Tips and Tricks for Air Travel with Babies:
My view: Traveling light is easier, especially if you travel with a baby and you don't have another adult to help out. Only bring what you absolutely need. If you are going to a location where you can easily find things like diapers/wipes/baby food/etc., then only bring enough (+ a little extra) for the plane ride.
- Most hotels have cribs or pack n' plays, and now some airBnB homes have them. You can search for homes that have them.
- Car rental companies rent car seats. It's usually around $5-10 a day. Sometimes it is worth it, and sometimes it's not (depending on the length of your trip).
In my opinion, carrying a baby in a carrier or sling is a lot easier than lugging and/or pushing a stroller around (depending on the situation and destination).
- You don't need a designated diaper bag; just invest in a great backpack and use ziplocks or travel bags/cubes to organize it.
- If your baby is breast-fed, you'll probably want to bring a nursing cover. I like to bring a lightweight scarf instead of a cover. It's more versatile, and I can wear it even when I'm not feeding the baby. I usually pick a neutral color that will work with most outfits. It's prudent to bring more than one, in the case of spit-up!
- You can bring all the food/water/juice/formula/breastmilk you need! Just double check the policies at the airports you'll be in, just in case. I have personally never had any trouble going through airport security with any of my liquid needs, when traveling with children. Just keep in mind you'll go through an extra screening at security.
- Always pack a medical/first aid kit. Infant motrin is not available anywhere/anytime, and in the event of a sick baby, it's not something you want to go searching for. I keep a bottle of motrin (and syringe), cortisone cream (for bug bites or rashes), travel size diaper cream, bandaids, liquid bandage serum, allergy medicine, and an instant
cold pack with me everywhere I go. All of these have come in handy while traveling, especially in foreign countries where it takes a bit more effort to find such things.
- For snacks: Pouches work much better than jars or plastic cups.
These spoons, that attach to pouches, are great if your baby/toddler prefers spoons!
- Buy
disposable bibs for babies in the real-food stage. You're not going to want to pack a bunch of washable ones - they take up a lot of room, and babies make gigantic messes on them!
- If you're traveling with a newborn, and you haven't balanced out your milk supply, bring a
manual pump. They're much more compact and easier to use on-the-go, don't require batteries or an outlet, and make less noise.
- On car seats: Unless you have a strong desire to have your own space, I personally recommend putting baby on your lap during flights if he or she is less than a year old. Typically, they spend a majority of the time sleeping or eating anyway. It saves money. Check the prices when you book your flight, though. Airfare for children <2 is a good bit cheaper. It may be worth your sanity to just go ahead and buy a seat, and put the baby in a car seat next to you. It's difficult to lug around a car seat, through the airport and ON the plane, so if you don't need one at your destination, don't bring it at all (if you plan to use public transit only).
- Stroller: You can usually take your stroller through security and check it at the gate when boarding. CHECK beforehand (when you check in for your flight) though. I've found that some places require you to tag it before going through security. Also, keep in mind that some carrier consider strollers (even small umbrella ones) as bulky or extra-large luggage. We've found out the hard way that the airline will sometimes send them out on a DIFFERENT conveyor belt at baggage claim (different than other luggage from the flight). If you don't see it come out, check the other baggage claim belts, looking for a sign for extra large luggage.
- My system for when I traveled with a baby, car seat, stroller, luggage...and 4 other kids...without my husband or other adult: I put my baby in a carrier. I had a backpack on my back with all my carryon items. I placed the carseat onto of my umbrella stroller. I hung my other back on the handles of my stroller. My other kids helped roll one suitcase (even my four year old is capable of rolling it, because it's a nice suitcase with good wheels). A couple of bungee cords are a great tool to have for this set-up! They can help keep the car seat on. I hate "real" strollers. My trusty umbrella stroller has been my pack mule for 6 international trips. It's so lightweight and versatile. I can carry it on my shoulder if absolutely necessary (many European and Asian train stations don't have elevators or escalators!).
- If you book early enough, you can request a baby bassinet (free of charge) on your flight. I've never actually used one.
- Always bring an extra outfit for your baby and also one for YOU. You can't predict "pooplosions. Also, bring those little disposable bags or ziplocks to put soiled clothes in, if needed.
- Nurse( or give a bottle to) your baby on take-off and landing to help with the pressure difference.
- If possible to book a flight during your baby's natural sleeping time, do that!
- MANY, but not all, airports give priority to families traveling with children in the security lines, as well as customs/immigration lines. However, never count on it. Allow for extra time to put all your junk on the security conveyor belt, screen any extra liquids you brought, make extra trips to the bathroom before boarding, etc. It's stressful enough traveling with an infant; being in a time crunch will only add unneeded stress!
- My list of my favorite toys/activities to entertain babies/toddlers on planes is
here.
