The on-flight crew August had not started solids on the way there, so he was all milk and I just breastfed him often. For food, for comfort, for popping ears - I fed. I wore a button shirt that made it easy to do so, and a cardigan over-the-top for if I got cold. I also had a bottle and portioned formula as backup, two dummies, nappies, wipes, a muslin wrap, four changes of zip-suits and singlets, a teething toy and a sensory book. My bigger kit included a blackout cover for the bassinet but 1) he was almost too big for it. 2) The cover didn’t fit great. 3) I then couldn’t see him so kept getting up to check. Flying by myself, I thought a lot about my set-up. Pram or no pram. I decided on pram, and it was actually the easiest part. I rolled through the airport and right up to the gate where they took my pram - I’d transfer August to the ergobaby carrier - then I’d get the pram back as soon as I stepped off the plane. For take-off and landing, I couldn’t use the carrier, he had to be held on my lap, but on the flight, he could be in it as long as the seatbelt sign was off. This allowed us both to get a bit of rest, but if I’m honest, I didn’t really sleep on those solo flights, which is why the Dubai overnight stop-over was crucial. The air hosts were incredible for me. So helpful if I needed something from my bag, they would hold him so I could get sorted or readjusted or even go to the bathroom. Similarly for the passengers around me. On my flight back, I was pretty emotional (it meant another 4 months ‘til I’d see my husband), and August had started on solids while we were away and was insatiable! He was grabbing everything on my plate. A Danish backpacker was across the aisle from me and said, “You haven’t eaten anything all flight, give him to me, you don’t have to do it all alone, we all have time to play with him.” I know, this was a pre-COVID world, and it might not be the same now, but that kindness did so much for me. August was constantly gazing at people and they would stop and make faces at him to keep him busy. It felt like my on-flight village.
The takeaways
Taking a holiday that required a third and fourth flight with a baby (Rome to Sicily and back) was maybe a bit too much, doing it again, we’d maybe stay somewhere with the international airport, or just drive from there. The stop-over was essential, and I had my parents stay with me at Sydney airport the night before and pick me up from the airport. When you have to collect your luggage, pop the baby in the carrier and put everything else on the luggage trolley (including the folded-up pram), then push. Finally, going to Europe, the jetlag worked so that August fell asleep in the early evening for his long sleep. We’d push him to dinner in the pram, he’d fall asleep, and stay that way while we ate a lovely long dinner. He’d wake up early in the morning, but that’s when we’d go see the sights, before anyone else was around.
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