plane trip with 5month old?

[mel]

i'm taking my 5 month old daughter on a plane trip from qld to syd,
anyone got any tips or travel experiences to share?
it's only an hour and a half but how will she go with take off and landing? i dont know what to expect.....

[jembelina]

Hi I travelled from Melb - Perth (3/4 hours:eek: ) when bub was around 4/5 months and it was a breeze!! I'm thinking now he's walking, next time is going to be a nightmare:thumbsdown: Anyway, back to you.........

I was told that for take off and landing to put him on the boob as the sucking action helps with their ears. Alternatively a bottle or dummy would do the trick . However, my littel darling just sat on my lap and dozed off(usually not a huge fan of sleeping!!) during take off and never had a prob with his ears, but definately be prepared.

At this age don't take too many toys - I found they were more of a hassle than anything else - other people on the plane and sick bags are much more entertaining anyway!

I didn't ask, but get a seat near the toilet (generally at the back of the plane) -makes it easier for nappy changes. btw, there are change tables in the toilet - it comes down from the wall above the toilet, a bit squishy, but workable!!

Sometimes it can be warm on the plane, sometimes cols, so be prepared for either

I think aisle seat is better wih bub - more elbow room, esp for bf

That's all I can think of at the moment, hope it helps!!

[Kirstlea]

Best tip I was given was to feed my dd at take off and landing so her little ears didn't hurt.

That is pretty much the only time you hear children crying on a plane unless something is really wrong.

We flew from Cairns to Brisbane which is a little longer when our dd was 3.5 months old and again at 7 months never had a problem. When we flew to England (long trip that:rolleyes: ) she was 18 mths then so I just had a sipper cup of water or ribena ready.

Have fun, its no where near as bad as you may think.

[shed]

I was on a flight from NZ once and I swear, when we started to descend, every baby on the plane started SCREAMING blue murder all at once. There were about five of them.

It was so much like being in HELL that people actually saw the funny side of it. Not for the poor little babies of course, just because the noise was unbelievable and relentless and we were completely surrounded and trapped.

So I guess the descent is the worst part of it for their little ears.

[tickle]

I've flown to Europe with my DS at 9 months, so a little older than yours. We also had 2 stops along the way and it was a breeze. I think the younger the better as they are not as mobile. I just had his dummy for take offs and landings and breastfeeding was my saviour. Helped to get him off to sleep, settle etc.
I think by the time you've taken off, looked out the window, had a feed and landed there won't be much time left for anything else!
Have fun!:)
P.S He didn't cry once!:smiliedance:

[DB&O]

I travelled to Darwin from Adelaide when Liv was 5 months old & found the 4 1/2 hour trip a breeze. I was lucky in that I had a spare seat next to me & could put the baby bag on the seat, I took few toys (new ones I had bought for the trip), a blanket, a cup & dummy & a small snack & she was fine, actually she slept most of the way as I was on the red eye. I found that my nerves about the trip & how I would cope were actually worse than the trip itself, so try not to worry & I'm sure things will be fine & remember if baby becomes unsettled & cries its no big deal, I was nervous about Liv crying & disturbing everyone but she was great & ppl around me actually commented on how good she had been. Good luck & enjoy. :yelclap:

[Mrs Little]

Hiya...

i've started a thread on this a few months ago.

I've just come back from my trip about 2 weeks ago. My son was 4.5 months and we did a trip from Syd. to Perth (5 hrs).

Everyone has given u great advice so far.....

1. give them a feed on take off AND landing....my son is bottle fed...so we had a bottle of formula and water ready to give him so he was sucking on both occassions. Otherwise we would have resorted to the dummy.
2. If bub's is due for a sleep in that time i'd book the bassinette seat. It was great for us.

Our son didn't scream at all.....the air hostess explained that a lot of chn. scream and that it's the best thing for them to help them pop their little ears.

You could try wrapping your bub to ensure they feel a little more secure and safe.

I didn't take any toys...no point at 5 months....we took off at 7pm and that was his sleep time anyways...

You can take one item as their luggage...we took our sons pram. But you have to give it to them at check-in. So took one of those baby carriers so that we didn't have sore arms from holding him ( he's a very long baby- 8.3 kgs.)

Remember to relax...your bub will pick up on the fact that your nervous.

Enjoy!

Mrs Little & Son.

[sarah81]

My only suggestion to add to is I always take glycerine (just in case bubs doesn't want to suck at all, works if you put it on end of a dummy etc) But I have only used it once, not the best thing for their little teeth. My step-mum recommended it as she works at a childrens hospital and they use to get bubs to suck hard. Another alternative is Euk-e-Bear rub which you can pop under their nose, it is euculpytus. Could help with bubs who doesn't take a dummy or want to be fed for landing.

It is a good age to travel, we moved interstate when my DS was that age and flew back and forth Perth to Adelaide about 6 times in 2 months (crazy I know :o )and never had any troubles but now he can crawl I am dreading flying at Easter :p

[Starlet]

I flew from Bris to Syd with a 7 month old and a 2 year old(on my own). We'd flown from Perth.

If you're flying Qantas, u can ask for a seat at the front, more leg room, PLUS they have a flip down bassinet that u can put bub in. I had DS2 on my lap for take off and then he slept for the rest of the flight in the bassinet. It was handy coz it can get uncomfy with a bub on ur lap.

Both my kids were fine during take off and landing. In fact my 7 month old slept through it and didn't bother him, he wasn't sucking on a bottle or anything either.

[mel]

wow. thanks everyone, some great advice, i feel much better about it now!:yelclap:

p.s you'll hear about it if it's a disaster!:p

[Jamily]

Hey Mel

Just thought I would let you know that I flew from Syd to London and back again when DD was 5 months. It was fine - I just fed her on each take off and landing and she slept most of the way. Good luck :)

[kacey]

I just wanted to say thanks for starting this thread, and for replying to it. I'm 16 weeks pg with #1, and next Xmas we're travelling to Canada and Austria. I have been wondering a bit about travel with a 5 month old. It is going to be a stressful trip as we're seeing my brother who has terminal cancer, and even though it will be wonderful to show him his first neice/nephew (and he has no children) I was worried the baby may cause lots more stress. Now I feel as though I can do this. I'll just make sure I have a boobie ready at each end of each flight, and get DH to cuddle bubs the rest of the time. Voila! (I think it'd be worse with a toddler). Now I just need to make sure we're prepared for -20 degree temperatures...

[mel]

well the trip was great! i took a bottle of EBM on the way down, she drank that on take off and was asleep by the time we were in the air.... :)
by the time she woke and i changed her nappy it was time to land, only had water and the dummy for landing and she wasn't too keen on them so she had a bit of a cry i think her little ears hurt :( on the trip home i took 2 bottles EBM one for take off one for landing and had no problems :smiliedance:
she slept half the flight home, i had just taken her nappy off when the captain says please take your seats.... isn't it always the way? how fast can you change pants mum! wasn't too bad using the changetable in the loo a bit squashy but it was all good.
both times other passengers were really helpfull, asking if i needed a hand, also both times a woman carried my hand luggage all the way into the terminal! i had the baby carrier on, but they insisted. it was so nice.
soo much better than a 12 hour car trip! we'll definitely be going by plane again...

[ThomasMum]

yay for mel! I've told you there's nothing to worry! he he :yelclap: :smiliedance:

we are going to fly away again this June, it will be interesting to know because Thomas will be older by then, he's a toddler now!...:laughing: :o

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

thanks this has really helped me make my mind up...I am 26 weeks pregnant and my parents have offered to pay 1/2 for us to go home (UK) at Xmas to be honest apart from finding the other 1/2! I have been really worrying about travelling that far with a 6 month old...on top of my own fears of DVT and long haul flights :confused: but everyone 's experiencesd have made me see that it will all be a breeze! (hopefully)- so I am going to say yes and get saving!:smiliedance:

[New mummy]

HI everyone :smiliedance:

This thread has been very helpful :-) Im flying this saturday from darwin to Townsville and we have to take 2 flights. Our son is 3 1/2 months so am hoping the trip will go ok. It will be just myslef and bub on the plane. I was just wondering though how do you get the bassinet seat?? I think that seat would be really helpful, do you ask for it at check in??


Anyway thanks for all the other great tips too

Take care

New mummy :)

[ozzysmum]

we just flew sydney to perth with ozzy (6 months) and it was drama free - we didn't get the bassinet seats as there were 3 sets of twins on our flight so the got them! can you believe it! anyway, ozzy has done 5 flights and i've only had the bassinet seat on one and it hasn't really made a difference apart from when trying to eat with a baby in one arm. flight attendants have offered to chop up my food and stuff when i've been on my own :)

we'll be taking ozzy to britain early next year (i may have to go without DP) and i'm much more concerned about having a toddler on a plane for that long than a little one! at least i can always shove a boob in ozzy's mouth if he's being a nightmare - when he's weaned i'm going to be at a loss!

[mmp]

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. We're going to NZ at Easter and bub will be 6 months. I've been a bit nervous but feel heaps better after reading the thread.