My head is still in a fog. I didn’t expect to be hit by jet lag this hard. The Philippines is 14 hours ahead my normal time zone. Yesterday morning after playing with Ace at 3:00 am, my husband and I got up and watched a movie. We were up. Ace adjusted to Philippines time without a problem. We had two long layovers and traveled for a total of 40 hours. I think she was exhausted when we got to the hotel.
She slept a lot better on the plane on the way back, but now that we are home it is hard to get her back on her old schedule. Tonight we are driving 4 hours to visit family for the next three days. Maybe the traveling with our jet lagged baby will help her get adjusted again.
I tried to keep her up yesterday by leaving the house and going shopping and I put her down at her normal bedtime, but she would keep waking up every few hours. Then at one point, I let her stay up to wear herself out. Then at the next waking we laid her in bed with us. That didn’t work. Finally at 2 a.m. we were exhausted, so we put her in her crib and shut the door. I don’t know how long she cried, we fell asleep. Then I woke her up at 9:40 this morning when we got up. Maybe a controlled wake up time will work. I don’t know. She is now sleeping again.
I know she will figure it out soon. Hopefully, really soon!
Thanks to Dawn, McKenna’s friend, Kristi and Sara for sharing their insight and stories with us while I was away and McKenna was working on finals. Also, Amelia did a great post on disposable diapers which is worth the read if you haven’t read it. Amelia, thanks for your great posts!
A big thanks to you who have made your Amazon purchases through our site. We appreciate the support!
Christmas is just around the corner. Enjoy your time with the family and kids. I know I am looking forward to seeing more of Daniel the next few days.
I wanted to clue all of you in on a secret. The Mom Crowd is working on a big project that will debut at the beginning of February. Of course, we will have all our great content between now and then, but something extra special is coming soon. Stay tuned!
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Amanda
This Saturday my family will be traveling to the Philippines for an 11-day trip. It will take us 40 hours to get there, including 3 flights (one leg is 15 hours) and a 10-hour layover in Hong Kong.
When we go into Hong Kong I am planning on using my Moby Wrap and a messenger bag as my diaper bag so I can be hands free.
I know I should feed on the way up and on the way down. We did get a seat just for her and will be using her car seat. We got a car seat stroller frame to carry the car seat through the airport. Also, I am still breastfeeding, so I won’t be carrying any bottles or formula. I will be bringing my very discreet nursing cover!
I am also planning on bringing several sets of earplugs to pass out to my flying neighbors just in case. Hopefully they will appreciate the sentiment.
Do any of you have experience flying with a baby or handling baby jet lag? Do you have any tips or tricks?
I found this helpful packing checklist and travel tips at babycenter.com:
Packing Checklist
_ Diapers – One for each hour you’ll be in transit, plus extras in case of delays
_ Pad to put under your baby during diaper changes – You can buy disposable changing pads at supermarkets or reusable ones at baby stores
_ Blankets – Bring a few — you’ll use them to lay your baby on, cover her, cover yourself if you’re nursing, protect your clothes from messy burps, shade your baby, and more
_ Plastic bags – Carry a variety of sizes for storing soiled diapers, clothes, and blankets
_ Diaper rash cream
_ Wipes
_ Small bottles of disinfecting hand gel, baby wash, and baby lotion
_ Tissues
_ Extra pacifiers (if your baby uses one)
_ A few of your baby’s favorite toys
_ Clothes, socks, and booties or shoes – One to two outfits per day is a good guideline
_ Washable bibs
_ Sun hat
_ Lightweight plastic feeding set with utensils, and baby food – If your baby’s eating solid foods
_ Formula, water, and juice if appropriate
_ Extra bottles, nipples, and sippy cups if appropriate
_ Energy-boosting snacks for you to munch on
_ Breast pump (if you use one)
_ Nightlight – So you can keep the room lighting soothingly low during middle-of-the-night diaper changes
_ First-aid kit – Baby pain reliever and supplies for treating minor injuries
_ Sling or front carrier – Lightweight, hands-free way to keep your baby close in crowded places like airports
_ Portable crib or play yard – A safe place for your baby to sleep or play
_ Inflatable baby bathtub – Can make bath time easier at your destination
_ Car seat for safer travel by car or plane
_ Collapsible stroller – Can be gate-checked or stored in the overhead bin of an airplane
Packing Tips
- Start preparing to pack a few days before you travel. Keep a running list of things to take, or put items out on a table or dresser as you think of them.
- Use a diaper bag with a waterproof lining and a shoulder strap.
- Pack an extra shirt for yourself in your carry-on bag.
- Prevent leaks by packing medicines and toiletries in resealable plastic bags.
- Keep your baby’s outfits together in one suitcase so you can find them easily.
- Take your camera — and don’t forget the battery charger if it’s digital, or plenty of film if not.
- Take a clip-on reading light so you can read without disturbing your baby.
Bonus
Diaper Change in the Sky Video
Air Travel with Baby Video
