Flying with a 10 month old...

Our guest dad lets us know how we survived the dreaded plane journey with a baby.
​
My mother-in-law likes to recite how my wife as a baby howled for the entire plane journey to Portugal, so it was with some nervousness that we boarded a flight this month with our 10 month old son.​

To try to minimise having a baby in pain and annoying a few hundred other passengers, we set about doing our research and here’s what we found:

• Do not fly if the baby has a cold or ear infection
• Some advice was to give the baby a small does of Calpol 30mins before the flight but I would be hesitant to offer this advice from my non-medical background. Saying that, that is exactly what we did.
• Feed the baby on take off and landing
• Don’t let the baby sleep on take off or landing so they can feed
• Take snacks
• Baby bag with the usual nappies, change of clothes etc.
• Take lots of toys/distractions!!

We pretty much heeded to all of the above, although on the sleeping front, our baby dream-fed on take off and landing. I have no doubt that it was a one off but I’m pleased to report back that we had success! Our baby doesn’t tend to sleep for more than 30 mins for naps so there was a lot of entertainment with spoons, cups and her quieter toys for the interim. And LOTS OF SNACKS! I’m sure we got a few daggers come our way when the other passengers saw a baby in the row behind but they soon warmed to the cheerful baba smiling over the seat.

One good friend had told me how her baby went for a poo on every single flight she’d ever been on – I have a wriggler of a baby so we were anxious about having to change her in the plane toilet but thankfully we were let off the hook!

I think my conclusion for flying with a baby is prepare well, enjoy the flight and if the flight attendant offers you champagne, say yes!