Long haul flight with 7 month old
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
Forum Description: For mums, dads, parents-to-be, grandparents, friends -- you name it! And you name the topic you want to chat about!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=37342
Printed Date: 27 August 2025 at 3:00am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Long haul flight with 7 month old
Posted By: sem
Subject: Long haul flight with 7 month old
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 4:32pm
|
I've just booked a flight to Germany for myself and my baby who will be 7 month old at the time.
Now I've just read on the Thai Airways website that bassinets are only provided to babies who weigh less than 10kgs (no idea who much a 7 month old weighs, she is 2 months now and approx 5kg) But it also says that bassinets are only provided for babies up tp 6 months. Has anybody else travelled long distance with a baby around that age and has any tips on how to handle this? I can't imagine holding her for that length of time! ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way! 
|
Replies:
Posted By: Whateversville
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 4:36pm
|
Hi Susyl,
Not myself but a couple of our March bubbas have been on looooong flights etc infact they're still off jetsetting! Their mamas are Milliemoo & Thesaff - they may have some wicked tips for you 
Oh and on weight, my almost 9m/o isn't 10kg yet. Some can be. But he was 5kg alot earlier then your bubba. HTH in some way 
x |
Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 5:05pm
|
We have always requested a bassinette in advance and got them right up to 12months old. Flown thai before too. At the very least request front seats so you have the extra room and the fact that that is where the bassinettes hook on is an added bonus.
Try and organise it a head of time and get to check in early on the day so that you can make sure you can get your seats and verify it all. If it is 3 hours before be there 3 hours before so you are at the front of the line. Good luck, travelling with a baby is hard but 7 months is a good age. Between 12-30 months is the hardest. Heres hoping your baby sleeps most of the flight. We did long hauls 2 times a year on average with two out of three of my kids at various baby and toddler ages Also if you are travelling thai look into getting a hotel room in the airport for your stop over. Even if you are only there for a few hours it is worth it. Just having a shower and freshening up and maybe having a lie down or blobbing in front of the tv without having to be on show for other people. |
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 8:22pm
|
We haven't flown Thai but with Singapore Airlines, we were offered a bassinet with Callum in June and he was 18m and too big for it by then! But at 10 months he fit in the bassinet just fine and he was a big boy, so I imagine you should be sweet with a 7mo I travelled on my own with DS for that trip which was a bit of a pain because every time there was turbulence I had to take him out of the bassinet and do up our seatbelts. In the end I held him on me anyway because I just wanted him to get some uninterrupted sleep!!
I'd do as kiwi2 suggested and call the airline now to see what they need to do to confirm and then call 24 hours before your flight as well. I agree, under 12 months is by far easier than traveling with a toddler! Just remember you will never see any of those people on the plane again  There's quite a few good threads on long haul travel on here if you do a search, else just ask away with any questions.------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: Gardengirl
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 9:20pm
|
I flew to the UK on my own with DS who was 7 months (8 months coming home). We flew Air NZ and their policy was that although we had our name down for the bassinet, they wouldn't confirm it until check in, that preference would be given to younger babies but it was also first come, first served (I still can't figure out how they manage to cover their bases!).
As it turned out, the bassinet was great for storing stuff, but no use whatsoever for DS, who was crawling and mobile by that age, so unless he was fully asleep I couldn't have him in the bassinet as he would try to climb out. He ended up sleeping on me most of the way there and back. which was fine. I was (am) BFing which helped a lot. There was one period of about 5 hours on the way there where he wriggled on my lap hard out for 5 hours flat, but aside from that he was awesome. He didn't cry once in 36 hours on the return trip (although I did  ) and for the most part was happy.
I generally don't fly Air NZ, and I found staff on a couple of legs to be outstanding and on the remaining legs to be, quite frankly, p*** poor. Fellow passengers were a Godsend, a huge help. And after all, even if a baby does end up crying, aircraft cabins are noisy enough anyway and most people have their headphones on. They tend to seat those with children in the same part of the cabin, so there was a bit of solidarity going on
ETA DS didn't hit 10kgs till he was about 11 months. He fit the bassinet fine, but was too determined to escape it! |
Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 06 January 2011 at 9:30pm
|
Thanks for all your feedback.
Will call the airline tomorrow and find out all the details. I have stayed in the airport hotel in BKK before and will consider doing this on the way back when we have a 5hr stop over. ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
|
Posted By: maysie
Date Posted: 07 January 2011 at 8:12am
|
We had a bassinet for a 13 mth old. She only just fit in it (her feet hung over the sides a bit!). We had requested one on booking but also when we went to check in (and this happened at all the airports we went through) we didn't have to line up for long - they don;t really like passengers with young children and babies to have to line up and wait for ages, probably for the sanity of the other passengers! Front packs/wraps are really handy to have with you too :) ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: MuppetsMama
Date Posted: 12 January 2011 at 1:27pm
|
Try this - http://www.nappies.co.nz/shopping/product-detail.aspx?ProductID=2558&cn=Toys%20$0%20to%20$20&CategoryID=101 - mini bead
we bought one for our daughter on the long haul flight and she loved it. |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 12 January 2011 at 3:31pm
|
Hi there,
Just back from a trip to the UK with my 9 month old. Just a couple of pointers... * bassinets are never a guarantee * even if you do get one, your bubba may not like it. * even if you do get one and your bubba does like it, you have to remove them every time the seat belt sign goes on. * great for storage ;) * the cabin temperature seems to fluctuate between freezing and roasting, so be prepared with muslins and a merino wrap. Any questions, just shout
|
Posted By: Kimnthekids
Date Posted: 12 January 2011 at 7:59pm
|
DD is nearly 9 months and a long way of 10kg so hopefully you'll get one.
If your daughter currently enjoys being in a front pack or wrap id take that with me, at least for sleeps. then hopefully you can doze at the same time! If BFing, easy, if bottle feeding, just make sure you have plenty, as she may want more regular feeds of less maybe put away some favourite (small) things that she loves close to the time, so you can bring them out on the trip - even things like coloured cellophane can be entertaining for a long time! Also maybe one of those mesh feeders - if its warm at the time on board she will stay interested sucking on a piece of ice! good luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: Bee2010
Date Posted: 12 January 2011 at 10:15pm
|
Hi susyl
can i ask where did you book ur flight? We are going over to germany in june and ds will be nearly 15 months old. He is now 9 months and 7.27kg far from 10kg -------------   Angel Babe in our  - 07/08
|
Posted By: sem
Date Posted: 14 January 2011 at 6:29pm
|
Bee, I booked my flights through http://www.jetabroad.co.nz/ - Jetbaroad
Milliemoo, interessting about having to remove the bassinet when the seatbelt sign comes on. I can imagine that could be rather annoying. Just making myself a Mei Tei to see if we like it and get used to it before May. What is the story with prams? Do you check them im or take with you to the gate? I've got a P&T Explorer so rather bulky and heavy. Does this count towards the luggage allowance? I assume every airline is differnt with this but I still have not gotten around to contact Lufthansa. It's on the list for next week. ------------- Here we go again, another baby on it's way!
|
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 14 January 2011 at 10:00pm
|
Yup, very annoying if you've just got bubba to sleep and you have to get them out the bassinet and then try and get a seatbelt and round you and them I just slept with him next to me for most of the flights as it was easier and I didn't have to worry about the seatbelt sign coming on.
|