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Flying with my baby

Julie Collins, mum of three month old Kathleen flew from London to the US with British Airways. Terrified that her daughter would turn on her lusty screams over the Atlantic and that she would be left to manage on her own she set off - find out how she coped …

I spent the night before my 10 hour flight from London to the US, wondering how I would cope. My worry was how my three-month-old daughter, Kathleen, would behave on the flight. Would she sleep, coo or cry during the entire voyage? Or would the crew of British Airways take a vote and land us in Greenland if Kathleen decided to turn on her lusty screams over the Atlantic? I needn't have worried, for although Kathleen lived up to her reputation as a screamer, BA lived up to its reputation as the most baby-friendly airline in the sky.

BA offered me a bulkhead seat with a baby bassinette, placed on a fold-out table in front of my seat, extra nappies, and baby food if I ran out and above all pre-boarding so that I could settle Kathleen and myself in before the other passengers boarded.

An attendant put a supply of nappies and baby wipes in a sick bag within easy reach so that I did not have to clamour for my nappy bag stowed in the overhead locker. She then secured the baby to my own seatbelt using an infant belt and promised to be back to look after me once in the air. She was as good as her word. During take-off I breastfed Kathleen to help equalize her ears, and when my covering blanket fell off the attendant was there to pick it up and place it over the Kathleen and me. Lovely.

In the seat next to mine a mother travelling with an 8-month-old baby, a six-year-old boy and her harassed-looking husband. As I was flying solo, she offered to look after the baby if I needed to pop to the loo or stretch my legs. My attendant, Susan, (a self-confessed baby junkie) said I could have my meal at any time after the baby had been settled in her bassinette and stored my baby formula in the galley kitchen so that it would remain fresh for when I needed it. Once the baby fell asleep I had a hot meal and a gin and tonic while watching the in-flight movie (Spiderman), something that I don't even get a chance to do at home!

The bassinette was large enough for a three month-old, but for babies over six months of age, request a baby seat, placed on the same fold out table. The bassinettes do not have straps to hold the baby, so when there is turbulence you must take the baby out (regardless of whether he's sleeping or not)and onto your lap. My suggestion to BA is that they install straps in the bassinettes to hold the baby in so that turbulence won't endanger him or his sleep.

On landing, Kathleen cried for England all the way through customs. A kindly officer whisked me through the 'special services' customs line (normally reserved for military personnel) to keep me from cracking up and the others in line from turning on me. A baggage carrier then tracked down my luggage, loaded it onto a trolley and wheeled it out to my anxiously waiting family.

This was the easiest disembarkment I've ever experienced. So, my advice for parents flying with infants is ask for help when you need it. The crews are happy to oblige, and you will be grateful for their help, so do speak up and good luck!

Where to next?

Booking a holiday? Check out the best family airlines
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Visit our summer section for everything you need to know to get you through the summer
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Check our suncream test results
Read our summer safety feature
Buy your summer bargains online from shop@babyworld

Useful Organisations

MASTA (Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad), tel: 02392 553933, offers information on travelling abroad, particularly concerning vaccinations.
British Airways Travel Clinic tel: 01276 685040, for details on health information and your nearest clinic.