We go on holiday in May and our daughter will be exactly 13 months. Any tips? Our flight out is fairly early (6.10am) 🥲 but we had to do that in order to get the afternoon flight home (12.30pm) x
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We did 3 6-7am flights and even though our girl normally wakes up at 8am, she had no issues. I dressed her ready for travel before bed (layer under sleepsuit), so then it's just a quick transfer to carseat. Baby wear works for us, as there are so many distractions around, she is calmer with me. We go with a little extra time, you never know when you might get poonami.... Change her before boarding for sure, changing on board is pain in the arse, even with baby, let alone 13mo! Bring bag with toys and snacks. If she's grumpy, we walk up and down the plane with her
You'll be shattered, so take it easy, len her have naps whenever she feels like it, we were always back on schedule next day (saying that, on our beach holiday we had her take extra nap, so her bedtime moved from 7 to 9.30, so we could have dinner and evening walk

thankyou that's made me feel a little better as our daughter usually wakes at 8am also. May I ask did you still arrive hours early at the airport? That's my worry deciding what time to wake her! We are definitely going to dress her for travel and leave her in her comfies! We do have a snoozeshade so I'm thinking of keeping that handy as if she wants a nap in the pram it'll make it a little darker for her maybe? Xxx

we do 2.5hrs prior, coz of parking and bag. Depends on the airport, it's soooo empty at that time (we flew from Luton and east midlands). But my first flight I got there 3hrs prior, it's was just me and her and I didn't want to stress.
Tbh we never used pushchair for her, only to carry out bags. You have to take her out for security, then walk around.... For me it's just easier to carry her and husband has pushchair and bags.
She pretty much starts her day at 3am when I transfer her to car seat, naps on the way to the airport and then has day with more naps and shorted wake windows. She's a 30min cat napper, I just let her do whatever she wants that day
Btw you can bring water/baby food through security without restrictions for under 2yo. She's always way thirstier on flights too

I'd say the advice above is great, plus just give yourself good time at the airport - 3 hours or so, so there is plenty of time for nappy changes and feeding, plus any delays with security or bag drops at the airport.
Also for any toys you're taking on holiday, best to hide them and pack them in your carry on a couple of days beforehand. Seeing them for the first time in a while can make them exciting again.
We flew to NZ and back and I'd say after a little while, time holds no meaning 🤪. As long as you're calm, baby will be calm as well.