Wow, I’m honored to write the first blogpost on our site! Behind the scenes we’re working hard to bring you the best tips and tricks to travel more, travel as a family, and show you how escaping your routine every once in a while, is actually very achievable! Part of our “working behind the scenes” stuff is planning a couple of nice trips, so I’m not complaining! More stories are yet to come, so stay tuned! – Anna
Here are the 12 tips that will make your life much easier!
For this first post I want to talk to you about getting on a plane with your baby or toddler. Because that was the one subject I had a lot of questions about, myself. If you are like me, you are getting a bit stressed only thinking about it. Well ok: it downright freaked me out! Because what if the whole flying thing proved be one big horrible mistake? Then we would be stuck mid-air somewhere high above the Atlantic, and we would have to stay put for the next 10 to 11 hours! I already saw visions of my baby, screaming hours on end, her normally angelic face now almost purple with anger – and all the people around us giving us death stares because of the constant wailing. So, what does a modern woman do in a case like that? I took to the internet for answers (and reassurance!), and talked to some friends who have older children and had “been there, done that”. After that, we took the leap, and it proved to be less awful than imagined. Now I can give you some tips and viewpoints from our own experience! So here we go! – Anna
#1
In the baby-eating-on-a-plane-department “breast is best”; it’s always available, always the right temperature, and you don’t really have to take anything with you (maybe a scarf if you want more privacy – although after having breastfed for a while, and seeing a lot of other people breastfeeding, I wonder why I ever worried about privacy. There is nothing to see, people! No nipple at all! Because –surprise!- the kid that is sucking the nipple is COVERING the nipple! It’s genius! You show more skin going to the beach in your bikinis! So, don’t worry.) Ah, those were the days, I still miss breastfeeding!
#2
On the flights that we took, taking formula or snacks for the baby was no problem. I always take formula in a dispenser, so it’s easy to get exactly the amount you need. I always take more than I need, just in case the flight is delayed, or my daughter wants some extra “milky”. Because on the plane I will say yes to any remotely reasonable request of hers, just to keep the peace.
#3
The cabin crew is usually helpful when you ask them for some warm water to make a bottle – it’s in their own interest, if they don’t want to be stuck with a screaming, hungry baby! If you are like me, and you don’t want to depend on the cabin crew for a warm bottle (because when you need milk, you mostly need it fast), take a thermos with hot water and buy a bottle of water before you enter the plane, then mix. The limit for the amount of liquids you can take doesn’t count when you travel with a little one.
#4
One time we forgot our feeding bottles at the luggage check! The plane was almost taking off for a transatlantic flight when we discovered this. I went in full panic mode. It was a “holy sh*t, I want to get out of this plane” moment. I had just stopped breastfeeding, so that wasn’t an option (believe me, I tried to squeeze some milk out, but alas). Also, our kid could not yet drink from a cup. Big problem! Fortunately, they had little packets of liquid baby milk on board. We cut a very small hole in it, so our daughter could drink from it. She could eat some solids by that time, so we also gave her some fruit to fill her belly. And of course, the first thing we did after landing was run into a pharmacy and buy SIX baby bottles. I do not recommend forgetting your bottles; but this does show that almost everything works out in the end.
#5
On long haul flights, make sure you reserve chairs on the “family row”. It means more leg room, so your little one has a bit more room to play on a blanket on the ground. And possibly some other kids to play with. In the family row, you can request a baby cot to be attached to the wall in front of you – the baby can sleep in it below a certain weight. And if you have a toddler that is too big to fit the crib, try to get one anyway, to put all your stuff in it – so said toddler can play at your feet.
#6
A flight is not the moment to be strict; we don’t usually give our daughter sweets, even when we’re travelling (because we don’t want an upset stomach), but we do take a lot of crackers, fruits, raisins, and some juice – also a treat, because we don’t usually give her sugary drinks and she still thinks juice is something that only exists on planes and abroad, bless her heart.
#7
I buy some inexpensive toys to entertain her during the flight. Don’t give everything at once, you want the element of surprise. We’ve had success with puzzles, a magnetic drawing board, a coloring book with crayons, a doctors set, and books. But free stuff can also be a lot of fun: a stack of colorful post-its to stick to things, or an amenity kit to fiddle with (as long as they can’t open the bottles and packages) Try not to buy stuff that makes a lot of noise or makes a big mess.
#8
The iPad is your friend. If you have Netflix, you can download some favorite TV shows, and your child can watch them offline. There are also some very nice free games for little ones to download, like Duplo Train and Duplo Town.
#9
In-flight entertainment has a lot of children’s movies and series. Be sure to bring headphones that fit your toddler. The ones they distribute on the plane are not made for little ears.
#10
Children under 2 don’t need to buy their own chair. But if you have the money, it can be a good investment – you can bring a car seat for them to sit in. Until now, we have always travelled with our “lap child”, and in economy class in a normal row (not a family row) it is very uncomfortable and nearly impossible to keep a playful, wild child on your lap.
#11
If you have a long layover at an airport, it can be a good idea to buy lounge access. Just imagine: instead of the busy part of the airport with NO place to sit comfortably and only overpriced and meh food/drinks, you can sit in a comfortable lounge, eat free food, enjoy a free glass of wine…or bubbles (you know we parents sometimes need it!) and have a quiet place to relax/let the little one nap. Once when we arrived at the airport hours early, we booked a “day room” (for a cheaper rate) in a hotel near the airport, just to have a place for napping and changing diapers, and taking one last dip in the swimming pool.
#12
Baby carriers are life savers at airports, on planes and…everywhere!
So much for the first post, it might be a lot. Be sure to stick around for more, comment below. Share your own tips. Leave a like and drop us an e-mail on info@monthlyescapes.com. Share this with your friends and be sure to check out our youtube channel.