[paulandjodie]

Hi,
Thought I'd start a new thread rather than add to the last one. Our bubba is due end of october and we would both really like to get out to NZ as soon as we can after bubba arrives. We will initially probably go on a 2 week hol unless hubby gets the oppotunity of a life time in terms of employment but im still keen to explore first. I have researched flying with small babies and the evidence on cot death and long haul flights is vague with the SIDS charity saying there is no link...still a tough one though. But if anyone can share their experiences on travelling with a 3 year old as our LO will be then and a small baby any hints and tips or dos and donts would be much appreciated!
Also this may be a thread already so sorry, but how is breast feeding in NZ, bit taboo or the norm? xx

[Lupin]

Can't comment on the flying with a baby but as for b/feeding in public in NZ, it seems pretty commonplace, more so in public than the UK :)

[nippa&pippa]

Feel free to ask me or PM me for anything on this!!
I flew out to NZ on reccie trip with 9weeks old baby girl and 2half years old boy last year april and we stayed for three weeks. The flights had been no problem with both children, they were fantastic during the flight and flight stewardesses was fab. My daughter was 100% bf with reflux, bf is not a problem at all in NZ, in fact more open and more pro-breastfeeding than in UK in my opinion/experiences.... I did bf my daughter anywhere without any problem and did continue to bf till she was just 1 years old.
We flew out again as emigrated last oct when she was 9months old and my son was 3. Our flight was bit eventful but nothing to do with kids is causing the problem, it was airline's fault (long story, see 'emirates story so far 1 & 2' in "the lounge"')
If you are planning to travel with baby, don't forget to book bassinet, (a cot stick on the bulk head during flight for baby to sleep in it, so you can relax without holding baby for whole flights & also you get extra leg rooms :nice1 ) you need to ask for it while you book your seats and keep checking if you got bassinet till you got it by contact airline...
My best tip for you and baby, get baby carrier that strap onto you..they are great for airports as well as for places where pushchairs can't go :yes
BTW, Porta-cot is mean travel cot just in case you need to know when come to book places......depend how you feel, you can hire car seat from plunkets or from hire company, but i rather bring my own for baby which i did without any problem at airport/plane during reccie trip while we hire car seat for my son. During emigrated, we brought both car seats for baby and toddler with us, again no problem at airports etc as you will last see them at UK and turn up in NZ with suitcases...

[paulandjodie]

thank you so much - i may well PM you!! thats all really helpful. x

[Helsandfamily]

HI,

I flew on a 12 hour flight to the states and back with my 3 month old, and a (just 3) year old and it was fine. I would definately recommend the sky cot, just for the extra leg room as well as somewhere to put the baby. We flew with BA and the cot thing sat up like a chair and was great for feeding, and when the baby was awake.

I breast fed and have to say it didn't bother me at all in public, and on the plane was quite private because I could just turn toward the window and noone payed any attention.

The only thing that I would recommend is a baby sling. ( mine was called huggababy) and they are great for carrying children from birth to about 3 years in different possitions. We had all of the hand luggage in the buggy, and the baby in a sling. it was a god send, and could double as a blanket.

I took lots of games to keep my 3 yr old happy but he slept for most of the way - it was ok.

hels
:)

[Tia Maria]

One word of warning about travelling with a baby......

'Fear the seatbelt sign!'

Everytime it goes on you will have to remove the baby from the bassinet regardless of whether there is any turbulence or not. Quite a lot of pilots use early warning weather systems and put it on when they think there is going to be turbulence. Inevitably this is just as you have got the baby to sleep.

I was on one flight when they put it on 15 times and on another flight when they accidently left it on for over 3 hours. Not only did I have to hold a crying baby but I had to do so sitting down with seatbelt on so I couldn't walk to comfort him.

My advice......

'The seatbelt sign is negotiable!'

There is obviously a certain amount of luck in this depending on how much of a jobsworth the air stewardess is but I found the tactic that worked best was to approach with the screaming baby and ask if I had to get him out everytime. It seemed that once the baby was screaming in their ears rather than mine they were more helpful. :laugh

Cheers

Tia

[Oregonkiwi]

There have been a lot of helpful discussions about traveling with little kids, you should be able to find them if you search the forum - here's a couple to get you started:
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10534
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=6194

Our little boy has now done 7 international flights. If at all possible, choose an airline that has seatback TVs with on-demand video. We didn't have that on our flight to Sydney last month, and the 3 hour daytime flight with a squirmy wide-awake 3 yr old felt soooo long compared to the 13 hour night flights where he slept and watched TV happily.

[aberdian]

We've done masses of flying with our kids from 6mths up to now at 6 yrs, including a trip to NZ with a 1yo and a trip to Aus with a 6month old and a 4yo plus a bunch of transatlantic trips, and TBH the only tricky time has been the 2-3ish period where they're self aware little human beings but without the ability to reason too much. We're off to Christchurch in October with a 2.5yo girl and a 6yo boy and fully expect it to be a lively trip over! Up until they're one, it's just like having to carry another bag :)

Look on the flight as part of the fun and it'll all be fine.

Ian

[jubjub]

One word of warning about travelling with a baby......

'Fear the seatbelt sign!'

Everytime it goes on you will have to remove the baby from the bassinet regardless of whether there is any turbulence or not. Quite a lot of pilots use early warning weather systems and put it on when they think there is going to be turbulence. Inevitably this is just as you have got the baby to sleep.

I was on one flight when they put it on 15 times and on another flight when they accidently left it on for over 3 hours. Not only did I have to hold a crying baby but I had to do so sitting down with seatbelt on so I couldn't walk to comfort him.

My advice......

'The seatbelt sign is negotiable!'

There is obviously a certain amount of luck in this depending on how much of a jobsworth the air stewardess is but I found the tactic that worked best was to approach with the screaming baby and ask if I had to get him out everytime. It seemed that once the baby was screaming in their ears rather than mine they were more helpful. :laugh

Cheers

Tia

*shivers* that bought back horrible memories of the Hong Kong to UK leg.... our stewardess was a total jobsworth, so a very uncomfy flight for mummy!

On the plus side, if you fly Air nz, their bassinets on even some of the new aircraft are bigger and deeper than other airlines and have a tent kind of lid over them, and its this thats gets used when the seatbelt signs are on, so everyone can stay asleep!

Bassinet is essential for you, so pester until you get it confirmed.

As for the toddler, they have toddler packs, but they are pretty small, so bring lots of small toys that they have not seen before, and an old favourite one as well!

Good luck, if I can help, feel free to drop me a pm,

[dharder]

'Fear the seatbelt sign!'

Oh goodness yes, that does bring back memories (well, nightmares, really). I did the flight back from Auckland to London by myself with two little ones, who where 2 at the time. It was a nightmare trying to explain to them that they have to sit NOW whenever the sign came onl

I'm pretty sure I stepped off the plane in Heathrow telling everyone, strangers included, that I would never ever do that again :)

Daniela

[nippa&pippa]

'Fear the seatbelt sign!'



oh yes :yes on way back from auckland to UK, we hit turbulence for few hours non-stop over middle-east areas, so she had to sleeping on my lap whole times...

[Carey]

For 3 yr old take plenty of low sugar snacks and if ,like mine, he/she sleeps over meal times, don't hesitate to go up and ask for drinks and snacks. They have them there but seemed a bit funny about giving them out until I explained that our son had missed ALL the meals! Also wrap up little toys in loads of layers of paper so it takes ages to undo!
It won't be as bad as you think- honest!

[movefromus]

- Definitely use a baby sling or strap on carrier as you then have two hands free.
- I'd advise no toys that roll easily as you could have quite a problem finding them.
- Take some snacks your 3 yo likes.
- Make frequent bathroom trips/little walks while the seat belt sign is off as you don't know when you'll be confined to your seats.
- Let them watch the kids movies.:clap
- Whatever they require to sleep take it but don't lose it!
- Take a favorite bedtime book.
- I've heard of some people going through the bedtime routine including PJs to help their kids go to sleep - I may try that this time.

Carly

[Oregonkiwi]

Everyone's posting excellent advice :nice1 I'll just add, take lots of books and fewer toys. There isn't much room to play with toys and they aways seem to end up on the floor under the seats.... Storybooks are a good diversion when you're stuck in your seats.