I know, I'm MAD but we're taking Hugo back to New Zealand to meet the other half of his family for the first time, leaving in 5 weeks. It's a 26 hour flight with a short stop (as in hours, not days) in Dubai and Sydney.

I have started thinking about what to pack in the carry on bag to take on the plane as I am notorious for packing far too much carry on luggage. Just wondered if anyone has done a long haul flight with a baby and what you would recommend? I'm curious about number of changes of clothing, wipes, bibs etc

Also, any other tips for flying with a baby? I know I should feed him on take off and landing as swallowing will relieve the pressure in his ears. Any other tips?

thanks

My lo was 10 months when I took her long haul so a fair bit older but if anything, I would imagine it would be easier with a younger baby.
If you haven't already, book a bassinet - they make life soooo much easier although you may be asked to remove baby from it if you hit turbulence ( I didn't, just made sure she was fastened in and warned them that a screaming baby being woken up was going to be horrible for other passengers). I was very cautious and took 4 changes of clothes, all of which were easy to change in and out of as the toilets are sooo small it's a nightmare! I only used 1 change but would rather be safe than sorry! I also took a spare set for me in case I got puked on!
I'd say a packet of wipes, allow for a nappy every 3 hours, couple of bibs, etc.
If you don't have a bassinet or would rather hold Hugo, then a baby carrier is also great as it leaves your hands free for eating, drinking or whatever!
I'm sure you'll be fine and Hugo will love meeting the rest of his family!
Let us know how you get on,
xxx

We are moving back to oz in 3 wks and our son will be 3 months then. We just came back from a week hols on Monday and the flight was 8hrs so we had a test run.

You should have a sky cot booked since you are travelling with an infant but definately worth checking. 26 hrs is a long time to be holding a baby. On our flight back there was some turbulence and I had to hold him for quite a while. I was really tired (it was an overnight flight) and I kept drifting off and was so scared of him slipping out of my arms. The infant seat belt does diddly squat to keep them in unless you pull it real tight which isnt comfortable for them!

On the way back (cos it was night time and we wanted him asleep) we taped up a pashmina to the wall to drape over the the sky cot so that it blocked out the light and all the activity around him. That was very helpful for getting him to nod off as well. I also have a lambswool (Im sure you would too being from NZ!!) and we took that to lay down in the sky cot plus 2 of his own blankets. Though you could probably use the ones on the plane as they are newly cleaned. You wont need them back in NZ in the summer so extra to carry.

I bf except for 1 feed to get him down in the evening. I only had enough formula left for 1 feed on that flight. Wish I had taken extra just in case.. although in the end I was fine. I did stress about it though. If you do take any bottles I would recommend taking powder formula. If you take pre-mixed cartons they make you open them at security. Pointless then really as they have to be used within an hour I think and they would also leak everywhere. I saw some poor women at Heathrow with 10 of them lined up and they made her open and taste every one of them.
I took cooled boiled water in my bottle, and also another with expressed milk. I use the Dr Brown bottles. They are NO GOOD on a flight! Maybe other bottles do the same but with the air pressure they kept leaking. I lost half my breast milk :cry: So I would take any expressed breast milk in a bag (but then that may have its own troubles :\? ) and use the boiled water on the plane instead.


The lady next to me had a 6 mth old. She had her sleep suit on, then on top of that she had a flanelette (sp?) type one that she then took off on the plane. (Saves bringing jumpers etc for when you get to the airport).

Nappies... I took a check on how many he went through during the day (which was 8). Then I added a few. For our oz flight (24hrs start to finish) I think I will be taking about 25 just in case! He normally sleeps from 8ish to 7am but on a flight I doubt that will happen so he may need more frequent changes if he is awake, plus you have the stop over.. you have 2 of those. Better to have more than not enough and stress over it. You only need to carry them on, you wont be carrying them off the plane!
I also had nappy sacs to dispose the used ones but I carry them anyway. Oh and my portable change mat which i also always carry. If you dont have one, Pampers do disposable ones in the big Sainsburys.

Hope that helps. Im glad I had a test run on a shorter long haul before the big one!!

Have a great flight home
x

hi haven't done the flight thing with baby myself, but juts a thought re milk feeds, could u not buy the cartons once ur thru security, in the duty free bit? there is always a boots and sometimes a superdrug in there so i'm assuming u'd be able to buy them there (altho prob bets to check) and wld save the hassle of having to taste and open everything at security...altho cartons do keep for 24hours once open, aslong as the contents stay in the carton, but i shld imagine it'll be a bit difficult to keep 10 open cartons from spilling...so if u can i wld get them once thru security. we're off to belgium on saturday to visit the inlaws and i'm quite relieved now that we're going by boat as do'nt have to worry about this sort of thing, altho obviously a boat wld not be practical to get to NZ or Oz lol xx

I would also say that I live in Dubai and it would probably be relatively easy to buy extra nappies and wipes as you go through the terminal. So perhaps dont overload yourself with stuff, and get stuff as you go?
Dont forget to pack a couple of clean tops and underwear for you - if baba pukes or poops on you you will not want to sit in the same smelly clothes for 26 hours!
My friend also recommended the evian water mister can thing for her baby who used to get relaly overheated on planes.

Good luck!

I travel a lot with my 5 kids. The last 3 were born abroad and have regularly been to and from the UK. We live in Bahrain which is about 8 hours to London then we have a connection to Newcastle. All in all its about 16 hours from checking in to arriving at home!

Most has been covered. Be prepared NOT to get your pushchair at stopovers. Some airports are a nightmare for not giving you them. As someone has already said a baby carrier are worth their weight in gold. You can do so much with your hands free.

Here is what i usually pack when they are young babies

nappies
wipes
cream...tube of nappy rash cream
milk (I BF but if bottle feed then you will need powder)
water in bottles or disposable bottles (steribottles are really good) they are some on the market that you heat up themselves..john lewis sell them
change of clothes...about 4 sleepsuits/easy wear items
change for you
toothbrush for you (nothing worse than feeling dirty and grotty when you are awake with a baby)
bibs
fav toys (small ones, books, etc)
own blanket (the plane ones are really static)
if BF..wrap for you to wear
Def evain water mister. They are fab. I use tonnes of it on me and baby.
Satchets of calpol just incase
teething gel (just incase)
snacks for you to keep your energy up.

BOOK the bassinet ASAP..dont presume they will have booked you it. Get a ref code or ask for an email to be sent confirming this and take this when checking in. If BF advise them of this so they can try not to put a man right next to you. Are you travelling alone or with OH? If alone ask if you qualify for assisted flying?

when at Dubai make sure you wait for the cart to take you to the lounge area. Its a long long walk otherwise as romeo will tell you. You have to fight with the fat lazy people who think its Ok to push past pregnant ladies or ladies with babies.

Drink lots of water, eat well and have fresh fruit and energy bars when at airports for stop overs. If baby cries on the flight and you get some dirty looks......

look into the face of the one giving you grief and say very loud

' can you please wait your turn, I can only deal with one tantrum at a time and at the moment I am dealing with my babies! '

it soon shuts them up!!!!!!!!


Lastly, good luck

d xxx

Brilliant, thanks for your replies. I am breast feeding so at least I don't have to faff around with bottles but that's interesting about the Dr Browns bottles leaking.

We have booked the bassinet but I got my husband to do it so perhaps I'll follow up with a reference or email confirmation or something just to make sure.

Thanks for the evian water tip, I'll make sure to get some.

I'm a bit concerned about taking our rather expensive i-candy peach pram but we need it in NZ so don't have much choice. I hope it doesn't get too horribly mangled by careless baggage handlers.

Deedee, I love that one liner and will definitely use it if anyone gives me a hard time! I'm feeling a bit anxious about Hugo not settling and crying etc as he has colic, but he will be 12 weeks and 2 days when we go so hoping it will have eased by then.

Thanks again. If the trip over doesn't go well we may have to stay there!!