Flying with babies

[LuS1fer]

Burgmeister said:

Taking babies on planes is one of the most selfish things a parent can do. If it can only communicate by crying all other baby-less passengers will despise you.

Many so called adults are far worse though. The difference is that the baby can't help it.

[Timmy35]

LuS1fer said:

Burgmeister said:

Taking babies on planes is one of the most selfish things a parent can do. If it can only communicate by crying all other baby-less passengers will despise you.

Many so called adults are far worse though. The difference is that the baby can't help it.

Airports and aircraft are IMO no place for small babies/toddlers, they are tired, thirsty, bored, disorientated and their time in them should be kept to an absolute minimum, larger children can cope, but I must say I feel it's the height of selfishness for an adult to subject a very small child to a long flight/airport process unless it's really necessary. As you say they can't help it, but the parents can.

[5potTurbo]

Welshbeef said:

Well ours has been flying quite a bit and touch wood good as gold. That said flights have been around the three years each way

That's some journey!

Anyone else see the recent news article about a family who gave out small packs of swetts with a note to their fellow passengers about the newborn being on board? They offered to provide ear plugs too, and then the child didn't make a sound anyway.


OP: I too was scared to travel with very young children on aircraft, for fear of pissing off all those around us. In the end we didn't fly anywhere for about 4 years; it was st.
Just do it. You'll probably find the little 'un won't make a sound anyway.

ETA: Daily Soovy link - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2198255/...

[Cheib]

Apart from taking our son to Cape Town when he was six months old we haven't been on a flight since with him or his younger sisyer....he is now 4. We went to Cape Town because as I said it's an overnight flight so he slept and he still wasn't mobile.

I've been lucky enough that I have been on plenty of "nice" holiday in my life and we have a good set up at home with plenty of space. To travel abroad or even to the UK to somewhere with better facilities and things to do than we have at home would cost an arm and a leg so we don't do it. Haven't been away all year....had time off at home with the kids. Much more relaxing! No journeys and child care on tap...

[Timmy35]

Cheib said:

Apart from taking our son to Cape Town when he was six months old we haven't been on a flight since with him or his younger sisyer....he is now 4. We went to Cape Town because as I said it's an overnight flight so he slept and he still wasn't mobile.

I've been lucky enough that I have been on plenty of "nice" holiday in my life and we have a good set up at home with plenty of space. To travel abroad or even to the UK to somewhere with better facilities and things to do than we have at home would cost an arm and a leg so we don't do it. Haven't been away all year....had time off at home with the kids. Much more relaxing! No journeys and child care on tap...

Personally I've enjoyed re-discovering the UK seaside/coast over the past few years, have had some wonderful holidays without airports, heatstroke etc. only a few hours drive from home. We live on a stunning little island.

[LuS1fer]

Timmy35 said:

Airports and aircraft are IMO no place for small babies/toddlers, they are tired, thirsty, bored, disorientated and their time in them should be kept to an absolute minimum, larger children can cope, but I must say I feel it's the height of selfishness for an adult to subject a very small child to a long flight/airport process unless it's really necessary. As you say they can't help it, but the parents can.

So they should forget it on the offchance the baby "might" be slightly disruptive. Very selfish attitude.
Most planes are cattle trucks so you just have to put up with it, like the people who stink of ciggies, booze, BO and all the silent farting. I've been on 48 flights in the past 10 years for holidays with kids aged from 6 months up and have never had any aggravation from mine or anyone else's kids TBH. I'd say statistical probability therefore favours taking holidays.

As for the UK, no thanks.

[GJOB]

Wow, 2 pages, thanks for all the replies.

I did write it in a bit of a rush so didn't fully set the scene.

We'll be going away in December which rules out most of Europe if we want warm weather. The shortlist was the Canaries but looking at the prices of the hotels that we know are nice there are plenty of Caribbean locations that offer more bang for your buck and the water will be warm which means we'll have a choice whether to go in to the sea or not. I can't remember how to sail or windsurf as I've not done it since leaving school but it was tempting to see the facilities were there if we wanted them. My lovely wife likes to relax and probably wouldn't participate which is why i said "I" want to sail...

Mini Me will be 8 months when we go, he's a really good baby, and has already been back to Ireland on a flight to see the grandparents, he was fine in the airport and mostly fine on the plane he just wanted to sleep but I couldn't hold him in a comfortable position for long without getting a dead arm; Ryanair, sardines, full flight

I had considered the timezone and had already mooted South Africa as that's where we got engaged but my wifey was only luke warm about the idea.

Anyhow, your replies have been helpful (and amusing) and it looks like we're back to plan a of the Canary Islands - the logic being that let's try with a 4 hour flight and then see about going further afield.

We have both travelled long haul many times and had planned to only visit Europe once we had kids but the opportunity to travel West is still a possibility before we then stick to Europe for a few years.

Ahh, its the winter sun that we will miss, at least we can go skiing with him soon enough

So the next questions are....

Tenerife or Gran Canaria?

Villa, Aparthotel or Hotel?

Cheers

[Zod]

We've had this thread four times a year for the last decade.

[WhereamI]

Timmy35 said:

Airports and aircraft are IMO no place for small babies/toddlers, they are tired, thirsty, bored, disorientated and their time in them should be kept to an absolute minimum, larger children can cope, but I must say I feel it's the height of selfishness for an adult to subject a very small child to a long flight/airport process unless it's really necessary. As you say they can't help it, but the parents can.

I couldn't agree more.

[LuS1fer]

GJOB said:

Wow, 2 pages, thanks for all the replies.

I did write it in a bit of a rush so didn't fully set the scene.

We'll be going away in December which rules out most of Europe if we want warm weather. The shortlist was the Canaries but looking at the prices of the hotels that we know are nice there are plenty of Caribbean locations that offer more bang for your buck and the water will be warm which means we'll have a choice whether to go in to the sea or not. I can't remember how to sail or windsurf as I've not done it since leaving school but it was tempting to see the facilities were there if we wanted them. My lovely wife likes to relax and probably wouldn't participate which is why i said "I" want to sail...

Mini Me will be 8 months when we go, he's a really good baby, and has already been back to Ireland on a flight to see the grandparents, he was fine in the airport and mostly fine on the plane he just wanted to sleep but I couldn't hold him in a comfortable position for long without getting a dead arm; Ryanair, sardines, full flight

I had considered the timezone and had already mooted South Africa as that's where we got engaged but my wifey was only luke warm about the idea.

Anyhow, your replies have been helpful (and amusing) and it looks like we're back to plan a of the Canary Islands - the logic being that let's try with a 4 hour flight and then see about going further afield.

We have both travelled long haul many times and had planned to only visit Europe once we had kids but the opportunity to travel West is still a possibility before we then stick to Europe for a few years.

Ahh, its the winter sun that we will miss, at least we can go skiing with him soon enough

So the next questions are....

Tenerife or Gran Canaria?

Villa, Aparthotel or Hotel?

Cheers

With a baby, a villa every time. You can make the day as normal as it is at home and most will supply a baby cot and high chair and again, you run less risk of upsetting hotel clientele.
Take Calpol/Calprofen as Spanish medicine is viciously expensive.

As for destination, I wouldn't rule any of them out, just look at the flights as you can just about guarantee your choice will be dictated by the days they fly and the times of the flights - the last thing you need is a night flight there or back. Addtionally, villa prices vary according to island and flight prices vary - they seem to be more to GC than Tenerife and Lanzarote. Can't tell you all the holidays I've planned that have been derailed in this way and we end up going somewhere totally different.

I think Playa Blanca in south Lanzarote is the most child friendly with lts of pedestrian areas and nice beaches and generally has the cheapest villas. Not been to Gran Canaria. Tenerife is a bit more commercial but has the big bonus of the Mount Teide national park and the Loro Parque zoo.

[Zod]

WhereamI said:

Timmy35 said:

Airports and aircraft are IMO no place for small babies/toddlers, they are tired, thirsty, bored, disorientated and their time in them should be kept to an absolute minimum, larger children can cope, but I must say I feel it's the height of selfishness for an adult to subject a very small child to a long flight/airport process unless it's really necessary. As you say they can't help it, but the parents can.

I couldn't agree more.

Been flying with kids for the last six years. They've been all over the world. I remember one flight back from Germany when we had a crying session, caused by an ear infection. Otherwise, the only people who've suffered have been us, the parents who have not been able to sleep, eat or watch movies. Selfishness is the attitude of the people who give you a death stare when you board a plane with a child. The funniest of these are the fat fools who proceed to drink too mcuh and snore through the night.

[GJOB]

Zod said:

We've had this thread four times a year for the last decade.

I'm sure there has, will search ever be fixed??

We should just have a wiki

[GJOB]

LuS1fer said:

With a baby, a villa every time. You can make the day as normal as it is at home and most will supply a baby cot and high chair and again, you run less risk of upsetting hotel clientele.
Take Calpol/Calprofen as Spanish medicine is viciously expensive.

As for destination, I wouldn't rule any of them out, just look at the flights as you can just about guarantee your choice will be dictated by the days they fly and the times of the flights - the last thing you need is a night flight there or back. Addtionally, villa prices vary according to island and flight prices vary - they seem to be more to GC than Tenerife and Lanzarote. Can't tell you all the holidays I've planned that have been derailed in this way and we end up going somewhere totally different.

I think Playa Blanca in south Lanzarote is the most child friendly with lts of pedestrian areas and nice beaches and generally has the cheapest villas. Not been to Gran Canaria. Tenerife is a bit more commercial but has the big bonus of the Mount Teide national park and the Loro Parque zoo.

We've been to GC once and it's the only place in the canaries we've been, we chose it because it was the most southerly and the weather seemed to be the best at that time of year. The Lopesan chain of hotels are lovely and we know where they are, I wonder what the equivalent would be in Southern Tenerife.

Is a villa with just one family going to be a bit lonesome and just like being at home but with sunshine? I've never done it but I do like the sound of the baby having his own room.

[LuS1fer]

GJOB said:

Is a villa with just one family going to be a bit lonesome and just like being at home but with sunshine? I've never done it but I do like the sound of the baby having his own room.

Well we have 3 kids now and quite like the "absence of other British people" part. Having your own pool and garden is great in summer, essential to some degree. We do tend to wander a lot and do day trips, walking round and visiting beaches and eating out. Not really stay in one place all the time types. Amazing how many people go to these islands and have no idea what is outside the resort. Ultimately, going back to the peace and quiet of a villa at the end of the day is not something I would willingly give up and you can stock up on wine and just kick back.

The downside is when you eat in you still have to do the washing up and wash a few clothes and keep the place clean to some degree. Better that than a little hotel room though.

[sneijder]

Zod said:

We've had this thread four times a year for the last decade.

Normally comes 1 year after the 'What car can I name my child after thread'.

OP, Our daughter can manage 4 hours before its not fair on her or the other passengers. iPads help, loaded with 3 hours 50 minutes of Peppa Pig.

Ask for a seat with a bassinet, when I edit flights I always make sure there is an empty seat next to babies, not everyone does that though.

[williredale]

Our eldest first flew when she was 6 months. That was to Tenerife. We went with my parents and the in-laws so lots of babysitters on hand. Youngest first flew when she was a year old which was to Gran Canaria. We always do a Christmas holiday and usually with lots of family

They've both had flights that haven't been much fun though. Take lots of distractions with you. Lots of videos and toys.

Don't forget the food / drink. We were held on a plane at Malaga for almost three hours and didn't have much food. The plane hadn't been restocked and there was literally nothing to buy. Another family had lots of snacks and shared them with us which was a real help!

We're off to Playa Blanca in Lanzarote this Christmas.

[WhereamI]

Zod said:

Selfishness is the attitude of the people who give you a death stare when you board a plane with a child.

Those are the seasoned travelers who have extensive experience of being trapped in a plane with screaming children.

The reality of this is that most children are well behaved and most parents keep them occupied and have planned for it, but others don't. The net result is that the few spoil it for the many and it's particularly a problem on flights like trans-Atlantic eastbound where getting a few hours sleep makes all the difference to how you are going to cope the following day. Being woken or kept awake by a screaming child is no joke.

Similar things happen in restaurants where a meal can be ruined because people can't get their children to sit and behave.

I have absolutely no problem with people taking their kids anywhere they like, but they have a responsibility to only do it if they aren't going to be a nuisance to others. If you can't be sure that they will be OK then don't do it.

[Zod]

WhereamI said:

Zod said:

Selfishness is the attitude of the people who give you a death stare when you board a plane with a child.

Those are the seasoned travelers who have extensive experience of being trapped in a plane with screaming children.

The reality of this is that most children are well behaved and most parents keep them occupied and have planned for it, but others don't. The net result is that the few spoil it for the many and it's particularly a problem on flights like trans-Atlantic eastbound where getting a few hours sleep makes all the difference to how you are going to cope the following day. Being woken or kept awake by a screaming child is no joke.

Similar things happen in restaurants where a meal can be ruined because people can't get their children to sit and behave.

I have absolutely no problem with people taking their kids anywhere they like, but they have a responsibility to only do it if they aren't going to be a nuisance to others. If you can't be sure that they will be OK then don't do it.

I've spent much of the last twenty years travelling, most of that before I had children. No child ever bothered me that I can remember, whereas I can remember plenty of snorers, drunks and loudmouths who have annoyed me over the years.

I agree though that it is up to parents to control their children and those who can't really should not take them out. A one-off problem is one thing. A child that makes a scene for long periods is quite another.

[Timmy35]

Zod said:

I agree though that it is up to parents to control their children and those who can't really should not take them out. A one-off problem is one thing. A child that makes a scene for long periods is quite another.

Just to be a little more precise I would differentiate between small babies ( generally easy to travel with ), toddlers 1.5-3 years old ( IMO a ruddy nighhtmare to fly with ) and children generally fine to fly with provided the parents have to common sense to take some amusements/food/drink for them.

Children are fine. Toddlers on a long flight is IMO a bad idea.

[Zod]

From 6 months to 3 is the bad period. Beyond 3, most kids can sit and watch a screen for decent periods of time.