I have been on quite a few flights with my kids. The first time, Cecelia was nine months old and I was flying by myself! I was so nervous, Cece was a very good baby, but I was nervous that a meltdown would occur on flight, that I did not have enough activities and snacks packed and that her sitting on my lap for nine hours would be crazy...
Yes, a meltdown occured, yes, I had overpacked activites and snacks and yes, her on my lap for nine hours, on a completely full flight was crazy. But, looking back at it I would have done a few things differently! The first thing I would have done differently is- relax!
When going through security, you have to fold up your stroller and it needs to be scanned, along with your other carryons. The workers at the airport were so kind, they offered to hold her, fold up my stroller and do everything possible to make the process smooth and easy. I thought maybe it was a one off, but everytime I have flown, the workers have always helped, in every country.
With Cece being so young, she was still on formula. As you know you can only take 100ml of liquids through security, but there is an exception for formula. I was told they may make me try the formula to show it is legit, and I was so grossed out by the thought of it, I do not like drinking any kind of milk in general, so I had mentally prepared myself incase they needed me to, thank god they didn't! They either just let the milk go through or they would take a test strip and test it (for what, I am not sure but it passed everytime). There is always the option of purchasing the formula on the other side of security in the UK. There is a Boots (similar to CVS- a pharmacy), where you can call ahead and make sure they have the brand you will need, for purchase.
Needing to be at an airport two hours before hand, I thought, "What can I do to keep her busy and get all of her energy out before the flight?" In some of the terminals they either have a climbing frame/ball pit for kids to play or there is actually a family room, where there are toys, books, tv and room for the kids to just crawl/run around, let some steam off. It is out of the way so kids can be kids and fellow travellers do not get annoyed by the noise, because believe me, I have witnessed fellow travellers annoyed.
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| Cece getting out her last bit of energy before boarding the plane |
When you are boarding the plane, they let passengers with children board the plane first, so you can get on the plane and get situated. It is nice, because when you go somewhere new, you know kids want to explore new surroundings and check everything out!
Again, as I was getting on the flight, the flight attnedants and fellow passengers were very kind helping me collapse the stroller, get me and my children and our bags on the flight. Passengers of all ages offered to help me- from fellow moms to young hipster type teens to old men that could see I needed help!
On a full flight, if you are travelling with an infant, you do not have to buy them a seat, but you need to hold them during the whole flight. But, if you are on a flight with some empty seats, the flight attendants go out of their way to make sure you have an empty seat next to you and also in the seats with extra leg room. On one flight they even gave the guy sitting next to me, free alcohol throughout the flight as a thank you to him for moving seats for me.
The first time I flew with Cece, I overpacked activities and I packed way to much other stuff for her. The flight attendants gave her magazines that she could do with as she liked, Cece ended up tearing them apart throughout the flight, cups, straws, really anything extra they had to keep her entertained and I ended up hardly using any of the things I had packed. Who knew a kid would love plastic cups and straws so much?
The main things to have in your carryons when travelling with a little one is some snacks/formula needed for the duration of the flight, a book, a toy and some clean clothes. If you are on a red eye, pack some comfy pjs for your baby, make them as comfotable as possible. Do not forget about yourself! Pack a clean shirt for you, Cole got motion sickness and it was much needed.
When on an International flight, they offer cribs that attach to the wall for babies. Get to the airport early and request one, they are a toal life saver when you have a sleeping baby on the plane. You have to be holding baby during take off and landing, but other than that they can be used at all times.
On one of the night flights with Cece, she had a total meltdown. She screamd for a good 45 minutes. I did everything I could- clean diaper, offered her snacks, toys and anything that made her happy, but she was not having any of it. Other passengers around me were getting annoyed, but what could I do? I did everything to make her happy, and she just was having a moment of unhapiness. At first I was anxious, but, at the end of the day I did everything to try and make her happy, so I could not let any of the mean looks or snarls get to me.
Overall, if you are first time flying with a baby, do not be nervous, have everything you would need to make them comfotable, but try not to overpack, because otherwise you have to carry all that stuff around the airport. And, relax. Everyone working at the airport and on the planes do as much as they can to help your travel experience run smoothly!
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask, I have been on a lot of international flights with lay overs with the kids and have experienced a lot with them!
Cheers,
Courtney
