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Straits Times
20-07-2025
- Straits Times
How to fly long-haul with a baby
A little planning and a few handy tricks might make the daunting task of flying with a baby less stressful. NEW YORK – 'Try flying any plane with a baby if you want a sense of what it must have been like to be a leper in the fourteenth century,' wrote American journalist, film-maker and author Nora Ephron in her 1983 novel Heartburn. That is not too far off. And I would know, as it was not long ago that I flew 19 hours across the world with my three-month-old. A newborn or young infant cannot be reasoned with, nor can he or she sit in front of a screen or snack on treats. What do you pack for an infant on a long flight? Where do you even put the baby? And that is all before accounting for the side eye you get from fellow passengers bracing themselves for screaming and crying. A little groundwork, though, can go a long way towards easing some of that stress, said Mr James Howard, a Delta Air Lines cabin manager and father of a toddler. You might even enjoy it, he added. Advance planning If you know you will travel in the first few months of your baby's life, you can add your child to your airline ticket even before he or she is born , said Mr Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy website and a father of two. Your airline would use a placeholder name – usually 'Baby' and your last name. Then, closer to your travel dates, update your booking with your child's legal name. For most domestic US flights, infants can travel free on the lap of an accompanying adult, though many experts do not think this is safe. On international flights, you might be charged a portion of your fare. Navigating check-in Breast milk and formula in your carry-on are not subject to the Transportation Security Administration's liquids limit, meaning you can take along large quantities of them on board. You will, however, need to take them out for screening. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 1 in 3 vapes here laced with etomidate; MOH working with MHA to list it as illegal drug: Ong Ye Kung Singapore HSA extends hotline hours, launches new platform to report vaping offences Singapore No unified guidelines? Animal shelters chart their own paths on welfare standards Asia Tearful relatives await news of Vietnam boat capsize rescue as death toll rises to 38 Multimedia How to make the most out of small homes in Singapore Singapore Minor Issues: Why I didn't send my daughters to my brand-name primary school Opinion I thought I was a 'chill' parent. Then came P1 registration World Diplomats dismissed: Inside the overhaul reshaping Trump's foreign policy 'I always tell parents to have the agents change their gloves before they do that because I don't know what they've touched,' said Dr Lauren Hughes. The paediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas, has become popular on social media for sharing practical infant and toddler tips and tricks. If you know you have to get through a large airport, Mr Kelly recommends taking a foldable stroller that would fit in the overhead compartment with you rather than one you need to check in, which might get damaged or need to be picked up at an oversized luggage counter. Another option is to pack a baby carrier so you can keep your hands free through the airport, said Ms Christy Slavik, owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel. Seating choices Though having an infant sit in your lap is allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that babies be strapped into car seats during flights and advises against holding them in your lap. That does require you to buy a seat that is certified for flying and you should check whether the plane will have the right seat belts to secure it. Most business or first class cabins do not, said Mr Kelly. Getting an extra seat also ensures that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, there would be an oxygen mask at the ready for the baby too, said Dr Hughes. If they were on your lap, one might not drop down for them but would be made available if you requested it. For longer international flights, it might be worth booking a bassinet for the baby to sleep in, said Mr Howard . Airline bassinets are free and can be requested through the airline reservations team, but they are available only on a first-come, first-served basis. They cannot be used during take-off, landing or during heavy turbulence. You also cannot hold your baby in a carrier for take-off and landing. Some international flights will provide an infant seat belt to loop around your baby on your lap that then attaches to your own seat belt for take-off and landing. Keeping your baby happy, healthy and clean When it comes to the safety of your infant, the biggest risk, said Dr Hughes, is the infection risk of being in an enclosed space. 'A fever in a child under 60 days old is an emergency, so my general guidance is to wait until at least 60 days old' to get them on a flight, she added. Also, pack a first aid kit in your carry-on that contains bandages; an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itchy, irritated skin; a topical antibiotic for cuts and scrapes; as well as infant versions of Tylenol, ibuprofen and an antihistamine, Dr Hughes said. To make sure babies are comfortable during the change in air pressure at take-off and landing, offer them a bottle or a pacifier or nurse them in those moments, Dr Hughes added, as the sucking can help with the ear-popping sensation. And ideally, you could try to time your flights around naps or take a night flight so that your baby can sleep for at least some part of the journey, she said. Diaper changes on flights can be a little tricky. Bathrooms that feel uncomfortably small for an adult, can feel even smaller with the addition of a baby and a diaper bag. According to Mr Howard, there should be at least one diaper-changing table on every aircraft. But before taking your baby into the shoebox of a bathroom, make sure your wipes and fresh diapers are easily accessible with one hand as there is not much space or time to fumble around searching for them in the depths of your carry-on bag, he said. That might mean you go in first and set up the diaper changing table while your partner or a crew member holds the baby. 'In my almost eight years of flying, I have helped watch children while the parent has gone to the restroom, I have helped install car seats, I've helped break down strollers and store items,' Mr Howard said. 'As a parent, it's important to remember that any extra pair of hands you can get is great.' NYTIMES
Observer
19-07-2025
- Observer
How to fly long-haul with a baby
'Try flying any plane with a baby if you want a sense of what it must have been like to be a leper in the fourteenth century,' wrote journalist, filmmaker and author Nora Ephron in her 1983 novel, 'Heartburn.' That's not too far off. And I'd know, as it wasn't long ago that I flew 19 hours across the world with my 3-month-old. A newborn or young infant cannot be reasoned with, nor can they sit in front of a screen or snack on treats. What do you pack for an infant on a long flight? Where do you even put the baby? And that's all before accounting for the side eye you get from fellow passengers bracing themselves for screaming and crying. A little groundwork, though, can go a long way toward easing some of that stress, said James Howard, a Delta Air Lines cabin manager and father of a toddler. You might even enjoy it, he added. Advance Planning If you are flying internationally, your baby, no matter how young, will need a passport. You can apply for one online, mail in supporting evidence, like a birth certificate, and then show up in person for an appointment. The process can take roughly three months, although you can pay to expedite it. You will need a passport photo; the State Department concedes that the baby can be lying down for the photo, and 'it is acceptable if your infant's eyes are not entirely open.' If you know you will travel in the first few months of your baby's life, you can add your child to your airline ticket even before they're born, said Brian Kelly, founder of the Points Guy website and a father of two. Your airline would use a placeholder name (usually 'Baby' and your last name). Then, closer to your travel dates, update your booking with their legal name. For most domestic U.S. flights, infants can travel free on the lap of an accompanying adult, though many experts don't think this is safe; on international flights, you might be charged a portion of your fare. If you are traveling in and out of the United States and want to use Global Entry, babies need their membership, no matter how young they are. You will need to sign your baby up separately, and they must go for the interview. Navigating Check-In Breast milk and formula in your carry-on are not subject to the Transportation Security Administration's liquids limit, meaning you can bring large quantities of them onboard. You will, however, need to take them out for screening. 'I always tell parents to have the agents change their gloves before they do that,' said Lauren Hughes, a pediatrician at Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas, who has become popular on social media for sharing practical infant and toddler tips and tricks, 'because I don't know what they've touched, I don't know what the hell is on your gloves and I don't want it on my baby's milk.' If you know you have to get through a large airport, Kelly recommends taking a foldable stroller that would fit in the overhead compartment with you rather than one you need to check, which might get damaged or need to be picked up at an oversized luggage counter. Another option is to pack a baby carrier so you can keep your hands free through the airport, said Christy Slavik, the owner of the travel agency Mom Approved Travel. Seating Choices Though having an infant sit in your lap is allowed, the Federal Aviation Administration recommends that babies be strapped into car seats during flights and advises against holding them in your lap. That does require you to buy a seat that is certified for flying, and you should check whether the plane will have the right seat belts to secure it (most business or first-class cabins don't, said Kelly). Getting an extra seat also ensures that in the event of a loss of cabin pressure, there would be an oxygen mask at the ready for the baby, too, said Hughes. If they were on your lap, one might not drop down for them, but would be made available if you requested it. For longer international flights, it might be worth booking a bassinet for the baby to sleep in, Howard of Delta said. Airline bassinets are free and can be requested through the airline reservations team, but they are only available on a first-come, first-served basis. They can't be used during takeoff, landing or during heavy turbulence. You also can't hold your baby in a carrier for takeoff and landing. Some international flights will provide an infant seat belt to loop around your baby on your lap that then attaches to your seat belt for takeoff and landing. Keeping Your Baby Happy, Healthy, and Clean When it comes to the safety of your infant, the biggest risk, said Hughes, is 'the infection risk of being in an enclosed space.' 'A fever in a child under 60 days old is an emergency, so my general guidance is to wait until at least 60 days old' to get them on a flight, she added. Also, pack a first-aid kit in your carry-on that contains bandages, an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream for itchy, irritated skin, a topical antibiotic for cuts and scrapes as well as infant versions of Tylenol, ibuprofen, and an antihistamine, Hughes said. To make sure babies are comfortable during the change in air pressure at takeoff and landing, offer them a bottle or a pacifier or nurse them in those moments, Hughes added, as the sucking can help with the ear-popping sensation. And ideally, you could try to time your flights around naps or take a night flight so that your baby can sleep for at least some part of the journey, she said. Diaper changes on flights can be a little tricky; bathrooms that feel uncomfortably small for an adult human can feel even smaller with the addition of a baby and a diaper bag. According to Howard, there should be at least one diaper-changing table on every aircraft. But before taking your baby into the shoebox of a bathroom, make sure your wipes and fresh diapers are easily accessible with one hand, as there isn't much space or time to fumble around searching for them in the depths of your carry-on bag, he said. That might mean you go in first and set up the diaper changing table while your partner or a crew member holds the baby. 'In my almost eight years of flying, I have helped watch children while the parent has gone to the restroom, I have helped install car seats, I've helped break down strollers and store items,' Howard said. 'As a parent, it's important to remember that any extra pair of hands you can get is great.' This article originally appeared in
Sydney Morning Herald
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Try dating Josie': A Melbourne single's unique approach to finding love
While Buden's approach to looking for love is novel, their growing disdain for dating apps is not. An increasing number of singles are taking their search off their smartphones and into real life, whether through organised singles events or by joining community groups for like-minded people, such as run clubs. Loading '[Dating apps are] just very deeply impersonal,' Buden said. 'I was getting a bit nowhere.' Buden is also a romantic who loves a good meet-cute story. An intimacy director in uni theatre, they are pursuing a career writing for screen and stage, and writing a romcom for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The late Nora Ephron – the writer behind the films Heartburn, Sleepless In Seattle, You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally, as well as books and essays – has a special place in Buden's heart: 'I love her entire oeuvre.' 'You kind of want there to be a story to a relationship. Dating apps just don't have the same personality. 'I'd be lying if there wasn't a part of me that wanted to S leepless [in Seattle] myself,' they said, referring to the film about a widower who inadvertently attracts thousands of women after he speaks on a radio talk show about his grief. Last year, an investigation by The Age reported that dating-app user numbers were flatlining, prompting the tech giants to try to squeeze singles with costly subscriptions. Melbourne-based Brenda Van started her company Dating Apps Suck three years ago to create real-life events for singles to meet after she became deflated with her own swiping experiences. She now organises speed dating, all-in mingling and events based on activities, such as salsa or running, in Melbourne and Sydney about three times a month. 'You can't gauge chemistry until you meet in person,' Van said. 'Between being ghosted or stood up or meeting people who have girlfriends already, there's no accountability on the apps; people have less investment when swiping.' Van said going to a dating event was no longer seen as 'desperate', with a huge jump in companies catering to this as the apps fall out of favour. CitySwoon is one of Australia's biggest dating events businesses, with about a dozen gatherings organised in Melbourne each month. The company's chief operating officer, Chris Marnie, explains that they harness technology by having singles at their events use an app that matches them up in real-time to have mini dates through the night. 'It really comes down to, we just want to put people together face-to-face as soon as possible,' he said. Marnie said the company started a decade ago and there had been exponential growth in Melbourne since 2022, with an expansion from the core demographic of ages 25-49 to 50-65, plus people in their early 20s. 'People are sick of dating apps,' Marnie said. 'Suddenly, speed dating and singles events and actually paying money to meet singles isn't as much of a taboo.' As for Buden's dating flyers, they have yet to result in love. The posters led to some genuine messages of interest, but Buden said some people misinterpreted the flyer's humour. Loading 'It has jokes, the intent is to be funny, but it is not in itself a joke. It's a sincere attempt to try to find something.' If they make another attempt, they would consider changing the poster slightly. They may also try other unique methods – being in The Age, for one, may even count. 'I'd like to meet someone who is independent and focused, but then do fun things together. I also just kind of enjoy dating. I like the silly, cute moments.'
The Age
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
‘Try dating Josie': A Melbourne single's unique approach to finding love
While Buden's approach to looking for love is novel, their growing disdain for dating apps is not. An increasing number of singles are taking their search off their smartphones and into real life, whether through organised singles events or by joining community groups for like-minded people, such as run clubs. Loading '[Dating apps are] just very deeply impersonal,' Buden said. 'I was getting a bit nowhere.' Buden is also a romantic who loves a good meet-cute story. An intimacy director in uni theatre, they are pursuing a career writing for screen and stage, and writing a romcom for the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The late Nora Ephron – the writer behind the films Heartburn, Sleepless In Seattle, You've Got Mail and When Harry Met Sally, as well as books and essays – has a special place in Buden's heart: 'I love her entire oeuvre.' 'You kind of want there to be a story to a relationship. Dating apps just don't have the same personality. 'I'd be lying if there wasn't a part of me that wanted to S leepless [in Seattle] myself,' they said, referring to the film about a widower who inadvertently attracts thousands of women after he speaks on a radio talk show about his grief. Last year, an investigation by The Age reported that dating-app user numbers were flatlining, prompting the tech giants to try to squeeze singles with costly subscriptions. Melbourne-based Brenda Van started her company Dating Apps Suck three years ago to create real-life events for singles to meet after she became deflated with her own swiping experiences. She now organises speed dating, all-in mingling and events based on activities, such as salsa or running, in Melbourne and Sydney about three times a month. 'You can't gauge chemistry until you meet in person,' Van said. 'Between being ghosted or stood up or meeting people who have girlfriends already, there's no accountability on the apps; people have less investment when swiping.' Van said going to a dating event was no longer seen as 'desperate', with a huge jump in companies catering to this as the apps fall out of favour. CitySwoon is one of Australia's biggest dating events businesses, with about a dozen gatherings organised in Melbourne each month. The company's chief operating officer, Chris Marnie, explains that they harness technology by having singles at their events use an app that matches them up in real-time to have mini dates through the night. 'It really comes down to, we just want to put people together face-to-face as soon as possible,' he said. Marnie said the company started a decade ago and there had been exponential growth in Melbourne since 2022, with an expansion from the core demographic of ages 25-49 to 50-65, plus people in their early 20s. 'People are sick of dating apps,' Marnie said. 'Suddenly, speed dating and singles events and actually paying money to meet singles isn't as much of a taboo.' As for Buden's dating flyers, they have yet to result in love. The posters led to some genuine messages of interest, but Buden said some people misinterpreted the flyer's humour. Loading 'It has jokes, the intent is to be funny, but it is not in itself a joke. It's a sincere attempt to try to find something.' If they make another attempt, they would consider changing the poster slightly. They may also try other unique methods – being in The Age, for one, may even count. 'I'd like to meet someone who is independent and focused, but then do fun things together. I also just kind of enjoy dating. I like the silly, cute moments.'
The Age
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Two new books delve into the 20th century's wittiest women
Kaplan's lavishly illustrated book would certainly catch the eye on anyone's coffee-table (although the captioning of the pictures is eye-rollingly literal and sometimes just plain wrong). But much of her commentary about Ephron reads like marketing hype. 'Think of her as the fairy godmother of modern-day rom-coms,' she urges. 'After years of a genre lying in wait, she waved her magic wand and penned dazzling scripts, equivalent to charming ball gowns for women who wouldn't take any shit.' And her afterword – in which she confesses that 'Nora's trio of groundbreaking genre films had shaped (her) core beliefs of finding true romance' – is simply embarrassing. And it's 'Nora' throughout, even though she never knew her. She's alert to the primary focus of Ephron's work: 'Each project focuses on women who were three-dimensional and who had something to prove – either to themselves or to the world at large.' She also attends to her public persona – her humour, her fashion sense, her love affair with food – and to how her mantra that 'everything is copy' fuelled her work, especially her 1983 novel, Heartburn, a thinly disguised account of the collapse of her marriage to famed Washington Post journalist Carl Bernstein. But she never looks far beyond the surface, relying far too heavily on others' observations or assessments and coming up with few insights of her own. Jacob Bernstein's 2015 documentary about his mother, Everything Is Copy, is much more illuminating. Only in the book's final chapter, made up of interviews with some of those who worked with Ephron on her films, does Kaplan seem on more solid ground. By way of contrast, British academic Gail Crowther's fluently written book about Parker is much more revealing, attentive to detail and interested in what might lie beneath the surface. She easily dispenses with the most dominant myth regarding Parker: that she was a bouncy, carefree soul, tossing witticisms across the famous Round Table with her illustrious peers in the literary world (among them Robert Benchley, Alexander Woollcott, Robert Sherwood and Donald Ogden Stewart) at New York's Algonquin Hotel during the 1920s, before heading off to Hollywood where real money beckoned. Her account instead fixes on the collision between two early 20th-century phenomena, Parker and Hollywood, neither nice to be around, despite the surface glitter attached to both. Like Crowther's 2021 book, Three-Martin Afternoons at the Ritz: The Rebellion of Sylvia Plath & Anne Sexton, her portrait of Parker ponders what went wrong, what made this professionally successful woman so mean, why she seemed to be forever sabotaging herself, why she repeatedly attempted suicide, why she suffered such a sad, lonely death. Intrigued, compassionate and affectionate at the same time as she keeps her distance, Crowther hones in on Parker's 'mix of helplessness and viciousness' as she situates her biography in the social circumstances of the time. Significant events swirl in the background: the 'Roaring '20s', the Great Depression, the imposition of the Hays Code to counter Hollywood's perceived debauchery, the general oppression of women in the social hierarchy, the rise of the 'Red Threat' and the establishment of HUAC (the House Un-American Activities Commission) to deal with it. Meanwhile, in the foreground, her Parker is a restless figure, struggling to make her way in a world that has no serious interest in anything she has to offer aside from her reputation, suffering the consequences of her alcoholism, dealing with the torture of miscarriages and failed relationships, discovering a political cause and finding herself blacklisted. Loading Curiously, Crowther largely sidesteps the possibility that traces of Parker's personality might be found in her work, whether on the page or the screen. But otherwise thorough in her research, she draws intelligently on her sources pointing to the gaps in their examinations and recognising that, perhaps inevitably, everyone's inner life is, finally, fated to remain a mystery.
