Author Topic: What I learned from travelling with my lo  (Read 3247 times)

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Offline The Vern

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What I learned from travelling with my lo
« on: April 14, 2006, 15:08:17 pm »
I just arrived in Sweden yesterday having made the trek from Canada with my 14-week old dd to visit her grandparents.  I just thought I'd share some of my experiences as from time to time people ask questions about travelling with their los.  First off, I must be blessed with an angelic baby girl as she amazed me from the get-go with her adaptability and how easy-going she seems to be. 

I had bought a BabyBjörn in which she was put after we said goodbye to daddy and the stroller and went through customs in Toronto.  Within a half-hour, she fell asleep in the Björn, which totally floored me as she always only slept in her crib (a la BW).  At first I had planned to make sure I feed her during take-off, but after asking the flight attendants, they said from their experience the take-offs don't bother los, but that rather the landings do.  So I just let her sit in my lap and she did fabulously during take-off - not a peep.  I had requested to sit in the 'bassinet row' and after we reached cruising altitude they put it up.  Linnea laid in there playing happily during my meal and then after I fed her and wrapped her up in the swaddle, she slept soundly for several hours in the cot, until I woke her up when I first noticed that we were starting to descend.  The lady next to me adviced that when she travelled with her lo she noticed that once they start to cry during the landing it's often too late, so better start the feed early.  I fed her during the descent and again, she did just fine and did not seem to be bothered by the changes in altitude.  During the stop-over in Frankfurt and the flight to Sweden I had her in the Björn the whole time and she slept for three hours straight, which meant I had to wake her up in order to feed her again when landing in Sweden.  Who knows if the landing would even have bothered her; she might have slept right through it, though I wasn't willing to take the chance!

I had made sure to bring cans of Ready-to-Serve formula, which made it really easy during feedings.  The flight attendants put the open can on ice so I didn't have to waste any.  People are extremely helpful when you travel with a lo.  I was offered to go ahead any line ups and was put in Business class on the flight from Frankfurt.  I had really dreaded the flight, imagining the evil glances I would be getting from people when they see there is going to be a baby sitting next to them on the plane, but noticed none. Instead people were all smiles and many offered help when they noticed my hands were full.

For carry-on I had just her diaper bag - who knew it could hold that much!!!  Change of clothes, blankets for swaddling, cans of formula, bottles, favourite toys, and the usual contents of course.

As for staying on EASY, I let it fall to the wayside a bit during the flight and let her decide when to eat and sleep (except for the feeds during landing).  The first night in Sweden I did bath, bottle at 6:30 pm as usual and she was fast asleep in her crib (my old crib!) by 7pm.  I had planned on doing the df but fell asleep myself! She woke at midnight to eat and then again at 5 and then slept in until 9!!!   ;D  I actually feel very rested and not at all jet-lagged.  I don't imagine there being any problems at all getting her back on a routine. 

On another note - I've had her unswaddled for two naps since arriving here with quite succesful results - maybe the change in scenere, total exhaustion, or just coincidence and I might speak too soon, but I'd be tickled pink if we could drop the swaddle - she's just sooo cute sleeping with her arms above her head!

Offline Ennypen

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2006, 16:06:16 pm »
Sounds like you had a great journey!

Have a wonderul break and I hope the return journey is as good!

H x

Offline evelyn

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2006, 17:03:14 pm »
Sonds like ye did really well :). I remember my first solo flight with al when she was 5 months old.... the flight was delayed for 5 hours!!
Proud mum to Alice 16/3/1999 and Lily 7/10/2005

Baby No. 3 due 20th May 2008.

Offline Erin M

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2006, 18:36:04 pm »
Congrats on an excellent travel experience.  Enjoy the time with your family and thanks for sharing :)

Offline Shdef

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #4 on: April 15, 2006, 12:12:51 pm »
Thanks for sharing! The experience with easyjet and ryanair are sooo different!

Baby can only sit on your lap, you are to go on the plane first but everyone follows within 1 minuteso there is no time to settle... Luckily it's just an hour though :)

Well done!

I want to know how she is on the way back and how she settles back in at home :)

Offline MamaC

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2006, 21:03:48 pm »
Thanks for sharing, the experiences of others are always so valuable!

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Offline The Vern

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  • Linnea Beatrice Christina - January 5, 2006
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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #6 on: April 28, 2006, 02:01:05 am »
Update!
We're back in Canada after a wonderful time with the grandparents in Sweden. I think our baby-girl inherited our travel genes, judging by how smoothly everything went. Our return flight didn't start out well though, as the plane from Stockholm was 50 min late, making an already tight connection in Frankfurt almost impossible.  I asked the flight attendants on board if assistance could be provided considering the situation and I was greeted by ground staff who drove me to the gate and I made it with minutes to spare.  By the way, even though the plane from Stockholm was filled to capacity they had left the seat next to me empty so that I would have more room!!!  I would definitely recommend the Baby Bjorn, as she slept in it again during the 2 hour flight.  Again I had no trouble with the take-offs and I fed her during landings. The long flight from Frankfurt to Toronto felt just that - long!  As you travel during the day when flying west they don't turn out the lights in the cabin and even with attempts to darken the cot Linnea didn't sleep much.  She eventually fell asleep in my arms for about 2 hours.  People, passengers and staff, were again very helpful.  By the way, I flew Lufthansa and highly recommend them when flying with a lo.

Offline Marisa's Mom

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #7 on: April 28, 2006, 05:42:27 am »
I had requested to sit in the 'bassinet row' and after we reached cruising altitude they put it up.

What is a "bassinet row"?

It sounds like you had a wonderful travelling experience with your LO. (Our DD is 13 mos and we still haven't dared to take any kind of trip with her...)

Marie


Offline luckyb52

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2006, 06:36:28 am »
The Vern, thanks for sharing your wonderful travel story and the wisdom gained from it. We will all benefit from what you have said.

Being slightly knowledgeable about baby safety issues, I just thought I might mention that the Bjorn Carrier was recalled in the US by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because five babies fell from it and fractured their skulls. You can see the recall for yourself here:

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml99/99053.html

Hope you bought a version of the carrier that had the defect rectified… otherwise please take necessary precautions!


Regards

LuckyB52

Offline The Vern

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #9 on: April 28, 2006, 14:51:46 pm »
Thanks luckyb52 for the recall info. I was glad to read that Bjorns currently being sold are not affected by the recall, rather those sold b/w 91 and 98, and since mine is new we should be ok.

Marisa's mom - bassinet row is where you sit facing a wall (usually in the middle of the plane somewhere where they separate sections of the plane and have a kitchen or bathrooms etc)  and there are attachments on the wall where they hang a crib/bassinet/cot (whatever you want to call it). It was very sturdy and quite large. I saw another mom using it for her boy whom I would estimate to be about 18 months, but I forgot to ask what the maximum weight allowance is. I'm sure a call to the airline would provide that info.

Offline Marisa's Mom

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #10 on: April 28, 2006, 17:26:49 pm »
Thank you for explaining the bassinet row. That's a nice feature to offer. I had never heard of it before, and I guess I never saw any other moms using them on any of the flights I have been on.

Marie


Offline emsandmegan

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Re: What I learned from travelling with my lo
« Reply #11 on: May 02, 2006, 10:33:52 am »
We flew to Miami from London with BA when Megan was about 4 mo corrected age. The staff on the plane were great and we even took the buggy right on to the plane. When we got off it was already on the gang way thing and they had put it up too. They gave us a bassinet which was great and because it is put up on a bulk head row you get extra legroom.  I had to phone them to book the bulk head seats but thay was very easy. Bottle heating and milk chilling were offered by the stewards too. megan didn't sleep much on the way there but she was really good. One the way back she was so sleepy she stayed asleep when we got on and off the plane!! I altered her feeds slightly on the plane to adapt to the change in time zones and it wasn't too much of a problem at either end of the journey.
If you have a young baby I would really recommend the Samsonite travel moses basket. Its so small it fits in your suitcase. We have used it lots for shorter visits even day trips for a nap and its handy for when other babies come to stay at our house. Also cold water sterilising bags and a travel kettle. We took our car seat too and checked it through for using in taxis to and from the airports.