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
Showing posts with label flying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flying. Show all posts
Monday, October 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, October 8, 2010
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!)
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
Monday, September 27, 2010
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)