long-haul flights with baby,
stress-free flying with baby,
packing essentials for baby,
Tips for flying with baby
The Challenge of Long-Haul Flights with Baby
Traveling with a little one can be a quite a task. Throw in a long-haul flight, and the stress can double. Having ourselves experienced the challenges and rewards of long-haul flights with our baby, we want to share how we made it a stress-free experience.
Preparation is Key
The first step is proper preparation. Here are some factors we considered:
- Scheduling: We aimed to book flights during our baby’s regular sleep times. This is a key factor when planning for long-haul flights with kids to avoid jet lag.
- Packing: We packed lightweight, but made sure we had all the essentials ready.
- Pre-flight stress reduction: We familiarized ourselves with the airline’s policies and procedures, keeping last-minute surprises to a minimum.
Packing Essentials for Baby
One of the major aspects of stress-free flying with a baby is knowing what to pack. Here are some essentials we never forget:
- Diapers: We packed enough for the journey and a day’s extra, a little more than the usual count. This we learned from our experience trying to save on diapers while ensuring our baby’s comfort.
- Clothing: Multiple clothing changes for the baby and an extra shirt for us came in handy.
- Feeding Supplies: We packed sterilized baby bottles, formula, and baby food. Our practice of carrying mom bottles proved beneficial.
- Entertainment: Favorite toys and books helped distract and entertain our baby during the flight.
Tips for Flying with Baby
Here are some additional tips we gathered and used over our flying experiences:
- Use Baby Carriers: Having hands free in long queues was a blessing. Baby carriers eased mobility.
- Maximize Layovers: Layovers broke the monotony of the flight and gave us time to freshen up and relax.
- Stay Calm: Babies pick up on our emotions. Staying calm and composed went a long way in keeping our baby calm too.
We also found some insightful advice on this travel forum about flying with an infant.
The Importance of Rejuvenation and Balance
Long-haul flights with a baby can be tiring. To maintain our energy levels and enjoy our journey, we focused on self-care too. We managed our sleep schedule, kept ourselves hydrated and ate well. We believe in striking a balance and as we always say, ‘A happy parent makes a happy baby!’
Making long-haul flights with a baby stress-free might seem a daunting task, but with careful planning and consideration, it is certainly achievable. We hope our experience and tips help make your journey smoother.
Prioritize Comfort and Freshness
In our experience, remaining fresh throughout the journey was a significant contributing factor to reducing stress and enhancing comfort. Fresh clothes for us and baby, refreshing wipes, travel-size baby lotion, and deodorants made a lot of difference. Taking care of our hygiene and baby’s was pivotal in maintaining a pleasant atmosphere. The advice on keeping a baby fresh during a long-haul flight, shared on this reddit thread, was very enlightening.
Invest in Comfortable Travel Gear
We recommend opting for handy yet comfortable travel gear. The right pram, a portable baby bed, or a comfortable baby carrier can significantly simplify the flight. We read about some exceptionally useful gear on this blog and found them to be truly beneficial.
Taking Care of Baby’s Food
Feeding baby on the move can be a tricky task, but it is especially crucial on a long-haul flight. We made sure to pack extra formula, pre-measured food, prepared food items, and other feeding supplies. Sterilizing everything beforehand worked out well.
- Experiment with Seating: Bulkhead seating would be an optimum choice. The extra space and the bassinets provided were a lifesaver. However, snagging these seats required us to check-in early and prior booking.
- Be Prepared for Anything: We learned always to expect the unexpected. This prepared us for unforeseen challenges like flight delay, ear pain due to altitude change, or even a diaper shortage.
- Ask for Help: Fellow passengers, airline staff, and even airport authorities were generally helpful. Assistance made many tasks easier and less stressful.
Breaks and Movement
Regular breaks and changes in the baby’s position proved helpful. We utilized the time when the seatbelt sign was turned off to move around a bit. This article shares personal tips about surviving long-haul flights with a baby, and we sincerely relate to it.
Being Mindful of Baby’s Health
Keeping the baby’s health in check was one of our highest priorities. We ensured to have a first-aid kit handy, packed traveling-friendly medication, and had his pediatrician’s number within reach. Receiving necessary vaccinations for the baby, obtaining medical clearances required by the airlines, and getting the baby used to feeding at high altitudes are important aspects that we kept in mind.
Talking about flying with a baby, another article that we found really helpful, gave ideas on how to make flying with a baby easy and enjoyable. It also highlights the importance of preparing one’s mindset to adapt to the new flying regime with a baby on board.
Embrace the Experience
Lastly, we cannot stress enough how important it is to embrace the journey. Long-haul flights with a baby can indeed be challenging, but rather than dreading it, the experience can be made rewarding and memorable with the right preparation and attitude. Keep the smile on and cherish the countless memories that this unique experience will offer.