[Experienced Mom’s Tip]How to Fly with a Baby Under Two—Don’t Miss This Adorable Bassinet!!

As a first-time mom, the thought of flying with your baby for the first time can be super nerve-wracking—what should you do?

And the moment I saw this bassinet, I was absolutely thrilled!! I just knew I’d regret it if I didn’t let Tuzai (my daughter) lie in one—haha!!

But such a high-end experience isn’t something you’ll get on a budget airline.

Determined not to have any regrets, I decided to “just go for it” and kept a close eye on Singapore Airlines’ promotions.

Luckily, my efforts paid off—I actually snagged a special deal!! Though not as cheap as budget airlines, considering the usual fare for Singapore Airlines flights between Singapore and Taiwan, $588 SGD (14,200 TWD)

is considered pretty affordable. But these tickets come with many restrictions, such as limited departure dates, no refunds, no changes to flight times, and a maximum journey duration of 14 days… etc.

To be honest, I wasn’t entirely confident I could handle an 8-month-old baby either!!

Plus, the baby ticket price is only 10% of the adult fare—wow!! Why wouldn’t you book it?

So after searching for ages, I finally found the Singapore Airlines flight I’d been wanting to take—and it was on sale!! $588 SGD (14,200 TWD)~YAY!!

But these tickets come with lots of rules, like no refunds, no changes to flight times, limited travel months, and a maximum 14-day round trip!!

And you must book within the specified time frame too!!

Phew~ So many annoying rules, but when I think about how I got a ticket that normally costs over 1,000 SGD (23,000 TWD) for just 588 SGD (14,200 TWD),

I saved over 300 SGD (7,000 TWD)—that’s 600 SGD (14,000 TWD) for two tickets!! I even saved enough for an extra ticket, so why not??!!

I’m spinning with joy~ (Moms love scoring deals like this, haha!!)

So for first-time moms flying with a baby, there’s a lot of fear, nervousness, and uncertainty—but choosing a good airline helps.

Because it saves you a lot of hassle and you might even discover some fun, new experiences!!

Also, for long-haul flights over ten hours, don’t torture yourself!! Kids are really hard to manage—and jet lag is especially tough on them.

And when the kid isn’t happy, the adults just suffer along with them!! I once took a 14-hour flight to Germany—it was really tough!!

Things to note when booking a baby’s ticket:

1. When booking by phone or checking in at the airport, remember to ask for a bassinet!! Have them register and assign your seat in advance.

If booking online, make sure to select only seats that can accommodate a bassinet—the seat map will show bassinet icons, usually in the front rows or mid-front.

(If unsure, it’s best to call the airline to help assign your seat)

The fare for babies under two is 10% of the adult fare at the time of booking (excluding special offers), but includes 10kg of checked baggage!!

2. Meal arrangements must be confirmed in advance—you can call to confirm after booking or double-check again at the airport:

(Here are the meal options—you must tell them what kind of meal you need, because every baby is at a different eating stage,

some start on baby food early, others later, so it’s best to confirm with the airline ahead of time)

Baby Meal
(BBML) Suitable for babies under 1 year old; each meal consists of three bottles—baby main course, vegetables, and dessert.
Baby weaning food
(PWMLM) Suitable for babies aged 1–2 years; more quantity than infant meals; easy to bite/chew and digestible
Infant and toddler meal
(CHMLI) Designed for infants and toddlers under 2 years old, with a larger portion size and a wider variety of food choices that are easy to chew and digest

3. The airplane provides free diapers, wet wipes, and age-appropriate toys.

PS. I always double-confirm these three things—by phone in advance and again during check-in—to make sure I’m at ease!!

How I prepare as a mom:

Flying on a comfortable airline makes preparation much easier compared to budget airlines

1. Short-haul – 1–2 packs of formula / 1–2 bottles (use protective sleeves if glass) / water bottle (no need to worry about water, you can always ask the flight attendants)

Long-haul – depends on how many feedings your baby needs at the time

Breastfed babies: absolutely no problem and the most convenient option, but remember to wear nursing clothes and have a cover to prevent exposure. (I highly recommend a mesh blanket, moms!!)

But for formula-fed babies who need many feedings, you might consider: disposable formula bags / disposable bottle cups (convenient items that save space and are easy to carry)

2. Baby snacks

3. Diapers (I estimate around 6–7 per day based on flight duration; 4–5 for short flights of 4 hours)

4. One pack of wet wipes (you can also ask for them on the plane)

5. One small-sized mesh blanket (super useful for covering during breastfeeding, can also serve as a little blanket for the child)

6. For short-haul, bring 1–2 extra outfits; for long-haul, 2–3 is safer!!

(I’ve heard of long flights where parents ran out of clothes to change into—the 2 sets for poop and vomit weren’t enough, and they ended up wrapping the kid in adult clothes along with diapers until reaching the destination. You never know with kids!! Better safe than sorry with extra prep~)

7. Moms know their own babies best—don’t forget to bring soothing items for sleep (pacifier or doll, etc.!! My bunny girl’s favorite is the tag on her blanket!!)

8. Short-haul – The little toys and TV on the plane are just enough to keep the kid entertained until landing!! But I can’t promise the same for long-haul!!

Long-haul – Time-killing is crucial at this point!! Bring plenty of toys, but make them new ones~ Don’t bring the everyday toys your kid sees all the time—they just take up space!!

Bring space-saving and easy-to-carry toys, because traveling with tons of luggage is such a hassle!! You’re already dealing with the kid and carrying bags too!!

For example: 1. Sticker book – stick stickers left to right, right to left, peel and re-stick, peel and re-stick.

(Can be played repeatedly 1–3 times, should kill about 15–20 minutes each time)

2. Crayons – full-length color-changing crayons plus blank paper, keep switching colors and drawing, occasionally let the parents join in for some drawing time

(Also repeatable 1–3 times, with parental involvement it could last longer—about 15–30 minutes each time)

3. Wind-up toys – there are many on the market, but choose ones that don’t run around too much so the kid stays in one spot

(Repeatable 1–3 times, about 10 minutes each time)

4. Walking around with the kid is also a good idea

(The walking space on the plane is limited—about 10 minutes)

5. iPad – This is always my last resort. I carefully select and download some cartoon and educational games.

(I try to limit iPad use to 15–30 minutes before switching to other activities, as I’m concerned about eye strain for the child.)

Pushchair before boarding:

First class, business class, and passengers with mobility issues or young children can board the plane first!!

You can take the pushchair right to the gate, where staff will cover it with a protective plastic wrap to keep it clean, though it may still get damaged.

PS. How to retrieve the pushchair upon arrival:

The pushchair will be waiting for you at the exit after disembarking. Ground staff will hand them out one by one or place them in the aisle for you to collect.

Pre-takeoff reminders:

PS. Prepare the first bottle of milk in advance – breast milk is the most convenient!!

As soon as the plane starts accelerating on the runway for takeoff, moms can feed the baby. You can offer milk or water (both during takeoff and descent).

To prevent ear pressure discomfort or crying, swallowing is the best solution. The rapid ascent can cause slight oxygen deprivation, making it easier for babies to fall asleep.

This way, mom and dad can relax, and when the meal service arrives, you can enjoy it properly~

Next, the flight attendant will ask for your baby’s name and will give your child special attention, occasionally calling your baby’s name to play with them.

Onboard, the flight attendant will give you an extra seatbelt to secure around your own and then attach your child. It can be removed once the seatbelt sign turns off.

After takeoff, the baby can be placed in the overhead bassinet, along with a small pillow and blanket provided for your baby’s use.

The bassinet has a weight limit of 14kg, and I don’t recall there being a height restriction. I remember flying to Germany once when my child’s feet were a bit too long, but they could still rest over the edge of the bassinet.

(Each airline has different weight limits, so it’s best to check and confirm in advance!!)

In case of turbulence and the plane shakes up and down, flight attendants may ask you to zip up the bassinet to prevent the baby from being tossed out. (That’s the middle flap.)

Now comes the highlight – toys!! I absolutely love the toys Singapore Airlines gives out~!!

They produce items based on recent popular cartoon movies, with options for all age groups – super thoughtful.

These toys were so new that she played with them for a long time.

These were the toys given when Rabbit Girl was one and a half years old – an inflatable pillow, puzzles, and finger puppet toys.

(The finger puppet – Mommy loves it so much!! I even asked for an extra one to keep as a souvenir. So happy!)

Look at this – the hippo is super cute.

Every time my aunt travels abroad on Singapore Airlines, she always asks the flight attendants for toys from the plane to bring back for Rabbit Girl. Oh my gosh – this time it was the super adorable Angry Birds set with a doll, drawing board, eye mask, character cards, and coloring book. Mommy was practically screaming with excitement next to Rabbit Girl!! (Such a silly mom, but I really do love Singapore Airlines’ toys~)

There are three bottles of main meals in different flavors for you to choose from. If you want to eat them, they’ll heat them up using warm water.

They also come with a carton of milk and juice. If you can’t finish, you can take them off the plane – very convenient.

The food smells really good – even I wanted to eat some. There’s milk and a small snack or cake.

The flight attendants recommend finishing this meal within two hours, otherwise it won’t be fresh.

So if you’re not planning to eat it that early, please remind them in advance, otherwise it might be served along with the adult meals.

Kids' meals are just adult meals in smaller portions—and I heard they come with toys too!

There’s mashed carrot, mashed vegetables, and mashed chicken—really aromatic. Mom couldn’t resist taking a bite; it even tasted better than what I make!

This method works great—one person can eat first while the other takes care of the child, then switch after finishing so the next meal can be served!

I held it upside down!

It really gets cold on the plane, so in the end, I ended up putting on socks.

Flying on a comfortable airline makes preparation much easier compared to budget carriers.

1. Short-haul – 1–2 packs of formula / 1–2 bottles (if glass, please use a protective cover) / water bottle (no need to worry about water, you can always ask the flight attendant)

Long-haul – depends on how many meals your baby usually has

Breastfed babies: Absolutely no problem and the most convenient option, but remember to wear nursing-friendly clothes or easy-to-remove clothing and cover with a blanket!!

But if it’s a formula-fed baby with multiple feedings, you might consider using: disposable formula bags / disposable bottle cups (convenient items—save space, easy to carry)

2. For baby, small snacks

3. Diapers (I go by flight duration—about 6–7 per day, short-haul 4-hour flights around 4–5 pieces)

4. One pack of wet wipes (you can also ask for these on the plane)

5. One small-sized baby blanket (super useful when breastfeeding, can also serve as a little blanket for the child)

6. For short-haul, bring 1–2 extra sets of clothes; for long-haul, 2–3 sets are safer!!

(I’ve heard of people on long-haul flights running out of clothes to change into—two sets weren’t enough after diaper blowouts and vomiting, and they had to wrap the kid in adult clothes with a diaper until reaching the destination. You never know with kids!! Better to prepare more and worry less!)

7. Moms know their own babies best—remember to bring something for comforting sleep (pacifier or doll… etc!! My bunny girl loves the tag on her blanket!!)

8. Short-haul – The small toys and TV on the flight are just enough to keep the kid entertained till landing!! But for long-haul, I can’t promise that!!

Long-haul – Saving time is crucial at this point!! Bring plenty of toys, but make them new ones—don’t bring the ones they see every day; they’ll just take up space!!

Bring some space-saving and easy-to-carry toys, because traveling with tons of luggage is such a hassle!! You have to take care of the kid and manage your bags too!!

For example: 1. Sticker book – stick left to right, right to left, peel off and stick again, peel off and stick again.

(Can be played repeatedly 1–3 times, should kill about 15–20 minutes each time)

2. Crayons – full-color-change crayons paired with blank paper, keep switching colors and drawing, occasionally have parents join in for some drawing fun

(Also playable 1–3 times, having an adult join can extend playtime to about 15–30 minutes each time)

3. Wind-up toys – there are many on the market, best to choose ones that won’t roll away so the kid can stay in one spot

(Playable 1–3 times, about 10 minutes each time)

4. Walking around with the kid a bit is also good

(Limited walking space on planes—about 10 minutes)

5. iPad – this is always my last resort, and I’ll pre-download some cartoons and educational games

(I try to limit iPad use to 15–30 minutes before switching to other activities, because I’m worried about eye strain for the kid)

The first time on this trip, Super Painful Rabbit Auntie was even more nervous than we were and specifically booked a flight to fly with us at the same time~!!

(Auntie specially moved from business class to economy just to sit with Rabbit, Rabbit, you must be filial to Auntie when you grow up~ You’re so lucky!!)

I hope my experience can help newbie moms who want to take their BABY abroad.

If any moms have more tips and experiences to share, please let me know~ I’ll incorporate them into the article!! To share with more first-time traveling moms!! ^0^

But later on, I became braver and braver—I took on the challenge of budget airlines, and even flew alone with Rabbit~ haha!!

My family kept whining—begging me not to do it—pleading that it was only within four hours, but I convinced them and succeeded in the challenge too!! YA~