Tips for flying with a baby: What I learned on 26 flights (2023)

I'm an avid traveler; The more stamps in the passport, the better. And then I got pregnant.

my friends said"You'll never travel again!" "It's all over from here." "Kiss this passport goodbye."Apparently my friends thought flying with a baby would slow me down.

Not exactly inspiring, friends.

Can you travel with a baby?

I checked the detailsbaby traveland I found out that in the United States children under 24 months fly free as long as they are held on the lap. I decided to takecompleteexploited the baby rule and we started planning our first family outing together.

Maximizing the less than 24 month rule

By the time my daughter turned 2 she had taken 11 different trips totaling 26 different flights of all sizes and schedules. Who said traveling as a family is difficult?! Well, we'll get into that later.

We boarded 10 locations in the Caribbean, 737 international night flights to and fromRoma, quick hops from Chicago to Atlanta, California, New Orleans and Denver.

can anyone tellJet lag?

Every flight was unique, whether domestic or international, and even repeat trips were different because she was aging and changing so quickly. I've learned a lot about flying with a baby and here are some of my learnings.

Travel tips for flying with a baby

When I first traveled with a baby, Avi was 3 months old. We followedPalm Springs, California, for a much-needed warm-up after a bitter Chicago winter. We were so nervous about this first trip with our little one.

Treats for passengers?

In fact, I was that mom who made goodie bags out of earplugs and the like"Hello, it's our first time flying, fingers crossed, bad for anyone"(It turns out our fellow travelers really appreciated the gesture).

Barely able to sit on my lap, let alone wear a seat belt, the biggest trick was learning how to juggle a nursing baby with a tray of snacks.

Don't worry, we have tips for youas a bottleand feed your babybreast milkon an airplane.

Flying with a 3 month old baby

At 3 months old, Avi was nursing on takeoff and landing to reduce the pressure in the cabin on his ears, dozing for most of the voyage and barely emitting a peep. It was deceptively easy and eased my anxiety enough to attempt more flights in relatively short succession.

The frequency of our upcoming trips has helped make everything easier and more exciting for Avi. She got used to the process and looked forward to our next trips.

Bring a change of clothes for the baby and yourself.

On the return flight from Palm Springs, another baby vomited a few rows ahead of us at takeoff. I realized that there really is nothing worse than sitting on your baby's back while flying across a continent.

My advice, pack an extra top for mom/dad (or caregiver) as well as an extra baby outfit in your carry-on. Spare blankets and burp cloths are great too.

Prepare babies to fly

When our daughter was 5 months old, we flew from Chicago to Atlanta to visit family. It was early October and we had a good schedule - departing around 11am and returning a few days later around 5pm.

About a week before the flight we started telling Avi that we were going on an adventure and her eyes lit up and locked on us, seeming to ask us for more information.

"Let's take the plane!" "Let's take the train to the airport, go through security and then get on the plane!"

She was overwhelmed by the new process, the break from routine and the interest of those around us. She landed in the zonk on takeoff, stayed awake for a short time during the flight, and failed again on landing.

Psychological and emotional preparation

The key we learned at this point was to tell her about the upcoming changes and how it happened. Babies are constantly learning and when you tell them what's going on they feel much calmer and more stable.

When she was unsure, she would stare at us wide-eyed and our explanations really seemed to reassure her.

At 5 months she was also very active and involved in the scenes around her which meant my days of reading magazines were over.

Flying with a baby is certainly less quiet, but it's still a good idea.

Why pack snacks?

At 10 months, we embarked on our toughest trip yet: a 16-hour journey involving 3 planes, 2 continents, lots of delays and a tedious queue at customs.

We left home at 4am for a 7am flight. We woke her up slowly just before leaving for the airport so she had minimal disruption and downtime.

Pack groceries that last

After checking our checked bags, we bought bagels and bananas and filled up water bottles in preparation for a 3 hour flight that would be broken up by a 2 hour layover. Snacks were planned and a meal plan created before the flight so that after landing we could focus on stretching our legs, enjoying a good meal and getting to the next gate on time.

Lunch was tight as the rest of the day fell apart.

Plan for delays with extra baby food

When we got to Belize it took us 2 hours to clear customs followed by another 3 hours waiting for our hopper on the island. We ran out of snacks and baby energy.

Luckily, several yoghurt, almond and Lara bar squeezies got us through the night.

Sleeping on a plane with kids

At 15 months I traveled alone to Italy with Avi who was an aspiring hiker and very interested in the world around her. We packed the stroller and chair and off we went!

The original outbound flight was delayed by 7 hours before being canceled at 11pm and rebooked on a flight 2 days later (it turned out to be around 4 hours late).

We were exhausted before we even got on the plane!

Don't expect an extra seat for lap babies

When we finally boarded, the flight was fully booked which meant there was no adjacent seat for my daughter. I kept feeding her snacks in the lobby to control her energy, but as soon as we picked up she was overexcited and fascinated by everything.

Find space for your baby to sleep

She insisted that I wear her, so we walked up and down the halls for about 2 hours until she finally fell into my arms. I brought extra baby blankets and placed them on the floor under the seat in front of me where I laid them for about an hour while I took a much needed nap.

We didn't get much sleep and she had a little collapse on landing.

I held her, grateful for thatBabytragesince I was also struggling with luggage and a bag. I spoke to her calmly during disembarkation, customs and baggage claim. When we finally settled into the car, she disappeared.

Jet lagthat's another story, but this flight was about as much as I could take.

Air travel before WW2

Just before her 2nd birthday we decided to take one last flight toSonoma, Californiato celebrate our wedding anniversary. On that flight we realized that it's good that there is an age limit for babies in arms!

By the age of 2 most children are super active, busy little bees and squirm even more.

Holding 25 pounds of maneuvers on your lap for an hour is challenging, and longer flights are exponentially so. Managing food, drink and arm strength is a constant struggle.

There's no way I can handle the tray table in my seat with a toddler on my lap. Flight attendants who come by every few minutes with too many things for a child to touch.

Packing list for flying with a baby

Babytrage

Managing baggage, coffee, gate details, tickets and food is complicated enough for a traveler; Use your baby at the airport as much as you can.

My preferred first year operator wasJJ Cole AgilityOperator. The carrier wears like a vest, has no buckles or snaps, and feels like a layer of fabric over your shirt.

The lack of buckles and clasps means you can wear it through security (some airlines will ask you to remove it).Baby carriagesuch as Ergo and the like during takeoff and landing). Bonus: The fabric panels can also be used as nursing covers!

backpacks and diaper bags

Get a nice backpack or diaper bag that can also serve as a day bag for you. If your kid likes to hold their own handbag, you can always grab one.children's backpacks.

Adiaper clutchIt was also crucial for us when changing diapers. Never assume that the changing tables on an airplane have been cleaned. We pack the bag filled with wet wipes and spare diapers from one bag or backpack into the other.

Bring a stroller or not?

Deciding whether to bring strollers and car seats can be a headache, especially when you and your partner can't come to an agreement.

We opted for the trolley for most trips. After lots of experimentation with a variety of styles and brands, we love thesemini townStroller.

The stroller is easy to fold, one-handed to steer, durable, and it also weighs less than 20 pounds, so it can bechecked gate. If you don't need the cart, add it to your checked bag stack.

Does your baby need a car seat?

It depends. We used the 'kids under 24 months fly free' option, but that 'free seat' is mother's lap. You canTorkontrolle eines Autosseat away Just bring it to the gate agent to get a tag, leave it at the end of the jet path and he will meet you at your location.

However, some airlines are introducing car seat requirements depending on the class of service. For example, babies don't fly first class for free on AliItalia: they must have their own paid seat, and that seat must have an FAA-approved car seat installed.

Most airlines will waive the checked car seat fee if they are needed at your destination. It does not count towards your baggage allowance for a flight as it is a child seat.

Top:Be sure to check the taxi seating laws at your destination. Some states require all passengers to be properly belted, regardless of vehicle. The same applies to booster seats with small children who are outside of the car seat with an integrated child restraint system.

MoreWays to check your stroller and car seat on the plane

window or hallway?

Unfortunately, those with young children cannot sit in the exit rows. It makes sense if you have to worry about your baby, you can't help the flight attendants with the door.

If your baby is still not moving and doesn't need their own seat, you can get away with a window seat. However, if you have a beginner walker in your hands, the aisle is where it is easiest to ease the movement on long flights. If you're traveling with another adult (or a child paying the adult fare), you can reserve an aisle seat and a window seat in the same row. So just pray the flight isn't too sold out and you can stretch out in the middle seat.

The only exception is international flights, which offer a cot. Be sure to secure a bulkhead slot on any part of the aisle that you can.

What to wear?

You want easy access to passports, boarding passes, your phone, your baby's birth certificate if needed, a safe place to keep your pacifier and bottle. You too. to ensure you have easy access if you plan to do soBreastfeeding on the plane.

Perneiras elegantes, a simple oneHeadmasterand a comfortable oneJacketwith bags are my first choice when flying with a baby.

What Can You Get Through TSA Security?

If you fly with a baby, you will get a passexpressed breast milk and formula, and sometimes get bottled water and juice from TSA security (make sure you say it's for the baby's needs).

We always have some snacks with us. Some of our favorites include purses, almonds, carrots, grapes, small oranges, and cookies.

More tips for traveling with babies

1.have some faith Trust that you CAN do this; You can hop on the car or plane to go on adventures and explore new places with the family.

2.Walking out the door is the hardest step. After feeding the kids and putting on the shoes (why are the shoes the hardest part!?), you can go anywhere.

3.Try new things! Don't be afraid to push the limits of what you think you can do with your kids a little. They might surprise you!

4.You are a parent no matter where you go. Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean you stop being a mom or dad. You have this job for life. Now it is up to you to decide what the parenting background should be. Are you staying home or exploring the Olympic Peninsula and the Eiffel Tower while enjoying hugs and avoiding tantrums? I personally would choose the latter.

5.Accept thisJet lagit's inevitable, but you'll get over it.CliqueHerefor some tips on how to use it

travel preparation

6.Backup your photos. Not seriously. Do it now. For an extra set, save them to an external hard drive, to the cloud, or somewhere other than your computer. If your computer is lost or stolen while traveling, you will be very sad to see these pictures lost forever.

7.Make copies of your passport and credit cards before you travel. Leave one set in a safe place at home and take the other set with you. Don't forget to keep the extra set you take with you in a different place than the originals.

8.Let your credit card company and bank know you're going abroad before you leave so your account doesn't get flagged for fraud (trust me, this just happened to us...again)

9.Get your passport and/or Nexus card. It may sound simple, but less than a third of Americans hold a passport, severely limiting where you can travel and what offers you can take advantage of, particularly those north of the Canadian border.

Packaging

10.If you enjoy collecting local art, bring a medium-sized flat letterbox or cardboard tube to ship your treasures home.

11.Pack at least one flexible straw when traveling with babies and toddlers to enjoy drinks on the go.

12.The 3-3-1 rule for liquids doesn't include medication, so a bottle of cough syrup or fever reducer for your kids in your carry-on is fine. Just remember to take it out with your other liquids when going through security and check if there are any restrictions on countries you can travel to and from.

13.Don't throw away your packing list after your trip. Save yourself some time and stress by keeping an electronic version of your packing lists for next year's vacation and making minor revisions as needed.

14.Keep small notes in your pocket. Although many bellhops accept credit cards, sometimes the card readers are broken and you need a few dollars to get a car or tip the curb attendant. It's worth avoiding the stress of lugging your luggage through a major airport while keeping an eye on family and departure time.

Gang

15.Pack at least one book that your child can look at for hours, such as B. a children's comic book.

16.Practice taking the car apart. If your stroller has remained open since you bought it three years ago, it might be time for a refresher course on disassembly. Better at home in the garage than in the airport security line.

17.Consider attaching a small blanket to each of your kids' backpacks. Sometimes the planes are as close to freezing as possible, and somehow your row is the only one without a ceiling. Or it is not offered on shorter flights.

18.Wear a watch when you fly. Sometimes, with your arms full of kids and snacks and distractions for those kids, you just can't reach for your phone in your pocket or your battery is drained from hours of Angry Birds. And sometimes the clocks at the airport are not visible.

ticket booking

19.Check if the flight you want to buy offers the possibility to make changes. Some airlines' cheapest flights don't have the ability to rebook your flight, even if you pay a fee. So if for any reason you need to make a change, you will need to buy new tickets.

20.Don't forget the phone. Everyone books airline tickets online, but if you need additional help browsing your options, be sure to contact a customer service representative. For example, bulkhead seats sell out quickly; So if you want a place there to use the berths, call the airline and ask them to check which flights they are available on.

21.The bulkhead armrests are fixed, not movable. So if you want seats where everyone can stretch out together, book a different row.

At the airport and on the plane

22.Give yourself a little extra time at the airport to check diaper changes, queues (not every airport has a family queue and even if they do, they can last as long as the regular queue) and bags to make sure loved ones are in are the hand luggage and delays while bags are searched or your hands needing to be cleaned (something that happens as more and more parents walk their children through standard metal detectors, especially when the baby is in a stroller).

23.Some large airports have huge, fully equipped family rooms with changing tables, wipes, toys, amusement rides, private rooms for nursing mothers with pillows and baby food. Check the airport's website in advance for all the family-friendly amenities.

24.Airlines usually allow you to check in car seats and strollers at no extra cost. You can do this at baggage claim or when boarding at the gate if you wish to continue using your stroller during the airport. Check your airline.

25.Consider purchasing a car seat bag or stroller bag to protect your gear from dirt and hopefully some extra wear and tear along the way. Some airports provide plastic bags for these items, but not all.

26.Most airlines offer almost no assistance to passengers whose flights are delayed or canceled due to the weather — even passengers traveling with young children. If you lower your expectations upfront, you will be (slightly) less stressed when you find yourself in that situation.

27.Are you traveling with an infant? Airplanes usually only have supplemental oxygen masks on one side; Therefore, once on board, you may need to move the seats so that you and your child sit on the side with additional masks.

28.Child Restraint Systems: Even if you purchase the CARES child restraint system, you may not be able to use it. Some airlines may not allow you to use them. Depending on the seat type, they may not fit. And some seats with concave backrests can create an uncomfortable position for your child's head.

29.Baggage requirements for children may differ from those of the accompanying adult. Be sure to read your airline's policies or call customer service.