Travelling tips with a baby
Long haul flights with a baby, the idea strikes fear into most parents and other passengers
Having successfully avoided taking my son (then 15 month old) overseas to visit his father’s county of origin, I eventually had to bite the bullet. You see my husband is originally from the UK, probably one of the further-est places to travel to on this earth, great!
Childless me would have no issues jumping on a plane for 26 hours, eating food out of a foil container, watching a few movies and having a few too many red wines to pass the time. But now, along with everything in my life – my plans entirely revolve around my mini-human.
Tips for travelling with a baby
I painstakingly spent weeks planning, preparing and plotting, trying to pre-empt every move my non-walking 16kg toddler would make. There were lists, mock-packs, activity bundles, various snack options, even the slightly naive purchase of baby headphones “just in case” he decided to tolerate them and watch a whole movie non-stop whilst in the air. And as a last resort, the consideration of passenger bribery packs complete with ear plugs and a heartfelt appeal/apology from weary parents (didn’t bother, everyone had to suffer with me).
Baby car seat on a plane
Even though Oliver was only 15 months and could be flown free of charge on a lap, we decided that it was a better option to book and pay extra for a child’s fare, 26 hours is a long time with a 16kg lap weight. Thinking “comfort” and safety we decided to take our spare car seat on board for him to sit in, luckily our spare seat was FAA-approved (green sticker on the back of the seat) and after mass dialogues with the airlines via phone and email they confirmed its approval for use – best get that in writing as we found out on check-in.
There’s a fair amount of confusion regarding car seats on planes, but once you have airline approval for your FAA approved seat, stand by it. Take printed correspondence (for when you can’t access emails) and take note of names when enquiring. Most airlines will also have published information online you can refer to.
The car seat was ok on board, but I’m not sure the drama it involves was completely worth it. Keep in mind they are pretty heavy and if wrangling a child in a baby carrier, carry-on bags and a car seat through vast terminals, things can get a bit weary and tense. On the bigger planes like the A380, when the seat in front is fully reclined (doesn’t that seem to happen as soon as take-off is complete?!) little baby legs can get trapped between the car seat and rear of the passenger in fronts seat due to the elevation of the car seat base, so just be aware and try to protect those precious little baby legs.
If you do decide to take one, invest in a car seat bag that has TWO straps so it can be worn as a backpack, take some time to run through a trial of strapping the car seat onto the plane seat and feeding giant buckles through slots – under pressure to re-enact already grumpy tutting and sighing passengers. Think about logistics and panic, the baby, the husband, the lack of space.
Breastfeeding on a planes - The V-Pillow
If I were to do it again, I probably wouldn’t take it, but I would definitely purchase a spare seat and pack a v-pillow (which I also did, so you can probably start to see why things were so chaotic) and invest in a foldable travel light stroller (the one that fits into a backpack).
The v-pillow was great, I mainly packed it for breastfeeding/Oliver (wishfully) sleeping, as he would usually do after a feed. I somehow managed to cram it into my carry on, even if it meant that I packed light. Worth it. Lighter and less bulky than a car seat and probably more comfortable for all.
Speaking of comfort, dress baby in onesie and a jumper, or clothing that doesn’t require acrobatics and space to try and wrestle when its nappy changing time. Packing a wet bag or foldable change mat with a few nappies, nappy sacks and wipes that’s easily accessible and portable was a great help. The stewards would appreciate a double bagged nappy placed in the main rubbish, rather than left in the bathroom.
Baby carryon list
- Zip locked bags of snacks
- Books
- Small selection of toys
- The things Oliver wanted to entertain himself with was the in-flight magazine and the retractable remote and pressing buttons
So only take the bare minimum of toys, things your child really loves and can keep them entertained for as much time as possible.
Trust me - book a 1 day layover
Layovers, we tried to pick the flight with enough time to account for delays, but also one that did mean we were stuck in a terminal for hours – it didn’t matter, if anything it was a relief to stretch and wander for a little. Unfortunately, that ‘little bit’ turned into a five hour delay, but fortunately we found a lounge we could pay to use, which was a bit of a lifesaver and probably the best $60 per person we ever spent. Which leads me to my next revelation, STOP OVER. Actually have a day or two somewhere where you can have a shower, sleep, rest, walk etc. I know it’s not always possible, but for a small extra cost it would definitely add to sanity and something that we now do for any flight longer than eight hours.
When you eventually get to your destination give yourself and baby a few days (permitting) to adjust, it’s going to be tough with sleeping patterns, jetlag and unfamiliar environments. If you can, make your baby’s sleeping environment familiar, have a few sleeps in portacot before you leave, use the same sheets and blankets that they have slept in at home, take their favourite sleeping snuggle – familiarity helps settle (a bit).
Pack smart, pack light, pack small. Taking bits and bobs (toys, snacks, food pouches, tetra packs of milk, takeaway changing stations) with you in zip lock bags saves on space and makes things easier and more accessible and double as a sealable rubbish/wet clothes bag.
Key takeaways
Packing their belongings into their own backpack with the most likely to be used items on top or at the front, saves time and stress. Making small investments in equipment is advisable; a baby carrier (probably wouldn’t recommend if they are over 10kg as it’s a hard slog walking with a wiggly heavy baby) or a small foldable travel stroller that fits in your carry on (some fold as small as 45x45cm); a v-pillow and the purchase of an extra seat (or wing it and hope for a spare on the flight). My biggest suggestion would be to stop over for a night or two half way if you can afford it. You will be amazed what a good sleep (laying flat) will do for you and for the baby!
Author: Sarah Redzia
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's own and do not reflect the view of the ESSSuper.