Flying with your baby

Many people want to squeeze in a trip or two abroad before their baby arrives and travelling becomes a little more stressful. Flying will not harm you or your baby, although long haul journeys may not be appealing when you are bigger and more tired.

If you have no complications in your pregnancy then it is safe to fly up until 36 weeks. If you are having twins you are not recommended to fly past 32 weeks. Always check with your airline because most do not allow you to fly past 36 weeks and you may not be insured.

If you are planning to book a getaway but have any medical conditions it is important you discuss these and your plans with your doctor or midwife. If you are over 28 weeks pregnant your airline may ask for a letter from your GP or midwife confirming that you are fit to fly and have no health issues.

While flying is totally safe for pregnant women there are a few things which may make it a bit more uncomfortable such as fluid retention in your legs, nasal congestion and motion sickness.

Pregnant women also have a higher chance of getting a DVT (deep vein thrombosis) which is a blood clot in your leg or pelvis. If the clot travels to your lungs it can be very serious. If you are overweight or have had a DVT before, speak to your midwife or doctor before flying. There are many things you can do to reduce your risk of a DVT such as walking around the plane, doing in-seat exercises, drinking plenty of water and wearing elasticated compression socks.

Stories of women going into labour on planes hit the headlines from time-to-time but in reality this is quite rare. However, if it does happen the pilot may have to divert the flight to a closer destination as there is no guarantee that crew or other passengers will be able to assist you.

Here are a few things to consider before booking that getaway:

•   How many weeks pregnant will I be?

•   What are the medical facilities like in the country?

•   Do I need to have any immunisations before I go? Are the jabs safe to have while pregnant?

•   How long is the flight?

•   Are the food and water supplies sanitary?

•   Does my travel insurance cover me if I go into labour early?

***Remember to pack your hospital notes - and have a great time!

Flying with a baby

Flying when you become a parent is never going to be the same as before. You need twice as much luggage, your wandering around duty free will be swapped for feeds and nappy changes and the flight itself will be a juggling act. However, having a baby should not stop you from seeing the world, visiting friends and having a good time. Airlines and airports are more than used to families flying with them now and as long as you are organised, there is no reason why things should get turbulent!

It is safe to fly with babies even when they are very small, however you may need a doctor’s note if your child is less than two weeks old. You may remember travelling abroad on your mum or dad’s passport when you were a child but this is no longer the case. Now all children need their own passport and it can take around three weeks to arrive after application. Children under two can sit on a parent’s lap and you do not need to buy them their own seat.

At the airport

Try to check in at home so you can drop your baggage and go straight through security. Many airports have dedicated security zones for families and disabled people. It may take a little longer as you will need to collapse your buggy and carry your baby through the scanner.

You are allowed to take boiled water, formula and baby food in your hand luggage, in volumes over 100ml. Allow time at security for some extra checks to be carried out on these items as they will want to test it all. It is possible to buy formula and baby food airside and some shops, such as Boots, will also let you preorder it to collect once you have been through security. 

Most airlines will let you take your buggy to the aircraft door. Some allow you to collect it from the door at your destination airport but this is not guaranteed so it’s always worth taking a sling with you if you can. This means you can carry your child and your hand luggage to the baggage hall, which can sometimes be a bit of a walk from the plane.

On the plane

 If you are flying long haul try to book the bulkhead seats which sometimes have extra oxygen bags for babies and toddlers who are sitting on their parents’ laps. This is also where you have access to the bassinet/carrycot which will give you somewhere safe to put your baby for their nap - and maybe give you time to eat a meal or watch a film!

If you are worried about your baby’s ears hurting at take off and landing try feeding them as the sucking action can help them to equalise their ears. Pack sachets or Calpol or other medicines in your hand luggage. Make sure you have spare clothes for everyone in your hand luggage - a poonami on takeoff is not uncommon!

On arrival

Your first holiday with your baby will be a really special time and you will create lots of happy memories. But it’s still important to stay safe and remember to consider things only using clean drinking water, staying cool or warm and road safety. Read our blog about staying safe on holiday here (LINK).

:: To find out more about travelling when pregnant and with babies go to Fit For Travel