Babies and overseas holidays

I think it's entirely possible...but maybe somewhere closer, like Western or Southern Aussie, or the Islands? It might be less stressful for you that way.

Thanks girls. I'll leave it as late as I possibly can and perhaps do Japan rather than the States as at least that's just a nine hour flight. I'm also thinking of taking my sister as a nanny. That might make things a little more easy.

I don't suppose anyone's ever heard of a natural remedy for blocked ears for babies on planes? I'm guessing that's why they cry so much.

Thanks MrsH23.

Yep I fed Elias on take off and landing (he was probably more suckling than feeding though) otherwise if they take a dummy that would also work.

I would personally wait until after at least 12 weeks .. they start off sleeping nearly 20 hours a day .. then dont sleep at all my kids both "came right" around about three months and were in a much easier routine.

Yep I fed Elias on take off and landing (he was probably more suckling than feeding though) otherwise if they take a dummy that would also work.

I would personally wait until after at least 12 weeks .. they start off sleeping nearly 20 hours a day .. then dont sleep at all my kids both "came right" around about three months and were in a much easier routine.

IMO if you're going to fly 9 hours, it doesn't make much difference to fly 12! We just got back from Canada and found that DS was heaps better on the overnight flights, even though they were twice as long (of course, having the bassinet helps too!). Fed on take-off and landing, or got him to suck his thumb, and had no problems. Crying wasn't so much of a problem as the fact that during the day flights he just couldn't sit still! If you're going to wait until bubs is up and about, be prepared for some bruises...

Flights aside, he adjusted really well to all the travelling and the time zones, we only had one or two nights of him being unsettled, and I think that was more because he picked up a staph infection somewhere along the way that was bugging him.

Plus, having a baby with you people tend to be really friendly and helpful - we got to jump queues alot (especially at the airport), and had no probs sticking to his routine or feeding him.

I booked a lot of people into Premium Economy with the bubs...I don't think I booked people into Business class though...can't remember to be honest.

I agree with Nikki that the younger they are the easier it is. We've only flown to Australia, but comparing the two trips, she was much much easier flying and travelling with at 3 months than she was at 13 months. At three months, she'd go to sleep anywhere (take a frontpack with a hood, in case you need her to sleep when you're out sightseeing) and the plane trip was a breeze - I planned the flight to coincide with her sleep time (for a long haul flight an overnight flight would probably be best), and after feeding on take off she went off to sleep... where as, on our last holiday to Australia, the flights were a nightmare as she wanted to be on the move all the time and got overtired but wouldn't sleep.

Treen I have done long haul with ds 3 times and by far the easiest was when he was 10weeks slept the whole way. I wouldn't worry about crying babies on planes most of them just sleep with the motion. A front pack or sling is invaluable and just feed on take off and landing or we found the dummy worked really well. you need to book your basinette when you book your ticket even if bubs isn't here yet. We had to do that with ds and the just booked him as baby whatever and then when he was born we had to just let them know his name. The biggest drama we had was getting his passport as it is nearly impossable to get a 2 week old to look at the camera and all the other stupid rules they have.

if you do decide to go to japan, i used a website
www.tokyowithkids.co.nz

not sure if it is still going but they had a great site, in particular which stations had elevators.

Also, you can get a railpass which will save you heaps of money.

AND don't bother with disneyland (if you were that way inclined) - it's great , but not with a baby.

if you do go to japan, yell out. I lived there for several years and could give some advice about places to go with kids - our son lived there until he was a year old.