Home...

This blog finds me still without computer (it finally went in to get fixed yesterday), so I am unable to post a real blog with bells, whistles and photos for a few more days.

In the meantime I shall tell you about Bebe and my final flight home after 6 months of dragging the poor wee thing all over the world. That child has bathed in more buckets than I care to admit (by the way, they make a great bath alternative, even if a little hillbilly).

If I am to be perfectly honest I must admit that we traveled in the utmost stye for this final trip. As we were traveling solo without dear husband, I used my points to upgrade to Qantas First Class - I know! I have never flown first class either! It was pretty special and I saw some very nervous looking wealthy people as Bebe and I took our seats. Little did they know she was as impressed with the surroundings as I was and decided to be the perfect baby! Flying First Class long haul is like being in a small, 5 star restaurant for 24 hours where they make you bed up to rest between courses. I almost wish I hadn't eaten in the week previous so I could have dined constantly. The food was superb (thanks 'Rockpool') and the service was tres attentive.

The best part of it was the individual attention, which for a mother traveling alone with their baby was amazing. When we arrived in Melbourne there was a lady whose sole job was to help any first class passengers who needed assistance. I can tell you know that as I was bringing everything I owned back from our flat in London and had made the most of the relaxed luggage restrictions in First Class (I got away with luggage based murder), I needed more assistance than anyone else so she helped me right through customs and out into the terminal where I was met by my parents! I have spent my life trying to be independent and I usually have a problem with anyone helping me with bags or doing anything much for me. I will gladly carry a 24kg suitcase through the london tube system without any help from passersby but I let all those qualms go quicker than you can say 'fast track immigration'. Heaven.

It was an extra gift as I have been suffering with sever tendonitis in my wrists due to the relaxin released in breastfeeding (that's another blog), and each time I travel it does get aggravated. So, joy!

I really cant give any advice as of course due to my luxe surroundings, help, awesome bed and cot beside me for Bebe, the flight was a breeze. Best one ever with the little lady. She slept at all the right times, fed well, played like a trouper sitting in her cot surrounded by things to put in her mouth (or as you might call them "toys"). We had a shower in Hongkers and changed into clean clothes so we didn't even smell that bad on arrival which was a first.

In fact at the end of the flight in Melbourne the hostess was holding Bebe as she said farewell to the passengers and my little smiling machine grinned gormlessly at every passenger as they left the aircraft.

Honestly. I don't think I ever want to fly again as I am sure we will never have it so good.

So, you probably hate me now. I'd hate me too.

If it helps, I am still about 2 sizes and 6 months of rabbit food away from fitting into my old jeans, so feel free to gloat about that if you wish.

Traveling is great and I feel so lucky to be able to continue our gypsy-like existence in such a lush way, but it is really nice just to be in one place for the time being. The time being about 7 months, but still...

My call out to you all now is - who can tell me how to get a solely breast fed 6 month old to take a bottle of formula? It is like I am trying to get her to drink acid for all the faces she pulls and spitting out she does. Any advice would be more than welcome!

x Ali

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Jetlag theories 101

I wrote a blog early on about jetlag and how I go about dealing with it with my little bubs. Mostly I went on about how I don't actually believe in jetlag. What may have become clear from reading it was that I simply choose to ignore it and hope it goes away. What I need to make clear is that in said blog I was really only talking about long haul flights (ie London to Melbourne).

But recently we went from LA to New York (3 hours ahead) and then 4 days later we went from NY to London (5 hours ahead). Neither of these flights should be that bad.


Should be...

In NY we simply all went to bed later. Easy. On the flight to London bubs slept the entire way (we left at 9pm and it was a 6 hour flight). But as we landed in London at 9am Bebe didn't get to sleep her normal 12 hours straight so I let her sleep lots during the day. But we had to go to a wedding the next day so I then made some decisions purely to personally get through the day when I should have stuck to my rules. So although she was great during the day we had two pretty full on nights (see my 3am blog). But on the third night I broke it by sitting with Bebe on and off for two hours between 10pm and midnight as she fussed and whinged and generally tried to not go to sleep. I shushed and patted (see The Baby Whisperer), I rocked and I sang but I never left the bedroom and I didn't relent and go and sit with her on the couch and watch The Daily Show on catch up tv for an hour until she fell asleep through metaphor overload (we did that the first night I must admit).

Now we are on a 4 hour eating day starting at 9am which is actually awesome - why can't we always be on that! I get to sleep in and we can take her out to dinner with us. I love it! Bebe and I are flying back to Australia in a week so I am not going to fuss too much at all with the extra feed in the night and I am certainly not going to get her to wake any earlier anytime soon!

So here are my new theories:

Length of flight versus time difference.


When the flight is only 6 hours and the time difference is 5 there are going to be problems getting our brains around it all. A 24 hour flight with a 10 hour difference is much better in a way because you can make up sleep and just get to your destination a bit tired or wired instead of wrecked.

and 

Why sometimes the easiest flight = the hardest recovery.

Bebe slept for 5 1/2 hours of the 6 on the last flight. Easiest. Flight. Ever. 

Horrid for two nights afterwards....

I have no real theory about this. Just an observation.

So next week is the last big flight for Bebe & I for 6 MONTHS!! (Well, there is a bit of around Australia action but the worst that will be is one to Perth and that is months away - yay!)

I will let you know how much more difficult flying long haul with a 5 1/12 month old is in comparison to a 3 month old. I am told it just keeps getting more difficult - joy!


Keep the feedback coming - I would love another guest blogger so if you or someone you know is a traveller with babies then please send them my way.


x Ali
ps I tried the ear pressure thing again and it worked again - all you need is a boob or bottle, olbas oil on a tissue and a distracting lullaby - easy!

3am...3am... Eternal...

I am writing this blog from the couch at almost 3am with KLF haunting my weary brain...

I will write a full blog in the next couple of days about what I have learnt about jet lag in the last week. I have new theories about 'length of flight versus time difference', and 'why sometimes the easiest flight = the hardest recovery'.

But for the moment I will just share this little gem:

'Maybe think twice before flying twice through timezones in one week and follow that immediately by going to a wedding.'

I'm just sayin' is all....


I am also working on a blog entitled "things I have bought that turned out to be crap". Gripping stuff.

I hope you enjoyed the guest blog - do you have one you want to send me? Or do you have a nomination for "best travel strollers & prams"? I'd love to get your comments.

So goodnight, and from the Ancients of Mu Mu themselves I shall point to the fact that time is indeed eternal.

X

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad (I know! How exciting! I got it for my birthday!)

Location:London

1st Guest Blog!

Hello all,

I have had some great responses to this blog and I have asked a few people to write down their tips &/or experiences so I can make then a guest blogger for the day.

So, here is our very first guest and it is none other than the lovely Fahey Younger who is a comedienne and fellow arty/carnie traveller. She has two beautiful boys Mo & Spike (here they are looking awesome):

and travels a lot with them so here goes:

Travelling w/ kids is a lot of fun - fun that dissipates somewhat as they get older. heh!

You pretty much hit all my tips especially - get a bassinet seat on the plane.  Covering an  "I don't want to miss out" baby w/ a muslin so they can sleep!   And I couldn't agree more.  The better the class the easier the travel - plus it's fantastic to hit the pointy end of the plane w/ a baby in your arms as the looks on the faces of the other passengers is priceless!  heh

Just a hint (mainly for flying within the US) if you're formula feeding, you'll generally take the water and the powder separately.  Some baggage checkers are morons and wont want to let you take cooled water in a bottle.  Even while you're holding a new baby.  Be prepared you'll have to pre-mix it or ditch it or fight.  Guess which one I chose?  heh

Some airlines are better with kids, Air New Zealand and Singapore Airlines are the BEST. Hands down.  United and Qantas, awful.

For pressurising little ears.  I always try to reserve some bottle for take-offs and landings - cause babies are crap at chewing gum.

Bigger kids - this is my absolute number one tip for a long haul flight.  Before you leave, hit the Toy Aisle at KMart and buy up a bunch of little toys.  The biggest hits are always tiny containers with ATTACHED lids, little battery powered fans that light up, toy cars, stretchy frogs (don't ask me what they're made of I have NO clue but they're stretchy and stick to windows) - really anything cheap and small.  Then, you wrap each one.  Lots of tiny presents.  Then you just dish them out as the flight goes on and the kids get bored.  We tend to buy 1 toy per 2 hours.  FAIL SAFE!  They're small enough to cram in your handbag/carry on just remember, don't buy anything that makes a noise!!  That has worked for us since Spike was 10 months old.

This is a fantastic site, we use a lot http://www.travelswithbaby.com/planning/baby_gear_rentals.htm

Those hire companies are extra fabulous, not just for cots and car seats but for things like the beloved Jumperoo.  Certainly too big to travel with but essential for Mumma's mental health. :-)

We have always travelled w/ the fullsize pram too (A hulking big Zekiwa and now a sleeker Love n Care) and have never had a problem.  I don't check the pram, I wheel it up to the gate and the hosties will take it from you there and 99% of airlines will have it at the gate when you get OFF the plane.  Voila I say.  VWAH-LAH!

So there you are - a great few flying tips from the excellent Fahey - feel free to leave your comments and if anyone else wants to write a guest blog email me at info@alimcgregor.com

Next up 'traveling strollers' so feel free to send me your favourites to go into the mix.

x

Squealing across America...

Yesterday we flew from LA to NYC. After all my preaching of an efficient suitcase and clever packing we still looked a little like refugees escaping with all of our belongings strapped to an overpriced luggage trolley. We have been away for over a month though and if you took away all my stuff and the clothes I bought her in LA (love the aussie dollar at the moment!) it wouldn't actually be that bad. You get away with a lot when you can stuff that stroller bag full of other stuff. It never counts as one of your bags so it is like free bag!

Virgin America doesn't have bassinet seats, well certainly not on the plane that we took. My husband and I disagree a bit about Virgin - he thought it was good service, I thought it was a bit average. We forked out for 'upper' class also so I expected a bit more to be honest. Nice seats and the food was pretty good but I can really do without Virgin stewards talking to us all like we are on a 18 to 30's cruise ship.

"...and if you see someone you like the look of on the plane you can always send them a seat to seat message through our entertainment center..." 

Really? If I am flying in a metal box a few miles above the earth with my life in someone's hands I want them to be serious and efficient not be busy helping me 'hook up'. Anyway there was no children's tv or movies on said entertainment 'center'. They did have live tv which has nickelodeon but for most of the flight it was playing a sitcom starring both Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus and no baby needs to be inflicted with that..

I am pretty against tv for babies at the best of times but yesterday, for some reason Bebe decided that squealing at the top of her lungs was both fun and entertaining for all. Having no bassinet or any place to play she got pretty bored of our laps, her toys and walking up and down the aisle pretty quickly. It actually wasn't all that bad but I could have done with some pretty spongebob style colours to distract now and then. Onya Virgin.

I may do a bit of research into the different airlines and what they offer for babies & kids. I suspect they differ greatly. If anyone has a story I'd love to hear it.

Oh, and I seem to have found a way to not have her screaming in ear pain as we land. I had a bottle of sterilised water that she sort of sucked on a little as soon as we started to descend and then the dummy and getting her to look into my eyes as I sang her favourite songs to her to distract. I also had a tissue with a little Olbas oil (eucalyplus would also work) that I waved under her nose. Not sure which worked or if it was just a fluke. I will tell you next week after the next flight!

We also used our new second hand car seat to carry her around the airport (sits on the luggage trolley pretty sweetly) and checked it on at the gate. We then could pop her straight into the taxi and she was as happy as can be. I will be doing that again...

Keep sending me your comments and stories - I am loving all the feedback!

x

Car Seats + Planes & finding a helpful blog...

So, I went against what I originally said and have bought a second hand car seat while we have been in LA. We had a borrowed one here but are going to NY and I couldn't find a company in NY that would deliver to the airport for anything under $100 and I bought a second hand Maxi Cosi on Ebay for $35 + postage! This means we have one when we are in New York for cabs and it also clicks on to our Bugaboo Bee so it will be handy in London. So I need to check the car seat in. I did a search to find out the best way to do this and found a great blog here by a woman who regularly travels with three kids alone - Amazing lady! It is a good blog, I highly recommend you follow it.

http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com

Here is what she had to say about Car seats on planes:

"It's never a good idea to check a car seat as luggage. They get lost and/or broken all the time by the airlines who will decline any responsibility if anything goes wrong. It's not worth the risk.

If you arrive at your destination and need the seat right away, what would you do if it's not there? Get in your car with your child unrestrained? Not only is it unsafe but often illegal.

If your child has a seat on the plane, the best way to transport it is to bring the car seat on board and have your child sit in it on the plane. This is also the safest way for your child to travel.

If you have a child who is a "lap baby" without a seat, bring the car seat to the gate and have it gate-checked. This is no guarantee but better than checking it as luggage. You can put a bag on it if you want but a clear plastic one is best. This way, they can see what it is and hopefully the baggage handlers wont abuse it (too much!)

But still try to secure an extra place on the plane. Ask nicely at check-in if the flight is full and whether you can get an extra place to use your car seat in. Be sure to bring it to the gate even if they're unsure as sometimes seats become available last minute (upgrades, no shows, etc.)

I fly alone with three kids between Europe and California and I have no problems taking a car seat. It can be done if you're organized. You can either use your stroller or do what I do and strap it to a metal luggage cart with an extra bungee cord. Go over to Car Seat.Org for more information.

http://www.car-seat.org/forumdisplay.php…

This way, you'll have your car seat safely at your destination when you arrive!

Good luck and have a good flight!

Source(s):

Former Flight Attendant, 13 years, 2 companies, almost all long-haul international
3 children, now ages 10, 8 & 6, flying since each was 4 months old, between Europe and California about twice a year plus other shorter flights in between, regularily scheduled, low cost, charter, etc.
non-commercial flying tips;" http://flyingwithchildren1.blogspot.com