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HOT: Long-haul flight packing list

You know that film Up In the Air? Well Tim and I used to travel like seasoned traveller George Clooney – packing light, moving efficiently through checkin and customs and tut-tutting at the families and old people clogging up the security x-ray machine queues (‘What do you mean, I can't take my water bottle/screw-driver/pen-knife on board?').

With a baby in tow, travelling light is a distant memory. No more can I get away with packing only hand-luggage for a week, now I have to wait with all the other suckers to pick up my checked-in bags.

I haven't yet tackled a long-haul flight with NKOTB but three of the mums from my mothers group are doing 20+ hour flights in the next few weeks. One of them has helpfully circulated her packing list and I thought it might be useful for readers as well.

Baby inflight
  • Blanket from cot and sleeping bag
  • nighties
  • thermometer
  • panadol
  • change mat, nappies, wipes, creams
  • spare clothes x 4 complete outfits incl singlets and socks
  • baby bjorn
  • spare plastic bags for pooey clothes!
  • toys and teething rings and books
  • spoons and food
  • dummies for take off/landing
  • cloth nappies for wiping up
  • facecloths
  • wraps/muslins for covering her when feeding
  • bibs
  • anti bac gel
Me inflight
  • Change of clothes
  • ear plugs
  • breast pump
  • water bottle
  • panadol
  • breast pads
Other – in cargo
  • extra sleeping bag for baby
  • bath thermometer
  • cover for baby bjorn
  • pram caddy
  • blankets for ruby to lie on
  • pentavite
  • sunhat and beanie
  • mozzie net
  • phone charger
  • plug converters
  • bottles (wishful thinking!)
  • clothes for both of us
  • vitamin supplements
Things to arrange when you get to the other side if you can
  • Car seat
  • Travel cot + sheets etc
  • Pram/pushchair
  • Playmat
  • baby monitor
  • Bottle steriliser
  • Bottle warmer
  • Blackout fabric
  • Highchair/table chair
  • bath seat
  • Spare night light (plug in the wall type)
cropped Kristyna Hess Lockdown Portraits x

Joyce Watts is a former intellectual property, IT and media lawyer turned serial entrepreneur.

As well as being the founder of TOT: HOT OR NOT she helps businesses with their SEO, email marketing & social media as BrightSmart.com.au; she owns an online bike store CycleStyle.com.au and develops and produces creative experiences for families via WheelieGoodFun.com. She used to publish another popular lifestyle and food blog called MEL: HOT OR NOT The decisive guide to Melbourne.

She lives in inner-city Melbourne with her husband, two children and seven bikes.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. In most airports you can use an umbrella stroller right up to the gate following getting the appropriate tags at check in. Very handy for when bub is too big / heavy for a carrier. We have a cheap umbrella strolle that we take on holidays. That way it doesn’t matter if it gets destroyed during transit.

    I also know people that have travelled to Thailand and found it cheaper and easier to buy an umbrella stroller and som of the other things on your list on arrival than pay excess luggage . On departure they then donated it to local charity.

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