Lots of snacks
Some toys
Go walking with the toddler down the aisles
Be nice to your seat neighbours and maybe they'll entertain your child for awhile
Bring lots of wipes to keep your child clean.
Have the toddler be chewing or drinking something during take-off and landing for ear pressure.
If possible we try to pick the seats online carefully:
Usually try to pick a row (of three seats)
- where there is already one person either at the aisle/window seat and the rest of the row is free. I pick the window/aisle hoping the middle seat won t be filled so the toddler can be seated there and be allowed to abuse fellow-flier in front
- towards the end.. Most people want to rush out of the plane so they prefer front seats... so we do the opposite
Question: where do you put the car seat? And how do you carry the car seat, the child, the bag from the plane to the transfert?
1. You can use a small, folding luggage trolley with wheels and your kid can sit on the car seat when they get tired. Secure it on with luggage straps.
2. Secure the car seat to your take on trolley bag using the seat harness. Ours just looped over the handle.
We could then use the car seat for taxis and at out destination. It was well worth the hassle of carrying the seat through the airport. The seatbelt sign remained on for hours and we all got some sleep.
I travelled to Hong Kong with my daughter when she was 12 months old but she couldn't walk at that time so I have to hold her in arms. It's a 14 hours flight plus another 2 hours flight plus 3 hours transit in between. Here're the key points from my personal experience, hope it helps.
1. for landing and taking off, always have either a pacifier /bottle of water on hand for the baby to suck, it eases air pressure.
2. car seat as recommended by other member is a good idea but you need to try getting a bulk head seats. Do not trust the bassinet offered by the airline, it's really unstable especially if your baby could make a little roll/movement.
3. if you could, bring a baby carrier with you, even you have a car seat as it serves a different purpose. Once the plane is in the air, it's good to 'walk' your baby in the cabin for a while to soothe him/her to sleep
4. as of baby food, try to bring jar instead of aluminium foil pack. If you're travel/transit through London (not sure about other airports), you will be requested to poke a hole or peel off the foil, dip your finger into the food and try it in front of the custom. That way, you risk contaminating the food or leaking before you have the chance to give it to your baby. If your baby has teeth, bring small biscuit instead or dried cereal powder to be mixed with water.
5. try to change the baby before boarding even it's not a fully wet diaper. and a lots of wipes like the other members said.
6. an extra set of clothing for the baby in case they wet the clothing due to vomit/pee/poo....you never know what would happen in a new environment for them and that their bodies have to adjust to different time zone
7. It's very difficult for a baby to sit tight and not move around in the seat. (so is it for most adult, isn't it). Therefore, you need to prepare some NEW toy (that he/she hasn't seen it before). As such, it will keep the attention longer. I took it out when the seat belt is on for landing /taking off. It worked to keep my little girl to be calm down for a while, also distracting her from the air pressure.
8. not sure the type of trolley you have, better to bring the one foldable and highly compact one so that it won't take up a lot of space if it's on board. It's up to the flight crew discretion on the spot to let your trolley check in or on-board. That's why it's important to make it look very small. FYI-I have a maclaren which is fully well known in UK so when I took BA, most crew could even help me to fold and unfold while i'm holding my baby.
9. It's true that it's difficult to leave the child, say going to toilet. That's why we need to prepare to suffer a bit....I try to drink as less as I could. Also, when the crew is less busy, like after serving meal etc, I ask them to come and watch the baby for me. I frankly told them i need a pee !
10. if you could, ask for extra setS of pillow if the flight is not full. it's more comfortable for you and the baby.
11. do not expect to take the flight meals as 1)you wait forever for each course with all utensil/tray in front of you; 2)the baby will cry, play, etc and always need your attention. try to fill up your stomach before board, bring some energy snack/bar that fill you up easily. If you do have to take the meal, ask the crew to bring all things in one go at earlier/later time once you identify the 'slot' e.g. your baby is sleeping , calm etc.
12. remember to fill in any immigration form if needed. You don't have an extra pair of hand to do it once you got off and rushing to transit/pass through custom
These are my experience and hope it helps. Last but not least, be always extremely nice to the crew (unfortunately even when they behave like a bitch), it's true that it's their discretion to help or not for most of the time during the whole journey e.g. trolley in the cabin/check in, how long you have to wait for them to come over to take care of your baby when you need to go to toilet etc....
Good luck for the ride
-for car seats, your toddler must have her own reserved seat. If not, you could get lucky and no-one is sitting next to you. Worst case scenario is that you need to check it in, but at least you can use it over there.
-most baby car seats are ok. The next size can be a problem because they could be too big. You need to call the airline and ask if your car seat fits.
-when you call the airline, ask for special assistance. The asian airlines like Singapore are great with this and usually have someone accompanying you from check-in to the plane, and also during transit. Not sure about the american airlines, but most should have ground services people to help the elderly, etc., but you need to call in advance so that they are ready.
- ZRH security is terrible in the sense that they want you to take the toddler out and fold the stroller and put it through the x-ray machine. At other airports I see that they will push the stroller through the scanners for you and sort of do a manual pat down of the stroller, all with the toddler still sitting in there.
- is you are still doing the babybjorn backpack thing, take her through the airport in that and put all your bags in the stroller.
- bring lots of toys but don't introduce them all at once. Wait an hour before introducing new ones. Same with their cookies/favourite snacks.
- in ZRH airport there are 2 family rooms - one in gate A and the other in gate E. It has loads of toys, changing station, bottle warmers, etc., everything to keep your toddler occupied for the hour or so between check in and boarding.
Since you're travelling long distance, I would really advise booking a seat for your child even if he's under 2.
Friends of mine recently went to Chile with a very active 18 months old, and it was quite difficult. When the kid wanted to sleep they couldn't find a nice place for him: on the floor with a blanket was forbidden by the air attendants, and on them meant that they couldn't find a great position to sleep themselves...
Toilets in plane can also be quite tricky: I recently went to Portugal, and my son was scared by them...
Anyway: take plenty of wipes, extra clothes for the child, and some small new toys...
In Porto they insisted to scan my son's stuffed lion (his doudou) in the x-ray machine...
well, some tips based on my experience after 3 long haul flights with my son. try feeding the main meal before boarding, depending on the flight time ofcourse (even if it is a bit early I try and finish the meal, so they are full and hence higher chances of them sleeping). then some dafalgan/cough syrup as recommended by our doc. Try getting some seats in front row, if they are not already booked by passengers with babies. Things are a lot easier with these seats. Take him/her for walk, esp to the cabin crew area as it is facinating for the kids and you have some space where the kid can move a bit. When you know that your toddler will eat in 1/2 hour, you could ask them to heat up the bottle/jar for you...but don't let this concide with the time they serve food for the passengers, walk up to them and give the bottle...hang around and play with you son, while they are heating it up. Take a bunch of your sons fav snacks and be prepared to be okay if he/she does not eat the normal quantity....lot of water/juice should do. It is a little tricky with food. but at times my little one used to be so interested with the TV/small screen....I got a chance to grab a bite...esp with tom and jerry on the small screen. Keep a sandwich or some bread and fruit handy for urselves. Sounds a bit embarrasing, but I always had 2 small empty bottles and used to fill up water/juice and give back the cups/ to avoid accidents. YUP you might get funny looks :-) If he is interested in books, they are great. Puzzles/crayons...be prepared to bend 50 times to pick these things up. A new toy which the child has never seen before also keeps them distracted for a while (normally the kit given in the airplace should do). Again during the transit, change the diaper and try and feed the kid something and let him/her run around to expend some energy. All the tips are based on the individual's experience/ some might or might not work for you, most importantly relax and you will make it thru with out too much trouble
P.S : There are some occasions you can break the no sugar/no junk rules and this is most certainly one of them. Atleast I think so.....
Thank you all!
I love this forum and the people who help so much!
I took all your advices and read the other threads!
I am have a question, on a pratical side, what is the best bag to bring in the plane?
My diaper bag is great, but I always feel it's not enough big for all the baby stuff. What do you use?
backpack...works for me
normally, airline should allow one-more luggage if you travel w baby. check it out. I suggest you use a back pack so that you ease both hand to carry the baby or manage other things while walking before boarding or after landing. alternatively, use the one with rolls.
Invest in one of these, the go from car/airport/plane/walking, all compliant with FAA regs., etc. Need a separate seat for child in plane, but well worth it:
Lilly Gold Sit 'n Stroll 5-in-1 Combination Car Seat/Stroller
tks for sharing. it's such a great product, I should have bought it if i saw it earlier. Now I have 2 kids and so many strollers/car seat in my apartment !
by the way do u know if they have retails in sw. I still would like to see real one cause i haven't bought car seat for my grow-up kid yet.
All the things have been pretty much said, I know when my friend fly long haul flights with little kids, they get a basket, they had to reserve it when they were booking flights or call right after. It is a folding sort of bed attached to the wall for a child to sleep in, really comfy.
I would take a car seat but check it with your stroller (not the main checking but when you are about to board the plane) otherwise you have to pay for it as an extra seat. For flying I had my child strapped to me with a special expention strap, she actually enjoyed sleeping on me much more than if I put her down on the floor, etc.
Bring your own drinks and food, I wouldn't rely on the carrier, since you never know.
Books worked with my child, lots and lots. Snacks she was usually not allowed to have, since it kept her attention. I also loaded my Ipod with cartoons, she watched cartoons and had Nintendo for her to play with. People will give you looks when they see a young child with headphones on, but whatever. Little knicknacky toys, pack a little fabric tote (you can sew one quickly, like 4inchx4inch pocket with handles, or they sell them for a few franks in H&M) with little nicknacks for her to play with, to be in charge off, small plastic animals, IKEA finger puppets, minibooks...etc. I would avoid playdough since it might look suspicious.
Good luck, it might be completely fine! Dont dread it or your child will pick up on your nerves. Treat it as any other little adventure.
Swiss also give out to babies - bib, little fabric picture book, puzzle, some other things. Or at least they used to.
If your child uses a pacifier / dummy / nouky, absolutely have one of those chain things attached to their clothes. Bending down five hundred times to retrieve it off a hairy floor with a tray in your lap and Junior getting wiggly is no joy. Even as a passenger next to a family...
As for the Lilly Gold car/airplane seat/stroller combo, I don't know if it retails here in Switzerland. Best to contact the company directly, they were very helpful in the past. Ours was sent over directly.
Would note that it is very good for young children, likely up to and including 3 years old. A 4 year old probably could use, but as walking mostly there is little need.
Also, you can use it on your trip as car seat and stoller only, if you don't want to pay for a air seat. You just roll it to the gate and they take it as gate luggage. However, on long-haul flights have found it indespensible for sleeping, as it allows you some free time and I don't know how anyone can sleep two to a seat unless a tiny baby.
And that's not even thinking about the hygiene implications of picking something up of a carpeted floor that has been sat/shat (i.e. dirty shoes)/puked/stood on etc. and not very well cleaned since the aeroplane was commissioned...
If your flying to Australia only use Singapore Airlines, great staff (almost too helpful to a single dad with a 4mo) only 1 stop, prices ok ect.
Prebook the transit hotel in Singapore airport for you as much as the little one. Giving them a bottle on assent and decent helps their ears adjust and settles them, if they are older chuppachups work a treat, bribe them in before take off, if your'e not a pita you will get a CChup on the plane. Do not give it to them before bording even if them are screaming the place down (as my little fella did!!) and everyone in looking daggers at you , you want them hungry and thirsty for takeoff, then they will drink/eat and sleep like "babies" are meant to. Order a special meal for yourself vegetarian, kosher, hindu it doesn't matter, special meals are served first and if they sleep, you will want to eat and sleep asap, you never know when you will have the next chance. If you are using baby formula order boiling water and keep the baby bottle in a stubby cooler to keep warm for when you need it. If you are flying with a partner maybe get seats a few rows apart so you can do it in shifts or at least one of you is not completly broken at the other end.
And smile as your darling keeps the whole plane awake screaming as you remember all had flights like that in our pre children days, ahh payback is a b*cth!!
One last thing, check your stroller in as hand luggage as last time I went to Australia it was delivered after customs and an hour to get through customs in Aus seems the norm with a tired 1you in your arms is no fun after 24+ hours in the air. This is easily achieved by acting the crazy, neurotic, sleep deprived parent we all are, it helps if you are a woman doing this act!!