Babies on planes (a question, not a rant!)

VT82

Not exactly money saving (please move it is necessary), but...

My partner and I have a 6 month old baby. One of us wants to take him with us on a long-haul flight to America to see an elderly relative in April when he will be 9 months old. One of us thinks this is far too young to take a baby on a long haul flight. We wouldn’t go without him obviously.

I’m deliberately trying not to put in too much detail which could sway you either way, but who do you agree with? Would it be fine? Is an 11 hour flight too long? Is 9 months too young for air travel? And if so, at what age should we be thinking about it?

Thanks.

hollie.weimeraner

Absolutely no reason why the youngster cannot fly. I've seen loads of people fly long haul with very young baby's.

The only issue is some do get very cranky whilst flying which seriously irritates other passengers (me included )

DKLS

Fine to travel at that age. Many people do it and am sure parents will be along to offer tips.

Hollie, I can recommend Bose noise cancelling headphones, I wouldn't fly without them.

novelty-socks

I'm not a parent, but I have several friends who've taken their babies on long flights.

From their experiences, I'd say that it's fine – a couple have actually remarked how much less stressful it is than travelling with a fidgety toddler who won't sit still for more than a minute at a time!

tberry6686

Depends if it is a flight aimed at holidaymakers, if so baby's are pretty much expected. I fly long haul quite often for business (not to normal holiday destinations) and a baby on those flights is a PIA at best for everyone, including the parents.

Baby_Angel

We took our DD when she was 7 months and then again at 13 months on 11 hour long haul flights. She didn't want to sleep on the basket provided so slept on our lap or hugging us. There was no problem whatsoever. If you both are there then you take turns to keep them entertained and give the other a break.

duchy

tberry6686 wrote: »

Depends if it is a flight aimed at holidaymakers, if so baby's are pretty much expected. I fly long haul quite often for business (not to normal holiday destinations) and a baby on those flights is a PIA at best for everyone, including the parents.

Where in America is not a leisure travel destination? Hardly restricted to Florida anymore !
Most babies (rather than toddlers ) will sleep for the majority of the journey anyway and not upset anyone unfortunately the same can't be said for a certain type of business traveller who thinks it's fine to feel entitled to be boorish drunken PITAs and annoy other passengers.


The key to travelling with a baby is planning. Making sure the baby is comfortable, well fed, hydrated and gets attention is the key which with both parents travelling is not difficult. The younger the better....once they hit a year and are more mobile it gets more challenging. I flew with my son when he was just a year and he was as good as gold but then decided to wait til he was five when he was used to school and needing to stay seated as toddlers struggle with it.

Last year I flew to and from Washington flying out I had a solo mother flying with a baby and toddler behind me she was attentive and I wasn't disturbed at all. Flying back I had a suited and booted business type who was loud and obnoxious and disturbed everyone.

I'd suggest paying for a seat for the baby so they can have their car seat attached and be comfortable and have more room rather than have them as a lap child and needing to be held the whole journey. Your baby will be happier in it as it will be somewhere they are used to sitting and sleeping in. Pack snacks and favourite (non noisy) toys and you'll be fine.

If you have concerns an 11 hour flight is too long break the journey on the east coast (a layover can be anything up to 24 hours without costing more so you could overnight in a hotel and fly on to your destination the next day) although as the flight back will be overnight that's less of an issue.

jpsartre

VT82 wrote: »

One of us thinks this is far too young to take a baby on a long haul flight.

I don't really see the rationale behind this opinion. It's not like a 9-month old is going to be doing a lot of things on the ground that he can't do on a plane.

xxlouisexx56

Were taking my nephew who will have just turnt one on a 10 hour flight in May.

Just go for it. You'll never know unless you do it but you may regret not seeing that elderly relatives

tberry6686

Unfortunately the same can't be said for a certain type of business traveller who thinks it's fine to feel entitled to be boorish drunken PITAs and annoy other passengers.

Jumping to conclusions a bit are we. Personally on a long haul flight I will generally be working on my laptop or sleeping, neither of which can be classed as boorish, drunken or annoying to other passengers.

There are many destinations in the US that are mainly used by business travellers (from the UK). For that matter I didn't even mention the US.

The fact is, on a flight that is mainly used by business people then the sound of a baby screaming is very unwelcome and yes not all babies will be screaming, some will be very good but it is not possible to predict. Tourist flights, few people will even care (and I do take holiday flights from time to time as well)

jfdi

I took my son when he was 3 months old to Ohio, via Newark. He was ok transatlantic (even though I had no bassinette) so he was on my lap all the time, but a total pita the second bit. Thankfully it was a short flight.

Coming back with a bassinette he slept the whole way.

Just make sure you've decent health insurance! He picked up a tummy bug and I had 24hrs of projectile vomiting to deal with at my friends. Luckily her paediatrician was great and prescribed meds etc, but it did cost!