India is world’s most fastest growing market. It will become 3rd largest aviation market by mid-2020 as per IATA and will dethrone UK. The general thumb rule around the world is that when people can afford to buy an airplane ticket, they fly. And more people today in India can afford to fly. And this number will only increase. And many of fliers are actually first timers in India. While first flying experience can be enthralling and exhilarating but not all especially if you are new mom. In this post we shall cover some of the flying tips for new mommies which is going to make their travel along with their little ones pleasurable & full-filling. The tips are exclusively sourced from female aviator / pilot Rashi Joshi (https://twitter.com/dillidikudii) & guest writer of this blog.
Tips & Trick for Air Travel for Parents / Mothers travelling with little ones 3 and below
b) Call the call center & check with them.
c) Car seat, if not a part of the stroller need not be carried, not sure about your bassinet & it’s size, check with call center.
d) Be prepared to get the child out of the bassinet EVERY TIME the seat belt signs are on, for safety reasons.
e) If the front seats aren’t available ask for the middle row (Wide body, long flights). The 3 or 4 seats one.
f) Ask passengers for help if needed. Some crew/passengers are nice to Help out with holding baby & all that, if you are okay with that(ins: follow your GUT FEELING).
g) Book your meals before the flight if you have special requests. This can be done at the time of your booking or by travel agent or upto 24 hrs prior to your flight in some airlines.
h) Carry enough formula for the flight plus 3-4 hours of Grace period. Someone recently ran out of it in flight & then a lovely crew breast fed the baby, thank god. But you don’t want to end up anywhere near such a situation.
i) The water from the water boiler is safe for kids but verify if it is are safe for infants.
j) Check with the airport before your flight if you can carry any water for your baby’s consumption & how much.
k) Carry a flask if needed so you can always fill it at cafe’s or restaurants at the airport after security. (Coffee shops with huge coffee machine are the best.)
l) Try to not let them sleep at home before flight if you haven’t booked the flight during their sleep timing.
m) Make them play and let them be a bit cranky before flight so they sleep through as much.
n) Carry atleast 3-4 sets or more of clothes for him, diapers etc & 2 changes for you. Wear the most comfy clothes you can find for yourself & them. Pajamas are the best.
o) If your feet swell up on long flights carry compression socks for yourself. Easily available in big pharmacies.
p) Carry snacks because the long flights only serve main meals & some small nuts/sandwich etc in between & you’ll be hungry if you’re feeding or pumping.
q) You can carry bread butter/cheese, nuts, whole fruit, healthy bars etc. Carry your own blanket for him & a pillow for yourself because god knows how dirty the inflight ones are.
r) All of your handbags should be only consisting of things for him & small items for you guys but nothing too bulky.
b) Carry dry cotton swabs for his ears if needed.
c) Board not too early or late, wait outside boarding gate, because cramped spaces might make you & him cranky but have enough time to settle.
d) Ask for infant seat belt & life vest from the crew (per child).
e) During take off/landing, hold the child in your lap in their standing position properly with seat belt on, don't make him sleep or sit in any other positions. Like he facing forward on your tummy or as instructed by your cabin crew.
f) Keep a toy, a feed, pacifier & a cloth before take off/ldg because you are strapped in the front seat and can’t get up to get things or have any bag in front of you for safety reasons.
g) When plane is about to descend ( pilot will make announcements that we are soon going to reach the destination, it means they are descending), air pressure will make their ears hurt, so to avoid that immediately give him a pacifier or bottle or your feed.
h) Their jaws should keep moving throughout so ears don't get blocked. Let him keep sucking/moving the jaw until landing.
i) Take as much help as required from the crew or passengers as we mentioned. Don’t hesitate at all or feel bad. At all.
j) Listen to safety instructions in the flight. Specially because now you have a child with you. It’s different for them in emergencies. We wish, pray and hope you don’t need them ever!
k) And most of all. Don’t stress. You stress, they’ll stress & so will the spouse. Clear calm mind makes better decisions. Don’t panic at the drop of a hat. If something unfortunate happens during travel you just got to find a way to deal with it. Stressing only makes it worst.
Tips & Trick for Air Travel for Parents / Mothers travelling with little ones 3 and below
Prep Before flight!
a) Airline policies on seats may vary from carriers to carriers but make sure you have seats for all (three/four) of you, you don’t want to risk getting offloaded because there aren’t any seats available.b) Call the call center & check with them.
c) Car seat, if not a part of the stroller need not be carried, not sure about your bassinet & it’s size, check with call center.
d) Be prepared to get the child out of the bassinet EVERY TIME the seat belt signs are on, for safety reasons.
e) If the front seats aren’t available ask for the middle row (Wide body, long flights). The 3 or 4 seats one.
f) Ask passengers for help if needed. Some crew/passengers are nice to Help out with holding baby & all that, if you are okay with that(ins: follow your GUT FEELING).
g) Book your meals before the flight if you have special requests. This can be done at the time of your booking or by travel agent or upto 24 hrs prior to your flight in some airlines.
h) Carry enough formula for the flight plus 3-4 hours of Grace period. Someone recently ran out of it in flight & then a lovely crew breast fed the baby, thank god. But you don’t want to end up anywhere near such a situation.
i) The water from the water boiler is safe for kids but verify if it is are safe for infants.
j) Check with the airport before your flight if you can carry any water for your baby’s consumption & how much.
k) Carry a flask if needed so you can always fill it at cafe’s or restaurants at the airport after security. (Coffee shops with huge coffee machine are the best.)
l) Try to not let them sleep at home before flight if you haven’t booked the flight during their sleep timing.
m) Make them play and let them be a bit cranky before flight so they sleep through as much.
n) Carry atleast 3-4 sets or more of clothes for him, diapers etc & 2 changes for you. Wear the most comfy clothes you can find for yourself & them. Pajamas are the best.
o) If your feet swell up on long flights carry compression socks for yourself. Easily available in big pharmacies.
p) Carry snacks because the long flights only serve main meals & some small nuts/sandwich etc in between & you’ll be hungry if you’re feeding or pumping.
q) You can carry bread butter/cheese, nuts, whole fruit, healthy bars etc. Carry your own blanket for him & a pillow for yourself because god knows how dirty the inflight ones are.
r) All of your handbags should be only consisting of things for him & small items for you guys but nothing too bulky.
For the FLIGHT itself!
a) Use all special assistance you need, don't wait in security lines and ask for special help whenever needed. Do not feel bad whatsoever. You have a child. You have the right.b) Carry dry cotton swabs for his ears if needed.
c) Board not too early or late, wait outside boarding gate, because cramped spaces might make you & him cranky but have enough time to settle.
d) Ask for infant seat belt & life vest from the crew (per child).
e) During take off/landing, hold the child in your lap in their standing position properly with seat belt on, don't make him sleep or sit in any other positions. Like he facing forward on your tummy or as instructed by your cabin crew.
f) Keep a toy, a feed, pacifier & a cloth before take off/ldg because you are strapped in the front seat and can’t get up to get things or have any bag in front of you for safety reasons.
g) When plane is about to descend ( pilot will make announcements that we are soon going to reach the destination, it means they are descending), air pressure will make their ears hurt, so to avoid that immediately give him a pacifier or bottle or your feed.
h) Their jaws should keep moving throughout so ears don't get blocked. Let him keep sucking/moving the jaw until landing.
i) Take as much help as required from the crew or passengers as we mentioned. Don’t hesitate at all or feel bad. At all.
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| Courtesy: cntraveller.in |
j) Listen to safety instructions in the flight. Specially because now you have a child with you. It’s different for them in emergencies. We wish, pray and hope you don’t need them ever!
k) And most of all. Don’t stress. You stress, they’ll stress & so will the spouse. Clear calm mind makes better decisions. Don’t panic at the drop of a hat. If something unfortunate happens during travel you just got to find a way to deal with it. Stressing only makes it worst.
