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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

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

Jetlag...

Here it is. The reason I am writing this blog - how to get through the jetlag. Most people find it hard enough getting through it themselves, let alone getting another human through it.

Personally I have decided not to believe in jetlag. My method has always been to set my watch to the time of the destination and try my best to sleep in that time zone on the plane. I then try my very best to stay awake until at least 10pm when I get in, get out in the sunshine and eat at the proper meal times as much as possible in the first few days. And blind trust in my power to fool my own brain, I never refer back to the time at the place I left no matter what...

So, how to get a tiny person through it? The EXACT same way. When Bebe was 3 weeks old I was only going to London for a week so I didn't try and mess with her too much. She was sleeping a good 5 hour stretch at night by that time and I let her sleep when she wanted and got up with her at 5 to play when she wanted that. But every other time I have stuck to my basic jetlag principles.

I have been loosely following the 'EASY' plan from The Baby Whisperer since getting back from the UK that first time. I can't handle the strictness of the Contented Baby (sounds more like a military operation to me) but the EASY plan (basically Eat, Activity, Sleep every 3 hours then every 4 after about 4 months) has worked really well for us - just enough routine but flexible for our random life.

I must also say that the better class you can travel in the easier it will be. I am sorry to say that but it is true. But that is why you save up your points - not some shitty flight to Canberra to visit your second cousin.


So here are my tips:
1. Get a bassinet seat. Call the airline yourself (our travel agent said he did but there was no note when we got the airport the first time), get there really early and BEG!

2. If you are on British Airways or some others that don't have a bassinet seat ask for the cot as soon as you get on the plane - before you even sit down as they are limited and maybe one or two cots and a weird seat thing that I had no interest in.

3. If you are breast feeding take a bottle and some emergency formula. If you get really dehydrated and you run low of milk you can then give bubs some boiled & cooled water or formula to get her through (this is a tip from my friend Natalie - I haven't had to use it but it is a great tip nonetheless). And it goes without saying that you should drink loads of water on the flight.

4. Take a muslin to hang over the bassinet to keep the light and the action out of babies eyes (Bebe has severe fear of missing out on planes and must be shrouded to sleep)

5. Take toys and books and lots of nappies & wipes.

6. Get on the right time zone from the word go. Eg, if you are on a 4 hour plan then feed every 4 hours throughout the flight making sure you play with bubs for about an hour after each feed and waking up from even the deepest of sleeps to do so. If may be difficult for you (set your alarm if you need to) but it will cut the recovery time at the other end down at least a week I promise.

7. When you get in continue to do that as long as you need and get bubs outside in the sun (not directly obviously) during the day as much as possible. In my experience it takes 2 days like this to get bubs to recognise nighttime and then a week to get everything back to normal. We needed to add in an extra feed at around 2-3am for the first 2 or so weeks after each flight and for a few days it took a little longer for her to get back to sleep (if I had to I just lay her on her playgym while I snoozed on the couch for half an hour then she went back to sleep without too much fuss). I didn't fight that - it is what it is.

I must also note here that ever since that first trip we took we have used a dummy. It is part of Bebe's sleep routine and she usually sucks on it to get to sleep and then it drops out. I have no problem with this although I will admit I was tentative at first. I plan to stop using it once we get back to Australia when she is 6 months old but for various reasons I think it is the best thing at the moment:

1) she is a really quick feeder (7 minutes tops) so when we are flying, if I start feeding on the descent she finishes before we get to the ground and her ears hurt, but sucking on the dummy helps.

2) she is starting to teethe and wants to suck everything all the time - I would rather it be a clean dummy that the edge of a seatbelt, random people's fingers or anything else she can get her hands on.

3) It makes her happy but she is not dependent on it. It soothes her and it makes travel in cars, trains & planes easier for everyone including her. Everything I have read says that dummies are fine so I don't see it as any kind of weakness - anything that makes my little girl happy is good in my book (although when she is 15 and wants to drink a bottle of tequila I may change that stance...)

Anyway - I am sure everyone is different, you may disagree and your baby might not be on that plan or sleep/feed in the same way. This is just what I did and it worked.

Feel free to add in your comments and stories - would love especially to know how other airlines deal with bubbas...

xx