first flight with 4mth old...any advice

I've just done this exact flight with my 2-month old - the 8am back to Gatwick. I had my husband with me for this flight, but will be doing the journey alone next time (in a month's time). We actually found the flight easy. My best advice would be to get everything you need down and into the seat pocket infront before takeoff (you can get on flight first, so this hopefully shouldnt be too stressful). I bottle feed, so had a bottle ready in the pouch, a pot of dummies, a blanket, my earphones for watching a bit of tv while he slept, my water bottle etc. We fed him the bottle while everyone else was boarding and we were taking off, so he dropped off shortly afterwards. We cuddled him until he slept, then lowered him into basinet and he slept for a few hours afterwards. During this time, we got the next bottle down from the overhead lockers, packed away the dirty one, got a nappy ready... Just make sure you use the time they are sleeping to get yourself sorted and you will have no problems. I understand what you mean about your baby not sleeping under those circumstances, but I think you'll find the low hum and vibrations of the plane to be the perfect sedative - our baby has never slept that well during the day, the flight was really easy. What we didnt find so easy was disturbing him during the night to get him up and out the door to go to airport - and then lugging him round in the baby carrier before we got on it. He wasn't the happiest baby, so next time I am definitely going to take my buggy up to the door of the plane, which will allow him to sleep better during this time and help me cope with the baggage too (I will have two bags for handbaggage - one for his things, one for mine - laptop etc). If you are flying with Emirates, feel free to ask any questions on how it all worked. We found them to be BRILLIANT with the baby - we were showered with gifts and even had a polaroid picture taken and given to us of his very first flight. They are very, very baby friendly and I have no fears about flying with them again in July.

I've decided to escape the heat for a few weeks and head back to the UK. I'll be travelling alone with my 4mth old and am planning to take an 8am flight from DXB. For those seasoned travellers, is there any advice you wish you'd known before you took your first flight. One of the main things i'm 'worried' about is how she will sleep in the bassinet because she's so used to sleeping in a dark, quiet room and unlike most babies, seems to be a very light sleeper so i'm not sure how she'll go on the plane. Any other words of wisdom would be great! TIA My DD sleeps under the same conditions as yours. I flew alone with her at 4 months but was advised by the ladies on here to take a night flight. She slept through the rake off and landing and a good chunk of the flight (also back to the UK). As mentioned, I dressed her in a sleepy suit and you are provided a blanket. Just make sure you feed her or give her a dummy for take off and landing. Good luck.

the noise/motion of the plane seems to lull them off to sleep, 4 months is actually a really good time to travel. If you are breastfeeding just feed her a lot and that should keep her happy.

Just don't get stressed out and take it easy - lots of parents/moms travel with babies, so don't start worrying about other passengers, just yourself and your bub :) Last time I traveled with 4 m.o., I wore all-in-one sleepsuit, so that DD wouldn't be cold on airplane. Try keeping her awake till the airplane takes off and reaches the necessary altitude, then put her to sleep. Also during take off/landing, offer her dummy or milk so that her ears won't be paining. take: - extra clothes for yourself (t-shirt/sweater) and LO in case of spit ups/nappy leakage/etc. - some new toys to get LO's attention and/or favorite toy if she has one - extra pampers (normal amount + extra) - ready bottles (with/without water) with formula portions required (in case formula feeding and if bf, then nada :)) - blanket for her - some warm clothes for your and her as it sometimes gets a bit chilly in a plane And as some people say "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" :) have nice holidays <em>edited by dramaqn on 24/06/2012</em>