Travelling far with baby

[Freyja]

We´re considering going back to THE World in March next year. This is of course great, but also raises questions. Our newist addition is due Dec. 26th. which means it will only be 2 1/2 months old. We won´t be able to make it this year, now any other time next year (we´re moving from Denmark to Iceland in June), so this is really our only chance for probably many years to come. Has anyone been on a ten hour flight with such a young infant?

We´ll be staying in a Villa and taking it easy (we´ve got 14 days). We´re absoloutly prepared to split up a bit (one stayes home with the youngest two and one goes somewhere with the big kids). Am I insane even considering this?

I should mention that my 2 year old has been on a plane more then 20 times, so it´s not as if we´re not used to travelling with children.

I´m already dreading your answers, but then again I guess you guys understand me better then anyone else

Bye for now
Freyja

 

[BedKnobbery2]

I haven't been on a 10 hour flight with my own infant, but I've been on 10 hour flights with other infants on the plane; 1 was misery for everyone, 1 was just fine. Whatever you decide, good luck with it! (FWIW, I think you should go if you want to!)

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Sign the baby up with your airline's frequent flyer program, so he/she can start earning miles towards free flights

I have no kids of my own, but recently I was on an 8 hour flight, and there was a couple with an infant a few rows in front of me. The baby was very well behaved, I think it slept for a lot of the flight, only a few cries on descent.

One thing I've heard is to give the baby a bottle or a pacifier as the plane starts it's descent. The sucking motion will help the baby's ears pop, so it's not as uncomfortable for them.

 

[Freyja]

Thanks for your replies!

As a frequent flyer myself I know much to well how different infants respons to such long flights. I guess we won´t buy any tickets until next year. If we have a easygoing baby (I´m hoping, since all other three have been really easy) we´ll go ahead. Just needed to hear that I wasn´t completely insane for even considering it.

But hey, everything is relative: Easy baby......?!?
I´m sure I´ll be posting trip reports in april

Thanks again for your feedback

Freyja

 

[CEDmom]

Not a baby that young but DH and I did fly from Hong Kong to NJ with DD when she was 9 months old. I know I might get flamed for this but we gave DD a tiny dose of Benedryl before our flight. We had discussed doing this and the correct dosage with our dr before leaving home so we felt comfortable doing it. Our 16 hr flight took off at 8am and DD slept probably a total of 10 hours. The rest of the time she sat quietly or we'd take turns walking through the cabin with her. We did bring lots of food for her because she was and still is a really good eater.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I would think a flight with an infant would be easier than a flight with a toddler!

 

[mommytotwo]

I agree with Pin Wizard. Since the baby will be really young, he or she will sleep for most of the trip, so you won't have to worry that much, mostly for diaper changes.
We had traveled with our daughter-20 months old on a long flight, and it was really hard for us and herself.

 

[RachelEllen]

No flames from this pediatrician on Benedryl! If I get a drink during a flight, I don't think I should deny the toddler the benedryl. <----joke

Caveat, though, some kids go to sleep on Benedryl, some just go totally loopy. Make sure you know how yours reacts before you are stuck on an airplane with a 'bad drunk'


Rachel

 

[CEDmom]

Originally posted by RachelEllen
No flames from this pediatrician on Benedryl! If I get a drink during a flight, I don't think I should deny the toddler the benedryl. <----joke

Caveat, though, some kids go to sleep on Benedryl, some just go totally loopy. Make sure you know how yours reacts before you are stuck on an airplane with a 'bad drunk'


Rachel

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Good point about the benedryl. We did actually did do a test one day when we had a flight between cities in mainland China. We figured if DD did become hyper it was only an 1 1/2 flight. She slept through that entire flight, the ride to our hotel, check in etc.