Flying with a child - tips for planning and during the flight - from KOKADIne to KOKADIne
#2 Flying with a baby
To quote John Steinbeck: “A journey is a personality, no two are alike.”
....and just as every child has their own character, all flights are also different - the same applies to airlines and the respective crews ;)! It's difficult to generalize about "flying with a baby", but I'll try to give you a few points!
In his first 18 months of life, my little one flew around a total of 20 times with 7 different airlines on 4 different continents. Between short-haul, direct flight, long-haul and transfer, everything was there. And yet I am sure that you can have so many more experiences than we did! And our experience with flying is limited to ages between 4-18 months.
When I compare the different means of transport we have already traveled with, I have to say that I find planes and trains to be the most pleasant. My little one is quite cuddly and at the same time he feels quite the urge to move. Driving is therefore rather difficult for him because he has to sit alone and strapped in. He could always go for a walk and exercise on planes and trains, and otherwise I could see him in the Baby Carrier always cuddle or breastfeed to sleep. For me, the difference between a plane and a train is mainly in the takeoff and landing, because our activities on the way were otherwise clearly comparable! But here too, nothing is set in stone, children are different and a lot can change with age. But there are also other children who, for example, love driving from the very beginning!!
I have already given you some of my personal tips in Part 1 “Planning and Preparation”. To talk about our special experiences around flying, you can find my personal comments here:
· If possible, plan departure times so that they fit your sleep rhythm. A long-haul flight overnight is certainly more pleasant than during the day, especially if the plane is dark at night. Direct flights are more expensive, but also more comfortable and therefore at least worth considering.
· Children under the age of 2 usually only pay a small service fee if they fly lying on their parents' lap or in the bassinet. After that, flying with children becomes really expensive. Optionally, you can of course also book a separate seat for the little ones. This can be interesting if you want to take an infant car seat on board, or if the child is simply too big and (much too) heavy for the bassinet.
o If the plane is not fully booked, you often still have an additional seat.
o I never took a baby seat with me on the plane. A friend flew with it once and reported that not all makes are compatible with the seats in the planes. In such a case, it is best to contact the airline's hotline in advance and ask for written confirmation as a precaution.
· If one parent is traveling alone, be sure to bring a power of attorney (including a birth certificate and a copy of your ID). The ADAC, for example, makes such multilingual power of attorney forms available for download. Without it, it could happen that the friendly border officer won't let you go... Valid identification documents and visas are a given!
· Depending on the airline, you may need to reserve a seat to sit in the front row with a chance of a bassinet and more legroom.
o With Lufthansa this costs extra. (as of 2019)
o At Aeroflot you have to call the hotline or email customer service before check-in to make sure they think of a front row seat for us. (as of 2018)
o With Air France and Emirates we were automatically booked into the front row at no extra charge. (as of 2018 and 2019)
· The front row not only has the advantage that you have space for a bassinet and more legroom. This also gives you scope for improvisation! For example, when I tried to eat with my son on my lap, he specifically reached into the food. That's not fun when you have to watch out for hot food! My solution was to put the little one on my seat and secure it with the adult belts. I sat cross-legged on the floor with my back to the front wall and had eye contact with my little one. The food tray was on the floor and I only put the individual dishes that we had just eaten together on the tray.
· If you or your child have any allergies, it's best to mention this when booking! Optionally, you can usually also order your own baby menu. When I did that, there were usually different squeezes on board.
· Basically, I would allow a generous time buffer on the way to the airport. Something can always go wrong, and with children it always takes longer. In order not to cause unnecessary stress, it is better to plan a little more time!
· Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to check-in online from home! When you are at the airport, you can usually wait in the shorter queue at the baggage drop-off counter. At least my junior isn't particularly keen on queues and I was always happy to have to wait in line for as short a time as possible! Some airlines have dedicated baggage drop-off lines for families. In some countries, for example, there is a priority queue for families at passport control, or staff wave you to the usually short diplomatic queue. For me, this was always an initial indication of how child-friendly our travel destination would be.
· Even for children without their own seat, you can usually get an additional piece of luggage for 10kg. I've never needed this because I always have ours KOKADI Baby Carrier had with him. I once saw other parents who checked a large stroller onto this piece of luggage. Depending on the airline, I would definitely check the individual regulations regarding dimensions in advance. Under certain circumstances, the stroller doesn't even count as additional luggage and can simply be handed in as soon as you board the plane!? Low-cost airlines are guaranteed not to include this additional piece of luggage in their scope of service. In any case, be sure to check with your airline in advance so that you don't experience any unpleasant surprises! If you only with the Baby Carrier When you travel, you have one less thing to think about J!
· Especially when connecting connections, it can happen that your luggage gets stuck and does not arrive with you at your destination. For 1-2 days, I put the most important things (diapers, pads, wet wipes, a change of clothes, powdered milk, porridge, snacks, medication, toys, straw cups & milk bottles and, if necessary, pacifiers) in my hand luggage. If several people are traveling together with several pieces of luggage, a trick is to divide their belongings between the different pieces of luggage. If only one piece of luggage arrives, each family member has at least a few things with them.
o Since I stopped breastfeeding, I always have something to drink and snacks with me. Preferably cookies, because they survive any climate and are non-perishable throughout the entire journey. The only downside is that they crumble. It was always easier for me to get drink refills at the airport or on the plane than the favorite baby cookies.
o Valuables always belong in hand luggage anyway!!
· The security check works differently depending on the country. In the best case scenario you can go with the child Baby Carrier just go through the scanners. Things get more complicated if you have to have the baby carrier scanned with your luggage on the conveyor belt, then the child is passed back and forth between security staff and possibly fellow travelers while you go through the personal scanner yourself.
· Of the countries we traveled to, liquids were only a problem in Australia. In Australia, the 100ml restriction does not apply to babies either, but all drinks/liquids must be in their original packaging and sealed, otherwise they are not allowed to be taken with you. In all of the other countries we visited (even at the security check in Germany) it was not an issue at all to have much more liquids than 100ml with you. They even let me go through a 1l bottle of water several times!
· Who next to theBaby Carrier would also like to use a buggy: At least at Emirates at Dubai airport there are a lot of rental buggies (unused) standing around EVERYWHERE, but at least they were kindly made available! That would be another idea: Rent KOKADI Baby Carriers ;)!
· While waiting for boarding, I initially paced up and down the gate to stretch my legs. My little one is in there as usual Baby Carrier sat and watched or slept. Later, when he was already able to walk, he had the greatest joy exploring the terminal himself and, for example, had fun on the moving walkways (flat escalators) in the opposite direction of travel. Ultimately, no one knows your child as well as you do. You know best how to keep your child busy at the airport or on the plane!
· Families often have priority when boarding and are allowed to board earlier along with First and Business Class. Listen carefully to the announcements and perhaps ask at the counter if you would like to get on the plane earlier. The advantage of boarding early is that you still have freedom of choice and plenty of space in the overhead compartments to stow your belongings.
· When boarding the plane, the checkpoint machines often do not work if you are traveling with a baby. Staff always sent us through. Apparently this is to ensure that the person in whose seat the baby is booked does not forget their child. So an additional check!
· As soon as you board the plane, most airlines will give you a so-called “loop belt”. This is a harness that you wrap around your baby and strap to your own harness. The added value is doubtful, which is why this loop belt is not required everywhere. Sometimes the on-board staff turn a blind eye to this rule. In my opinion, the baby sits much more securely in it Baby Carrier. You can still strap yourself between your own stomach and your baby bump. My little one slept excellently during several flights and also when landing.
· The on-board staff are usually helpful when it comes to stowing your hand luggage in the overhead compartments. Of course I did the boarding with the little one Baby Carrier made and only stowed away at the latest possible time. I was always worried about the buckles and therefore folded the baby carrier with the buckles closed before putting it away. Den KOKADI Taking bags for storage would be worth considering! I unpacked the drinks and the most important things I would need during the flight from my hand luggage and stowed them on the seat or in the holder so that they were ready to hand.
· The really critical thing when flying with babies is pressure equalization. The cabin pressure changes during departure and landing and the little ones can't handle it as confidently as us older ones. The best way to support your sparrow is to nurse it during takeoff and landing. They also generally make these helpful swallowing movements when drinking. That's why it tends to be a good idea if you have something to drink (stewardEssen were always helpful with us and refilled if necessary). If you need a milk bottle, fill the required powder into the bottle in advance and ask the on-board staff for hot water. Hot water is not boiling on board and you can also say how much hot water and how much still (cold) water you need to fill up! It'll be quicker that way! When my little one was a little bigger and already weaned, I also had his straw cup filled up. Simply use your favorite utensils as you would at home; tried and tested ones are particularly welcome when you're on the move!
o By the way, the following things help equalize the pressure: swallowing/breastfeeding/drinking, pacifier, screaming!
èIf they absolutely don't want to drink anything and the pacifier isn't okay, the worst they can do is scream to equalize the pressure!
o If your child has a cold before departure, it is a good idea to consult a pediatrician. You may not be able to take the flight, otherwise you will probably be prescribed a nasal spray.
o Some aircraft start pressure equalization before takeoff. Having an outdoor watch with a barometric altimeter is the best option. You can see the changes in air pressure on the barometer and can react particularly quickly. As soon as something started moving, I started breastfeeding or giving a drink...
· The bassinet is like a small children's bed that is attached to the wall with brackets. It is similar to the baby seat of a stroller and is usually designed for children up to 75-80cm tall and a maximum weight of 11kg. However, this varies from airline to airline. What's annoying is that you can't leave the child in it during takeoff and landing or during turbulence. If your dwarf is sleeping well and the seat belt signs suddenly light up, then it means that you have to get your child out of the bassinet straight away - there is a risk of waking up... So for the last few flights I voluntarily gave up the bassinet from the outset and let him sleep lying on me. If your child is too big for the bassinet, be prepared not to be able to enjoy it!
· Some airlines give little travelers something as a gift. This can be a rattle, a ball, a coloring book but also stuffed animals, backpacks or hygiene products. But the best toys for my little man have always been the in-flight magazines, burp bags, belts or my keys - i.e. everyday objects! And again, you probably know your little ones well enough to assess what works best for them!
· I always had two small rattle toys with me from home. These are attached to the backpack with a small carabiner and are always ready to hand. Here, too, I took his favorite toys with me that I had hidden from him a few days before departure, so that it was particularly fun to play with them again.
· Short flights consist almost exclusively of takeoff and landing. Most of the time my little one fell asleep while breastfeeding on takeoff and slept through the rest of the flight until landing. Up until now I had mainly scheduled medium-haul and long-haul flights at night, so I slept through most of the time (with the exception of South Korea). When he was a little older, he used to sit on my lap or on my seat and play with toys or various everyday objects. And a total classic for us is walking through the aisles and flirting with the other passengers or on-board staff and looking for other babies and toddlers.
· If your mood changes during the day because of tiredness, then that's it Baby Carrier once again the non plus ultra. I found a quiet section of the hallway and walked him up and down until he fell asleep. Sometimes everything outside was so exciting that he couldn't switch off, then I buttoned the headrest and put a spit or on the side KOKADI Comforter placed over it so that he could no longer see out. The sleeping sand often comes quickly. I then stretched my legs in the hallways for a walk or carefully leaned back on my chair with the little one in it Baby Carrier sat down.
· Not all of the toilets on board also have a changing table. Either the on-board staff will point you out to the right place when you board, or you can ask a nice stewardess which toilet with a changing table is closest to you. A well-equipped diaper bag for travel is essential! If I had to go to the toilet myself, my little one is in the toilet Baby Carrier came with me while sitting.
And...if you really have a screaming fit for whatever reason: don't let yourself be disturbed! The little ones calm down faster than you can see. And our passengers were friendlier and more understanding than expected. When my little one had to scream when he fell asleep, I was treated with pity!
Again…every flight, every child and every age is different and everyone will have their own experiences! Just dare!! As always, the first step is the hardest and after that everything goes smoothly!
Your Verena aka “Mama Weltenstummel”
P.S.: What else happened to you while flying? What other ultimate tips do you have in store?
