Traveling to Europe with a baby

I travelled from Australia to Europe with an 8 month old once. And it wasn't as bad as I'd expected. Check with the airline about two things; if they have seats with baby bassinets available (little beds that fold down from the wall in front of your seat) and also; do they allow a foldable babystroller as carry-on luggage. If you have a little foldable stroller it makes it a ton easier to get around the airport without having to carry the baby all the time. But if you check it in it is no use, so you want it as carry on.

In my experience, the baby slept when the baby felt like sleeping. Whether that was in the middle of the flight, or in the middle of the security control. But my DD was a good sleeper, if you have a baby that can be difficult to get to sleep I'm sure it will be harder. If you manage to get a seat with a baby bassinet, the baby can stretch out like normal when laying in there, and would be more comfortable.

If you breastfeed; feed during take off and landing. If you don't breastfeed, try to give the baby a bottle during take off and landing. Ear problems come very quickly, and you need for the baby to be swallowing to help even out the pressure.

I can't say I saw any jetlag in my DD as she slept a lot during the flight, and seemed to be well rested when we arrived. She did however, throw up a couple of times for the first day after the flight. And also she got a hard stomach, and found it difficult to poop. She was in pain or discomfort for a while, crying her little heart out, but once she got that rock-hard thing out and into her diaper, she slept like a baby for 8 hours straight. It was like turning off a switch

Those are the things I experienced with my child at least. I wouldn't be too worried about travelling with a small child, just plan ahead and be prepared for anything.

Oh, and be prepared for sighs and eyerolling when people next to you on the flight realize they are sitting next to a baby.... I saw a lot of that, but luckily my DD was (and still is) a good sound sleeper and barely made a sound during the multiple 9-12 hour flights.

I think you'd have to buy another seat if you wanted his car seat on the flight with you.   Most airlines will let you check it with the luggage for free though....obviously check with your airline.

eTA....just saw in your OP that you were thinking of buying him a seat so that you didn't have to hold him.   You can bring his car seat in this case but make sure it is approved for aircraft use/ FAA approved.

Yes I have done this many times!!

it is very helpful.

I lived in London until my daughter was 2 and flew back and forth many times.

Be prepared... have lots of snacks... eating helps with the pressure.  (kind of like chewing gum) At 10 months my daughter wanted to watch the people.. I stood on a flight from London to Dallas.. in the front of the plane holding her so she could look at all the people...if I sat down she screamed!!  The flight attendants were really helpful and held her when I need to eat or go to the bathroom.

She fell asleep for take off and screamed for landing! It wasn't fun.. but everyone commented on how good she was, really her screaming only bothered me... 

You'll be fine... its easier before they are walking

I flew transatlantic several times with my son. Just the two of us flew and he was 3, 6 and 13 months at the time. It was fine. He slept for most of the journey. The only difficultly I had was finding a member of the cabin crew to watch him when I needed to use the bathroom. Check with the airlines about seats. We always paid for an extra seat and took the car seat, but on two out the three journeys the cabin crew refused to let me use it.