Flying with a baby

[mrsminniemouse]

At the start of May we are flying to Orlando from Gatwick with VA.

Our baby will be 9.5 months old. Has anyone travelled recently with a baby? Do the security people really make you taste the baby food and milk as stated on the Virgin website? Or are they just covering themselves in case they need to test the baby food?

I don't really want to be testing baby food (yuck) nor do i want to unseal the sterile pots of food or bottles.

Anyone got any tips on good food to pack for the flight for baby? Or what about within WDW? He has only had rice cakes as finger food so far (currently 8 months) What should i start introducing to make it easier for us to feed him while away? I have a DD but I seem to have forgotton all about weaning...

Also, would you still sterilise the bottles there? I know the Americans don't, I think they rely on the dishwasher to kill the bacteria. What about tap water bolied up for bottles, is that ok or do i need to buy bottled water?

Sorry to ask so many questions, just wondered if anyone with a similar aged baby could offer any tips. We did take DD at 6 months and 11 months but that seems so long ago now...

Thanks so much,
Mandy

 

[aaronandterri]

Firstly

In boots they do Microwave sterliser bags, come in packs, very easy can get 2 wide neck bottles in one, most hotels have babycare rooms so you can do them take 1 minute.

We boiled normal water for his milk, also took some sealed cartons
They dont taste or open sealed cartons, but will ask you to open bottles already made up or juice cups, you can get round this if you like by putting boiled water in the bottles and the powder in them little avent powder dispensers with three sections, that you put a measured dose into, then you just tip it into the bottles.

Same for baby food, (or didnt for us)they dont open sealed jars, but will test homemade food .
We did have to tip any milk away that was left made up when we got to america before going through there side, some law about liquids.

Virgin provided a seat like a car seat sort of chair for the baby om the plane so we could strap him in, they do sky cots also for younger ones.not sure about other airlines.

 

[aaronandterri]

sorry finger food maybe rice cakes, fruit flakes, fruit, mini cheddars or cheddars, breadsticks, soft crisps, yoghurt tubes. you could always just put everything in a betterware tub, or take sealed packs.

Good luck

I know some people dread flying with litle ones, but i have never found it so bad and all of mine have flown when they were little, this timei have a 9 7 4 and 19 month old!
They sleep rearly well its just the time diffrence the other end that is a killer for them x

 

[buzz182]

Hi!

DH and I travelled with Joshua last Nov/Dec when he had just turned 13 months.

When we went through security I had sealed bottles of Aptamil growing up milk and a couple of Hipp Organic toddler meals not to mention some snacks and juice in Joshuas hand luggage. The guy just looked inside and said "Thank you" didn't even question us and i even asked if it was ok, and he said "yes". The bag went through the x ray and still it was ok and this also happened at Orlando International on the way home.

For the flight I would just take some Jars, milk, and some snacks, like you say some rice cakes or Organix Finger foods. They either come in crunchy carrot sticks or crunchy sweetcorn rings, these are for around 7 months onwards. Supermarkets and boots sell them, you'll find them down the baby isle. We also took a couple of Organix fruit pots as these can be stored at room temp.

While you're out there in the parks, the baby centres are great for changing and feeding. You can warm your food up in the kitchens there. Each park has one and these stock nappies, food, toys etc basically anything for baby but are obviously more expensive than supermarket prices.

We tried Joshua on the kids meals there but they were just too big for him and just not suitable. He could have stuff like spag bol or mashed up potato, but meals with say chicken nuggets etc were a no no. I should mention not now though! He'll eat anything!! We just went to Walmart and got Gerber toddler meals which you can heat up in the microwave. I believe that is their main brand of babyfood.
I would go to the supermarket and get stocked up on baby meals to take to the parks.

Joshuas beakers that came into contact with milk we just washed with boiling hot tap water and washing up liquid but I stopped sterilising at 12 months anyway. I know Boots have travel sterilising bags which i think you put a tablet in with cold water and most people seem to recommend those.

I Hope I have helped in some way, and i'm sure others will offer advice and share their experiences with you also.

Have a great trip

Karina

 

[aaronandterri]

yes the bags are for the microwave but i suppose you could use tablets, much wuicker with microwave though.

We also bought baby food from walmart while out there

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Thanks everyone for the replies. it is reassuring to know that we can take baby food and milk and it is unlikely to be opened by security.

We normally fill bottles with boiled water then add powder from Avent container for milk so that will be the same as usual. Luckily DS will drink milk at room temp so that works well for us.

Thanks for reminding me about microwave steriliser bags!!! I forgot all about them and bought two Mothercare steriliser bottles to try them out. I found them a bit fiddly, but with the bags i could take my normal Avent bottles. In the past we have used steriliser tablets for cold water sterilising but i hate the smell so I much prefer the microwave option.

I will buy baby food at Walmart, plus take a couple of packs of powdered food that you add boiled water too. They can be handy when you have lunch out. I just take the powder in a lidded pot and add water from a tea pot in a restaurant or whatever. Must try some new finger foods before we go to get him used to them.

We have used the infant chair on the plane for DD in the past, it is great. i agree that flying with little ones isn't so bad. All the new security worried me at first but it doesn't seem that it will affect what i take for DS at all.

Thanks so much!
Mandy

 

[london75]

Not much to add to some detailed post except that on the outbound flight I had to taste everything and inbound nothing!

A second vote for Gerber, our daughter was 9 months when we went and loved most flavours.

We also just used hot water with anti-bac washing up liquid to sterilise.

Have fun, the flight was fine for us so don't get too stressed about it.