Flying with a Baby
So you took the plunge and decided to take advantage of not having to pay for baby to fly! Now what?? Here are my tips for flying with a baby under one:
Gear:
- Stroller - we found it helpful to have the stroller in the airport and not check it at the ticket desk. To each their own, but make sure to check the weight limits for gate checking vs. ticket desk checking on the airline's website. Some strollers, while pricey, fit in the overhead bin. If you travel frequently like us, it may be worth it to invest in one that has this feature. They also save a ton of room in your trunk for road trips. We bought the BabyZen YoYo 6+ and are obsessed with it. We definitely get looks of surprise and envy when we pull it out of the overhead and it opens in one motion on the jetway. It also folds up easily at security and reduces the stress of getting your stroller on a layover since it's right there for you in the cabin
- Car Seat - if you are driving at your destination, a car seat is needed (unless you want to rent one from the rental car company, which can add up to more than the cost of a car seat over the course of a week). We chose to bring ours and checked it at the ticket desk, as we wouldn't be installing it on the plane since she didn't have a seat. After some research, I bought the Cosco Scenera Next - it's highly rated and $40. We purchased a car seat bag (unpadded) to put it in and it came out just fine. Make sure to get the ones with shoulder straps for carrying through the airport and/or from the parking lot. The common red one has no handles and is awkward to lug!
Babyfood:
- Always double check the TSA website for updated rules, but generally, you can bring whatever liquids you need on board with you related to the baby, but allow time for extra screening and have them packed up separately in baggies
- If nursing, you are obviously good to go with supply; if using formula, powdered formula is easiest since it's lighter than ready-made and you can actually have a bottle or two pre-measured and ask flight attendants for water
- Babyfood pouches are lifesavers on planes - just remember to pack a baby spoon if your baby isn't at the point where they can suck directly out of the pouch; I carried on enough for two days of meals (flight day + 1 day in case of delays) - the rest went in my checked bag
- If you have an older baby, little baggies of puffs, cheerios, goldfish, etc. can be really helpful to distract them
- If you can hold off from nursing or giving the bottle until take off, that helps their ears pop (and potentially gets you a respite if they pass out after their meal)!
Seats:
- If the plane is set up where two seats are together and you are traveling with both parents, this is a no brainer to select (especially on red-eye flights)
- If you are traveling alone or the plane has three seats to a section, then it's a toss up in my opinion - an aisle seat, you have a little extra space, whearas a window seat gives you some extra support with a sleeping infant in your arms. You know your baby - if you're going to be up walking aisle with them, then choose an aisle seat
- Ask flight attendants if the flight is full/if there are any extra seats. They are usually pretty helpful to families and scoring a free seat is SO awesome
- If you can swing a bulkhead seat, those are great because the baby can sometimes play on the floor in front of you. Some airlines even have the bassinet that can screw onto the wall in front of you and the baby can nap and play and your arms get a rest. Welcome to the holy grail of airline amenities. Check SeatGuru to see if your plane offers this
- Lastly, if there is anyway you can swing a first class seat (use points, put yourself on the upgrade list), this is obviously amazing. Because who doesn't need complementary drinks traveling with an infant?!
General Sanity Tips:
- If they take pacifiers, have at least two on you and give them this or bottle or boob during take off and landing to help their ears
- Bring a couple books or toys that don't make noise
- I let my 9 month old crawl all over the departure lounge (germs be damned) for the half hour prior to our flights. It helped to get her energy out and when we boarded, she ate and passed out
- For an overnight red-eye flight, we brought our baby carrier and put her on my husband's chest. Since the flight wasn't until 10 pm, the airport lights and activity kept her from getting too cranky being up past bedtime and once on board, I fed her and she gratefully went into a deep sleep on his chest for the duration of the flight
- When you board, ask the flight attendant which bathroom has the changing table in it so that you aren't frantically searching after the baby has just lit up your section of the plane. Just sayin...
- Pack extra diapers in case of delays
- Make sure to check your airline's specific policies for traveling with babies. Some don't count your diaper bag as a carry-on, so it's helpful to spare yourself the stress of cramming your stuff and theirs into one carry-on if you don't have to
- Dress them in a comfty, soft onesie with feet in. No need to worry about losing socks or having shirts ride up. Make them as comfortable as possible...so they'll fall asleep...maybe...
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