference. It's not always possible, of course, but if you can get on a 14-hour flight in the late afternoon or early evening, you stand a pretty good chance of getting the kid to go to sleep an hour or two after take-off according to his/her usual schedule. You (and fellow passengers) may then get several hours of uninterrupted quiet.
Yes. But 10 months is borderline for bassinets on many airlines. I think Qantas has larger ones, but worth checking. One advantage of the Qantas bassinets is they have a kind of seat-belt equivalent strapping across the top, which means you can leave the baby in there during turbulence, when the seat-belt sign is on. On many other airlines, you have to take the baby out whenever the seat-belt sign is on - which is heartbreaking if you've just got the litte darling to sleep...
And finally:
Since this the cabin crew forum, I'd really like to emphasise this for any CC reading. It really makes a huge difference, and improves the experience for everyone, when CC anticipate needs and work actively with the parents to plan and manage things over the whole flight. Singapore Airlines crew were outstanding at this, for example approaching us to say that they'd be starting the meal service in half an hour, asking which of us would like to eat first, offering to save a meal for the other parent, asking whether we needed a bottle warmed, etc. They knew everything we'd need, before we knew it. And half-way through a 12-hour flight, a crew member approached me very deferentially, as if asking for a huge favour, and asked if she could take the baby for 20 minutes or so. (Why yes, you angel from heaven, you can, and God bless you and your airline.) Similarly, when I was travelling alone with my infant daughter, Etihad crew impressed me by offering unprompted to look after her whenever I needed to use the toilet.
Just to highlight some of CafeClub's key points for good measure:
make sure you can comfortably carry everything you need on the plane AND baby. Long walks in terminal.
try and get on a flight that gels with their normal sleeping time
And DO go for the bassinet/bulkhead. Make sure you prebook this. World of difference.
And finally:
Pray you have a good crew ... Crew that anticipate, rather than react.
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Ditto gibon2... And thanks for stressing the CC aspect. We have had some wonderful crew on SQ and EK that have done exactly as you describe... and then there's the one who stood there with 2 food trays in hand while we jostled bottles and crying babies with a "do you want your meals or not?" expression on her face!!
Yes you are busy, no we are not doing this to annoy you!!
Coupla other things i forgot.
One gibon2 touched on: take all the diapers and wipes and clothes and and.. in a bag that doesnt require you to empty it to find what you are looking for. Pack it so when you do have an awful nappy that needs changing you can simply reach in and grab what u need, while doing the aisle dance, and balancing baby in one arm.
Take a small quilt or towel to put on the awkward, hard plastic change table in the waaaay too small toilets. You thought aircraft toilets were small when there was just you in there? Wait until you have a s**t filled nappy, baby, wipes, new nappy, clothes.... lol. The quilt stops bubs from smacking their head on the hard surface and may even fool him/her into thinking this is just like the nice comfortable change table at home.
Oh, and if you can fly J class, do. Universe of difference...
Yes you are busy, no we are not doing this to annoy you!!
Coupla other things i forgot.
One gibon2 touched on: take all the diapers and wipes and clothes and and.. in a bag that doesnt require you to empty it to find what you are looking for. Pack it so when you do have an awful nappy that needs changing you can simply reach in and grab what u need, while doing the aisle dance, and balancing baby in one arm.
Take a small quilt or towel to put on the awkward, hard plastic change table in the waaaay too small toilets. You thought aircraft toilets were small when there was just you in there? Wait until you have a s**t filled nappy, baby, wipes, new nappy, clothes.... lol. The quilt stops bubs from smacking their head on the hard surface and may even fool him/her into thinking this is just like the nice comfortable change table at home.
Oh, and if you can fly J class, do. Universe of difference...
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From personal experience of traveling with my little lad years ago.......
Assume that he's going to puke on you, so wear clothes you can wash /sponge easily, can take off easily and replace easily while still in the air. (i.e. take spares in your carryon)
Wearing a towel as a bib while holding the baby may be a good idea....
If the kiddie gets earache, or gets an upset tum, then puking may not be far away - and its going to go all over you
Assume that he's going to puke on you, so wear clothes you can wash /sponge easily, can take off easily and replace easily while still in the air. (i.e. take spares in your carryon)
Wearing a towel as a bib while holding the baby may be a good idea....
If the kiddie gets earache, or gets an upset tum, then puking may not be far away - and its going to go all over you
Last edited by Milo Minderbinder; 25th Jun 2012 at 21:53.
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Thank you
Thanks very much indeed to those who so kindly posted advice here. The young mum read it all and found it very useful. She arrived last night and mercifully for her and everyone else the baby behaved just fine. Even coped with the pressurisation cycles!
