Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
If you have an expensive stroller, I wouldn’t recommend taking it on the flight… Strollers are useless in Pakistan anyways. Emirates broke mine when I traveled with my 6 month old daughter … and they also didn’t give it to me at Dubai airport, even though I especially requested them… stupid people 
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Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
I've been traveling (domestic and international) with my daughter since she was 3 months, so I've been through pretty much every kinda situation. I'm assuming it'll be a direct flight, so it shouldn't be too bad.
Water: I've never had a problem taking a thermos of water with me on a plane. Just make sure all liquids over 100ml related to baby are placed in those plastic bins at security, and let them know it's for the baby's formula.
Bottles: I've used Dr. Brown's bottles for my daughter as well. On long haul flights, I always made sure to take enough bottles to last the entire flight. In case you run out of bottles, ask the flight attendent for hot water to rinse/wash the bottle. (Never use water from the lavatories.)
Stroller: **I have always travelled with a travel system, although mine wasn't one of them huge ones. I've personally found it a lot easier than those umbrella strollers, especially for a young baby. I've even seen big huge travel systems at the gate as well. In any case, you leave the stroller at the gate, just before you enter the plane, and you pick it up as soon as you exit. The only time we didn't get back at the gate was when departing from Lahore, landing in London. We had to pick it up from luggage claim. It'll be super easy for you with a direct flight.
**Baby bjorn: We've travelled with and without. For us, most of our travel involved multiple legs/plane changes/transit, etc., so it helped to have a baby bjorn when she was a baby. If you're traveling by yourself, I'd say it'll be more of of a hassle to handle baby bjorn, as well as your stroller. Take your travel system.
Extras: Take extra diapers (more than she would need for the duration of the trip), in case your flight's delayed or something. I've always ended up overpacking and found it extremely hard to to handle a heavy backpack, as well as a baby, and a stroller. But for your own peace of mind, take whatever extras you need. Dress her in layers, so if she's hot, you can easily take the top layer off. It might be a hassle for you, but once in a while we've remembered to bring a pillow on a flight. It made 'sleeping' a lot more comfy for her on those tiny uncomfortable seats. If she has a blanket or an object she finds comforting, bring it along. Don't forget ziplocks or plastic bags for diapers or soiled clothing.
Someone mentioned you can't store formula/milk with the flight attendants. I've actually never had a problem with that. I've usually kept medication and formula/milk in their refrigerator/icepacks/whatever they use to keep stuff cold.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
Thanks for the detailed replies and tips...:)
Ok now the only thing at this moment is the stroller.I put her in an umbrella stroller over the weekend and she is too small/young for it...and I am not sure how in 3 weeks(that is when I am traveling) it will become fit for her.
I got a baby Bjorn thingy from a friend and I just kept on fumbling with it.I will definitely try to put her in it and try it out a few times before I leave but I don't think so it will work for me.
My flight from here is direct whereas on my way back there is one stop,and I would need the stroller at that time too.
Anyone who has traveled from Pakistan to NY,by PIA and with an infant/child...,did you guys get the stroller at the Manchester airport during transit or did you have to collect it from the baggage claim in NY...???
If I decide to buy another stroller it wont be an umbrella stroller and will be one of those light weight ones but then its almost the same size as my travel system stroller...just lighter...
is it worth it buying another one...??
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
If the new one is going to be the same size as your travel system, I don't see a point buying that. Just take the one you have. I've personally found it to be a lot easier to strap your baby into the car seat, and click it in place on the stroller.
I didn't travel on PIA, but from what I've experienced during my last trip to Pakistan on Emirates, the staff at Lahore airport check your stroller/car seat through to your final destination. We had to really convince the guy that it's normal (and a common practice) in other countries to gate check your stroller/car carseat, and pick it up when you exit the plane. He still checked it through to London, and we had to pick it up from baggage claim. You might want to call PIA ahead and find out what the procedure is.
Baby Bjorn, like I said, is a hassle especially when travelling by yourself. It worked out ok for us whenever it was the two of us. I took it once when I was travelling by myself, and I found it pretty difficult to handle a stroller, car seat, and a baby bjorn. Having said that, IF there's a chance you won't have your stroller on the way back, it might be a good idea to take it with you, in case you need it. You can strap her in after you land, while you're still on your seat. I've found flight attendants to be pretty helpful.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
SeaBee…I am not going to carry the carseat…just the stroller…
I agree with the baby Bjorn thing that it gets difficult to handle…
I think I might just call PIA and ask them…but I am pretty sure they wont be of any help…
They just gave me the wrong dimensions for the luggage I can carry with an infant..I just found out after I bought a bigger suitcase..
I am trying to convince the husband to come too so that we can travel back together…it will save me so much trouble…
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
baby carrier is a good idea esp if you have a stop over, I remember once I didn't have the stroller and my child was 6 months old, and I didn't have the child carrier, he was sleepy an d I was dead tiered at that point I just wished somehow I if I could just free my arms for few minutes to rest. Kids generally sleep better when they are in baby carrier since they are close to the mother too.
One of the other advantages of having a baby carrier is when yo ugo back home and going out shopping and stuff, strollers are still not a very practical thing in pak, most side walks, shopping plazas are nor kid friendly yet, so putting your baby in baby carrierr can leave you hand free for shopping etc..thats just my experience.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
ok this might sound silly…but do they have baby changing stations in airplane toilets…??
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
They don't have those in PIA. that's for sure.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
then how do people travelling in PIA change their babies when they have a dirty nappy etc ?
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
Yes please tell me…
I think I just found out another thing to freak about…
now only if I had been observant on my last trip…
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
thats wht i also want to know...can someone help?
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
I noticed that here too, alot of strollers were coming on the luggage cart, so I’m assuming strollers were not given at the gate…
Yup, noticed that too…almost all teh first seats were given to families/women with infants
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
SARA…Good you were observant…!!
People are telling me that most likely the stroller wont be returned at the gate but instead at the baggage claim…and that means that on my way back to US I wont have it during the stop over and will either have to carry the baby or use the baby bjorn thing…
Did you happen to notice if there were any baby changing station in the toilets…??
that’s my newest worry…
Anyone…???
I am so anxious of the flight…I almost feel like not going…
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
dear they all have baby changing stations but take a change mat with u i done it. i travelled with my 2 month old baby from Frankfurt-Amsterdam to Lahore. no problem with formula cuz i was nursing her. when i come back from PAK she was 6 month old i use pre-made formula. also no problem.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
How much time in advance one should call the airline to reserve the bassinet? I will be traveling with my 9 months old daughter in Nov Insha ALLAH.
I am planning to use disposable bottles, what about these
http://www.amazon.com/Playtex-Pre-Sterilized-Disposable-Bottles-bottles/dp/B001F71R9A
but couldn’t find 8 oz ones…
any reviews on these ones?
Other than soothers what can be done for ear pressure?
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
its bulk head seat its good when i traveled with my son on PiA i used that now i am planning with my baby grils so i already booked my seats and my travel agent booked me for bulk head seat
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
Any mom used a baby bjorn, and how did it go interms of carrying the baby's weight and the feel of the baby stuck on you, especially on a short mom like me (5'3)?
I will be traveling when my baby is 4 months inshallah, and I am planning on using a baby bjorn, instead or taking the carseat/stroller along with me. I figure this would be a better idea and easier for me to move around, since I will have a one-stop, before taking off on a 14 hour flight to Dubai. And since I will be flying from JFK, I will surely be walking around to get to the trams to get to my gate.
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
In case anyone is interested,I thought I will post an update...
Thankfully the flight was great(I so hope I can say the same about my return flight too,Inshallah).
I took an umbrella stroller for my 6 mo old and it worked well...while we waited at the airport for a few hours before departure I had her in her travel system stroller but the husband took it when we were to start checking-in and I put her in the umbrella stroller...it was perfect for both of us...
They took the stroller at the planer gate and we got it the baggage claim and since it was a non stop flight so it worked well and I never needed the stroller...I am not sure how it will work on my way back because I do have a 2-3 hr long stop over....
They do have baby changing stations in the lavatories and I used the disposable changing mats there so that worked well too...
Got a bulkhead seat and a bassinet and she slept in that....it was a tad bit too small for her but still it worked just fine...just remember to carry enough blankets etc to use under the baby before putting in the bassinet and another one to cover the baby as it got a bit chilly in the plane....
I carried 2 bottles of nursery water past security and they never said anything(I doubt this will be the case on my way back)...I also purchased a bottle of bottle water after going thru security in case I needed more...
All went well...Ah...
what I did not anticipate was the baby's jet lag...!!!!!!!!!!!
She sleeps through the day and is up at 2 am every night...and that has resulted in an extremely tired and sleep deprived mommy...:-((((
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
chips6 I am glad you had a smooth flight :) which nursery water did you carry? the regular one's sold at babies r us?
Re: Traveling (internationally) with an infant
How long before the flight one needs to call the airline to get a bassinet booked for the baby?