Taking your baby on a trip for the first time is a daunting prospect for many new parents, so what about when that trip involves a long-haul flight?

First-time mum Tanja Takala’s daughter was just six months old when the pair embarked on a mammoth 23-hour journey from Melbourne to Helsinki, with a stopover in Bangkok.

Ms Takala, who lives in Melbourne with her Australian partner but is originally from Finland, wanted to take the opportunity to spend time with her family back home during her maternity leave.

“I had also heard that the smaller the baby, the easier it is to travel with them, so I thought six months might be a good time to go,” she says.

Before the flight, the new mother was nervous and unsure how her baby would react to being on the plane.

“I was just worried that she wouldn’t sleep at all on the flights, or that she would cry the whole way,” Ms. Takala says.

Choose the right seat and flight time

Derek McCormack, director of the Raising Children Network, recommends planning ahead to make air travel with a baby easier.

“When booking a flight, parents and caregivers can consider helpful solutions, such as reserving an airplane seat with a bassinet and getting a stroller at the airport,” says -he.

“It can also be helpful to think about timing: if you can, book flights at times when your child is likely to be well rested,” says McCormack.

Sometimes airport staff can offer additional assistance to companions traveling alone with a child, such as a stroller at the airport or priority boarding.

Ms Takala paid extra to reserve the “cradle seat” – the seat near the bulkhead without a seat in front – for each of her flights, because that’s where it’s possible to attach an airplane cradle to the wall in front of the passenger seat. .

But her baby ended up sleeping in her arms for most of the flight, meaning Ms. Takala herself didn’t get much rest.

“The first flight was a night flight, because I initially thought it would be easier because the baby would sleep better,” she says.

According to the government’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), children should be restrained when seated throughout the flight in the event of unexpected turbulence.

Infants under two years old can be secured on their caregiver’s lap using an additional buckle belt that cabin crew will provide before takeoff, CASA says. on his websitebut age standards may differ for foreign airline operators.

Pack everything you need in your hand luggage

Before her trip, Ms Takala did “a lot of Googling” and read travel blogs to find out what others had done to make long-haul flights work.

She ended up purchasing a travel pram, nursing cover, and light-blocking crib cover to help her baby sleep in the airport and on flights.

Mr McCormack says it’s important to remember to pack all the things your child will need on the flight in your carry-on bag.

For babies, that includes things like food, medicine, toys, diapers, a change of clothes and a sleeping bag or blanket, he says.

If you plan to bring formula or expressed breast milk, check with your airline about restrictions on carrying liquids.

Ms Takala did not bring baby food on board the flight, instead choosing to breastfeed her throughout the journey.

Don’t forget the entertainment and snacks

To help keep their baby entertained on the plane, parents might consider packing books you can wipe down and age-appropriate toys, McCormack says.

Ms. Takala made sure to pack plenty of toys for her baby and snacks for herself.

“I had these toys that looked like a type of spinner that had a suction cup so you could stick it to the wall of the plane, and the baby could spin it,” she says.

“I had snacks for myself and a bottle of water with a straw that kept my hands free.”

“In the end, everything went pretty well”

Overall, Ms. Takala’s trip went much better than expected.

“In the end, everything went pretty well.”

Fortunately, cabin crew on all trips offered a helping hand to the mother traveling alone.

“They came to us, brought me extra snacks and water, and offered to hold the baby if I needed to go to the bathroom,” Ms. Takala said.

When her baby was 11 months old, Ms Takala made a second trip to Europe, this time accompanied by her partner.

Although it was easier to have two adults, she found it was more difficult to travel with an older baby who had just learned to crawl and didn’t like to sit still.

“We had a harder time keeping her entertained just in the seats, whereas at six months she was much happier.”

But the effort was worth it either way, she said.

“We had a great vacation in Europe, and even the February trip too, it was very special,” she says.