Szilvia GombolaTravelling with a Baby
March 1st 2008 06:35
Air travel can be a pain at the best of times especially now when everyone is on high alert, but air travel with a baby is a completely different kettle of fish! The first time we flew with Samantha she was two months old.
When flying with a baby there are a lot more things to consider. For example do I have enough boiled water to last us from the time we leave home until we get to the hotel at the other end and boil some more. In addition, I had to ring the airline to book the bassinet seat so that we did not have to carry Samantha on my knee for three hours. When we got to our destination, we needed a hire car to be waiting for us with the correctly fitted rear facing car seat as we could not just jump into a taxi with a young baby.
Of course, you have to get from your own home to the airport; and we cannot just call a taxi as most do not have a correctly fitted baby seat. We had to take our car to the airport and leave it in the long-term car park and catch the parking bus to the terminals. We happened to be travelling at 7pm on a Friday night, so there were a lot of people there at that time. By the time the parking bus got to us, it had been around the rest of the car park first so we were last on, and it was jam packed full of people and bags. We just managed to squash on, me with Samantha strapped on in the Baby Bjorn and holding one large carryon bag, and Paul with the pram full of suitcases. People on the bus were actually very nice; one man even put my bag on his lap because there was literally no other room for it.
Check on was ok apart from the queues and the fact that we had to fold up our pram take the wheels off and put it in a very large plastic bag. Going through baggage control was interesting because I had forgotten to take my belt off and set off the alarm. Instead of letting me go back and just take off my belt, they made me take Samantha (who was sleeping nicely) out of the Baby Bjorn and Paul had to carry her through so that the Baby Bjorn could be x-rayed.
Then there is the mindless wander through the airport carrying the baby stopping for a coffee and a cake not because you are hungry just because you had to get there early.
Boarding the plane is the best part we as we got to board first. We were on one of those small planes with one centre aisle and three seats either side. I had the aisle seat. Paul the middle and there was a man we did not know next to the window. We had never met him and he did not know our baby, but that did not stop him screwing up his face, shaking his head, sighing, and generally huffing and puffing. Now if Samantha was crying or screaming then I understand that people may feel they could be in for a miserable journey. In actual fact the whole time that I lifted her out of the Baby Bjorn handed her to Paul, got myself organised in the seat and Paul handed her back and buckled her in she hardly stirred.
At take off she was fast asleep she stayed asleep throughout the entire journey right through to disembarking. This did not stop Mr Misery next to us from scowling and pushing past us to get off the plane the minute were allowed to take off our seat belts, because after all he would not want to be stuck behind someone trying to organise their baby. Heaven forbid he is the last off the plane.
People are always going to think the worst of babies on flights understandable I suppose I have known some to scream nonstop especially at takeoff and landing I really feel sorry for those parents because I am sure they feel the evil stares from all the other passengers. I am happy to say that so far, Samantha has never been a screamer and fingers crossed never will! Another thing I have learned as well. Try to take as little as possible. I have since discovered that there are places where you can hire all the baby equipment you need when you get to your destination.
When flying with a baby there are a lot more things to consider. For example do I have enough boiled water to last us from the time we leave home until we get to the hotel at the other end and boil some more. In addition, I had to ring the airline to book the bassinet seat so that we did not have to carry Samantha on my knee for three hours. When we got to our destination, we needed a hire car to be waiting for us with the correctly fitted rear facing car seat as we could not just jump into a taxi with a young baby.
Check on was ok apart from the queues and the fact that we had to fold up our pram take the wheels off and put it in a very large plastic bag. Going through baggage control was interesting because I had forgotten to take my belt off and set off the alarm. Instead of letting me go back and just take off my belt, they made me take Samantha (who was sleeping nicely) out of the Baby Bjorn and Paul had to carry her through so that the Baby Bjorn could be x-rayed.
Boarding the plane is the best part we as we got to board first. We were on one of those small planes with one centre aisle and three seats either side. I had the aisle seat. Paul the middle and there was a man we did not know next to the window. We had never met him and he did not know our baby, but that did not stop him screwing up his face, shaking his head, sighing, and generally huffing and puffing. Now if Samantha was crying or screaming then I understand that people may feel they could be in for a miserable journey. In actual fact the whole time that I lifted her out of the Baby Bjorn handed her to Paul, got myself organised in the seat and Paul handed her back and buckled her in she hardly stirred.
At take off she was fast asleep she stayed asleep throughout the entire journey right through to disembarking. This did not stop Mr Misery next to us from scowling and pushing past us to get off the plane the minute were allowed to take off our seat belts, because after all he would not want to be stuck behind someone trying to organise their baby. Heaven forbid he is the last off the plane.
People are always going to think the worst of babies on flights understandable I suppose I have known some to scream nonstop especially at takeoff and landing I really feel sorry for those parents because I am sure they feel the evil stares from all the other passengers. I am happy to say that so far, Samantha has never been a screamer and fingers crossed never will! Another thing I have learned as well. Try to take as little as possible. I have since discovered that there are places where you can hire all the baby equipment you need when you get to your destination.
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Comment by Sven Topp
Parent Debate
Deafblind Dad
I would have thought the airplane could supply you with that considering they typically serve you coffee/tea.
At two months I don't think I would have dared but I suppose at that age they are less likely to be disturbed by their surroundings and change in environment.