Author＼Sandy Xiandi

For parents, taking children to fly abroad is a very challenging thing. For children, it is a strange and closed world. Space, even adults are bored by flying, let alone a baby?

I have seen many families traveling with babies on the plane, and some friends asked me related questions, so I wanted to compile an article from the perspective of a flight attendant mother to share how to let babies travel with them. The voyage is more satisfactory, I hope it can be helpful to everyone~ (mainly using Huahang as a model)

It is divided into the following paragraphs according to the stages of the voyage:

Preparation before departure

1. Book infant air tickets and meals

"Infant" refers to children under 2 years old, and the ticket price is about 1/1 of the adult ticket. 10 tax (depending on the route), but you can reserve a baby carrier without occupying a seat. The most troublesome point is that the baby carrier is not heavy. Taking China Airlines as an example: 71 cm amp; 11 kg Babies below 7 months old can lie down, but babies over 7 months old cannot lie down (each airline has different regulations, please ask first). Based on this standard, my Lucy baby is over the height of 7 months old... The flight attendant can do this according to flight safety reasons. Do not place an overly large baby in a baby carrier.

If you fly a short distance, it’s okay. For babies under 2 years old, parents have to hold the child for the whole trip. If you fly a long distance, it will be quite tiring. If the baby exceeds the carrier and can sit up on his own (usually After about 7 months, the baby can sit upright and just can’t lie down in the carrier).

The solution for those who want to be more relaxed when flying long distance is: buy another child ticket (2~12 years old, occupying a seat), but for safety reasons, parents still have to hold the baby when taking off and landing or encountering turbulence. , children's tickets are about 25% off the tax of adult tickets, but not every destination has children's tickets.

Please ask first. Such tickets cannot be purchased directly online. You must book through the airline’s customer service, or some flights of China Airlines have parent-child berths and economy class seats. You can lie down flat, please contact customer service, or adults can buy a business class ticket. At least the seats are larger and you can lie down. Even if you hold a child for the whole trip, it will not be too crowded or tiring.

Meals are a bit simpler. When booking, inform the age of the child at the time of departure, and you can get the BABY MEAL (amp; diapers and other supplies) for that month of age. The key is to arrive early Make a reservation! It is usually too late to tell your baby that he wants to eat when you arrive at the check-in counter. You must order baby meals at least 24 hours in advance.

2. Insurance for the whole family

It would not be fun if there is an accident when traveling with the whole family. Usually, if you pay for air tickets with a credit card, different levels of travel insurance will be provided depending on the type of credit card. (There are only basic limits, and some only provide coverage during the flight. Please inquire with the credit card company yourself)

If you want more complete protection, please remember to add travel safety insurance or travel inconvenience insurance. , it will be more secure if you are sick, hospitalized, accidental or other emergencies. After all, these costs are prohibitively high in foreign countries!

Recommended reading: Can I travel abroad while pregnant? Pregnant women beware of high risks

3. Prepare all baby supplies. The most important thing!

Don’t expect too much that there will be baby supplies on the plane or in the hotel. It is safest to bring your own amp; Get used to the carry-on area amp; and pack the supplies into the check-in area in large boxes.

Carry-on area: Use one big bag to hold all baby supplies, and a small bag to store personal belongings, documents and valuables, so that you won’t have to rummage around at the check-in counter/customs/security checkpoint. In a hurry, liquids are packed in transparent zipper bags (leak-proof and no more than 100 ml per bottle)

Check-in area: Prepare according to the travel destination, location and weather. If you are traveling with a baby, I will definitely use 29 For a large suitcase, put it in separate bags (tidy and easy to find), put liquids in transparent zipper bags (leak-proof), put fragile items in shoe boxes/hard boxes, and stuff clothes/socks in the middle (to prevent leakage) Collide).

The empty shoe box can also be used to fill the luggage compartment space on the outbound journey. Fill the box with the contents so that the contents will not roll around (the box and contents will not roll and break easily). If you buy things abroad, you will have plenty of space to store them. If you want to bring your own non-staple food to take abroad, it is best to check the local customs regulations first. Many foods, especially meat/fresh fruits, cannot be brought into the country.

List of essential items on board: increase or decrease the amount you carry according to the flight duration

Baby clothes: It is best to wear thin long sleeves on the plane (adults too), you can bring an extra set as a spare.

Blanket: The air conditioner on board is quite cool, and the blanket is hygienic...

Baby food: enough milk powder/non-staple food/snacks (vacuum-packed non-staple food, bread, biscuits, etc. at room temperature, it is best to prepare what the baby has eaten & can accept).

Thermos cup/can: You can ask the flight attendant for hot water. The thermos can can also be used to store your own food, but you must finish it before getting off the plane. Many foods violate customs regulations and cannot be entered.

Diapers: Bring a few extra ones just in case. Pants-type diapers are easier to change in the small airplane toilet. Even if the baby has stopped wearing diapers, it is best to keep them wrapped because the toilet is not always available. , there are too many factors that may happen when taking a flight.

Children's tableware, small spoons/forks/bowls/bib bags: Please note that metal knives and forks and baby food scissors cannot be brought on board! They are all security items and will be thrown away after exit security. Remember to put them in your check-in box. You can use the knives and forks in the on-board tableware bag (or forks made of plastic or wheat products to board the plane).

Baby sling: Choose according to the age of the baby. If the sling is used for a short distance to hold the hands, it will be less painful. I think it is very convenient to carry/fix the child and leave both hands free to take things ( As shown above).

Toys/comforts your baby likes: Some babies just prefer their own things, which makes them feel safe.

Medication for infants: Prepare according to your own needs. The space on the plane is closed, there are many people, and there are many bacteria, so it is really easy to get infected. It is recommended to go to the pediatrician a few days before going abroad to pick up some spare medicines.

Disinfection and sterilization liquid: super essential! Hygiene on board... I spray everything around me before sitting down, and I also spray my hands before eating, which is a must for me when I go out.

Moisturizing lotion: It is very drying on the plane and can be used by adults and children.

Recommended reading: Taking non-staple food abroad, learn how to pack, preserve and heat it!

Let me tell parents what we can provide for babies on the plane:

You don’t need to bring your own cold/hot water: because it will be thrown away at the exit security check, and hot water is not delivered on the plane. 100 degrees, but 70 degrees must be enough to brew milk powder (some waiting rooms at Taiwan Taoyuan Airport have hot and cold water dispensers that can fill water).

Waterproof and heated containers: can help heat room-temperature vacuum-packed non-staple food. Frozen non-staple food may not be possible (and inconvenient to carry). Not every aircraft has a microwave oven.

Baby Meal: Only available if you make a reservation in advance. Please inform your age when booking. However, your baby may not necessarily pay for it because he or she has never eaten it, so it is better to bring your own insurance.

Diapers: small quantity, only size L adhesive type. It is not a big brand. It is recommended to bring your own ones that you are used to.

Pillows and blankets: But their hygiene... I am not mysophobic, but after giving birth to a child, I paid great attention to all aspects of hygiene. After all, children have weaker immunity. I only learned about it after I became a flight attendant. Cleaning means surface cleaning, which should be okay for adults, but if I am bringing my own children, I will definitely bring my own blanket (I usually keep it in my mother’s bag anyway). If I really need to use the in-flight pillow, I will put a layer of cloth/paper towel on it. Spray sterilizing solution.

Toy: Although it is not a powerful toy, babies like it very much when they see it. Children like the new and hate the old.

Infant carrier: Take Hua Airlines as an example: babies 71 cm and 11 kg below can lie down, but babies over 11 kg cannot lie down. They must be picked up during takeoff, landing and when the seat belt light is on, and cannot lie down. Quantities are limited and must be reserved! (Some low-cost airlines do not provide it, please ask first).

Diaper table: It is located in the toilet, but it is not very big. It is recommended to wear pants-type diapers for easier changing. Therefore, there are no standing microwaves, milk powder, non-staple food, children's tableware, and nursing rooms (please bring your own nursing towels and use them in place)

Check-in and board the plane

4. Please give your name before taking the flight Keep the baby awake/playing longer

Before taking the flight that day, you need to make him a little tired (but not too tired, the baby will be happy), so that he can sleep well on the plane, and the whole family will be able to travel well if the baby sleeps well. Good luck~~ This is the same as sleeping at home.

5. Check in at the airport early

For general passengers, go to the airport counter to reserve a seat about 2 hours before the check-in time (about 3 hours before flying to the United States). If you are traveling with an infant, you can arrive half an hour earlier. , it is easier to be calm if something unexpected happens (hmm, hungry, crying and not cooperating, etc., many, many...)

The reason for arriving early is that it is easier to get a seat in the row behind the partition. (bulkhead seat). This row of seats cannot be reserved directly online (usually locked). It can accommodate a baby carrier. Even if the carrier is not used, the space is slightly larger. There is a high chance that this row will be for families with children.

Because you arrive at the airport earlier, you can introduce the airport facilities to your baby so that he does not feel unfamiliar or scared of this place. Especially when he sees the plane, you can say to him: "We will go there in a moment." Take this plane, you usually see it in the sky, today we are going to sit in it, wait a minute when we sit in the plane, it will be so loud and booming when it flies, but mom will always hold you Oh, it’s fun~~

Then if you are tired, just go to sleep, and you will wake up soon. " Let your baby be mentally prepared for the long journey, and he will not be afraid and may even like it. , because he knows what will happen, or let him read a story book about the plane beforehand (no matter how young the child is, you can do/tell it!), go to the toilet in the waiting room to change a diaper before boarding the plane~

6. Check the stroller by the door

When traveling abroad with a baby, you usually bring a lightweight foldable stroller (please ask the ground staff first depending on the airport). Some must be at the check-in counter. It can be hauled directly, and some can be pushed all the way to the boarding gate and then handed over to the ground staff for check-in (available at Taiwan Taoyuan Airport). No matter which method is used to check in, it is best to wrap it in a large bag/sleeve to prevent contamination.

Although some strollers are advertised as being able to be taken on the plane and put in the luggage locker, I would still recommend checking them in, because taking them on the plane takes up a lot of space (the luggage compartment belongs to everyone), and parents have to take them on the plane. There is already enough stuff, and it would be even harder if you bring a cart with you. If you really want to take it directly onto the plane, you can choose a YOYO or POCKET stroller, which can be folded into a small size and placed on the luggage cabinet.

During the flight

7. Feeding during takeoff and landing

Babies are most likely to feel uncomfortable due to changes in air pressure during takeoff and landing, so babies often cry symphony. If the baby can listen, you can give him something to eat or drink/suck a pacifier at this time. If the baby swallows, the tinnitus will be greatly improved.

If you have reserved a baby carrier after the plane takes off, the flight attendant will help put it on, but it must meet the height and weight standards. Each airline has different regulations, so please ask when booking.

8. What to do when a baby cries

This is a situation I encounter almost every time I fly. Parents, please don’t be too nervous. You can give him food/play toys/ Try to put him to sleep or pick him up and walk around, but never let a child run around in the cabin, it is very dangerous!

9. What should parents do if their baby wants to go to the toilet?

Mainly because the toilet on the plane is very small. If there is only one person taking the baby on the plane, the suggestions are: If it is a short distance, go to the toilet before boarding. You have to go to the toilet first in the waiting room (the toilet is large so you can bring your children in with you), but if you really need to get on the plane to use the toilet, you can ask the flight attendant to help you and then go back quickly. But try not to pick it up when the food is being delivered, because there may be no manpower to help, and the food truck will be stuck in the aisle and unable to move.

Recommended reading: Pushing a stroller is not a hassle at all! Six reasons to take your baby abroad

Based on my own experience, I usually take my baby into the toilet when I go out and let the baby stand or sit on a baby chair in the toilet. Although some well-meaning passers-by said I still feel uneasy about helping me watch, but the plane is a confined space and it is unlikely that the child will be taken away, so it is feasible to ask the flight attendant to help. (Again, please measure the workload of the flight attendant at that time first)

10. Treat each other with courtesy

I can understand now that flying with a baby is quite stressful, but it is not normal. When parents get angry with us on the plane... But getting angry with the flight attendant will not solve your problem. On the contrary, we are more willing to help parents who are polite, because we all know that flying with a baby is quite tiring. .

Arrival and disembarkation

11. Change diapers/use the toilet 40 minutes before arrival

In order to avoid temporary delays or other situations, it is best to change diapers first , parents can also use the toilet for the last time (the toilet cannot be used again later). During takeoff and landing, babies under 2 years old must be held by their parents. Some airlines have baby safety belts.

Recommended reading: Three tips for parent-child travel to help your children take the plane well

12. Slowly pack your luggage and get off the plane

After the plane stops, slowly pack your luggage. Remember to Take all your things off the plane. After all, babies have a lot of things and I know that it will be easier for you to move around after others get off the plane. The stroller should be waiting for you at the airport door by this time (some airports have to go to the luggage carousel to get there) Please ask the ground staff first), congratulations on arriving at your destination!

B Usually when going through security check or passport control, if a staff member sees a family with young children, they will ask you to check them first (but this is not always the case. Do not whisper to the airport staff that you want to jump in line. Yeah)

After the flight, be sure to remember to praise your baby: "You did well on your first flight. It was so fun to fly. You just saw a lot of marshmallow-like clouds in the sky, right?" ~~We will take the flight again next time~~" Let him know that he has accomplished something he has never done before, and he will be more accepting of the next flight.