| For many of us, air travel is part of our lives, as we | | | | - Depending on how long you are travelling your baby |
| go on holidays, business trips, visit friends or relatives. | | | | is likely to want to sleep during the flight so you |
| But for children, flying can be an adventure beyond | | | | might want to reserve a bassinet for a long-haul flight |
| imagination! Some love it, some hate it and others will | | | | and take your baby's sleeping clothes along (including |
| be indifferent, as long as they are with their trusted | | | | sleeping bag). If you are travelling by yourself and |
| parent. | | | | the flight is not fully booked, try and ask that the |
| In any case it is good to plan ahead and travel | | | | seat next to you remains unoccupied as you can |
| prepared otherwise even your 50 min short flight (or | | | | always rest your baby on it when your shoulders |
| however long your flying) will feel like you are flying | | | | have gone all stiff from holding her in the same |
| to the end of the world! | | | | position. |
| Tips for flying with your baby: | | | | When you are travelling with a toddler most of the |
| - Have plenty of fluid to give your baby during the | | | | above points also apply although you need to be a |
| flight and make sure that she is drinking or eating | | | | bit more adventurous with your snacks and toys. |
| during take off and landing. That way you will | | | | - Thick short pencils and something to draw on are |
| automatically get her to 'equalize', that is adjust to | | | | always a favourite but do not take felt tips as you |
| the changes in air cabin pressure by swallowing. | | | | are bound to loose the tops and your toddler will |
| - However, taking fluids on board is not necessarily | | | | start colouring the seat in front of you! |
| that straight forward these days with heightened | | | | - In fact, your toddler is likely to show real interest in |
| safety measures. Custom officials may ask you to | | | | the seat and person sitting in front or behind you |
| open a milk carton/ bottle and sample the contents in | | | | anyway. Whilst you can sort of discourage constant |
| front of their eyes - regardless of the fact that this | | | | kicking of the seat in front of you or prevent your |
| may spoil the milk for your baby or leave you stuck | | | | toddler from pulling the hair of the person sitting in it, |
| with an open carton. You should definitely check with | | | | you will not be able to stop a tantrum if you are |
| your airline what types of restrictions are currently in | | | | being too restrictive. This will be worse if your child is |
| place before you pack your bags! | | | | suffering from air sickness so take nose drops and |
| - If you are breast feeding then you are obviously | | | | baby paracetamol just in case! |
| not going to have any problems with taking extra | | | | - Although you are generally discouraged from |
| fluids on board so if you are about to travel | | | | allowing your toddler to run around the plane, you |
| somewhere by plane it may well be worth delaying | | | | should definitely allow your child some exercise if the |
| weaning your baby off your breast until after your | | | | alternative are yells - this is not fair on your child, |
| trip. | | | | you, your fellow travellers and even the |
| - A spare set of clothing for your baby and enough | | | | stewardesses! Remember that sitting still for a long |
| nappies to last you the journey are a definite must, | | | | period of time is totally unnatural for a young child |
| too! In fact, take an extra top for yourself, just in | | | | and you should just apologise to your fellow |
| case your baby is sick all over you. I once sat for a | | | | travellers in advance of your child playing up if you |
| good two hours with semi-digested banana vomit | | | | know he may be difficult during the flight. On the |
| down my cleavage because my daughter was sick all | | | | other hand, your toddler might be so excited by the |
| over me and I had no choice but to hold on to her | | | | whole adventure of being in an plane, maybe even |
| for the rest of the trip without being able to clean | | | | seeing the captain and cockpit and playing with the |
| myself up properly - of course I had brought an | | | | window blinds that you will not have no problems |
| extra set of clothing for my daughter so she was | | | | whatsoever! |
| nice and clean again once I got her changed... | | | | Final word of wisdom: before the end of your flight |
| - Toys for distracting a little baby are also a good | | | | you are likely to be pretty exhausted from all the |
| idea although small babies do not need much more | | | | damage-limitation exercises if you have an active |
| than an un-inflated balloon or the inboard magazine to | | | | toddler with you so make sure to rest if he's finally |
| tear apart. | | | | sleeping, too! |