I have learned a lot in my first year as a mum! Most new parents quickly come to terms with everyday aspect such as which tog sleeping bag is best, which first foods to introduce or how amazing the jumperoo is! But when it comes to travelling abroad with a baby, many find it quite daunting. So I’ve compiled my list of top tips telling you everything you need to know for your first time flying with a baby!
Table of Contents
Think about travelling times
If your baby is small enough to sleep on the go, you can plan for a flight at any time of day. But once baby has established their routine you probably want to avoid disrupting that too much if you can. A baby who is over-tired can be a real nightmare (trust me I know!), so avoid flights that are super early in the morning- a 6am flight will mean arriving at the airport around 4am and depending on your journey time to the airport waking up might have to take place a couple of hours or more before that. Such an early start will disrupt anyone’s body clock, baby or not.
Night flights are generally a good bet as baby can sleep and is less likely to get restless and want to play, although this does depend on the length of the flight. A 10pm-4am flight to Dubai might not be ideal but an 8pm-8am flight from London to Mexico could work perfectly.
Consider baby’s ears
When flying with your baby, Changes in altitude are likely to affect your precious one’s little ears, especially if their sinuses are blocked. It is a good idea to encourage baby to be sucking something during take-off and landing to avoid this where possible. This can be by breastfeeding, bottle feeding, using a dummy or sucking a thumb. We have always given ours a dummy and have never had any problems.
Reserve a bassinet
Having a bassinet or a portable cot can be a lifesaver, especially if you have a night flight. If baby won’t sleep in it, it is also a great place to keep all of those baby things you brought with you- toys, blankets, bottles etc. Bare in mind that there are weight restrictions, so this is generally for the younger babies only. An added bonus of getting a bassinette seat is that these are often ‘chargeable’ seats as you tend to get a little extra leg room, the down side however, is that whoever you are travelling with might be seated separately.
Buy your milk and nappies in advance and collect at the airport
OK so you’ve already sacrificed a pair of shoes for baby’s favourite ‘blanky’, but where are you going to fit in those pots of formula and nappies?! These are seriously bulky items that will take up lots of room in your luggage. It might cost slightly more than you would usually pay but it is super handy to be able to reserve your baby bits online and then to collect them airside at the airport. If you are breastfeeding or flying with breastmilk, there are plenty of travel breast pumps to choose from.
Buy some ready-made formula
On my first flight after I had stopped breastfeeding I was nervous at the prospect of being without my perfect-prep machine so I opted to order some ready-made formula for the flight instead. OK so this wasn’t warm, but luckily my daughter isn’t too fussy about this. It was super handy that I could order to collect at the airport as it meant I didn’t have to worry about liquid restrictions at security and it was much easier to use than formula when in a confined space with a baby who decides she wants her milk NOW. Seriously, can you imagine entertaining a hungry baby onboard an aircraft for half an hour while waiting for boiling water to cool down?!
Take a baby carrier
When flying with a baby, they might tell you that your buggy will be returned to you at the aircraft door in London Gatwick, but when you arrive at the tiny Spanish airport in Murcia this could be a different story… there have been multiple occasions when I have expected to retrieve the stroller only to find that it has been taken to the baggage belt. Some airports have long distances to walk and long lines at immigration so having a baby carrier is a lifesaver.
So that’s it, my top tips for flying with a baby!
This is a Guest post by Hayley from Tourism Teacher.
Hayley is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism and Aviation, mummy and travel blogger. She aims to inspire and motivate people to make the most out of life and to make every day count!
For further posts on Travelling with young children, please take a look at some of these below.
Flying with a Toddler
The Holiday Packing List
Surviving the Airport with Children
GO ON, PIN IT
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