Travelling O/S using bottles...

[Tannie]

Hi,
We have a 3 month old and may need to go to Europe in the next month or 2. I am starting to think how to feed bubs on such a long journey - esp if need to sit around in airport in Singapore for a few hours as well. Do airlines allow mums to heat bottles etc? How do manage to take enough bottles / formula for approx 40 hrs (which would be about 10 bottles I figure - too many to carry filled with water in hand luggage!) Do they have microwaves on planes so can sterilize bottles or is that simply not possible?
Have just checked out about disposable bottles -but the Avent ones I'd seen previously dont' seem to be on the websites I went to before -although I'm sure my local pharmacy could order them in for me if asked. I was thinking of using fully disposable bottles........might be easier then needing to sterilize somewhere on the journey??

Anyway -has anyone else done this? How did you manage? Any other tips re travelling o/s & bottlefeeding with a 4-5 month old bub? This might be one area where breastfeeding much easier methinks!!!

Tannie

[mumworkingoverseas]

Hi Tannie,

I have travelled a lot with my DD and have found each trip to be different. Domestic routes are hit and miss and what service you get seems to depend on how full the plane is.
Internationally I haven't had a problem getting bottles heated. I took as many bottles as I needed as I didn't trust a harried steward to properly clean them. Worst case scenario if you fill the bottles in advance with boiled water, then add the formula - bub may be willing to drink the formula at room temp.
I have found that we recieved much better assistance in bus class. The stewardess even offered to hold bub so we could eat our meals. In economy you cant expect much more than getting a bottle heated. Unfair but true unfortunately. Not usually a problem unless you are flying long-haul and need a toilet break!!
Oh and don't let the looks of other passengers get to you. As soon as people see you board with a bub many will look stressed and no doubt be praying you dont sit next to them, but I have never actually had anyone verbalise it.

Good luck,
Tan.

[Tannie]

oooohhhh........would SO love to be able to travel Business Class - but a bit out of our league I'm afraid, it'll be cattle class all the way...............& back :eek: Yes - think I may have to just lug enough bottles prefilled with water with us by the sounds - I wouldn't trust them to sterilize properly either........but if I get the disposable ones that would make it a bit "lighter" as the trip progressed!

Yes-I know "the looks" as I've done it myself I have to admit :o But more from the point of view of "oh god - those POOR PEOPLE travelling like this with a BABY........." LOL Now will be ME................. :eek:

Thanks,
T

[Rell]

Someone does a self sterilizing bottle.Not sre of the brand but I have seen them in Target

[Chickadee]

I flew to Canada and back with our 10 month old, around 32 to 36 hours travelling each way.

I found that it was difficult to get bottles warmed, particularly international. There didn't seem to be a microwave and the stewardesses used a steel teapot filled with boiling water. The first try came back nearly ice cold still. The second try was so hot it would have burnt my daughters mouth. After that I gave up.

What worked best for us was to carry a bottle of water with us and make up bottles as needed using the individual sachets. I used bottled spring water, which we carried for our own use anyways and was easy to buy in any airport. It was always at room temperature and so I never had to warm a bottle. I used a mix of disposables and regular bottles. Disposable travel better but I found filling them on the plane harder. I carried a bottle brush with me and also a small container of detergent (you can buy small squeeze bottles in camping supply stores). Scrubbed bottles, teats and everything in whatever clean bathroom I could find in the airports. Some airports had great parent's rooms. Some had none. I didn't sterilise, but then bub was old enough to be crawling around and getting germs off the floor anyways.

If you do want to use the sachets make sure you bring enough for the trip home too. I couldnt buy anymore in Canada.

Oh, and DO book a bassinet whenever possible. It makes flying so much more comfortable and gives you a break from holding bub!

[ThomasMum]

In June we are also going to travel and this will be the first flight for our 3 months old baby Thomas. This will be his first visit to The Qantas Lounge. This will be his 'real' flight because during my pregnancy I flew many times to accompany my husband for his business trips. The best one was when we went to Auckland, I was 5 months preggy then. I felt very special altho they didnt offer me the champagne being pregnant and all, but the crew were all nice.

So I can't wait for this special trip. We'll probably turn up early at the airport and hang around at the Qantas Club Lounge all the time this time, no more duty free shopping! I'm excited and am not even 'Big Kev'! :D

Back to your concerns, I shouldnt be worry too much if I were you Tannie as most airlines will have no problem providing your baby need. Million babies have done this long ago. And most airport have good facilities to help you with the baby during your transit. If you fly in business with QA you will be able to use their Lounge facilities without being the member.

Anyway, have a great flight Tannie, don't worry about it. You'd be surprised how much fun you and your bub are going to experince during your trip!

Travel safe!

Thomas's Mum

[Tannie]

Yes - asking around - it seems the absolute best way is to fly business class.......I'm thinking that if we book cattle-class from here to midway point (say Singapore or KL) then Business Class for the big stretch to Europe, then we should be able to use the lounge facilities in Singapore & save some $$ + a friend of mine has done this twice and BOTH times got upgraded for the first leg anyway...............sounds like it's worth considering eh? Still - I checked out price and it will probably cost $5000 to go economy - but $15000 - $20000 to go Business!!! Ohhhh..........that's a LOT OF MONEY eh?
Today at my "mum & bubs" group we got talking about introducting solids & I am just hoping to heaven that my baby ISN'T interested in solids before 6 months - having to work out how to feed her solids as well might be a really BIG nightmare :confused: Still - would probably only be rice cereal at that point - so I guess I just have to wait and see (and get hb interested in going sooner rather then later)
Thanks again - and if anyone else has tips - PLEASE POST THEM - I will keep checking back here.
T

[Milly]

Hi there!

I didn't bottlefeed, so I am not an expert there, but I have been to quite a few airports and travelled a bit with my daughter on planes with my husband's work. But from the bottlefeding technique, what I have observed, is parents taking a thermos and either the relevant number of sachets or the formula measuring containers and doing it that way. I saw one couple in the International Airport with quite an orgnanised set up with it all in like a thermal soft esky setup. They had their nappy bag separate and this was all for the feeding. I think they may have had two thermos and they had the warm boiled water already to go with the bottles. Take enough so that you don't need to worry about washing them on the way over. That was one thing on my mind was what do you do with the dirty bottle? Easy, take more than you need so you don't have to wash them.

Also, when you do travel by plane, they recommened that you feed your baby on the ascent and the decent. This is to keep your baby calm and the sucking action protects their little ears. They may however, be fine in the ear department, but it is good to do it as a precaution and settles them with the whole new unusual situation.

Also, you will get a belt that attaches to your own belt for your baby, so you will be able to feed your baby comfortably in your arms. Hopefully they will doze as you feed them on the way up and the way down. My daughter did and missed the whole action of the plane going up and down and did not panic one little bit. She was cosy in my arms sucking away. Just keep your baby close and warm and hopefully they will do this too.

Another hint is to check in really early to reserve a bassinette. They only have a couple and you cannot book them ahead, so get their earlier than you normally would so that you can secure one. This is great for your baby to sleep in and gives you some hands free time when they are sleeping for you to get up and stretch your legs and they have a comfy sleep. Particulaly travelling O/S you will really want one of these.

Anyway, those are some of my tips.

Hope that you have a great trip!

[Chickadee]

Tannie,
When I flew with our 10 month old to Canada, as part of her ticket price we were given "meals" for her. Basically on the international legs her meals were a tray/box with some jars of starter baby food (very smooth puree), box or cup of juice or milk, and a box of baby cereal (rice cereal). Actually feeding solids on the plane is a bit hard due to lack of space and having them on your lap it's a bit hard to aim the spoon at their mouth but I think a bub just starting solids might be easier than a toddler who wants to do it all themselves and makes a HUGE mess. With our 10 month old she still accepted me having complete control of the spoon. Also I tried to time solid meals for when we were at airports whenever possible, giving her something solid just before getting on the plane. With a full belly, plus the bottle on takeoff, you're almost guaranteed bub will fall asleep very quickly.

I like Milly's advice of taking more bottles than you need so you don't have to worry about washing. Unfortunately for me that would have meant at least a dozen bottles, not very practical on space unless I'd used disposables. And I wasn't prepared to spend so much buying that many collar/nipples for the Avent disposables. I only carried 4 or 5 with me on the plane and washed bottles & teats as I went in parents rooms at airports.

Good luck,
Martha

[jarrahsmumma]

hi all,
i flew with my son when he was 6 weeks old and am planning another trip home when he is 6 months. I discussed this with my CHN before leaving and she said not to worry too much about sterilising, just hot soapy water will do. My flight was only 4 hrs but i had a 7hr car trip to get to the airport, i just used thew pre-measured powder dispenser and also had a few spares pre-made. i thought if worst came to worst i could always run them under the hot tap in the loo, to heat them up.

happy travelling :)

peace
natalie

[Tannie]

Well - we have had a reprieve :) We don't have to go soon now - maybe at the end of the year or not at all..........that would be great :p Still - I will keep ALL these tips in mind and as I'm doing a few domestic flights with her soon, will come in handy anyway.
Thanks gals :)
T

[flower]

HI all,
As far as International travel goes.......

As for water...carry some in one baby bottle..keep another empty. Some airports in Japan have in the mothers rooms a hot urn ...use their water when you can or better still..order a Grande size coffee and use your cup to put the hot water in, placing your babies bottle inside that to heat.
The airlines generally have bottled water and I'm sure wont begrudge you getting a few for bubs so you can make a bottle. Travel with your own purchased bottle too just in case. There is nothing worse than aircraft water from the tank of the plane!!!!
I've not seen a microwave in a Japanese airport nursery yet but you'll always find one in a supermarket in Japan and in any convenience store....Family Mart, Circe K..that kind of thing..
You can get a baby formula measurement container in Japan and you can buy individual sachets of formula ready to go...not sure of the measurements..and its all in Japanese...so good luck. Why not scoop your powder out in ziploc bags?

Heating on planes: Unfortunately having been myself a hostie for 12 years..the crew is generally a bit busy to hover over the pot or container with boiling water that they placed your bb bottle in....so it either is not hot enough...or they've forgotten about it....then you can't use it for a while. See if you can supervise it in the galley out of the way yourself if your travelling with a partner/ friend.
And as for sterlilising this and that.. I figure if your bb's old enough to suck on your carpet at home....eat your curtains..chew on humans disgusting fingers...then dont worry so much about using a bit of washing up detergent and plain old water. On the plane...rinse it out in hot water as soon as you can.
Hope this helps.
Orly's mom.