|
Our Little One's First Transatlantic Flight!
| By Rebecca Subbiah |
September
2009 |
| We recently took our first transatlantic
flight with our then 8-month-old daughter; it was her
first trip to the UK to visit our families. I had so many
worries before flying such as will she cry a lot during
take of and landing, will she sleep and be comfortable and
how will she eat.
We carefully packed and took plenty of
changes of clothes for our little one and us, as you never
know!
Also I packed her favorite
toys and blankets. Before flying I called US airways to ask about
ordering a baby meal for her. You can do this but if you do they
cancel one of your meals as she fly’s for free. So I decided to
take jars of baby food, oh but there’s a rule about not taking
fluids on board I hear you say. |
 |
Actually as long as you explain
its baby food, it’s not a problem, another trick is to empty her
bottle/sippy cup then refill onboard.
Go to the airport early so you have time to relax and feed
baby before the flight. There is also a family line in most
airports that goes through security at a faster rate. Also you are
allowed to check on to the flight first, and take a stroller to
the gate. I was also nursing at the time, so I knew I had an easy
and ready supply of milk, very convenient.
Another anxiety we had is how
will she affect other passengers --- will they be understanding of
a crying baby? Luckily it was a mid-week flight from Charlotte to
London so one guy moved to another seat and the gentleman next to
us was very reassuring stating “don’t worry she will probably
cry initially then go off to sleep” and by in large he was
right.
Our airhostess seemed nervous
and new to the job but her more experienced colleague assisted us
in putting up the bassinet and again reassuring us.
She cried a little during take
off then settled down and slept for most of the overnight flight,
I also felt this helped as it was when she would normally sleep.
When she awoke, I would discreetly nurse her, pretty easy to do in
a dark plane and it was comforting for her.
We landed safely in London to
meet relatives hire a car and drive 2 hours to my Grandparents, I
decided against taking her car seat as you can hire a car with
one. We purchased a lightweight stroller for the trip and took a
baby carrier, this cut back on luggage and made life so much
easier. It was a tiring trip but we made it and even managed to
enjoy homemade chocolate cake and tea when we reached home!
We spend 3 weeks in Europe
traveling to Scotland to my parents, then taking another flight to
Nice, a long drive to Florence, a Train to Rome, a return flight
to London. Then another long flight back to America, all in all,
she did great the shorter flights were a doddle. It’s a little
more challenging on the longer ones, and I am sure as she gets
older we will have to be creative in ways to entertain her.
But be encouraged you can
still travel and have lots of fun in the process with a baby even
though there may be small difficulties the destinations are well
worth every second of it.
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About the author
Rebecca Subbiah is happily
married and a Mum to a beautiful daughter. She is a writer,
dietitian (registered both in the UK and America) and personal
trainer. She currently lives in Winston Salem NC, her passions are
traveling the world and trying new cuisines and recipes.
Check out her blog: Chow and
Chatter at http://chowandchatter.com |
