hear the army

I was recently asked by someone who is about to do her first international flight with her 18mth-old for tips and since I’ve now made the roughly 19-hour trip alone with a lap child 5 times total, I figured I am qualified to blog about it. The first 3 times Bijou was breastfeeding so honestly, there was no problem – when she got fussy, bust out the boob! 😉

Here’s what I wrote to her and hope will help some of you too:

Things I do (some i came up with but a lot i found on forums of other mom’s who have been there, done that):
Request an aisle seat – if the flight seems a bit empty and you can get a bulkhead, do that. If not, I would get the last possible seat. You cannot recline as much, but if she’s active, you’ll have that galley area right behind you to let her play. If you are in the middle of the seating, you can’t get out in the aisle to feed her, play with her, etc. without being in someone’s way but in the back of the plane or near the bulkhead you are at the start or end so can easily anticipate carts coming, etc.

I pack “game packs” – i have heard of pp doing one for every hour but i think that’s overkill and frankly don’t have enough room in my carry-on. I did three this trip:
1) water pen coloring book (the colors are already decided on the page, just when the water from the pen touches it they are revealed.
finger puppets
lift the flap book
2) etch-a-sketch type of drawing pad except it has colors – a little big, but well worth it, this was a hit – make sure to attach the pen with a string first
a small board book she loves
a thomas the tank engine train
3) finger puppet book (old macdonald)
blocks that you fit together to make a picture (different one each side)
another small board book she loves

really we used the etch-a-sketch most!

*I also packed the blanket she sleeps with and a stuffed animal (she doesn’t have a lovey and has never taken a pacifier either so when she stopped nursing i was really worried, but when they get tired enough, they sleep).

*Pack lots of snacks and ziplock bags. I also packed onnigiri because United doesn’t give child meals unless you pay for a seat. Also domestic flights in the states give no food and the flight from California to the East Coast is 6 hours long with not even a bag of pretzels!
*I got one of those shirt/smock type of “bibs” because stuff gets everywhere.
*I bought some disposable bed pads from the 100 yen shop to put on the seat because something is bound to spill and you can change clothes, but if the seat’s wet, it doesn’t matter.
*A couple changes of clothes for you and her – hopefully you won’t need them, but better to have them just in case. Extra diapers too – i’ve heard of sudden bouts of diarrhea.
*Juice boxes (they have drinks, but they spill) and/or a no-spill drink container. I would bring a water/drink bottle for yourself too as she’ll want to grab your drink also.
*Infant Tylenol (or equivalent) in case she seems really uncomfortable or actually gets a fever en route.
*I bought these teeth brushing disposable cloths for children as holding her down with a toothbrush isn’t feasible (but again, letting this go for a day won’t kill anyone).
*I also got a Baby B’Air which has been helpful – i have a hard time sleeping if i think she can wake up and get away or just slide off me, but with this she is locked into the seat-belt and can’t get away. i got the CARES strap for if they have their own seat (should you be so lucky), but she couldn’t sleep with that – maybe when she’s taller – so i just put on the Baby B’Air and even if we had an extra seat just strapped a belt through it so she couldn’t get away if she awoke and i was out.
*I have a little diaper kit that has a mat and a pouch for diapers and wipes and just put in another diaper to refill when i return to our seat after changing one. Bring two to the bathroom because she’s peed on the new one before i even got it closed before (though this was when she was smaller…).
*plan to try and walk with her once/hour if she’s awake, they are done with the carts/drinks/food/duty free & the seat-belt sign is off- this keeps you and her sane. i keep her posted on when we’ve gone around once/twice, etc. and when last time is and then we’ll sit down otherwise she seems shocked that i ended her fun so abruptly and has a small fit.

What works for me in the airport:
I use a carrier (Ergo) until we’re through security and just put my carry-ons in the stroller because you’re gonna have to fold up the stroller and put it through the x-ray machine anyway so might as well have her already on you. After that if i’m too tired i’ll put her in the stroller until we get to the gate.
I don’t know about other countries, but in the states if you have a domestic flight and then an international connection or vice-versa you have to go through security again at that connection. You also have to collect your luggage, go through customs & immigration at your first point of entry into a country even if you have a connecting flight. PAIN IN THE BUTT!
Also, if you have time between connections, let her walk to get out energy. I used one of those animal back-packs with a leash i can strap to the stroller or hold on to. I also used this on the plane to let her run around in the aisle when i wanted to sit (to eat because it’s tough to put the tray table down with them in your lap) but you have to watch for people/carts always.

I have heard from others that some countries like Canada will ask for a letter of permission from the other parent if you’re traveling alone with a child to help prevent child abduction – i would check with your embassy to see. I’ve never had a problem with the states, but there’s a first time for everything!

Oh – I have a ton of games she loves on my iPhone so we used that a lot and i packed a cordless charger (charged up before we left) to charge it up when the battery went dead en route. Some people swear by portable DVD players too but I haven’t used one yet – maybe when she’s a little older and can actually sit through a movie.

That’s all I can think of currently – hope I didn’t forget anything and that this helps!

Best of luck with your trip and remember, it sucks for you both so just make the best of the together time, stay in the moment, and it’ll be over before you know it!