Stranger's act of kindness for new mom on an airplane goes viral

Just to share an article about a fellow mother stepping up to relieve another mother from her crying baby and carried the baby throughout the whole flight. There is hope to humanity when there is kindness. Let's offer that kindness & show empathy to other parents with their little ones on our next flight.

Click here to read the story.




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Baby's Hand Carry Bag

My Baby Luggage would have this...


toys : interactive, flashing, musical,

teether ring

toy links


new toy(s) - keep baby busy for longer

cloth books : could double up as pillow/cushion for baby when she sleeps

favourite blanket/item

2 x changes of baby clothes

a change of parents clothes

thicker/thinner clothing - according to destination's weather
nappies (diapers) & nappy bags

changing mat : the changing table in the lavatory can be rather, small, flat and cold

baby wipes

burp cloths

bibs

pacifier/soother

pacifier/soother wipes : this is a specific type of wipes which could clean dirty pacifier, teether rings, utensils, toys, etc before your baby stick the item back into the mouth.


baby food : 3-5 types including snacks

formula milk : an option to reserve and collect from shop at terminal

milk bottles & bottle cleaner

sippy cup / beaker 

infant paracetemol in ready sachets & a spoon

baby ear thermometer

baby carrier

baby neck pillow






Aside from the Luggage, there might also be...

stroller/pram

stroller dust bag, bubble wrap with rubber band/tape/velcro

car seat

car seat bag

Choosing Flight

There are several considerations when it comes to booking a flight. 



Which airline?

Transit
Most people would usually prefer a direct flight but it would be wiser to opt for a route with at least one transit especially if it is a long haul. Space to walk/crawl and have a change of scenery at transit might do them & you some good. No one knows how your baby would behave throughout the flight, so transit(s) will give you a breather in case you struggle suppressing your baby from bawling. Choose to fly with an airline which has the option to transit in the middle of the trip instead of transiting too early in the journey to the final destination.
E.g. For  LHR-KUL, opt for...
       Emirates for minimum 17 hours flight with a minimum 2 hours transit at Dubai after flying first sector for 7 hours.
       Etihad for minimum 17 hours flight with a minimum 2 hours transit at Abu Dhabi after flying first sector for 6-7 hours.

Services
Free usage of strollers
Terminals with playrooms & baby facilities
Trained crew to watch out for babies before flight or during transit (Etihad, GulfAir, Private Hire)
Lounge Availability - class privilege or paid




 
When?

Try to book a flight with estimated time of departure (ETD) which coincides with you baby sleeping time. Otherwise, you could try adjusting baby sleeping hours to the time zone of your destination a few days before your flight.



Where?

When it comes to the selection of seats, go for the bulkhead seats to benefit from the usage of bassinet. These seats are either on the first row of a cabin class, behind the lavatories (toilets) or the galleys (pantries). Not all bulkhead seats are suitable or convenient for carers to move about when caring for babies.
Click here to read more about seats consideration.
Click here to view seat map with suggestions of good seats on any aircraft type with any airline.




What?

Infant Car Seat
If you are booking a seat for your baby (who is too tall or heavy for the bassinet), you would need to bring on board an FAA-approved infant car seat which must be forward facing & able to be secured with the normal lap seat belt. Almost all airlines require you to bring your infant car seat should you need one. Only one airline, Virgin Atlantic, have the service of infant car seat on board. Ask your airline about the seat measurement as each aircraft differs.

You can find out more about infant car seats for flying with baby from here and here.

Fare for flying with a baby without occupying  is significantly less, just a fraction of the adult fare. You would have the option to use the infant seat belt attached to your adult seat belt during take off and landing.

In-flight meals
If you are flying with a service airline (with your baby and you have one other adult traveling with you) which entitles you to the meal(s) on board, do request for either a *special meal option during booking your ticket or highlight to the crew to serve your (or your accompanying adult's) food before or after the their normal meal service when they serve everyone from the cart. This is just so one of you is available to manage the baby while the other eats. The bassinet and entertainment are enough to trap you in your little space. The food tray on your lap would be in the way and make it so much harder to attend to your baby especially if he/she is fussing.
*special meals are served to passengers some time before the normal meal are wheeled out in a cart.
*seafood, vegetarian, kosher, diabetic and etc.

Stroller At Airport

Stroller/Pram

- Suggestion to buy a spare/cheap/light weight for travel. Leave your priced stroller/pram at home because there are many incidents of damage upon arrival. 

 - Be prepared that some airlines complaint department may not refund or appease you for the damage of your stroller/pram.

- If not checked in, get a tag from staff when you check in your luggages at the counter. Gate check it when you arrive at the boarding gate. Either the ground crew or the loading staff will approach you.

- When you come to the security checks, be prepared to carry or guide baby through the arches while stroller to be folded and be put through the scanner.

- Your stroller can be brought all the way to boarding gate and gate check it. Remember to empty basket before folding it for gate check. Make sure it stays close. Use Velcro if it does not.

- You may want to buy a stroller bag or bubble wrap to protect the stroller/pram.

- Some airports with free stroller use at transit or arrival but stroller may not recline.

- Usually not included as baggage allowance for most airlines.




Airlines with Free Usage of Stroller

Apparently at the moment very few airlines provide this service... 
 

Emirates- at Dubai Airport only
Etihad- at Abu Dhabi airport only ( Terminal 3)
Qatar- At Doha airport only. 
ANA - Narita, Kansa, Chubu Centrair Intl and Kamatsu.
JAL - Narita, Kansai, Chubu Centrair Intl and Kamatsu
Qantas - see below.

For more info, click here.