Flying with a baby

​We have now done several long haul flights with Thomas, both overnight and during the  day and I have been giving some thought to which I prefer and whether there are any tips I can pass on.  

There are plus sides and down sides of flying at both times of day. A daytime flight is less tiring if you don't sleep well on flights but you have more time you will need to entertain your little one stuck in one seat. An overnight flight may mean less entertainment if your little one sleeps well, but it's more tiring if you don't. The answer, I believe is purely down to you and the tendencies of your little one.  For us, both experiences were good, albeit different. Flying by day, we took turns to entertain Thomas, he slept a little and was happy for the whole flight. The overnight flight he slept all but a couple of hours when breakfast was served. 

One thing that definitely does help though is to pre order a bassinet. This is not necessarily for your baby to sleep in it, but it necessitates you being seated in a bulk head seat where there is much more leg room and space to move around a little with your infant on your knee. Thomas did nap a bit in the bassinet but mostly we were grateful for the extra space. It should also be noted that babies must be removed from the bassinet if there is turbulence, which on our flight there was a lot. Therefore don't rely on them being in it all of the time.  

So far, both airlines we have flown with (Virgin Atlantic and air New Zealand) have provided baby food but not necessarily age appropriate. I brought along my own pouches of puréed food and some water for Thomas. We have had no problems getting through security with this and most are happy so long as the amount you are carrying is reasonable for the length of your flight, allowing also for some potential delay.  

The best tip I was given, which is proving a god send, is car seat bags. Almost all airlines will carry a pushchair and a car seat for free even when your under 2 does not have their own luggage allowance. You can buy opaque, robust car seat bags to put the car seat in. I was given one by the lovely Sue Meikle, and I have been extremely grateful for it for one big reason... The check in desk never looks inside the bag! Therefore, the car seat bag, along side the car seat, is also carrying our travel cot (a tiny little lite one) and anything else that would otherwise take us over our weight limit. Well worth knowing! 

We are also carrying our Tula baby carrier on board with us. Really useful when, despite being told your pushchair will meet you at the aeroplane door, actually turns up in the baggage reclaim which is a mile walk from the aeroplane!

Finally, we are getting quicker at getting through security with one child. Easiest route seems to be parent 1 get ready, take baby, put pushchair through first, parent 2 get ready, parent 1 clear the metal detector, parent 2 go through, pushchair up, baby in, both get ready. Breathe sigh of relief and head for a drink! 

If you have two children? I reckon bring the grandparents and meet them in the airport lounge!