Questions About International Flight with Babies.

1. diaper in the bathroom, there is a changing station
2. you can take the stroller up to the gate (does not count as luggage) and they will take it as you enter the plane and give it to you when you get off. This is a wonderful service! It works the same as if you had brought a weelchair.
3. request bulk head seating so that your one year old can have some space where you r legs are. Be aware that you do to have underseat storage, though, so do board early to get good overhead storage.

I have travelled extensively with my two and it has been fine. We've never had a problem. People do tend to snicker as you board with small children (rude!) but if you board early it's their business whether they choose to sit next to you or not.

Happy and safe travels to you!

1. Most planes have a pull down changing table in the bathrooms. It will be very cramped so you will only want to bring in the essentials instead of a large diaper bag. Make sure you bring along some diaper disposal bags so that they don't smell up th plane and dispose of in garbage. I have been in a couple older planes that didn't have changing tables, so after speaking with the flight attendant we used the floor near the gally.
2. There shouldn't be a problem with the double stroller as long as it will fit through the screening machines. You just need to indicate that you are doing a "gate check". They will place a tag on it and you will need to collapse it and leave it in the designated area just before boarding. After each flight you will need to wait for it to be unloaded and then take to the next flight. This procedure must be done for each flight.
3. If you are given a choice it's a matter of preference. The rear makes it easy to access the bathroom, but it can get smelly. The front may be too far from the bathroom, but makes it easy to load/unload. Middle provides easier access to both bathroom and loading/ unloading. Also if anyone suffers from motion sickness the area over the wings is the most stable.

I used to travel back and forth to France with my kids when they were babies and toddlers (20 years ago). I used to take them in the bathroom and do the best I could. There was no changing station. If the flight wasn't full and we had a bit of privacy, I would change an infant in the seat with a pad. But your child is too big for that. Check ahead with the airline about the double stroller. I'm pretty sure that you must buy a seat for the baby on international flights. The hardest trip was when I flew alone with them when the older one was 3 and mostly potty trained and the other was 1 1/2 and in diapers. The flight attendants were nice about watching one for a few minutes while I went to the toilet with the other. Alert the airline that you will need meals for the baby as you can't carry food anymore. I used to bring baby food, but I think those days are over. DON'T expect them to have baby food, diapers, or anything else stocked unless you ask for it. They will provide special meals if you let them know. Ask for bulkhead seats which have more leg room. Failing that, on international flights, we found that 2 sets of window seats on 2 adjacent rows, with an adult and a child in each row, worked the best. My worst experience was when we were on a connecting flight which was delayed, the flight from Atlanta to Paris was full, and we lost the baby's seat because they had no record of her on the domestic flight where she didn't require a ticket. A wiggly baby in your lap for 8 hours is no fun for anyone. Car seats make life ever so much easier also. We used them for both kids, then had them for both sides of the "pond".
This is complicated to do, and tiring, but you'll have a great time. Good luck!

If you can at all afford it, I HIGHLY recomend buying a seat for the baby. You will need the extra space, and it's hard to fly that long holding a baby on your lap. Remember how small and cramped airplanes are! That extra seat will be your saving grace, if only to have room for the kids to wiggle around in.

1) There is a little table that comes down in the lavatory (bathroom, toilet, whatever it is called), usually over the toilet seat, for diaper changes. It is small and feels crowded in there but it is doable.

2) I don't think you will be able to store it on the plane. However, you can do a gate check-in, which means you can bring it all the way to the plane and they will check it in for you just before you step inside the plane.

3) If you have a small baby (usually below 10 kg, which is around 22 pounds) there may be a bassinet to put him in, check with the airlines. This requires what I believe is called overhead seats which have a section separator in front that the bassinet can be attached.

Hi
I traveled a few times overseas when my boys were young and it's always been very pleasant.

1. There usually is a baby changing station in the washrooms. It's a fold down table somewhere behind or on the side of the toilet.

2. I'm not sure about the double stroller, but we were able to take the single stroller right to the gate. When you check in you have to tell them that you want to take the stroller to the gate and you will get a special baggage tag for it. I don't think there are any size restrictions in strollers and I'm pretty sure you can take the double stroller to the gate too. It's much more convenient that checking it with the luggage since sometimes you have to walk far and wait in line which is much easier when the kids can be in the stroller.

3. They have baby bassinets that attach to the wall at the very front of the economy section and when it's a big plane again around the middle (right after the middle washrooms). These bassinets are not huge and I'm not sure if your one year old will still fit. You can reserve a baby bassinet for your child and you will be seated there. These seats are pretty good because you have a bit more leg room on the front. Also, if your girl still fits in the bassinet you won't have to hold her on your lap the entire flight. I would call the airline company and ask if they have any child bassinets available and if your 12 months old is still ok to use it.

Even if you don't want to use the bassinet, it probably is still the most comfortable row. However you don't have any under the front seat storage and all your stuff needs to be stored in the compartments above.

We always try to get seats closer to the front of the plane. The farther back you go the louder the engines get.

Hope this helps.

You have gotten some good advice but some of it does not apply to international travel. I have a 2 year old that we have done LONG haul international flights with since she was 3 months old. We currently live in the Middle East and travel back to the US about 3 times a year and then have also vacationed in Sweden and England.

1. Agreed, there is a fold down changing table in the restroom but NOT every restroom - usually one in the front of the plane for Business and First class bathrooms and one at the very back for Coach class. Ask when you first board the plane/s where the fold down changing table is located.

2. You can gate check the stroller at no extra cost, however, you mention a few flight changes and depending on where you fly into you may not have access to your stroller when you land. For domestic flights (within the US) it shouldn't be an issue but if you stop somewhere internationally before arriving at your final destination then you may be stuck without your stroller for the next flight. (I hope that this makes sense). My advice on that point would be to plan on NOT having it (sometimes the flight crew isn't aware and will tell you it will be available when it might not be - which has been our experience more than once)! Have your carry-ons and the kids ready to get off the plane then once you are in the terminal - have one parent watch the kids and bags while the other one goes to find a luggage cart which usually have a place for ONE kid to ride. Some airlines and some airports have strollers that you can borrow but I wouldn't count on it! Also, parents traveling with small children can request a ride (much like older travelers or people who have trouble walking the entire distance of airports) - don't be afraid to ask for this! Don't try to "tough it out" - especially since you have several flight changes - take advantage of this service and don't make yourself miserable!

3. Agreed, request the bulkhead seats and a bassinet for your 12 month old - your baby may weigh too much for the hanging bassinet but they still might bring it and let you put it on the floor to that you have a place to "contain" the little one! My daughter started scaring me in the bassinet when she was able to sit up and thought it was HILARIOUS to climb out of the bassinet and jump on me while I was sleeping (I was on a 16 hour flight alone without my husband on that trip)! I was scared to fall back asleep!

Since you will be on long flights and have layovers - be sure to bring enough diapers - we plan on 1 diaper for every 2 hours even though she usually doesn't go through that many - you never know when a kid will get sick or go through more diapers especially with trying new foods, etc., food and snacks that your kids like (they may not like what they are serving on the plane)! Bring a change of clothes for each kid and you too - kids never get sick just on themselves! Also bring some meds just in case they get sick or run a fever (the plane doesn't stock any and as long as it is meds for kids in a ziplock you will be allowed to bring it through security)! I didn't see you mention this but SO many people think it is a good idea that I want to say DO NOT give your children Benadryl before flying (especially if they have never had it before)! Some children have an opposite reaction and HYPER out instead of falling asleep! You don't need to drug your children in order to have a pleasant traveling experience! Especially since you mention several flight changes, you don't want the kids passed out when you are trying to change planes and go through immigration, etc.

What we have started doing to entertain our daughter on flights is to wrap a "present" or two to let her open when she gets bored with the books and toys that we have brought. It doesn't have to be anything NEW - sometimes I just wrap in tissue paper a toy that she likes but doesn't know that we brought on the plane! When she was younger, she just liked wrapping and unwrapping the stuff but now she wants to play with the actual items. The best bet for your 3 year old is probably a new toy that will keep him/her busy! My most recent treat for my daughter was a Dora the Explorer magnet and book set - got it at Borders for $13 - they had a few of the popular cartoons (Sponge Bob, Spider Man, etc.) - just an idea and she is still playing with it!

Good luck on your travels - remember to relax and enjoy! If you have any other questions, I am happy to answer them.

blessings,
Stacy

Change her diaper as you would normally change her. I don't know if you will have to do it on the seat or in the bathroom if there is a table. I normally just did it on the seat and got up to throw it away.

You don't have to check in your stroller but you will have to wait for it when you get off the plane. So I you have a close connecting flight you could miss it. Sometimes the employees are fast and other times they are slow.

I always sit in the front or where there is room to fit. I like the front so I can be first off. But don't sit in the very front because you can't keep your bags with you.

All the advice given so far is perfect. It's been a couple of years since I've flown overseas and the only problem we had was when we landed at Heathrow and/or Gatwick the stroller was not available to us as we left the plane.
Yes, we could gate check it but once we landed it was in the baggage claim area. Imagine how frustrating that is to carry the baby and your carryons(and I always had the biggest carry ons I could take). I even asked at the counter and unfortunately no one was ever able to give us the correct answer. Hopefully by now that is not a problem for you...but I've learned travelling overseas to always be prepared for the unexpected! You will also find so many flight attendants very helpful...almost beyond the call of duty in some cases.
One helpful thing that one airline does is bring the children's food first so you can feed them without your tray getting in the way.

As far as diaper changes, it depends on the plane. Most of the newer planes have changing table in the lavatories. Otherwise, they will et you changer her at your seat.

You can gate check you double stroller before you get on the plane, just like a domestic flight.

You should sit as close to the exit as possible.

You have already gotten some great advice. My tow cents to number three:
call your airline and tell then that you are traveling with a lap child and ask if they could book you into a bassinet seat.
Last time I did this it was not an issue (no extra charges either) and my daughter ended up sleeping in the bassinet for more than half of the flight. It was great.
Good luck.

I second the bulkhead seats. You lose the underseat storage in front of you but you get about one foot more leg room which gives your children a little more room to stretch out and play. When you make your reservations, explain you are traveling with small children and request them. Some airlines won't assign them until you check in so make sure you get there early.
Good luck and bon voyage!

We just flew from Texas to Hawaii with a 7 yo and 21 mth old. They had a changing table in the bathroom. I would just gate check the stroller. You leave it right by the plane door and it's there waiting for you when you get back!

I just took a 16 hour non-stop flight with my 6 month old in Jan. I would have my hubby stand at the lavatory door while I am in changing her diaper and then once done I would open the door and hand over the baby and other diaper items to him so I can then use the lavatory. In long flights there is always a line to get into the lavatories so seating up-front where the bassinet seats are helped me to get in as soon as one got vacant. It was not as bad as I had initially imagined. There were some other passengers who would come play with her and entertain her and we also took frequent walks in the plane to keep her entertained.
The hard part was the airport transit and the long immigration queues. I was surprised they would not let a parent with a baby priority in these queues so we had to stand in these lines to await our turn. She would not sit in the stroller while it was stationary so we had to carry her. In such situations if you have a baby carrier with you it will help out. Hope you enjoy your journey!

We flew to Portugal when our boys were 1 1/2 and 6 months. In the restroom there should be a pull down table. I believe it is above the toilet. I would call the airline to confirm. I would also suggest buying a seat for your 12 month old daughter. We carried our 6 month old on the 3 hours to Newark but for the 8 hour flignt from Newark to Portugal we had seats for both of the boys. You can carry the car seats on and strap them into the airline seat and then strap the kids in. I helps make the flight better for everyone.
As for the stroller. You take the stroller with you all the way to the door of the plane. There should be someone there to take it. When you get off the plane you just have to wait at the door of the plane for someone to bring it up.
When you book your flight ask for the bunk head. It's the first row of coach, there is a wall in front of you. Check with the airline but there should be a "crib" that folds down.