International flight advice with 8 week old baby
Discussion
Having finally been cleared to return home (we came out for a baby shower 5 months ago!) were now going to be returning as 3, not 2!
We're flying with BA in World Traveler Plus with a 'sky cot' seat (which I doubt he'll go for so will be on me)- but what else do we need? I'm guessing we can't get formula through, so will have to use powder - but then he's use to distilled water, which won't get through either. He's a happy little chap but is there anyone with experience of this and any tips they can give us?
We're flying with BA in World Traveler Plus with a 'sky cot' seat (which I doubt he'll go for so will be on me)- but what else do we need? I'm guessing we can't get formula through, so will have to use powder - but then he's use to distilled water, which won't get through either. He's a happy little chap but is there anyone with experience of this and any tips they can give us?
http://www.britishairways.com/en-gb/information/ba...
BA said:
Baby food and milk
If you are travelling with a baby or infant you are allowed to carry as much baby milk, powdered formula, sterilised water (must be in a baby bottle) and baby food as required for your trip, even if this exceeds the usual limit on liquids. These do not need to fit in the transparent bag but you should have them ready for inspection by airport security.
http://www.tsa.gov/traveler-information/traveling-childrenIf you are travelling with a baby or infant you are allowed to carry as much baby milk, powdered formula, sterilised water (must be in a baby bottle) and baby food as required for your trip, even if this exceeds the usual limit on liquids. These do not need to fit in the transparent bag but you should have them ready for inspection by airport security.
TSA said:
Traveling With Baby Formula, Breast Milk, And Other Liquids For Infants And Small Children
In September 2006, TSA enacted rules for carrying liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or smaller containers, and packed in a one quart, zip-top bag. Each passenger can take one zip-top bag in their carry-on. Larger quantities of liquids may be packed in checked bags.
Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the Transportation Security Officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the beginning of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subjected to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container. We recommend, but do not require, that medication be labeled to facilitate the security process.
Passengers going on long trips should only carry on the medically necessary liquids and gels needed for their infant/toddler’s immediate comfort during the flight. Please pack larger amounts of liquids for the remainder of the trip in a checked bag.
Avoid any delays by making sure nothing you plan to pack is on TSA’s list of prohibited items.
Good old Google In September 2006, TSA enacted rules for carrying liquids, gels and aerosols in carry-on bags. All liquids, gels and aerosols must be in 3.4 ounce (100ml) or smaller containers, and packed in a one quart, zip-top bag. Each passenger can take one zip-top bag in their carry-on. Larger quantities of liquids may be packed in checked bags.
Medically required liquids, such as baby formula and food, breast milk and medications are allowed in excess of 3.4 ounces in reasonable quantities for the flight. It is not necessary to place medically required liquids in a zip-top bag. However, you must tell the Transportation Security Officer that you have medically necessary liquids at the beginning of the screening checkpoint process. Medically required liquids will be subjected to additional screening that could include being asked to open the container. We recommend, but do not require, that medication be labeled to facilitate the security process.
Passengers going on long trips should only carry on the medically necessary liquids and gels needed for their infant/toddler’s immediate comfort during the flight. Please pack larger amounts of liquids for the remainder of the trip in a checked bag.
Avoid any delays by making sure nothing you plan to pack is on TSA’s list of prohibited items.
Where we currently are has s*ite internet so PH is a bit of a savior!Congratulations on the baby.
I am just on my way back home from Vancouver with my wife and 5 month old - we're at Heathrow waiting on our flight to Glasgow. Travelling with a baby should be fine, especially if he is a happy wee chap. Try and relax and enjoy your first flight as a family. We found most passengers were ok when they saw a baby as they've been through the same thing. Some offered help and others just came over to talk.
We took milk powder in wee plastic bottles and some instant milk. They double check the instant but not the powder. We didn't have to open the instant either. We could buy instant at Glasgow and Heathrow but not Vancouver, which was annoying but we had enough in the end.
You should be fine with him sleeping on you, especially in World Traveller Plus. I would recommend keeping his seat belt on if he falls asleep as it avoids having to wake him up if you need to put it on for turbulence.
Giving him a bottle during take-off and landing is a good idea. Hopefully it'll help send him to sleep.
The bassinet might help him sleep. We were in BA First and the seats next to us were free so we used the bed for our son to sleep on. However, he kept waking up. The bassinet might've been more useful as it would be tighter on him and similar to how he feels when in his car seat.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I will try and answer.
I am just on my way back home from Vancouver with my wife and 5 month old - we're at Heathrow waiting on our flight to Glasgow. Travelling with a baby should be fine, especially if he is a happy wee chap. Try and relax and enjoy your first flight as a family. We found most passengers were ok when they saw a baby as they've been through the same thing. Some offered help and others just came over to talk.
We took milk powder in wee plastic bottles and some instant milk. They double check the instant but not the powder. We didn't have to open the instant either. We could buy instant at Glasgow and Heathrow but not Vancouver, which was annoying but we had enough in the end.
You should be fine with him sleeping on you, especially in World Traveller Plus. I would recommend keeping his seat belt on if he falls asleep as it avoids having to wake him up if you need to put it on for turbulence.
Giving him a bottle during take-off and landing is a good idea. Hopefully it'll help send him to sleep.
The bassinet might help him sleep. We were in BA First and the seats next to us were free so we used the bed for our son to sleep on. However, he kept waking up. The bassinet might've been more useful as it would be tighter on him and similar to how he feels when in his car seat.
If you have any specific questions let me know and I will try and answer.
Yes you can take the stroller up to the gate. They will either put a tag on it when you check in or at the gate. We had both happen. You can then get the stroller shortly after you get off part way up the ramp. There will no doubt br a few people waiting for strollers.
We didn't take a car seat but I think you need to check that in.
The first 3 flights have been good but he has slept a fair bit today so he might be awake for the hour flight. A few songs, a bottle and a toy should suffice, I hope.
We didn't take a car seat but I think you need to check that in.
The first 3 flights have been good but he has slept a fair bit today so he might be awake for the hour flight. A few songs, a bottle and a toy should suffice, I hope.
Congrats on the baby, and well done for not letting it stop you flying!
We did Heathrow to Los Angeles with a 1 year old, and it was much easier than we thought it would be (which was nice). We booked flight times that tied with his natural sleeping pattern, so we took off and a few hours in, he went to sleep.
Some useful tips are that you can pre-order ready made milk from Boots at the airport, and pickup once you pass security. We found generally that the airport were supportive of the fact we had a child with us, and not so regimental as we feared.
On the flight, use time to relax when you can, taking turns to watch the baby if needed. Above all, don't get stressed, it won't help. Oh, and pack a change of clothiers for both parents in the event of things getting messy!
We did Heathrow to Los Angeles with a 1 year old, and it was much easier than we thought it would be (which was nice). We booked flight times that tied with his natural sleeping pattern, so we took off and a few hours in, he went to sleep.
Some useful tips are that you can pre-order ready made milk from Boots at the airport, and pickup once you pass security. We found generally that the airport were supportive of the fact we had a child with us, and not so regimental as we feared.
On the flight, use time to relax when you can, taking turns to watch the baby if needed. Above all, don't get stressed, it won't help. Oh, and pack a change of clothiers for both parents in the event of things getting messy!
This info is a bit dated, as our our daughter is now 5.
My wife and I were stationed in the UK a few years ago, set to return to the US in the month of July. Our daughter was born at the end of March. We took a trip over to Copenhagen on EasyJet at the end of May as a test run, then flew from London-Heathrow to New York (JFK) at the end of June. The child was really good on both trips.
- We were able to take a couple bottles of boob juice through security, but we had to do a shot to show it wasn't some lethal concoction or bizarre explosive - it was disgusting. I guess babies just don't know any better. :-)
- My wife nursed our daughter on take-off, which seemed to work well. So a bottle should work equally well.
- Be prepared for some serious poo at altitiude as all the gasses expand in the baby's tummy. It just keeps coming out. Make sure you are maxxed out on wipes and have several diapers for a long flight.
- She slept for most of the 6-7hr flight from London to New York. We had a separate seat for her, and because she was so small her car seat came through with us rather than being checked. We buckled the car seat into the airplane seat and she slept for a good 4+hrs. Lots of white noise and movement to keep them soothed, I guess.
- The one time she melted down was as we waited to clear customs at Stanstead coming back from Copenhagen. It was not long before we were just waved to the front of the long security line.
BTW - Congratulations
My wife and I were stationed in the UK a few years ago, set to return to the US in the month of July. Our daughter was born at the end of March. We took a trip over to Copenhagen on EasyJet at the end of May as a test run, then flew from London-Heathrow to New York (JFK) at the end of June. The child was really good on both trips.
- We were able to take a couple bottles of boob juice through security, but we had to do a shot to show it wasn't some lethal concoction or bizarre explosive - it was disgusting. I guess babies just don't know any better. :-)
- My wife nursed our daughter on take-off, which seemed to work well. So a bottle should work equally well.
- Be prepared for some serious poo at altitiude as all the gasses expand in the baby's tummy. It just keeps coming out. Make sure you are maxxed out on wipes and have several diapers for a long flight.
- She slept for most of the 6-7hr flight from London to New York. We had a separate seat for her, and because she was so small her car seat came through with us rather than being checked. We buckled the car seat into the airplane seat and she slept for a good 4+hrs. Lots of white noise and movement to keep them soothed, I guess.
- The one time she melted down was as we waited to clear customs at Stanstead coming back from Copenhagen. It was not long before we were just waved to the front of the long security line.
Edited by mko9 on Monday 29th September 18:01
BTW - Congratulations
Edited by mko9 on Monday 29th September 18:12
Just a quick update incase it helps anyone in the future...
BA were great, genuinely faultless. We checked our stroller and car seat (free of charge), mainly as we'd packaged it nicely to avoid damage - they both arrived at Heathrow safely. Not sure if I'd do it again through as carrying him on the Heathrow side was quite a long way and the stroller would have helped. We took one large pre-mixed bottle of formula through security, we didn't have to 'test' it in any way and the customs guys seemed happy with everything. Onboard the baby was happy during initial take off/ascent but lost it before the seat belt lights were off - at this point a cabin crew member (who was allowed to walk around) offered to take the baby for a walk, and 3 minutes later came back with a sleeping baby - very impressed! Landing caused no hassles as he had a bottle all the way through.
Happy pre-flight baby...
Not so happy baby...
Fast asleep baby....
Baby pilot....
BA were great, genuinely faultless. We checked our stroller and car seat (free of charge), mainly as we'd packaged it nicely to avoid damage - they both arrived at Heathrow safely. Not sure if I'd do it again through as carrying him on the Heathrow side was quite a long way and the stroller would have helped. We took one large pre-mixed bottle of formula through security, we didn't have to 'test' it in any way and the customs guys seemed happy with everything. Onboard the baby was happy during initial take off/ascent but lost it before the seat belt lights were off - at this point a cabin crew member (who was allowed to walk around) offered to take the baby for a walk, and 3 minutes later came back with a sleeping baby - very impressed! Landing caused no hassles as he had a bottle all the way through.
Happy pre-flight baby...
Not so happy baby...
Fast asleep baby....
Baby pilot....
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff