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[seren]

On Thursday we're flying to Germany with our daughter, who is 13 months old. She's never been on a plane before. Any advice?
I've read that you should feed them during landing but how is that possible if you have to hold them on your lap with the seatbelt around you both?

Comments

[tiggsybabes]

I managed to breastfeed Holly while we were taking off & she was strapped in, but she was only a few weeks old. You can just give Lucy a drink as the feeding tip is to make sure they swallow so their ears don't hurt. I still give Kate a drink at landing & take off.

[seren]

The trouble with L is that she's very stubborn! But I will take a drink for her and try to make her drink it at the appropriate moment.

[tiggsybabes]

Kate can be a monster, but we've not had any problems yet with the drink. Don't get me started on the seatbelt though ...

[bopeepsheep]

Who are you flying with? Many airlines won't allow you to put the seatbelt around her on your lap; even though this is common advice the flight attendants will stop you if they see you trying. :-/

When this happened to us, I had smallclanger in overalls with a lot of straps and handholds (the 'grab' bits on the back that a lot of small-child clothing has) so nursed him during takeoff while holding on to him with my arms locked inside his clothing (overalls are very useful for this, you put one arm through the gap around the waist and the other lengthways down through the back of the overalls and grab on) and had imc holding on to the straps/grab bits/his feet. The main danger of a babe in arms during take-off and landing is that you will let go of them during turbulence; TBH this risk isn't really lessened much by having them inside the seatbelt anyway (you have to have the belt too 'loose' to be useful if you do that, and risk coming out of it yourself), so you're better being secure yourself to start with. Presumably you haven't booked a seat for

[seren]

BA! I'm sure Stu spoke to them and was told that Lucy won't be given her own seat because she's too young, and she'll have to just sit on my lap. I may have assumed the thing about the seatbelt. It wouldn't make sense for them to insist that L is belted up with me when I think about it.. after all, you'd never do that in a car would you?!
Hopefully someone on the plane will be able to advise us! I'd like to be able to feed her.. I really hate the pressure during takeoff and landing myself and I've been worrying about how it will affect her :(

[tiggsybabes]

We've always been given an extra baby belt to put around Kate & then Holly.

[chris_g]

Yep, the extra strap on strap is the only safe way to go. Strapping round the two of you with one belt is very dangerous in any situation where a belt is remotely necessary. The same holds true in a car.

[classy_bird]

Adam was 20months when we went on a flight and he was on my knee, he wasnt secured in my seat belt, they give you an attachment with loops on to yours then has a separate belt that goes around them, if it's the same thing we had then it would be easy to feed her.

[marlespo]

BRING PLASTIC BAGS!!!

We've flown across the Atlantic with Philip 7 times now (3 months, 7 months, 9 months, 12 months) and the most useful advice I can give you is bring plastic bags. Little zip-lock kinds. Accidental pukings, wipes, smelly clothes, etc... I've used them every single time I've flown.

Philip never had a problem with his ears adjusting, I made abig fuss of making sure he was sucking on take-off and landing... but he did fine on his own. Yelling and yawning equalize the pressure as well, and he used those techniques spontaneously. :)

The seatbelt contraption they use (that other people have described) makes it quite easy to feed whenever you want. Last time we flew Philip was able to "roll over" and cuddle with me face to face or sit against me facing outwards... so they can actually maneuvre in the seat belts. ( When all snapped up, they sort of make the Figure 8, you strapped in one loop, baby in the other ) They aren't that bad really.

[seren]

thankyou! plastic bags are going on my list :)