Travelling with a nine-month old
Jun 19th, 2011, 06:05 AM
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Travelling with a nine-month old
We are planning to travel from Boston to Mexico in December 2010 and then Boston to India in January 2011 with our nine-month old.
We are flying Continental to Mexico, one stop (Newark on the way, DC on the way back).
We are considering flying Lufthansa (one stop) and asking for a bassinett.
Can anyone who has travelled with a baby under the age of 1 offer suggestions or advice?
We are flying Continental to Mexico, one stop (Newark on the way, DC on the way back).
We are considering flying Lufthansa (one stop) and asking for a bassinett.
Can anyone who has travelled with a baby under the age of 1 offer suggestions or advice?
Jun 19th, 2011, 01:23 PM
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You say 'we' so that's good news if there's two of you to share the baby.
I've flown with babies that age and it's important for them to have something to drink on take off and landing. Swallowing helps equalise the pressure in their ears.
Also have handy a bag with food/ toys/ teething rings/ spare clothes/diapers or whatever to entertain/ placate the baby.
Bassinet are somewhat helpful for sleep time but expect to hold the baby for much of the time (take off / landing/ whenever there's turbulence/ if they're restless / etc!!)
Fly attendants will often try to give you more space (empty seat between 2 parents) if the flight is not full.
You're worried because right now you have a 3 month and you don't know what to expect of a 9 month old I imagine... but in 6 months time you'll be a more experienced parent and will be able to manage better than you think!
Oh, bring a book to read when your baby sleeps through the entire flight..
good luck!
I've flown with babies that age and it's important for them to have something to drink on take off and landing. Swallowing helps equalise the pressure in their ears.
Also have handy a bag with food/ toys/ teething rings/ spare clothes/diapers or whatever to entertain/ placate the baby.
Bassinet are somewhat helpful for sleep time but expect to hold the baby for much of the time (take off / landing/ whenever there's turbulence/ if they're restless / etc!!)
Fly attendants will often try to give you more space (empty seat between 2 parents) if the flight is not full.
You're worried because right now you have a 3 month and you don't know what to expect of a 9 month old I imagine... but in 6 months time you'll be a more experienced parent and will be able to manage better than you think!
Oh, bring a book to read when your baby sleeps through the entire flight..
good luck!
Jun 20th, 2011, 11:29 AM
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Bring enough food/formula for twice the length of the trips - be prepared for delays.
Bring twice as many diapers as you might need for the trip - plus a change of clothing and one for you - babies have a way of emitting fluids onto you at the worst time.
If the baby gets cranked up and loud, most passengers will be tolerant if you appear to be trying to do something about it. Some babies do better flying over the wing where the engine noise is a bit more- lulls them to sleep.
Bring twice as many diapers as you might need for the trip - plus a change of clothing and one for you - babies have a way of emitting fluids onto you at the worst time.
If the baby gets cranked up and loud, most passengers will be tolerant if you appear to be trying to do something about it. Some babies do better flying over the wing where the engine noise is a bit more- lulls them to sleep.
Jun 22nd, 2011, 08:09 AM
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Everything gail and sassy said, and a few things that work for us:
Check your car seat with your luggage. Stroller gets gate-checked. A sling or baby-bjorn is well worth it for the times when you need both hands.
I kept a small selection of supplies in a backpack that I could keep close at hand, so I didn't need to keep getting in to my carry-on.
Know your airline's lap-infant baggage policy. Some allow infants to have an extra carry-on, some allow a checked bag for free. I carry a printed copy off the website for the occasional desk agent who wants to charge me.
When I am lucky enough to have DH with me, one of us boards as soon as possible with the carry-ons and gets settled, the other keeps DD in the boarding area letting off steam until boarding is almost complete -that way it minimizes the amount of time she's got to sit tight while we taxi and take off.
Hope that helps!
Check your car seat with your luggage. Stroller gets gate-checked. A sling or baby-bjorn is well worth it for the times when you need both hands.
I kept a small selection of supplies in a backpack that I could keep close at hand, so I didn't need to keep getting in to my carry-on.
Know your airline's lap-infant baggage policy. Some allow infants to have an extra carry-on, some allow a checked bag for free. I carry a printed copy off the website for the occasional desk agent who wants to charge me.
When I am lucky enough to have DH with me, one of us boards as soon as possible with the carry-ons and gets settled, the other keeps DD in the boarding area letting off steam until boarding is almost complete -that way it minimizes the amount of time she's got to sit tight while we taxi and take off.
Hope that helps!
Jun 22nd, 2011, 01:55 PM
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If they're sleeping on landing/takeoff then no need to wake them up just to get them to suck/drink something, the worst time is when the descent starts and that normally comes about an hour before landing. I flew with my daughter several times alone when she was a baby and fortunately she's never had any problems. I've read that its safer to gate check the carseat, after witnessing carseats been thrown around by baggage handlers i can't say i'd have wanted to use them :/ That is if you actually have to take a car seat?
From looking at their webpages LH will allow an infant one 23kg bag and one carry on of 10kg plus the stroller
All i can find from continetal is that its either the stroller or the car seat, one goes free the other will be charged as excess baggage unless you have a seat for your infant :/ (which also appears to be the same for LH)
From looking at their webpages LH will allow an infant one 23kg bag and one carry on of 10kg plus the stroller
All i can find from continetal is that its either the stroller or the car seat, one goes free the other will be charged as excess baggage unless you have a seat for your infant :/ (which also appears to be the same for LH)
