Advice for travveling with a baby please
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2005
Location: 50'11N 004' 16W
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Advice for travveling with a baby please
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.
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.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Last edited by oldbalboy; 10th Dec 2012 at 17:15.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: E.Wash State
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Our first went cross-country at 5 weeks. No issues.
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
Posts: 2,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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. 
Person Of Interest
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: Keystone Heights, Florida
Age: 68
Posts: 842
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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...
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...
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wor Yerm
Age: 68
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A few questions...
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
PM
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: London
Posts: 277
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: australia
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
c) Avoid if at all possible until the age of 4. Babies don't need holidays.
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!
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.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
Age: 52
Posts: 851
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
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.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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...........
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...........
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Grobelling through the murk to the sunshine above.
Age: 60
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Listen to the noise and vibration, think what this might seem to a baby.
Fly with your baby, it's no worse than a motorway journey, except a lot safer of course.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Englandshire
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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.
Flying with babies is no fun for everyone else on the aircraft.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
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
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.
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.
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: London
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
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
TBH babies are fairly easy - if they aren't mine I just tune them out