Flying with a baby (1yo)

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hello,

Just looking for some advice about flying with a 1yo baby. We, me+wife+baby, will be leaving Switzerland early next year and heading home to Sydney Australia. As I have never flown long distance with a baby before I was hoping that someone out there could give me some pointers. We will be flying business class with either Singapore Airlines, Emirates or Etihad. In regards to sleeping arrangements, will we need to book a cot? Do we need to book this in advance? What seats are recommended? (obviously this depends on the plane, but Im hoping to go on the A380 ). Not sure what other questions to ask so if anyone knows of anything to be careful of please let me know.

Thanks

2
You can do a few things.

1- Definitely call the airline in advance and let them know that you are flying with a baby.

2- Call the airlines reservation and pre-reserve "bulkhead" seats. These are seats where you will have no seats in front of you and there will be a wall. That will give you enough space to have the baby on the floor in front of you. Airlines also provide a little "bab y basinett" desinged for long flights. make sure you call in advance for the seats otherwise they go fast because of the extra leg room.

3
Hi!

We just recently flew from Basel to Montreal, Canada with our 1 year old daughter. And she did really well for the most part. All airplanes have a change table within the plane. I would recommend pre-booking your seats, and try to get the front of the row-more leg room and room for baby toys/bag. If you have a seat row with others in it, ask them if they wouldn't mind changing so you have more room with your baby. Babies under 2 can go on your lap for about 10% of one adult fare-but that depends on the airline. Just make sure you bring enough food/snacks and bottles for baby. You can bring as much food for baby as needed and won't be stopped bc of it at costumes, just have to let them know you have baby food in your bag. Most airlines allow you to have 120ml of liquid for baby in your carry-on...I recommend making up bottles ahead of time and then when you need to fill with water you just ask the flight attendants and they will bring you water for the bottles. I also would go to the pharmacy and get some baby parecetimal bum supositories. I gave one to our little girl before getting on the flight and it helped with pain from taking off and landing. If baby sleeps at a certain time for nap and then at night time, try to do the same on the plane as you would at home-get them into pjs etc. And don't worry if baby cries...people understand. The first time we flew from Basel to Canada I was worried what others would think or say if our daughter cried...and you just can't think that way-babies cry-and that is the way it is sometimes.

Double check with your airline, but you can check a car seat as a piece of luggage for your baby and the stroller can be brought all the way to the door of the plane and they will put it directly under the plane and then either give it to you as you get off the plane, or put it through with over size luggage and you pick it up on the belt. We have had no problems with that sort of thing.

Oh and when you book your flight online, you can click the option for baby meal-recommend it-even if it is just a snack for your baby, it helps.

Otherwise, just check with your airline and ask if they have any stipulations about babies flying. And with a baby, you don't wait in line like everyone else, you get to go to the front of the line in most airports, and that really helps!!!

Enjoy your flight and trip

4
We flew back to Australia last year when Baby D was 4 months old. We survived, but I'm in no hurry to do it again.

Apart from what has already been said, I have one bit of advice: make sure your baby has a fresh nappy before the descent starts. The pressure increase will empty the little bugger like a tube of toothpaste.

5
My advice is to ask for anything you need well before you *need* it.

If you are still breastfeeding, don't wean before the travel...it's much easier to travel with a breastfed baby - food on tap and it helps with the ears too...

I packed bundles with one light change of clothing, nappy, couple of wipes in ziplock bag, cloth nappy and a spare plastic bag - dad could grab bundle + baby and take off straight for the bathroom in case of imminent nappy disaster...

My only strong advice would be don't be tempted to use sedatives...when we came over from Sydney to zurich there were at least three kids who travelled really really badly - at least when your child is not on drugs, you can tell by looking into their eyes if they are feeling not so good - one girl about 6-7 puked her way all the way from Singapore, and guaranteed it was from 'medicine'...also I suspect long-term it probably doesn't help with fear-of-flying since the child will associate airplane travel with being out of their brain...sorry that's harsh, but it wasn't a pretty sight...

Oh, and ask for plenty of extra drinks for yourself as well - no need to suffer the flight...

If your child is walking/moving by that age, it's 21+ hours travelling - take them around the plane at every suitable opportunity - don't try to confine them until you have to.

Seatbelts are also a big problem for some kids - actually, you can make your best effort to put them in, but I have asked a couple of times if seatbelts are *compulsory* and airline staff have not said yes...if the choice is between having a screaming baby in a seatbelt, or a calm baby who is not in a seatbelt I'd go the latter - a little waistband really isn't going to do much in an emergency...

For toys/activities, choose some small items and wrap them like presents - things that are their favourites...and open one at a time...make it last as long as possible...

For us, one-way wasn't so bad - but I'm not looking forward to next summer when we plan to do the round-trip with three children aged 2,8 and 10...

6
Not a parent, but that one struck me as odd - even with small turbulences any small objects or humans can be thrown around the plane quite violently... may be something to consider..

7
Stickers are a big hit, too, even with very young children. They spend half the time trying to get them off their fingers/trousers/arm of the seat to transfer them onto a piece of paper and seem to be fascinated by it.

Cheap, easy to pack and available from Coop and Migros all over the place.

8
probably not appropriate toy, but i had enormous success with a pointer light - it amuses and if you have 2 you can play on the roof/floor/wall...and in my defense it was a last resort!

i would fly singapour business if you can - definitely a favourite!

9
I wouldn't feel safe long haul - especially through Asia in cyclone season- without my kid in a car seat and have taken one both times when returning to Australia.

I've had the seatbelt sign on for most of the flight before where cots had to be stowed and kids held by parents. Mine remained asleep in his car seat

10
Heya

Having flown to Melbourne and back twice this year with my baby girl who will be one in 3 weeks I will highly reccommend booking ahead a basinett!! and as said above they only come with the bulkhead seats which also gives you the added advantage of extra leg room!

Also if you are flying out of zurich they generally dont place a limit on the amount of liquids you carry for the baby. In Singapore they did ask us to sample the bottles of water that we wanted to take through with us but they did allow us to take it through where as other passengers with out kids were not allowed.

Try and fly the big leg ( we flew with singapore airlines) at night , then it will be much easier to get the little one settled as they will be tired from the day anyways.

With jetlag at the other end , I will suggest letting them sleep when they are want. Both flights down under this year it took my little one only about 3 days to get back into a normal day/night rhythm... YAY!! And expect a couple of midnight feeds ie breakfast time will be at 0200 local time...

In regards to the meals served on the plane, as parents ( at least on Singapore Air ) you will be offered your meals first, take the baby meal - they gives you heinz, and even if you dont feed it to your angel you will have a couple of spares up your sleeve if you cant get to a supermarket before she/he gets hungry again.

Apart from that give him/her something to drink ( ie bottle or boob or dummy) as you take off and land as the sucking will help to reduce the pressure in the ears.

Have fun

kt

11
I also agree with most of the advice given...

The last time I made the return trip, I was by myself with a 14 month old (who had just started to walk), a 5 year old and I was 6 months pregnant!

The only problem we had was the baby basinette and turbulence - every time the light went on (quite often), I had to take the 14mo out and hold her - she is a light sleeper and it was difficult to settle her afterwards - a car seat would solve this problem.

Have a great trip...

12
Hi,

Never travelled with a baby before but I have seen a baby in business class on Singapore airlines on my previous trip.

The seats on Singapore airlines are the lie totally flat variety and they should give you one in the front row. These seats give you a full rectangular bed - seats in the other rows are shaped almost like a triangle because of the space provided for the seats in front of you. Because of this, these seats are very high in demand, so you need to book early.

Being in the front row means that you can use a bassinet. The seats do convert into a very large bed for your child, though it could be too big to secure your baby and you actually have to get up and out of your seat if you want to convert it into a bed (you would have to fold down the back rest). So having a bassinet gives you an extra option. Hopefully your child is big enough so he can stay in the seat while it is in the bed positon, as if he is belted up this way, there is no need to move him during turbulence. It is a big bed for him though... On my last flight, the baby was not very calm, and did not have his own seat, so mum actually took him out of the bassinet and slept with him on her seat (yes, it is big enough!). Business class seats on Singapore airlines is 30inches wide (80cm?), which is at least 50% wider than Emirates or Etihad.

The ZRH-SIN flights are all with the latest business class seats, which is the same as the A380 seats (in fact, you will find that the A380 cabin is noticeably narrower because it is upstairs!).

I think that there are 4 flights per day between SIN and SYD, but only the morning flight has the old seats.

Do ask them for special assistance when booking - I have seen this in Singapore - someone will meet you there, push your pram and carry your bags for you while you and the Mrs. shop before your connecting flight!

13
BBBTTTTHHHHHHHHFFFFFFFF

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

could really visualise that one

On the long flights, take every minute as it comes. Take HEAPS of snacks - it is unlikely that they will give you any food the baby might eat (but then I only ever flew cattle class - 5yr old has been back to NZ 3 times, 3 yr old twice) DONT WORRY about what the other passengers think. Dont count on getting any sleep, or should I be saying this to your wife?

14

Hi NZ kiwi,

Just a question.

You mentioned that last time you traveled, you had a 14 month old baby and you were 6 months pregnant. How did you do that???

15
i flew from syd in april with my 8week old boy and 18month old. we flew singapore, thai, SAS. Singapore was excellent with the kids. We were also business some things i dont think were mentioned. you need to book bassinets early as well as baby food (if required) bassinets nromally only till 8 months old aounr 8-9 kgs. otherwise a lap seat belt is required. under 2 if you want them to sit alone you normally are rquired to bring a baby seat. (each airline is different with requirements) baby food and neccesities allowed, there is a guideline tho saying you are required to each some if asked for security purposes. any medications need doctor certificate. good luck its a long way.

16
Hi,

I'll be soon travelling to the USA with my lovely very active little toddler. We will have 8 hours of flight and other 1h30 after a transfert. I did take the plane alone with my daughter and it was a nightmare. Not because of her but because the plane had trouble and we waited for 12 hours before to take off.

I have a friend who just came back and had a terrible flight because the crew was rude and let her totally on her own, without help and they forgot to give her food and when she called them, they took 1 hour to come to her, etc....

It is so difficult for someone to travel with a young kid alone. Just to be able to go to the bathroom needs a full organisation. Same when you want to eat with a child on your lap... without space.

If you have any tips to help us, the moms (and dads) who travel with young kids, please share them with us.

Nil

17
Sweets for take off and landing to help with air pressure - or drinking bottle - anything that will help them suck.

That's all I've got

Then again, I've only ever flown short distances with children, so wasn't too much of a problem.

18
I would take a car seat with you so you can leave her sleeping and not have to hold her every time the seatbelt sign comes on. This also means she is strapped in and can't get away from you

I also took my own food on the flights and I filled the bottle with hot water before take off so I didn't need to ask for it later. Don't order the kid's meal - their sugary contents will surprise you.

Earplugs for the nearby passengers is a great idea my friend had.

The pediatrician also gave us fenstil drops that act as a mild sedative should things get tough.

Naviscan (sp?) nasal drops before take off and landing were recommended by the pediatrician too. Worked great!

19
If you haven't already seen these, there are some good tips on these threads:

Flying with Baby

Air Travel Baby

Kid Plane Ear Pain Advice

Even if the title threads do not apply to "toddlers", there are lot of posts regarding them and how to keep them busy.

My advice: keep calm yourself and don't let other people around you worry you. Sometimes, these "first-time with a kid" things seem overwhelming, but if you take one step at a time they are quite accomplishable. Have fun!

20
Agree to have fenistil drops around. Although once they seemed to have backfired on me ;-)