Flying with Baby » Equipment

Bassinets

Flying with Baby — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:34:16 +0000

Bassinets vary in size and comfort between airlines and even between aircraft from the same airlines. Some airlines, such as British Airways, have special combo seats that resemble a bouncer, complete with a 5 point harness while others are a simple pull-down shelf with a big of padding.

Most bassinettes are not suitable for toddlers due to their weight restrictions and their length. Keep in mind that during takeoff, landing and turbulence, your baby will not be able to use the bassinette. It also blockes access to the aisle and so you may find yourself having to climb over seats to get out.TIP – If you are on a plane with individual TV screens and you are going to use the bassinette make sure that you pull up the TV screen before the bassinette is installed, otherwise you won’t be able to watch TV!

Check with your airline about weight restrictions (airlines such as JAL have info on their website) and whether you can pre-book a bassinette – some airlines give them out on a first in, best dressed basis on the day and others give them out according to baby’s age.

Skycot (British Airways, photo taken 2000 on a 747-400)

Bassinette on JAL

Seat pocket essentials

Flying with Baby — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 03:31:37 +0000

When I take my seat on the plane I find it useful to pull out the things that I am most likely to need during the flight and place them in the pocket of the seat in front of you (located on the bulkhead wall for bulkhead seats). I call these the seat pocket essentials. Remember that once they turn on the “fasten seat belts” sign it could be 30 minutes to an hour before you can get up and retrieve anything from the overhead locker - so keep the urgent things handy!Here’s a list of my seat pocket essentials:

* plastic shopping bag for rubbish - you would be surprised by the amount of rubbish you can accumulate in such a short amount of time (think, plastic bag for headphones, empty cups etc)
* at least one baby toy to distract baby when s/he is fed up with sitting restrained on your lap during takeoff
* dummy/ pacifier
* cloth nappy/diaper for spills and spew
* bottle or cup of water for baby
* bottle of water for breastfeeding mothers (if you are allowed to take one on board!

* cotton or muslin wrap - for calming baby to sleep, or for breastfeeding or for playing hide and seek - there’s a multitude of uses for it!
* pen - for filling in forms
* ziplocked bag with a snack in it, in case baby is hungry

* lip balm (maybe it’s just me, but my lips get awfully dry in the air-conditioning)

If you are feeling optimistic that your baby will sleep for most of the flight then also include a book or magazine - but if you are like us you will be hard pressed being able to read the entertainment program in the inflight magazine!

Strollers

Flying with Baby — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:48:37 +0000

Generally speaking your stroller will need to be checked in as luggage. Some airlines and airports allow you to take your stroller to the gate. They will then place it in the plane’s hold (cargo area).Ask about gate delivery - this is where ground staff retrieve your stroller from the hold and bring it to you at the gate. This is generally only available on international flights. We have used this service at Tokyo (Narita), Paris - Charles de Gaulle and Sydney-Kingsford Smith airports with no problems.

You often have to walk for a long distance inside the airport terminal before you reach immigration and the baggage carousels so having your stroller with you helps enormously, particularly if you have an older baby or toddler or you have a lot of cabin luggage with you. Even if you end up carrying your baby you can still use the stroller to carry your hand luggage.

For most international flights you will have at least half an hour to an hour before you can board the plane. We always take a baby carrier such as our trusty Baby Björn with us, just in case we are forced to leave our stroller at check-in.

TIP - If you are able to take your stroller to the gate then it will need to pass through the security gates and will be searched. Your baby will also need to be taken out of the stroller and carried through the security gates - even if they are asleep. Make sure you don’t have too much junk stored in the storage sections of your stroller to make it easier at the security checks.

TIP - If you are like me then you will probably have foodstuffs like biscuits (cookies) or even fruit stashed in the pockets of your stroller. Remember to empty these before you pass through customs (or better still, before you check in your stroller) to avoid any fines for breaking quarantine regulations - this applies even between states in Australia!