Flying with babies.
Those three words scare me. Or at least they did.
Because having a baby should never stop you from traveling - the only thing that may stop you is a fear of the unknown. And the tears. And the public tantrums.
Before flying to Canada on Friday for the TBEX Travel Blogger Train, I desperately wanted to put out a post asking for any advice for traveling with infants. I suffered the odd cold sweat and a little anxiety about the long distance. My wife, meanwhile, sat in a corner chewing her nails down to the nub.
Predictably we ran out of time, hurtling around the house during the week while packing for what felt like a seven-month trip to the Himalayas. Who knew that a baby could need so much stuff?
Five tins of formula in one bag because we couldn't buy the same brand in Canada. Umpteen changes of clothes in another bag because the weather changes so dramatically from west to east that we had to prepare for all eventualities. A vast array of toys to entertain the little dude, colourful squeezee food containers to feed him, nappies and nappy rash cream to contain him, baby Panadol and teething gel to soothe him.
In total, he had a carry-on bag, large suitcase, stroller, and a baby carrier. We, meanwhile, felt like overdone celebrities as we worked out way through the airport with an army of luggage following us.
Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons (Anders Young)
Once upon a time, we were fans of leaving our travel to the last minute, grabbing the best deal to be had and jumping on a plane the following week or month but how things have changed. Elliot has arrived on the scene and this week rapidly became a complex exercise in military planning.
Then the 14-hour plane journey came around.
Would previous long-haul flights from England to Australia where we'd cursed at the family sat in front of us with a screaming newborn come back to haunt me? Would I be paid back for the times I'd muttered dark curses under my breath at the sight of a baby boarding the plane? I could hear the voice of Kirsty from 4 Kids, 20 Suitcases and a Beagle echoing in my head: "You once told me I needed to 'suck it up' when it came to flying with babies and toddlers. I can't wait to hear how it all goes for you."
It was going to be 14 hours of sleep-deprived hell with a red-faced, swollen-eyed baby balling his eyes out the entire time.
In the end, it wasn't all that bad.
Elliot didn't have a melt down and we didn't need to fill him with Phenergan. Sure, the shuttle to the airport was late and Sydney's shameful traffic nearly scuppered us, but we made it to the gate on time and once they'd loaded our 27 cases of baby food onboard, the rest of the flight passed easily enough.
This first time traveling with an infant taught me a few handy things:
The Scouts motto "be prepared"always applies. Thanks to the mammoth efforts of my wife in the weeks leading up to the trip, we had everything and anything we needed for a smooth journey. No stone was left unturned and, exhausting as it was for her, the effort truly paid off.
Babies don't need drugs, they need entertaining and they also need to feel secure. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for the folks at Air Canada and they did good by us again. Helpful, self-assured and ever friendly, they looked after us from start to finish. Armed with a sturdy bassinet, plenty of his favorite toys, and us with the stamina of kings, we got our little boy through 14 hours of jet travel with little more than a whine and the odd grizzle.
Wake, feed, sleep, repeat. Give them routine and they'll give you peace. It's not easy to create a routine on a plane in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, but we tried and it seemed to make him comfortable and gave us the occasional break. Exact timings went out the window and any science to the process was shot through but we had a sleeping, feeding baby for the most part - and for that, we were ridiculously grateful.
I'm absolutely certain there are other things we'll learn as we continue to travel and fly with Elliot. If you have handy suggestions or helpful hints you've learned along the way, please share them below as he'll be back on a long-haul flight in less than two weeks.
But, for now, we're here. We made it. We're in Vancouver.
The North Shore mountains look down on us, steep slopes bristling with firs and soldier pines, eagles soaring, the harbor glistening. We've arrived back in the place where our expat journey began almost ten years ago. It's a homecoming of sorts and an introduction for Elliot to this memorable city.
And now the real adventure begins. It's time to explore Canada.
