We are no strangers to flying. With family in three different countries and having moved about a lot, flying is as natural to us as taking the local bus. In fact, in the first month of this year Bubsi has taken five planes, averaging more than one flight per week. This time around, we flew to Romania for our summer vacation / wedding party / Bubsi’s baptism / seeing the Romanian family.

First flight

Bubsi’s first flight was amazing. I was so scared she wouldn’t take it well, with pressure on her ears and all that. Then, at seven months old, Bubsi’s first trip was a short flight from Bremen to London. Luckily, all my worries came to nothing: she loved it. The entire duration of the journey she sat on my lap babbling happily. Papa and I thought we were just lucky, and had the same worries for the return trip. This time, Bubsi just slept through it all – no problems yet again. The same was true for all flights that followed.

Tricks of flying with a baby or toddler

There is only one regular thing we do when taking Bubsi on a plane: nose drops. On the advice of Bubsi’s first pediatrician, we administer nose drops about 30 minutes before departure, usually right after boarding the plane. It frees the nose and ear tubes from mucus and thus aids with keeping pressure from building. At least in theory. I am not sure if we really need the drops to be honest, but we have never flown without them. Necessary or not, they don’t do any harm so I will continue using them.

While not really a trick, we try to get a seat next to the window on short flights for Bubsi and me. The window seat has the most space, which is increasingly important the more she grows. Her cute shoes would otherwise quickly land on the neighbor’s trousers, to his delight and my peril. On longer flights the window seat might be less advantageous, for example if one needs to use the loo or simply allow a mobile toddler to run down the aisle.

One is allowed, by the way, to book babies and toddlers an extra seat and install a plane approved child seat for safety and comfort. We have never done this. Instead, we have opted for the less safe but cheaper option of keeping Bubsi on our lap. Bubsi is not a person who likes to be restrained, and prefers cuddling with us anyways. Plus, planes are the safest mode of transport. Having said that, a growing Bubsi is ever more challenging to accommodate on my lap, so I cannot wait for her to turn two. From two years of age, booking a real seat is required and no child restraint necessary.

Flying to Romania

This week’s destination is Romania, Papa’s native country. His parents and brother live there on and off, whenever they are not abroad themselves. Due to their jobs we haven’t seen Bubsi’s Romanian grandparents for over a year, so you can imagine the excitement!

We had to get up very early, catching a cab to the airport at four in the morning. The first train would have arrived too late for check-in. Aside from some cab drama (they arrived half an hour late and without the car seat for Bubsi!) the trip went well. Bubsi came down with a cold the day before and she was a bit fussy about the descent, but no crying. She even used the plane toilet!

Bubsi and Kat waiting at the boarding gate