breastfeeding

Andrea Owen, who has been TUI cabin crew since 2003, has shared her top tips for flying with children to boost your chances of as little going wrong as possible

A flight attendant has shared her top tip for boosting the chance that a flight with kids goes well.

Andrea Owen, who has been TUI cabin crew since 2003, has lifted the lid on some of the best tips for travelling with children that she’s learned in her 22 years of flying.

From short-haul to long-haul flights, Andrea has flown at least 3,000 times and sees hundreds of families take to the skies every week to some of TUI’s popular destinations, such as Majorca, the Canaries, Mexico, and Jamaica.

Andrea says: “After all these years of flying I have looked after thousands of families, I can tell you that the secret to stress-free family travel is preparation. I always tell parents to expect the unexpected, pack more snacks than you think you’ll need, and don’t be afraid to ask crew for help. A lot of us are parents too, and we genuinely want every family to have a great start to their holiday.”

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Andrea’s number one tip to having a successful flight is to choose the right boarding time. When, exactly, is a personal decision.

“This one really depends on your child’s personality, and you know them best. Some families find that boarding as soon as possible gives them that extra breathing space to get settled, stow the bags, and get the kids comfortable in their seats without feeling rushed. But I’ve also seen plenty of parents who swear by boarding last, especially if their little ones can’t sit still for long,” she said.

Below are Andrea’s other top tips:

Relieve ear pressure

“This is one of the most common concerns parents ask me about, and it’s really easy to solve. For babies and toddlers, feeding during take-off and landing is brilliant, whether that’s breastfeeding, a bottle, or even just a dummy – the sucking motion helps equalize ear pressure. For older children, give them chewy sweets or lollipops about 30 minutes before landing as that’s when the pressure really starts to build. I’ve seen many tears avoided with this simple trick.”

Always pack a variety of activities

“I recommend packing a small bag stuffed with variety – different toys, activities, and snacks. What works brilliantly is either letting them pack their own bag so they’re excited or pack some surprise toys they haven’t seen before. Keep everything small and compact with plenty of pencils, crayons, and paper. A surprise sticker book with a little bag of sweets is absolute gold. The games I see working best are Snap, Dobble, and colouring. And here’s a lovely tip – encourage your children to draw pictures for the cabin crew. We absolutely love receiving them and always have a stash of stickers at the ready for every flight.”

Help them to feel prepared

“Preparation is everything when it comes to keeping children calm. Before you leave for the airport, talk through exactly what’s going to happen. Checking in, going through security, boarding the plane, and what take-off and landing will feel like. Let them know about the noises they might hear and explain that their ears might feel different. This is particularly useful if your child is neurodiverse. The key is to make it sound like an exciting adventure rather than something to worry about.”

Bring your home comforts

“Packing home comforts like a small pillow, blanket or cuddly toys can help children of all ages feel more relaxed. If you’re travelling at times when your child would normally be having a nap or going to bed, I really encourage parents to try and stick to that routine as much as possible. Let them sleep if they want to, you’ll arrive at your destination feeling so much fresher and ready to enjoy your holiday. It’s also worth thinking about time zones if you’re flying long haul. Maybe start adjusting their sleep schedule a day or two before you travel. A well-rested child makes for a much happier holiday start!”

Dress in layers

“The temperature on board can vary throughout the flight. That’s why I always recommend dressing your child in layers so you can add or remove clothing to keep them comfortable. It’s always handy to pack a spare pair of clothes in your hand luggage just in case of a spill or accident. I’ve seen many parents caught out without a change of clothes, and it makes the rest of the flight uncomfortable for the both of you.”

Snack trays

“Those little snack trays with multiple compartments come in really handy. Kids absolutely love them and there’s something about having lots of different treats in separate sections that keeps them entertained for ages. You can fill each compartment with different snacks: fruit, crackers, cheese cubes, raisins, a couple of sweets. It turns snack time into something fun and interactive, and it means you’re not constantly rummaging through bags. We also have healthy snack boxes for kids available onboard which they love, so there will always be something they can eat. “

Don’t be afraid to ask cabin crew for help

“Don’t ever feel worried about asking us for help, that’s what we’re here for. Over my 22 years of flying, I’ve seen everything. We’ve warmed countless bottles, fetched extra sick bags, provided colouring sheets, and even entertained little ones while parents take a breather. Many of us are parents ourselves, so we completely understand how overwhelming it can feel. Whether you need extra wipes, help with the overhead locker, or just some reassurance, we’re here to make your journey smoother.”

“We know flying can feel overwhelming for families, whether it’s your first flight with kids or you have an anxious flyer in the family, there are lots of simple and easy tips you can put into place to make it seem that little bit less daunting.”

BRITNEY Spears’ ex-husband Kevin Federline claimed the singer drank alcohol during her pregnancy and did cocaine while breastfeeding.

Britney, 43, was married to dancer and actor Kevin, 47, from 2004 until 2007.

The former couple welcomed two sons together during their three-year marriage.

On October 21, Kevin is set to release a tell-all memoir titled You Thought You Knew.

In addition to his former wife, the book also covers Kevin’s journey to Hollywood and his big break.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, it features allegations including that Britney had drank wine during pregnancy.

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As well as this, Kevin claims that Britney did cocaine while their boys were young – leaving him concerned about their breastfeeding.

The Sun has contacted Britney’s reps for comment.

Kevin told The Hollywood Reporter: “Of course this concerned me.

“Anything that could possibly harm the child is concerning. So yeah, it was a bit shocking for me through some of those moments.

“But yes, that night at the record release party was really what set everything off. I realized that I needed to get into “protect my children” mode, is what happened.

“Like I said in the book, it’s not necessarily the extracurricular activities (i.e., drug use). I was concerned for my children.

“And eventually she filed for divorce. That was the actual breaking point in the marriage.”

Meanwhile, Britney has since clapped back at her ex-husband’s claims in a passionate social media post.

She shared to Instagram: “The constant gaslighting from my ex husband is extremely hurtful and exhausting.

“Relationships with teenage boys is complex. I have felt demoralized by this situation and have always asked and almost begged for them to be a part of my life.

“Sadly, they have always witnessed the lack of respect shown by their own father for me.

“They need to take responsibility for themselves.

“With one son only seeing me for 45 min in the past 5 years and the other with only 4 visits in the past 5 years. I have pride too.

“From now on I will let them know when I am available.

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“Trust me, those white lies in that book, they are going straight to the bank and I am the only one who genuinely gets hurt here.”

Britney was seen reuniting with her rarely-seen son Jayden back in June, with a picture showing the teen towering over her.

Ferne McCann has been left ‘mind blown’ by breastfeeding rates in the UK as she continues to breastfeed her two-year-old daughter beyond what is considered the norm

Ferne McCann has been left ‘mind-blown’ by breastfeeding rates in the UK. The former TOWIE star, 35, has daughter Sunday, seven, with her ex Arthur Collins as well as two-year-old Finty with current partner Lorri Haines.

She has opted to keep breastfeeding her youngest, even though she is beyond the traditional age. The reality TV star decided to take action after discovering that UK has one of the ‘lowest’ rates of breastfeeding in the world, with many women choosing to feed their children via formula, having shared her own experience with it on social media with sets of candid images and received backlash from some followers, who she thinks may have believed she had the wrong ‘intentions’ with it all.

During an appearance on Wednesday’s This Morning, she told Andi Peters and Emma Willis: “Society, why people have such a problem with it, is breasts are over-sexualised and I think for other people, they found it very triggering because they felt that they had failed. It wasn’t to shame or to make anyone feel like they’d failed, and I had to make a decision. It’s such a small community, because the UK has the lowest rates of breastfeeding globally, which blows my mind.” It comes after Alex Jones fights back tears as her rarely-seen husband appears on The One Show.

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The former I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! contestant had opened up about how she wasn’t always feeling confident about breastfeeding herself, and how she had to find a new way to think about her breasts, and while she understands that some of her social media posts may appear ‘shocking’ to some, she is ‘proud’ of what she is doing to raise awareness and stamping out the stigmas.

She added: “I want to use my platform to show support because that’s the main reason that women don’t continue. It’s down to lack of education, and support, and confidence. I had to have that mindset shift when I began breastfeeding Sunday nearly eight years ago, and that relationship with my breasts.

“They then had to nurture my baby. You do have to dig deep, and find some confidence and that can be quite a daunting prospect. I think with every negative comment, there’s been 10 positive and that’s so hopeful. People want you to win.

“Community midwives want you to have a successful breastfeeding journey. It’s a really right network and everyone really praises I feel proud to share those visuals because, I get that it is shocking because the relationship that people have with breasts and so on, I feel proud, especially now that Finty is two, because it isn’t the norm. Bottle feeding is the norm.”

As it stands, in the UK, around 81% of mothers attempt breastfeeding immediately after birth but and just 1% are exclusively breastfed by the age of six months. Comparatively, a study in 2021, found that 56.7% of mothers in the US breastfed their babies beyond six months.

When it comes to the idea that Ferne is choosing to breastfeed her child beyond what is considered the normal period, she insisted that it was never intentional but that it all has to work on a case by case basis.

She added: “People are not used to saying a toddler or a pre-schooler breastfeeding. For me, I didn’t have a goal. With Sunday, it was different, and it was circumstances and I had to return back to work now I work from home, it’s more freeing. it’s more flexible for me.

“I didn’t plan to do it for two years. It’s so individual and it’s so relative. It’s our normal and I understand that it’s not everyone else’s but we’re just going with it.”

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The Clinical Analysis Laboratory recorded about a hundred poisonings

A Spanish hospital has sounded the alarm after witnessing a surge in patients suffering from vitamin D poisoning. The authorities have linked these cases to prolonged and uncontrolled use of supplements, often due to self-medication or non-compliance with guidelines.

Son Espases Hospital in Palma de Mallorca has seen an uptick in severe cases of vitamin D poisoning, some of which have necessitated hospitalisation, causing concern among healthcare professionals. These instances are frequently associated with extended and unsupervised use of supplements, either through self-medication or failure to follow guidelines properly.

UK holidaymakers soaking up the sun whilst popping potent supplements could also be putting themselves in harm’s way.

The hospital’s Clinical Analysis Laboratory logged roughly a hundred cases of vitamin D overdose in 2024. Moreover, they’ve noticed a spike in severe cases presenting with hypercalcaemia and even acute kidney failure requiring hospital admission in recent months.

This trend, they explain, is attributable to the consumption of supplements which were not prescribed by medical professionals. The demographic most severely affected were young people and athletes, many of whom take supplements based on advice found on social media or podcasts.

Endocrinologist Mercedes Codina and lab analyst Cristina Gómez said: “It is a fat-soluble vitamin, which accumulates in the body’s fatty tissue and is not easily eliminated. If taken in excess, it can cause poisoning,” Maria Pastor, a specialist in Hormones and Vitamins at the Son Espases laboratory, explained that unlike vitamins C or B, the body does not rid itself of excess vitamin D.

“The excess accumulates and can alter the calcium in the blood, with serious consequences for the kidneys or heart.”

In an effort to reduce unnecessary demands for supplements and blood tests, the Clinical Analysis Service, in partnership with Primary Care medical management, initiated an educational campaign. The campaign is spreading awareness through talks at health centres and informative materials designed for both patients and healthcare workers.

A comparison reveals that a decade ago, the Balearic Islands requested around 10,000 yearly tests for vitamin D; now, Son Espases laboratory alone conducts approximately 150,000 such tests. The annual cost for reagents has shot up to one million euros, excluding additional expenses related to extraction, technical manpower, faculty staff or other resources linked to the health sector.

For healthy individuals, routine tests or supplement intake are not typically recommended. Vitamin D is primarily obtained through sunlight exposure.

A mere ten minutes of sun exposure two or three times a week is sufficient to maintain adequate levels, they advised, adding: “It is essential to be advised by health professionals, as social networks can be dangerous to health due to their content without scientific evidence.”

Given the UK’s geographical location further north than Spain, there may be a greater need for people to rely on supplements.

From October to March, the NHS suggests that we might need to source our vitamin D from food and supplements. As only a limited number of foods contain vitamin D, it could be challenging to get enough solely from your diet.

Good sources of vitamin D include:

• – Oily fish – such as salmon, herring and mackerel.
• – Red meat and offal – such as liver and kidney.
• – Egg yolks.
• – Fortified cereals, soya products and spreads.

The NHS further advises: “Taking a supplement, eating vitamin D rich foods and spending time outside in sunlight isn’t a problem. Don’t take more than 1 supplement containing vitamin D (including cod liver oil) as you may be getting too much. If you start taking a supplement and are already taking a different vitamin and mineral supplement then please discuss this with your GP, pharmacist or dietitian.”

So, how much vitamin D do I need?

Everyone above the age of 1 year is recommended to have a daily intake of 10 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400 international units (IU) of vitamin D, as per Public Health England’s 2016 guidelines. This includes expectant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as individuals at risk of vitamin D deficiency.

Only opt for a higher potency vitamin if your doctor has specifically advised it. Consuming more than 10 to 12.5 micrograms (mcg or μg) or 400IU to 500IU per day isn’t necessary and could potentially be harmful over time.

So, what signs might suggest an overdose of vitamin D?

Symptoms can encompass nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort or even confusion. These are all linked to hypercalcaemia – an excess of calcium in the bloodstream, which can result in severe kidney complications.