Nine month old on a nine hour flight?

RubyRue

We've just come back from Florida and on the flight there was a family with a young baby and a toddler. The young baby was no problem whatsoever. They just put her in the skycot and let her sleep. She cried a couple of times, probably because she was hungry and calmed down once she was fed.

It was the toddler that was a complete nightmare, screaming and throwing things around. Unfortunately the parents were too focused on the younger one to calm down the older one.

19lottie82 wrote: »

myOH and I have been totally perplexed as to why people would want to drag a baby round the theme parks (if that’s what you are planning to do). It can’t be pleasant for the baby or the parents? The ques and the heat, it would be my own personal nightmare!

Good luck!

Completely agree, while we were there there was this poor baby that couldn't have been more than a few weeks old, bright red with the heat in a black thick looking sling thing and looking thoroughly miserable. The baby must have been roasting, I was in just a t-shirt and shorts.

trolleyrun

Lesson one: Do not stress. Easy for me to say, but do try, as baby can feel it (and will get stressed too) if you stress.

Bring: noiseless toys, nappies etc, change of clothes (for yourself as well in case of vomit), non-sugary treats/snacks and don't forget the Calpol. Also please remember that if you haven't paid for a seat for baby, s/he won't get a meal, so bring some food for them. Also, bring a bottle and dummy (or whatever else baby finds comforting)

As others have said, try to get a bassinet seat. If baby doesn't fit in it, at least you have a bulkhead seat (nobody reclining their seat in your face)

And yes, a sling of some sort is highly recommended, as very few airlines would put any type of buggy in the cabin (it can go in the hold) on flights with high levels of babies and vast amounts of hand luggage (everybodys, not just yours )

Where in Florida are you flying to and which airline? If it's an airport I've been to I can give you some more info if you like

loubie_lou

Our 9 hour flight as they said it would be from gatwick took 7 and three quarter hours (it was a good day) to orlando.

But I have to agree with some others the babies were quiet as anything it was the 4/5 year old screaming for pepsi all the way back (when people were trying to sleep) that was rather annoying :mad::mad::mad::mad:

VikkiiKawaii

trolleyrun wrote: »

Lesson one: Do not stress. Easy for me to say, but do try, as baby can feel it (and will get stressed too) if you stress.

Bring: noiseless toys, nappies etc, change of clothes (for yourself as well in case of vomit), non-sugary treats/snacks and don't forget the Calpol. Also please remember that if you haven't paid for a seat for baby, s/he won't get a meal, so bring some food for them. Also, bring a bottle and dummy (or whatever else baby finds comforting)

As others have said, try to get a bassinet seat. If baby doesn't fit in it, at least you have a bulkhead seat (nobody reclining their seat in your face)

And yes, a sling of some sort is highly recommended, as very few airlines would put any type of buggy in the cabin (it can go in the hold) on flights with high levels of babies and vast amounts of hand luggage (everybodys, not just yours )

Where in Florida are you flying to and which airline? If it's an airport I've been to I can give you some more info if you like

Any sling recommendations then, as baby is already the weight and height of your average one year old (her father is tall!), and she hasn't liked any that we've tried recently.

JuneBow

When my kids were younger a lot of my friends gave their kids some sort of sedative. I think it was some sort of hay fever remedy. Probably not recommended! Mine were three and that was bad enough! I think I just made sure that they were really sleepy and so kipped for most of the flights.
I think it is probably easier with toddlers nowadays as there are so many computer games and portable DVD players.
Having said that mine were not really into computer games or TV much - worse luck. I had to read to them/talk to them etc. Don't fancy going there again.

Make-it-3

I have done three long haul trips with a baby under one. They are definitely easier the younger they are.

We did a trip to India when she was 9 months. Its very, very young for any baby to be walking, so hopefully you won't have a wanderer on your hands. We did let my DD crawl up and down the aisles a bit (supervised) when most people were sleeping and she wouldn't.

Be prepared is key, toys, plenty of nappies, change of clothes, some favourite snacks etc. Do book a bassinet seat, as they will no doubt sleep some of the time and its better that you have a break then rather than holding them in your arms.

We also went Miami when she was just 3 months and hired a stroller out there (really cheap) but a good old umbrella fold buggy that you can take on the plane may be a solution too.

BlueSD

We took our eldest to Toronto when she was 16 weeks old and then again at 9months old. Both times we were able to use a sky cot with her and this allowed her to sleep through a lot of the flight.

As the others have said, small toys, board books etc will help for when she is awake and do make sure you have lots of snacks etc for the trip.

Just remember to be aware of extra time getting through security at the airport due to the rules surrounding liquids, so if you're planning to take water in bottles or pre-mix formula with you, then you will have to be prepared to take a sip to prove that it's not anything it shouldn't.

Finally, we took a cheap Mothercare umbrella buggy with us - we were able to take it to the plane door and then they whisked it away to put it in the hold. On arrival in Toronto, it was back at the plane door as we disembarked, though this service is not true for all airlines. It has to be one of the best purchases we ever made - £25 (well it was 9 years ago!) and it has travelled the world with us and seen us through to 2 children.

Most importantly - have a great trip and don't worry too much!

BlueSD

VitaK

I agree that a dummy or bottle at takeoff and landing is a lifesaver.

mildred1978

VitaK wrote: »

I agree that a dummy or bottle at takeoff and landing is a lifesaver.

Or boob. Or finger. Or thumb.

Voyager2002

Is your journey really necessary?

Having a baby is an excellent reason for having a holiday in France, or Scotland, or anywhere that is accessible by surface transport.