Aeroplane travel with a bump! (pregnancy not the turbulent kind)

I have flown during both of my pregnancies from as early as 4 weeks to as late as 33 weeks.  Although I fly often, I am absolutely petrified of flying and normally I like to take a lovely combination of sleeping pills & wine to get me through!  However, whilst pregnant I get to enjoy(!) flying naturally again and here are some tips:

• Check with your airline how late you in your pregnancy they will take you
• Check with your insurance how late in your pregnancy you can travel
• After about 20 weeks + of pregnancy and when you are really showing, I think it's definitely worth getting a doctor's note permitting you to fly.  You will most certainly need one anyway if you are flying over 27 weeks.  I have been asked numerous times at check in to produce one
• Parade your bump at check in. Sometimes it might get you a better seat or even upgraded!
• For long haul flights get proper support stockings that reduce risk of DVT
• Drink lots of water
• Bring lots of snacks
• Move around on the plane

I know some people are concerned about flying whilst pregnant but if you read any medical websites, they will all say it's perfectly fine.  They do suggest the best time to fly is between 14 to 28 weeks when the risk of miscarriage and premature labour are lower.  As with all my travel advice, I can only say if you are feeling good - go for it!

Travelling & potty training

I started potty training my 27 month old daughter a week ago.  First few days were a total DISASTER but then it finally seemed to click...  We've still had the odd accident but we're getting there.  I've been loosely following the Gina Ford 'Potty Training In One Week'.  Unlike her other books which are written in a very strict, slightly mental tone, I've found this book useful and easy to follow.

After Day 3 of potty training I decided to take my daughter out & about.  A friend recommended this great product for travelling with your child - the Potette Plus which is a travel potty and trainer seat in one.  It's easy to use, lightweight and comes with disposable bags.  My daughter seems happy to use it and I love the fact that I can either assemble it as potty or use it as trainer seat on public toilets.

http://www.bibsandstuff.co.uk/acatalog/Potette_Plus.html

I am still keeping my daughter in nappies for her lunchtime and bedtime sleep.  I also think I will put her in a pull up nappy for our next long plane journey, will keep you posted as to how that goes....

Renting a car on holiday - the car seat dilemma

We have rented a car several times on holiday and when you have a young child i.e. still in a baby car seat I'm really in two minds as to whether you should bring your own or rent one with the car.

On the one hand, if you bring your own then you are guaranteed a safe car seat.  You don't have to worry about 'one not suddenly being available' when you are in a long queue for hiring your car.  You can then use it attached to your buggy for dinners out and transporting baby.  As mentioned in a previous post, if you are bringing your own, invest in a cheap bag to put it in when you check it into the hold.

When hiring a car in the South of France we were actually given a toddler front facing car seat rather than a baby one.  Our daughter was about 4 months old and I wasn't that happy about using it but we weren't using the car extensively and we strapped her in pretty tightly.

If you hire one with the car then it's one less piece of luggage to have to carry and avoid losing/getting damaged.  In fact, as I type this post, I think the best piece of advice would be to hire one with the car but keep phoning the car rental company in advance to confirm what kind of car seat they will be giving you.

and finally.... don't forget to pack your baby!

Short haul plane travel with young baby

My sister had a baby in May (my gorgeous new niece!) and she was asking my travel tips for their first adventure in August.
She lives in the UK and they initially wanted to take the car and drive over to France.  I told her she was mad and should embrace the option of budget airlines for short haul travel and go by air.  I honestly think that traveling by plane can be a lot easier than a loooooong car drive, particularly if you are still breastfeeding.

Things to remember:

• If you have a big buggy (eg Bugaboo Chameleon), check with airline how they can store it.  Are you able to take it to gate or do you have to disassemble the whole kit & caboodle at check in
• If you do have an enormous buggy, maybe it's wise to invest in a cheaper, lightweight one for your trip?  We travelled with friends who had to undo their entire buggy every time they went through security which wouldn't have been fun if the parent was traveling alone
• Check the updated liquids policy, this seems to change all the time.  You can carry formula in powder versions and sometimes ask for boiled water on the plane.  I have also used bottled water on planes, I really don't think it's going to harm your child for a few feeds!  I have also carried on cartons of premixed Aptamil.  If you think security are going to remove these from you, you can call ahead to the airport Boots and reserve some to pick up
• Take your baby carrier with you e.g. Baby Bjorn.  You might have to wait a while for them to deliver the buggy to the aircraft door or in some cases it's gone straight to the luggage carousel.
• Carry lots of nappies & wipes!  You never know if you will be delayed. If you don't want to carry a big changing purse you can also buy a disposable changing mat.
• If taking formula in bottles, overfill them as you will have to drink some yourself at security (gulp!) to prove that you are not taking dodgy chemicals on board
• If your buggy/car seat is going in the hold, invest in a bag for it (available online pretty cheaply to avoid damage)
• 1 or 2 changes of clothes for baby.  I have had a vomiting incident within seconds of sitting down on the plane
• Change of top for you!  See above
• Bibs if you are bottle feeding
• Blanket (If you use a big muslin for breastfeeding this could also double up)
• Grobag (You might want to ignore this for really short flight)
• Several dummies
• Calpol sachets - just in case
• I don't reckon young babies really need many toys and you should save room in your hand luggage for yourself!  If they are getting to the chewy stage and like something to hold then a wooden ring or a magical Sophie Giraffe is good  http://www.sophiegiraffeusa.com/

Flight Review: Bangkok Airways - Hong Kong to Koh Samui

I normally like this flight as it's just under 3 hours so is bearable with a screaming child!

http://www.bangkokair.com/en/index.php

I don't think you can check in online but our travel agent normally assigns our seats together.  They don't have a bassinet so be prepared to hold your baby for the flight. Again, I don't think they necessarily assign bulkhead to people travelling with babies, on this flight there weren't any kids travelling in those seats.
Check in is easy although at Terminal 2.  This means you have quite a distance to get to the gate including 2 trains and lots of escalators so I would take your buggy to the gate.
The plane is clean, fairly new and staff pretty friendly.
There are no seatback TVs but a few dotted around the cabin to show an in flight movie.  We took our trusty DVD player so all was good.
I/my travel agent forgot to order a child meal but my daughter wolfed down the adult meal of noodles which wasn't too spicy.
On our outbound flight they had sat us right at the back row.  Being 7 months pregnant this was fairly uncomfortable and as a nervous flyer you can feel every bump!  However, this proved to be a wise seating choice as they open both the front and back doors at Koh Samui airport.  We were able to rush off the plane, hop on the transit bus and race to the front of the immigration queue which can be lengthy. And then you are in paradise....

Travel necessity - the portable DVD player

A friend recommended that I buy a portable DVD player and it has been a LIFESAVER.
I wish I had used it earlier but I think her attention span for TV watching has only really developed from 18 months.
There are loads of options out there, if you've got ipad, iphone etc.  We don't travel with a laptop or tablet so my husband bought a super cheap DVD player in Hong Kong (no, i've never heard of the brand Top Smart either!)  It's pretty good, fairly robust, battery life just under 2 hours which can be a problem but I have used sockets on planes and always remember to charge it up before I go.
I've also put a few Peppa Pigs and Angelina Ballerina cartoons on my iphone.
We recently had a very peaceful flight from Thailand to Hong Kong where there was no entertainment system so she happily sat and watched her DVDs. And I read a book - magic!!

Cheap portable DVD player from the Wanchai computer centre in Hong Kong.  We use it with some small headphones he found for her

Packing hand luggage for long haul flight with toddler

Try to go for less is more!  That said, there have been times when my plane has been delayed and I've been thankful for those extra nappies.   I think it's a lot easier to pack hand luggage for a toddler than a baby as they can eat the plane food, use less nappies and can watch the in flight entertainment system.  I now try and keep it to the following:

• Pink teddy (she cannot sleep without it!)
• Grobag
• Pyjamas (these can double up as a change of clothes)
• 5 nappies, small pack of wipes, small cream and a few nappy bags
• 1 book
• 1 'surprise' toy (cheap toy that she's never seen that will entertain her for all of 5 seconds)
• 1 snack e.g. raisins or cereal bar
• Portable DVD player
• Calpol/Nurofen and syringe

As mentioned in previous post, I can have her carry a few bits in her rucksack.  The rest I get to lug around the airport.

I now just buy a bottle of water and give that to her or water from a cup on the plane to save carrying around her big bottle.  

Very useful airport product - toddler backpack with reins

I do a lot of travel on my own and once my toddler found her feet.... she was off!  If you are pushing a luggage trolley it's also impossible to push a buggy so I either stick her in the basket of the trolley (if there is one) or use her Little Life backpack.
I think it's a UK brand, my mum bought it for me in John Lewis. I sneakily put some nappies, wipes, books etc in there so she's carrying it around and away we go!
There are lots of similar products on the market and I think they are very useful.  I get the odd look of 'why is that woman walking her child' but to be fair, if they were in my position I think they would happily do the same!
http://www.littlelife.co.uk/html/toddler_daysacks/runabout-pink.html

Origins of the blog

I really wish I'd started the blog sooner.  I have a toddler and am due again in October and am afraid I've forgotten all my own advice about how to travel with kids!  I'm from the UK but for 7 years have lived in Asia, including the last 4 in Hong Kong.  My first daughter was born in April 2009 and we were determined not to let that get in the way of our wanderlust.  Combined with that the fact our families live in the UK and the number of weddings etc we were expected to attend, our little daughter has been on a plane more times than hot dinners.  I get asked all the time about advice on travelling with a baby, especially long haul as I've had to do this on numerous occasions by myself.  My advice is to just get over the fear and go for it!