adimt
Journey is of 24 hrs. She wont fit in a bassinet as she moves a lot in her sleep and we have never used a car seat for her in India. Beside a sling ..can anyone suggest any other options? I will be too tired to attach the sling throughout the journey. Even though I get a vacant seat beside my seat, how do I put her in that seat? Any helping answer is appreciated.
Thanks
Answer
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lto with my own children on transatlantics about twice a year.
A squrimy toddler for such a long journey doesn't sound like a lot of fun. I have never seen a bassinet on an airplane that can hold such a big baby. My son was a year on Lufthansa once and that was their limit. I would still recommend sitting at the bulkhead but it's very unlikely you can use those "sky cots".
Babies under age 2 are allowed on laps for commercial reasons but they aren't protected if anything goes wrong. The only way to fly safely is to bring a car seat and use it on board.
Commercial air travel in general is safe so the statistical risk of anything going wrong is so low.
You can ask at check-in if it's possible to get a free seat next to you. Bringing the seat kind of solidifies your arguement and if you don't manage it, the seat can be gate checked with the stroller. I can tell you that the fuss of getting the car seat to the aircraft is worth the peace it gives me onboard. My children sleep much better in their familiar seat.
You have to check with your airline if your seat is approved to use onboard. A lot of it depends on the nationality of the carrier.
Call the airline and see how full the flight is.
There are a lot of gizmos to get carseats to the gate, including one that you can wear like a backpack and some where the baby can ride in the carseat like a stroller (and then you can check the big one).
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
(not endorsing these sites, just to show you..)
Decide what works for you. Some parents are able to bungee cord their car seats on to the stroller. I use a simple metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord. Try it at home first!
I actually check the stroller and just use the car seat as a stroller. When mine were small, I also used a sling.
If you don't manage to get a seat, it's safer for the baby to be loose in your lap for take-off and landing. Some foreign airlines still use dangerous "belly belts" but they are banned on U.S. Canadian and German companies, among others.
If you don't bring the car seat but still get an extra seat, just make her comfortable with extra pillows and blankets. You may want to bring an inflatable pillow for this purpose. Strap her in but the adult seat belt will not adequately protect her.
Just some other odd tips;
-Bring about 1/3 more diapers than you think you'll need...at least! Put them in plastic bags, make at least two "packages" and wrap them with rubber bands to pack them more easily.
-Learn to change her standing up. Practice at home first! This will make it easier and faster, plus, you wont have to search around for baby changers. Toddlers hate to lie down in strange places and I use the handicapped lavs instead.
-Bring a change of clothes. Do the same trick with the plastic bags and rubber bands to save space in your bag.
-Bring a lot of snacks. Don't worry about security. If it's not allowed, they simply take it from you. I've never had this happen. They're more interested in liquids.
-Bring empty sippy cups to use onboard.
-If she still uses bottles, use the kind with disposable liners. Airplanes have bad sinks for washing bottles.
-Make sure the bottles don't have to be warmed. It's not necessary and pain to do while travelling in general.
-Consider ordering special meals. Kids usually hate the standard fare.
-Bring brand new toys to surprise them with onboard. These keep them occupied.
-If you opt to use a portable DVD player, make sure she's used to wearing the earphones, or can watch it without sound.
- Talk to her about security and that she has to put all her things on the belt. My kids are fine with flying but security can be intimitating for any child. This is an American site but you might still find it helpful;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm
-Please don't worry too much about ears. I rarely saw any problems when I worked and never had any with my own kids and I never did anything special.
Many flying tips say to make the child suck on something or drink during take-off and landing. This isn't accurate. ENT specialists say to have the child awake about an hour before landing (top of descent, landing or touch-down is too late). I can confirm that is when I saw problems at work. Take your child to the doctor in the last few days before you fly to make sure her ears are clear and infection-free. Heathy ears can handle pressurization changes.
If she falls asleep during take-off, there is no reason to wake her. Please don't worry!
It's a tough age to travel since they can move at this age, don't like to be restrained and their comprehension is limited. You can't reason with them. I remember the toddlers on my flight and then got to experience it myself later on. Just get plenty of sleep the night before you leave.
About eight years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. This is entirely non-commercial information and I have both the practical and professional experience of working on board airplanes. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Good luck!
I'm a former Flight Attendant and I now fly a lto with my own children on transatlantics about twice a year.
A squrimy toddler for such a long journey doesn't sound like a lot of fun. I have never seen a bassinet on an airplane that can hold such a big baby. My son was a year on Lufthansa once and that was their limit. I would still recommend sitting at the bulkhead but it's very unlikely you can use those "sky cots".
Babies under age 2 are allowed on laps for commercial reasons but they aren't protected if anything goes wrong. The only way to fly safely is to bring a car seat and use it on board.
Commercial air travel in general is safe so the statistical risk of anything going wrong is so low.
You can ask at check-in if it's possible to get a free seat next to you. Bringing the seat kind of solidifies your arguement and if you don't manage it, the seat can be gate checked with the stroller. I can tell you that the fuss of getting the car seat to the aircraft is worth the peace it gives me onboard. My children sleep much better in their familiar seat.
You have to check with your airline if your seat is approved to use onboard. A lot of it depends on the nationality of the carrier.
Call the airline and see how full the flight is.
There are a lot of gizmos to get carseats to the gate, including one that you can wear like a backpack and some where the baby can ride in the carseat like a stroller (and then you can check the big one).
http://www.gogobabyz.com/products/gogo_kids.html
http://www.amazon.com/Traveling-Toddler-Attach-Rolling-Carry/dp/B000JHN3AS
http://www.onestepahead.com/product/osa/363756.html
(not endorsing these sites, just to show you..)
Decide what works for you. Some parents are able to bungee cord their car seats on to the stroller. I use a simple metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord. Try it at home first!
I actually check the stroller and just use the car seat as a stroller. When mine were small, I also used a sling.
If you don't manage to get a seat, it's safer for the baby to be loose in your lap for take-off and landing. Some foreign airlines still use dangerous "belly belts" but they are banned on U.S. Canadian and German companies, among others.
If you don't bring the car seat but still get an extra seat, just make her comfortable with extra pillows and blankets. You may want to bring an inflatable pillow for this purpose. Strap her in but the adult seat belt will not adequately protect her.
Just some other odd tips;
-Bring about 1/3 more diapers than you think you'll need...at least! Put them in plastic bags, make at least two "packages" and wrap them with rubber bands to pack them more easily.
-Learn to change her standing up. Practice at home first! This will make it easier and faster, plus, you wont have to search around for baby changers. Toddlers hate to lie down in strange places and I use the handicapped lavs instead.
-Bring a change of clothes. Do the same trick with the plastic bags and rubber bands to save space in your bag.
-Bring a lot of snacks. Don't worry about security. If it's not allowed, they simply take it from you. I've never had this happen. They're more interested in liquids.
-Bring empty sippy cups to use onboard.
-If she still uses bottles, use the kind with disposable liners. Airplanes have bad sinks for washing bottles.
-Make sure the bottles don't have to be warmed. It's not necessary and pain to do while travelling in general.
-Consider ordering special meals. Kids usually hate the standard fare.
-Bring brand new toys to surprise them with onboard. These keep them occupied.
-If you opt to use a portable DVD player, make sure she's used to wearing the earphones, or can watch it without sound.
- Talk to her about security and that she has to put all her things on the belt. My kids are fine with flying but security can be intimitating for any child. This is an American site but you might still find it helpful;
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/children/index.shtm
-Please don't worry too much about ears. I rarely saw any problems when I worked and never had any with my own kids and I never did anything special.
Many flying tips say to make the child suck on something or drink during take-off and landing. This isn't accurate. ENT specialists say to have the child awake about an hour before landing (top of descent, landing or touch-down is too late). I can confirm that is when I saw problems at work. Take your child to the doctor in the last few days before you fly to make sure her ears are clear and infection-free. Heathy ears can handle pressurization changes.
If she falls asleep during take-off, there is no reason to wake her. Please don't worry!
It's a tough age to travel since they can move at this age, don't like to be restrained and their comprehension is limited. You can't reason with them. I remember the toddlers on my flight and then got to experience it myself later on. Just get plenty of sleep the night before you leave.
About eight years ago I wrote an article for a local newsletter. This is entirely non-commercial information and I have both the practical and professional experience of working on board airplanes. Feel free to visit;
http://flyingwithchildren.blogspot.com
Good luck!
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