Travel with two babies

[Travellingmom]

Hi all,
We will be flying to Singapore from Melbourne next month with two young babies (16 month and 6 weeks) and really don't know what to do. I have talked to my GP and suggesting me to do the routine and may be give a bit of panadol. The 6 weeks old one is OK, and I think (hopefully) can sleep easily on most of the flight. But with the 16 months old one, I will be in trouble that's for sure. She is a very active kid and quite difficult on sleeping. She sleeps at night very well at home but any little noise(besides our familiar home noises) or visitors disturb her.  I have tried panadol couple of days ago, and made no difference. She was as active as usual. We booked a night flight to make the things easier, but if nature doesn't work, then don't suggest to catch same fligth with us  

Do you have any advice or harmless medicine names I can talk to my GP to try before we fly?
Thanks a lot,
Cheers

[flying kiwi]

If you are going to use "drugs" try them out before you fly.  Nothing is worse than flying with a child who has an adverse reaction. 12 hrs with a hyper 16mth old is no fun believe me.
Routine is really important.  I always made sure that my children were in their pyjamas before the lights go down.  Also have usual bed toys etc.
Best of luck but i very much doubt that it wll be as ba as you imagine.

[K_factor]

Travellingmom,

I frequently travel my my 2 babies.  I think it is a bit tricky if the child is not calm when travelling.  We tried to get the child interested in "the planes" then tell him he is on one and give him food and things to play to keep him occupied.  They need plenty of assurance along the way.  Stick to similar routines.  Try develop new ones that reflkect the cabin conditions. My 11 yr old has been to 3 countries.  Been on buses and planes Melb to KL).  

Panadol is useless for anything other than pain and fever.

Promethazine can help to knock them out but only on medical advice.  It is not normally given to under 2yo.

[Mrs.M]

I too will be travelling with a baby to Spain. I am worried that I may not be able to supply enough breast milk so will also be taking formula. How do other parents do this- do you take a large flask of water and milk powder separately and make it up on the spot, or do you prepare formula in advance and carry it in a freezer bag? It will be a very long trip, what with the transit in Bangkok and Rome and Madrid before reaching Gran Canaria. That means I would need to take several bottles. Is there an easy way to do this? Do they (the airline) provide assistance with milk bottles by any chance?

[blue]

I have done 5 flights with my 12 month old and it's only the first one that is daunting!

For formula, take a couple of clean bottles.  Measure the formula into a divided container - Avent do one - or into individual plastic food bags.  That way you know that each makes XXml.  As you need to feed baby, ask a flight attendant to fill the bottle to the required volume with room temperature water, add the powder and shake.  If your baby likes the milk warmer or cooler, adjust the temperature you ask for.  They can also wash the bottle for you but can only sterilise with boiling water.  It's not really an issue after 6months, but if you are bothered take lots of clean ones.

Take a few new toys/books and produce them one at a time at intervals throughout the flight.  The emergency instruction leaflet is good for giving to the baby too as it is laminated.  At a push, give the child the inflight magazine and let them trash it.

Keep a vomit bag available in your seat pocket.  Use it as your trash bag and hand in to flight attendants at intervals requesting a new one.  

Only take what you need with you in your travel bag.  I don't take anything for myself anymore and use the space for my baby's stuff.  If it has a wide top openning it is better as you can rummage around a lot.

Take a few muslin cloths too to put over the seat/yourself/baby as protection and to mop up spills etc.  They are also good for improvising games.

Airlines supply nappies, so I don't even take them with me anymore and just ask for one as I am on my way to the loo with baby.  Don't forget wipes - they are invaluable.

Make sure you order a child's meal a few days before.  It's almost worth calling the airline reservations to check they have got this listed.  Also be prepared that your child will want to eat whatever it is you are having (but that's OK, as kid's meals are more interesting than economy class meals).  I also take food bags of Goldfish crackers or small none crumbly crackers like that.  Grapes in a tupperware go down well too.  In fact, snacks are the thing you should be sure to take in those resealable food bags, as airline peanuts and crackers are not ideal for kids.  Make sure you get the child to drink lots too to keep them hydrated.

On my last flight I walked my baby up and down the aisle almost the whole flight as it was a day one.  Noone objected and in fact it was hard getting people to stop touching her cute chubby cheeks!  I also took her to the back of the plane where the loos are and we sat and played on the floor out of people's way.

One thing you really need to remember is not to let other people's potential frustration bother you.  Unless your kid is really screaming, it doesn't actually carry far beyond a few rows.  Very rare are the people who will be pissed off and will let you know so.  Most people are sympathetic.  I know I am quite stressed whilst on the plane but do my best not to let the baby know it.  That way she isn't stressed either.  It actually brings tears to my eyes when people say nice things to us, and just knowing someone else is willing to help can be a real calmer (so tell the person with the baby you will help them out if needed!!).

If your kid really starts howling, lock yourselves in the loo and play splashing game swith the water (dry it up afterwards)!  This really gets rid of a tantrum and also allows the kid to let rip with minimal effect on other passengers.  The loo is also a great place to discipline your kid if (for eg) he is kicking the chair in front incessantly.  I don't mean take the kid there and beat them, but take them there for a quiet word in their ear.

Lonely Planet do a good book on travel with Kids.

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 29-10-2002).]

[Travelled alot]

Travelling mom

You might like to try Phenergan. There are directions on the bottle for sedation. As others suggest, test it out on your child before you go. I have travelled alot with my toddler. I found the around 12 months age one of the hardest - too old to sleep alot, too young to reason with (like 'going on a plane, how exciting'). I think the night flight is a good idea - they have to sleep at least 3 hours of the 8 from my way of thinking. Other children can be a problem - yours just gets to sleep and another one wakes up.  At that age, the bassinets are a problem - the 1 year olds want to pull themselves up, crawl around - you find yourself having one hand on the child the whole time to stop them toppling out. Maybe a proper seat, with some sort of car seat to properly strap them in would be better for the 12 month old.

Mrs M: I take about 4 bottles with me, and plenty of formula (you can buy formula containers here, with a spout for easy pouring). Wash out the bottle as soon as finished - the air stewards usually take care of this. If you are still sterilising, and think you need to reuse, maybe take a bottle brush, a small amount of detergent, and wash it out properly, and then maybe pop in 1/4 of a milton tablet into the bottle to let it sterilise until you need it again. Should be ok.

Good luck both of you. Usually the trip isn't as bad as you think it will be.

[Travellingmom]

Thanks a lot moms, All were very good advices. It will make our life hips easier.  I have already talked to my GP about Phenergan and bought one, will try it tonight. We have a busy game schedule now if that doesn't help, Thanks gals, really appreciated,

Cheers.

Mrs. M, about the formula, There are single pack formulas for travel sort of uses makes around 220 ml formula each, may be easy to carry.  My both kids are a bit picky on formula and they would never drink some certain ones and I suggest you to try the formula before you go. Those single use ones are good for trying as well, since they are smaller quantities than buying a 900 gr tin.

[Mrs.M]

Wow, thank you very much for all the helpful suggestions! This really is the best place to seek useful advice. I feel so clueless compared to you all..

[blue]

you can't buy the ready made or single packs of formula in Sgp - or if you can, I haven't found them!

[This message has been edited by BoardManager (edited 31-10-2002).]

[Rosie]

One more tip to help with getting your child to sleep in the bassinet:  we take a sarong (or any large piece of cloth) and some masking tape and rig up a tent over the bassinet.  This is useful on a night flight, as they usually don't dim the lights for the first couple of hours, until they finish serving the meals.

Alternatively, try walking up and down the aisle to get your child to sleep.

[FlyByday]

Strongly recommend flying by day if you can - preferably starting 9 am ish - the toddler is fresh and therefore more well behaved - you are not feelingstressed about not sleepingyourself.

My first flyingexperience with a 3 month old and a 21 month old was tough - the toddler just run around for ages and pushed any buttons she could find anywhere.  Eventually we just had to hold her while she screamed herself to sleep.    As a friend said to me - how bad can it really get anyway? They can't scream the whole flight ?!!!!

Enough friends said that doping did not really help and actually I would rather be able to judge my kids behaviour - tiredness etc without having other uncertain influences to deal with.

It gets better as they get a bit older.  I have now flown by myself with 18 month and 3 year old and it was surprisingly OK - the day flight a breeze and the late afternoon return bearable, although I was faced with trying to get two very sleepy babies off the plane - the stewardesses will help!

[Flying Mum]

Hi,

my toddler is now 26 months and must have flown 12 times, among which several intercontinental flights.
I know for some of you its too late to do this, but since I breastfeed her (still), it has always been a breeze. No bottles, no hassle, no worries about supplies, comfort readily available. And , Mrs. M, there is always enough milk for a little one up to about 6 months, if you let the baby drink often enough, as it is simply a matter of demand and supply. For more information, visit lalecheleague.org

I have also begun taking her toddler car seat along, which she sleeps in really well.
And, don`t get yourself too worked up about what can go wrong, because the more stressed the mom, the worse the kids....take plenty of toys, get help on the plane, and relax. I know of one lady who has flown to Argentine with three under-5 year olds and has survived...

Good luck

And do your kids the favor and stay off the drugs. The side effects may be worse than the trouble you`re anticipating.

[Flying Mum]

Almost forgot, taking a sling to carry the baby is also a good idea. If the little one won`t sleep, just carry the baby in that, and you still have hands free for the toddler.