We're going away when LO is 9 months old and I've been reading up on things. A friend of a friend of mine also sent me some fantastic tips via facebook! We are travelling to new zealand, so I know thats a LOT farther away but the advice may still come in useful. I'll paste some of it in below:
ETA: Actually - her advice is amaaaaazing now that I'm reading everything properly!
"It's pretty tricky planning for everything on that lenght of a journey but it can definitely be done. They are a couple of products that make the journey possible. Like disposable sterile bottles, cartons of formula, travel steriliser and a travel bottle warmer (thermos based) etc.
Probably the hardest thing to plan for is if you get stuck anywhere and your main luggage goes missing, you'll need a enough in carry-on to see the little man through (this happened to us).
The other thing worth mentioning is NZ might not have the formula available that you use in Ireland. (This happened to us here in Oz) I wouldn't recommend changing formula over such a short period. Check to see if it's available and if not bring powder formula and enough cartons (return journey) in your checked luggage.
Before I forget one of the best pieces of advice I can give ya is fly with the one airline if possible for the journey as otherwise they don't give a fuck if anything goes wrong and the booked bassinets tend not to materalise.
In order to book a bassinet for the wee man you'll have to book your tickets over the phone and not the web as they don't provide the facility online. Quadruple check the bassinet bookings with them and make sure they put it in writing to ya. We got stung on a 10 hour flight leg with no bassinet (if was confirmed booked) and it was a nightmare especially for our LO.
The good news is you are allowed to bring as much food; formula, medicine and everything else you need on board for a baby and no one can say anything to you --- no exceptions.
When you're going through security just tell them which bag/bags have baby food/formula.
He will get jet lag, sorry. The best solution to it is lots and lots of sunlight (not direct) but that he's around daylight as much as possible so you can flip him in terms of sleeping -- in NZ and Ireland.
Once our LO woke up we pushed him for as long as we could for more sleep and then brought him outside for walks, walks and more walks and pretty much fed him when he was hungry whilst moving him towards his normal schedule.
We also used an infant probotic -- Protextin Restore during and after tarvelling for a couple of days, Helps settle their digestive sytems. You can get it in most chemists
It will take a few days or anywhere up to a week especially if there is not much sunlight in one country at the time. TBH i think it's the worst part coz you're fucked yourself.
You're buggy --
Get a light weight fully reclinable one -- That way he'll be able to sleep in the airports between flights, otherwise he'll drive ya nuts (we've learnt this the hard way) -- I have a Baby Jogger City Mini which is great -- Fully reclinable and a great hood so they can sleep in peace and it's really easy to fold.
Make sure you tell them at check-in you want your buggy delivered at the aircraft and at each stage of the journey.
Make sure --
* They put a tag onto it stating deliver to aircraft
* Don't put your buggy in a buggy bag no matter how tempted -- They always go missing and you'll end up with nothing (again, we learnt the hard way)
It also might be worthwhile to bring a baby carrier on board as some airports (not many) make ya pick up your buggy in the baggage hall (Sydney, sometimes do this) and at least you have some way of carrying the little fella.
Very Important: To stop his ears killing him -- have a bottle ready to give him as just as your taking off & landing, the sucking action helps equalise his ears and he won;t be going crazy.
Must haves (Carry On) --
* Disposable Sterile Bottles
* Soothers
* Formula/Food
* 2 Favourite Small Toys
* Travel Sterlising equipment (In case stuck) See below
* 2 Normal Bottles (In case you get stuck)
* Pain Relief
* At least 4/5 changes of clothes
* An extra Blanket/Pod (They can be stingy on aircrafts with blankets)
* Travel Bottle Warmer (Thermos) -- See below
* Nappy bags to kill the smell of dirty nappies
* Nappy changing mat -- changing stations on board can be a bit manky
* Steriliing Wipes (See Below)
* Multi Purpose Baby Wipes (See Below)
* Lots & Lots of nappies
For products --
* Bibi -- do great compact disposable bottles
* Travel Steriliser -- Mothercare do a really compact steam travel steriliser that you can use in NZ. I have one and it was brillant buy and pretty cheap.
* In case you loose your luggage and you get stuck somewhere -- You can buy Mother Care travel cold water sachets that you can sterlise bottles with and keep in your carry on. (They come in individual packs)
* Fisher Price Bottle Warmer (Thermos) -- This is great coz you can top it up in the galley and have it on hand to heat up his bottle without waiting for someone to help ya and when your forced to sit when taking off and landing
* Sterlising Wipes -- Milton do sterlising wipes which are great if ya need to wipe a surface, teat, soother etc quickly while you're travelling
* A company in Ireland (can't remeber the name) do pure water wipes which means you can use them for everything face, bum etc -- great when they're young/ senstive skin
Don't be worried just plan to military precision and personally take charge of all his stuff that way you won't be worried if rory has forgotten anything.
My hubby is great but I can't trust him with any of the organisation when we're travelling. He's just the donkey to carry everything"
My HV also suggested bringing the sachets of calpol instead of the bottle as its heavier and they prob won't let you take it onboard.
HTH!
hope you have a lovely time x
You might find LO will be sensitive to the heat so just make sure you have air conditioning or a fan for nighttime. Travel cot, and clothes. plenty of suncream and swimming things should be fine! have fun!
