bottles and flying?

[holly]

Does anyone know if qantas sterilise bottles inflight? I can buy travel stderiliser bags but still need a microwave as I won't have the room in carry on luggage for loads of bottles.

[the_queen]

How long is the flight? Couldn't you just take enough pre-sterilised bottles to last?

[neeky]

they probably dont but you could try calling them.
how long is the flight and how old is bubs?
we flew to townsville (2hr flight) when aiden was 6mths old and he only had 2 bottles which was only bcoz i made him for landing and take off so we wouldnt have to stress about it hurting his ears. he didnt even need them, he started his bottle when we were still at the gate and was asleep by the time we got to the runway, slept for most of the flight and then woke up and had some fun, fell asleep again just b4 landing! :laughing:
so yeah you should really only need a couple of bottles if bubs isnt too young.

[Rell]

Not sure if they sterilise but everytime I have flown with a baby I would pack at least 3 bottles allready sterilised and filled with cooled boiled water. I would then add the formula when I needed each bottle. Just remember you are allowed and extra carry on bag if traveling with a baby.

[natasha]

I think what she means is could she just take one bottle on, feed bubs and then they wash and sterilise so she could use the same bottle again? Is that what You mean??

When i travelled with DD on long flights I would just take as many bottles asi needed , sterlised, and filled with cool boiled water ready for for me to add the formula.
I'm betting the most they usually do is warm the water up, or warm the bottle up. I think it's probably pushing it to ask if they could sterilse them, unless you are travelling businness class.

I used an insulated bag that just fitted all my bottles. They won't say anything about you having the extra luggage if its just bottles for bubs.

[almond eyes]

Don't think they do but I wouldn't trust anyone else sterilising my bub's bottles anyway, IYKWIM. When my son was 5 months we took him to the UK from Manila and that was more than 15 hours with 2 connecting flights and he only used about 5 bottles (and I carried 10 in my hand carry!!! I was so paranoid, it being our first long haul!). For a long haul flight 5-6 bottles with pre-boiled cooled water should suffice I would think. For a shorter trip, about 3.

I suggest you travel with sterilised bottles with pre-boiled cooled water and a milk dispenser with pre-measured formula. Travelling with a baby is tough, business or coach. The last thing you want to worry about is getting bottles sterilised when your baby is crying due to hunger, boredom, noise or wanting of sleep. And if your bub is an angel and sleeps the whole time, you must also get sleep to have enough energy when you get to your destination. That's just my two cents worth, having travelled with my son 6 times before his first birthday.

Well, good luck and have a good trip. :thumbsup:

[Ky]

Try having a look at the Qantas website ... the faq's or "ask a question" sections should help you.

I have always rung whatever airline I fly with as to what facilities they have for the kids and whether or not I can take a carseat/booster seat on board with me. I have found some anomolies even within one airline ... ie. you can use carseats and boosters from Sydney to Wellington NZ on Air NZ, but not on the return journey etc.

The airline staff are very happy to help, so either check the site or give them a call!

[Chickadee]

Qantas couldn't even heat a bottle properly for me when we flew with them. I wouldn't count on them sterilising or even washing anything for you.

How long is the flight and how old is bub? When I flew to LA I took Avent disposable bag/bottles and 2 teats, along with some dish detergent, a small cloth and the small teat brush. I used bottled water, at room temp (which DD was used to having) and mixed formula as I needed it. Teats were washed after use in cold water and then again whenever I had access to hot water in transit lounges. But she was 10 months old so I wasn't as fussed with sterilising as I would have been for a newborn. With 4 flights & a 30+ hour total travel time there was no way I could carry enough bottles.

[aardvark]

What about the pre-sterilised disposable bottle bags and holders?

I use them for expressing and storing breastmilk.

Avent used to have them, but they discontinued them in favour of the Via disposable cup system, which would also work for you. That is available in bigger chemists. Check the Avent site if you want to have a look. You can either chuck them pout, or reuse them a number of times before tossing them.

If you want the disposable bottle bags and holders, check USA pharmacy sites, or ebay. I picked up a huge amount of bottle bags in sealed boxes off ebay very cheaply. The Playtex bottle bags are the same, if you can get them.

[Kirstlea]

Nope Qantas do not sterilise bottles. Not even on long flights overseas.

I just took bottles all ready to go and just got the cabin crew to heat up the water as I needed it.

[Merlion]

We went to Singapore when Jess was 4 months old and it was 5 hour flight. What I did was sterilise her all her bottles and filled them up with preboiled water (i took 6 bottles all up) and just put the formula in those premeasured containers by avent of tommee tippe which can fit 3 feeds altogether. I brought two containers. Jess was drinking hers at room temp so it didnt matter. But Qantas or any of the airlines can provide you hot water so you can just add some to the cooled water.

Then I packed my microwave steriliser in my suitcase and sterilised the used bottles when I got there. Sterilised bottles with preboiled water can last 2 days without being used. She landed up only drinking 2 bottles for both the trip there and back. Once for taking off and the other 1/2 way through the flight and she used her dummy to suck on. I carried 4 avent bottles and 2 crappy bottles (cheap ones). It was the same when she was 9 months old when we took her back for my granny's funeral too

But when we went to NZ in March this year was nearly a 15 hour flight including stopovers. 6 hours flying to Brisbane, 3 1/2 hours stopover plus another 5 hours to Christchurch and including time differences. We left Perth at 11:30pm and got there 2:30pm the next day. We took 6 bottles and did the same thing. We only sterilised when we got there. It was same coming back but we had a 5 hour stopover in Brisbane due to Mechanical failure of the plane and nearly ran out of bottles.

We also brought plenty of water bottles with straws which Jessica drank eagerly out of. We have a baby bag that has insulated pockets so we fit four in the insulated pockets and the other 2 in our hand luggage.

Also when you travel make sure you bring extra blankets and jumpers as plane can get pretty cold for bubs. Jess nearly froze when we went to Singapore as we it was warm when we left but it was freezing in the plane. You can always layer them up and take off layers when you get there

[mumofyaz]

I've never sterilized a bottle after we were told at our pre natal classes that it was just a scam to get you to buy more gear. Hot, soapy water is apparently fine and we've done just that even with a premmie. In the hotel room in HK we bought a small washing detergent and washed the bottles out in the hand basin (washed that first) and let them air dry on a clean towel. We've never had a problem with soap and water cleaning here or abroad.

BTW, Qantas staff were brilliant with us and took the bottles and popped them in a jug of hot water for us. They were also only too happy to play with bub and carry her round when I needed a break.

Have fun.:)

[Merlion]

For awhile I never had a microwave steriliser i bought a cheap one from BigW for about $13. But I don't know if you seen the old fashioned lettuce keeper from Tuperware I used to use it as it had a slotted base and I would put about 100ml of water at the bottom wash the bottles and chuck them in for 8 mins on M.High in the microwave.

I sterilise the bottles because I used to be out and about for ages and sometimes didn't get around to sterilise till midnight.