How old will your LO be when you decide to go on holiday abroad?

[hellywelly]

Me and hubby absolutely live for our holidays, and of course this year we have put them on hold as don't feel comfortable: a) flying b) the heat c) the food etc etc. we have already fed our habit by booking a cruise for us and LO next year - when bubba will be around 9 months old. We have never done a cruise before but we thought that we would avoid the airports due to having bubba, it appears a lot easier walking onto a boat and being settled rather than on a plane (we are cruising from Southampton).

The reason why I ask this is I have to admit (please don't take this offensively it is me being open and honest) whenever me and hubby got on a plane - and it is normally long haul - we dread the thought of being near a bubba because bubba normally cries ...... and always said 'if we ever had children we would not do that'

Does anyone on here who is already a parent go on holidays with small children / babies on planes, how do you rate the experience - is it as bad as I see it or do you just get on with it and ignore the moans and groans ..... and how old was your youngest when flying on a plane

Anyone else can add their opinion if you are thinking yes you are definitely going on a plane next year or no definitely wouldn't do that at all ..... just honest opinions please xxxxxxxxxx

 

[Misskitty10]

I'd say around around 8/9 months would be fine but prob only a 3 or 4 hr flight I wouldn't take them on a long haul!

 

[JaydensMommy1]

With a family death I had to travel at 2 months- LO slept the whole time. When they are a little younger and have an established nap time it can be easy too so you can try and schedule around it. But ask about planes with changing tables or else it can be quite odd lol

 

[aley28]

I don't see us flying to anywhere until our LOs are both at least 5 or older. However, even before we had kids, we drove everywhere, so I'm not sure my thoughts are helpful.

I think a lot of it depends on your baby and your parenting style. If you're the type of parent who is going to let your baby fuss or something... then I'd be avoiding flying until later on. Or if you've got a colicky baby... I'd definitely avoid flying until after that period ends. But if you've got a nice calm baby who can nurse/feed and quiets down with just some attention, then I don't see why flying would be bothersome to others.

 

[Cuffy]

We are going to wait til 2013 as next year they will only be 6 months which I feel is too young to go on my much missed sun hols!

 

[Mummyemmy09]

We first took dd to florida when she was 20 months, she was fine and although it was a 9 hour flight it didnt seem to bother her at all and she just sat there happily! Were planning to go to florida again next year when no.2 is 8 months old, i dont think it will be a problem!

Emma x

 

[Blah11]

18 months so i dont need to worry about a baby who cant walk, cant eat whatever restaurant food we happen to pick, dont need to worry about cot/steriliser/bottles etc.

 

[jk28]

I live in Spain so have traveled back to the UK quite a bit with LO, first when he was around 4 months. We've been very lucky each time as he's been good & just had a little cry & then either fallen asleep or smiling away at the flight attendants. The last time we flew however, he was crying when boarding & one woman looked at him pulled a face & moved along....He soon fell asleep & she got lumbered next to a screaming 2 year old!! Oops....

Jayne

 

[hellywelly]

I live in Spain so have traveled back to the UK quite a bit with LO, first when he was around 4 months. We've been very lucky each time as he's been good & just had a little cry & then either fallen asleep or smiling away at the flight attendants. The last time we flew however, he was crying when boarding & one woman looked at him pulled a face & moved along....He soon fell asleep & she got lumbered next to a screaming 2 year old!! Oops....

Jayne

he he xxx

 

[babytibby]

my youngest dd was just 4 months old when we went to Kefalonia for a week. She was amazing on the flight and all week in fact

If all goes to plan lo will be about 8 months when we drive to the south of france next June.

Can't wait already!!!!

 

[SpottedDog]

My DS was 2 when i first took him and he slept the whole way there and the whole way back.....i am going away in May with my partner, my sisters and there partners and my mum and dad and LO will be 3/4 months (lots of helpful hands on board lol).....fingers crossed for both LO's sleeping lol

Oh and its only a short haul x

 

[DMG83]

we're going at the latest in feb so LO will be around 3-4 months, but we will fly sleazy-jet (easy jet)... my honest opinion of that!? a crying baby on the flight will be the LEAST of anyones concerns if they're flying with a super cheap airline!!

i'd feel uncomfortable taking LO on a long haul or with an expensive carrier as I've paid for upgrades/better flights in the past and bemoaned the screaming babies so i guess i better not be two faced and do it myself.. but short haul, economy flights i 100% will be taking and wouldn't think twice about it!

 

[NDH]

My cousin is getting married back home (Canada) in July and I'll be a bridesmaid - so baby will be about 6 months old. It will be 2 years since I'll have been home by then, so we'll try to go for at least 3 weeks.
It's a long flight for a baby (14-17 hours nonstop), but I've never been on an international flight that didn't have babies on it, some of course, who travelled worse than ever. I plan to start feeding at takeoff and before landing to help with the pressure, and otherwise will just have to hope that I have a good baby lol.

 

[Allie84]

DH is from Scotland so we plan on flying with LO back to the UK from the US next April/May when LO will be 5 months. He needs to meet all of his family!

I've been researching this as I was worried about it but apparently when they are under 1 it's actually easier to fly with them as they aren't squirmy and will sleep most of the time. I read it's harder with a toddler than a wee baby.

A lot of planes have allocated places near the front for you to hook up your carseat (at British Airways has had this when I've flown internationally) so that's also nice.

The main concern I have is how germy the plane will be! At least you don't have to worry about all of that recycled pressurized air on a cruise ship.

 

[tink30]

I took my little boy when he was 2 on a 4 hour flight.. he slept all the way. On the way back he woke and then cried the last hour.. he was shattered and i think his little ears hurt.. i had some stares.. and groans.. but i stood up at the end and said ''what are you all looking at??? hes 2 for god sake!'' lol.. they soon stopped looking hehe.... i felt rage because i was so protective of him, and he did so well considering xx

 

[amerikiwi]

It's def easier with a baby than a toddler. My daughter has done many long haul and short haul flights starting at age 5 months. Most airlines have bassinets for little ones (age varies depending on airline but generally up to 8 months or 15 months) on long haul flights--absolutely brilliant! Most recently my daughter flew a total of 54 hours (over 2 weeks) and she only had one melt down, which was a actually a night terror caused by sitting for too long on the tarmac with no a/c on.

Hoping this little one will be as good of a traveller. First trip will be 3.5 hours to NZ at Christmas when LO is one to two months old.

 

[hellywelly]

we're going at the latest in feb so LO will be around 3-4 months, but we will fly sleazy-jet (easy jet)... my honest opinion of that!? a crying baby on the flight will be the LEAST of anyones concerns if they're flying with a super cheap airline!!

i'd feel uncomfortable taking LO on a long haul or with an expensive carrier as I've paid for upgrades/better flights in the past and bemoaned the screaming babies so i guess i better not be two faced and do it myself.. but short haul, economy flights i 100% will be taking and wouldn't think twice about it!

Actually that is a good idea - my experiences of easy jet and all the cheapies are that people are more concerned about sitting together (like a herd of animals getting on that plane) next to a window sitting at the back etc rather than babies .... it would be like a moaning obstacle lol - if you don't like sitting next to me and my bubba sit somewhere else - hmmm that is food for thought thank you xx

 

[hellywelly]

DH is from Scotland so we plan on flying with LO back to the UK from the US next April/May when LO will be 5 months. He needs to meet all of his family!

I've been researching this as I was worried about it but apparently when they are under 1 it's actually easier to fly with them as they aren't squirmy and will sleep most of the time. I read it's harder with a toddler than a wee baby.

A lot of planes have allocated places near the front for you to hook up your carseat (at British Airways has had this when I've flown internationally) so that's also nice.

The main concern I have is how germy the plane will be! At least you don't have to worry about all of that recycled pressurized air on a cruise ship.

That is good about British Airways with the car seat facility I never knew they did that - that is a good idea. Yes I totally understand about germs on planes etc - I always feel like I need a really good scrub after getting off a plane - but cruise ships come with their own problems - we are going with 2 other couples so there will be 7 of us in total - and one of the party was really concerned about the bugs that can go on in cruise ships - I think that whereever you go there is always that risk xxxx

 

[hellywelly]

I took my little boy when he was 2 on a 4 hour flight.. he slept all the way. On the way back he woke and then cried the last hour.. he was shattered and i think his little ears hurt.. i had some stares.. and groans.. but i stood up at the end and said ''what are you all looking at??? hes 2 for god sake!'' lol.. they soon stopped looking hehe.... i felt rage because i was so protective of him, and he did so well considering xx

That is good of you to stand up for yourself - the good old british public are good at mumbling and moaning but when confronted they don't know how to react - hubby wouldn't like me doing that BUT if the moans and groans got to that point then I think one of us would say something. Good for you for sticking up for yourself - that would have been one of those moments that I would have loved to have been there to see the other peoples faces lol xxxxx

 

[Newbee]

We took DS1 on 3 hour flight at 19 months. Gave him lollipops to suck on during take off landing & he was ok. Hardest part was keeping him occupied for 3 hours, as he was a v active toddler. We did the same flight when DS1 was 3 and DS2 was 15 months. That time DS1 was great, (sat & watched movies), and DS2 was squirmy and hard work. He wouldn't sleep & was a bit grizzly, so it was a full on 3 hours of trying to keep him distracted. On the flight home he was so shattered he fell asleep before take off & didn't wake until we were coming in to land - now that was a good flight.