Forum : Mums

The best thing to do is call the airline, My daughter was 17months when we flew to Barbados. With Virgin,I brought a selection of jarred foods in our hand luggage, and ready made cartons. At customs They opened every single one and made me taste them to make sure they were not harmful chemicals! It took ages. Also when i asked the stewardess too heat the jars she kept fobbing me off saying she was busy. Even once when I asked them to rinse the dummy, it was a big song and dance.

If i were you I would try and take a light weight pushchair that can be folded quickly, and easy to carry. you can leave it just before you board the plane.& yes they can go missing! or get broken. there was a lone woman nearly in tears whose push chair was taken, and the wrong one left behind. I spent 50 quid on a lightweight mother care pushchair. As it stays with you go , through scan belt machines etc. Maybe put something colourful and distinctive on it.
xx

Thanks Leila-kay. Did they make you open the cartons of milk too?

...Hi again, the seatbelt is okay for a short while but not easy to wear whilst flying. If you are flying alone, it would be helpful if you had a seat with extra leg room so you can but the baby on the floor to play and stretch a bit. or one of the front seats with the pull down table, some areline will give you a small cot depending on the weight of your baby. x

I packed some calpol and nurofen just incase, and toys to occupy her. we were lucky because she slept for much of the time.

yes they opened everything! Cartons and all. There was a little turbulence but they do give you warning and if it strong you will have to put your seat bealts on, so no babies flying around lol!. and they provide the additional seat belt for baby too.

I also heard that the sucking motions helps with their ears. Landing can be much more painful I think.x

Thanks again Leila-kay. I didn't realise that baby seatbelts were provided. I was about to try and buy one on the internet. I'm not panicking as much now.x

This year I've been through Stansted, Southampton, and Newcastle with my little ones and its slightly different at each one so check before hand with both the airport and the airline what the rules are. They all made me taste the milk, but some check the food and some dont. I would recomend taking food that dosnt need to be heated to save the hassle of either waiting ages for cabin crew to do it or getting it back far to hot. I take breakfast jars with fruit and cereal, or porridge. As you are doing long haul you may be able to book a bassinet for the baby but you will probably need to pay for that as extra and with some airlines an extra seat to put it in. Other airlines are not so good so if thats not possible or cost is an issue ask at check in if the flight is full and if it isnt ask if its possible to be placed next to an empty seat as you will be glad of the extra room and you can use the extra seat for baby to sit. The biggest thing is the pushchair. Some airports make you fold it and put it through the scanner at security and some dont. You will need to check as if your buggy is to big for the scanners they will make you check it in. They all seem to let you take the pushchair right to the plane and you fold it up at the steps but most places dont let you have it back at the other end until you are at the luggage belt. This means your buggy gets chucked about and bashed so all in all I would advise getting a lightweight one that folds with one hand for your hols. This also means you can have a long walk carrying baby and hand luggage till you get your buggy back so either check with the airport to see if any assistance is available or think about taking a strap on baby carrier. Even if they say you will get the buggy back its not guarunteed so the carrier is a good idea. We got off the plane at stansted after being told the buggy would be there only to find we had to do a 20 min walk and 20 wait through passport control each carrying a baby and hand luggage. I know it sounds traumatic but it really isnt as bad as it sounds as long as you know what to expext and you are well organised.

Thanks so much Sam. Really helpful advice.