First long distance travel !

All the way from India to Germany with a 4 month old infant !

 



 

I was leaving India on the night of 31st of July 2015 to board the 3am Lufthansa flight. Baby on one hand, his essentials in the other. I opted the wheelchair facility provided by the airlines so that i would not have to carry the baby for the long walk inside the airport to reach the boarding gate (airports also have strollers. but i did not opt for it as my baby was too small needed a carrycot). Just crossing my fingers that he remains calm and cool through out the flight. It must have been around 2am when i headed to the baby changing room at the Bangalore airport. Surprise!! I was taken aback seeing the way they had maintained it. It had everything a crib, a feeding chair, baby changing table and some tissues.

 

 

So there i was at the boarding gate ready to take the flight. They usually allow people on the wheelchair and the ones with children to take the flight first. You need to plan well when you're travelling with an infant to be sure not to miss anything.

 

So here is a checklist of baby essentials for air travel :

 

1. Feeding bottles (all steralised and filled with sufficient water). The cabin crew also steralise the bottles and provide baby water.

2. Water bottle containing boiled and cooled water for the baby

3. Milk powder (i kept a good whole 400gms packet)

4. Tissues to wipe the baby's face and mouth

The above in case you don't prefer to breastfeed in public

5. Warm clothes - a sweater,cap, mittens, socks and a blanket

6. Extra set of clothes for the baby

7. Diapers - 10 to 15 (as my door to door journey took around 20 hours) one diaper change every 3 hours needed 6 diapers and a few extra for the baby poops.

8. Wet tissues and disposable covers to dispose off the used diapers

9. Diaper rash cream or any baby cream

10. Diaper changing mat

11. Baby's favourite rattle/toy

 

The airlines provide a bassinet if you've booked in advance so that the baby can sleep peacefully. But the disadvantage, is an absolute crammed leg :-)

 

However last but not the least how can i forget my saviour.... the PACIFIER !! I did not get ear buds for the baby as they were not available in Bangalore. But carrying pacifier is a must as babies find comfort in sucking during take off and landing.So i carried 2 to 3 pacifiers.

 

Luckily i had all the baby essentials in my bag that saved me and made my journey uneventful (all the more so as my son slept through the whole journey of 10 hours and the flight landed half an hour early in Frankfurt !).

 

Happy travel !!!!!