Best Tips for Flying with Baby

 

Traveling with a baby has been filled with learning experiences. We’ve travelled by plane, with husband and solo. I can tell you flying has advantages and downsides, but through it all we’ve learned some great things that we can share to you guys! We have always loved traveling, and having a baby didn’t slow us down one bit.

1. Packing

Packing is my favorite part, it’s the unpacking that gets me! Pack your clothes and toiletries first, because it’s so easy to forget when you get lost in the sea of baby things. Now, this will all vary depending on where you are traveling, for how long, and what way. I recommend packing an outfit and a half per day, and one extra for safe keeping. So, say you are gone for 6 days. Pack enough for 9 days. That way if baby has a blowout you will have enough back up! We also roll up all of our clothes and recently discovered tidy snap that keeps them tight and outfits together.

How do I prevent packing everything but the kitchen sink for baby?? If we are traveling to my parents, they keep a pack n play, bouncer, and bigger objects like play mats which can be a lifesaver. These are all things they can keep in storage and buy second hand. So I mainly pack clothes, diapers, small toys, my breast pump, bottles, bottle soap and brush, nose frieda, food, and toiletries. As for diapers, I pack 6-10 in my diaper bag and pack a whole sleeve of diapers in my suitcase. Just think about how many diapers you change a day and add an extra handful!

2. Going through Security and Boarding

I have an insulated bag that came with my diaper bag that I use to store the bottles and her food. When we go through airport security I can easily pull it out and put all of the contents in it’s own separate tub. They will just test it on the other side and then send you on your way! Easy peasy!

We’ve travelled by plane coming up on three separate times now, and I would like to thing we have a good system going! We brought her stroller with her infant seat attached, and stored the carseat base in the under carry. When it was time to board, we simply snapped the carseat onto it’s base and folded the stroller up to all be stored under the plane. You do this at the gate, so we tend to like to board last so we can take our time and not deal with grumpy, in a rush passengers.

Just a heads up, you have to wait for these items at that gate when you are exiting the plane. They won’t let you leave the tunnel and then go back to retrieve them until everybody has left the plane, so figure out if you want to wait there or go sit down and retrieve them then. We split up and have one person wait while the other sits, and most often changes the baby’s diaper.

If you are planning to baby wear, right before boarding your plane, go to the bathroom and take baby out and lay them on the changing table. (Might as well change the diaper then too so it’s extra fresh!) You will have to remove the carrier because you cannot fly and wear baby so this is the easiest way to do it. The plus side to wearing baby is you don’t have to remove them in security, they will just test your hands after you pass through.

Pro Tip: Don’t forget baby’s birth certificate or shot records! They need to have some sort of I.D., so better safe than sorry.

3. Packing for the Plane

 

 

 

 

 

In my carry on, which is my diaper bag with extra stuff, I pack everything I know I’ll need in the next few hours, and what I could possibly need on the plane. I bring my hand pump with me and try to pump in the car ride to the airport or in a private place (thank goodness for the USO!). I also have breastmilk in bottles for her, a ready to make formula bottle, and more recently since she’s eating a few containers of Gerber food!

I love the convenience of the Gerber 2nd Foods® because not only are they packaged perfectly for on the go, but they are just like homemade! The texture of these purees is so similar to the foods I make her at home, and seeing how fast she eats it up I would say she is a big fan! Click here for a coupon!

I pack one of these in my diaper bag, and the rest in my suitcase. (I love that I don’t have to worry about spillage thanks to the packaging!) I also pack two sets of clothes, a spare pacifier, face wipes, cleaning wipes for pacifiers and bottles, plastic doggy bags (also great for clothes if they have a blowout!), small toys, a light blanket, and a changing pad.

4. Take Off

This for some people is the most dreaded part, being up in the sky with a baby is a little intimidating. Who knows what mood they will be in! I prefer for at least one of us to have the aisle seat so we can easily get up during flight. It’s also recommended to have baby sucking while taking off and landing to help with their ears popping. Breastfeeding, giving baby a bottle, or offering a pacifier are all great ways to help them! We try to book flights during nap times, so early morning or afternoons are ideal.

We’ve had times where she ate and immediately fall asleep for the entire trip but I know we won’t always be that lucky! If your baby skips the nap, be prepared to have some toys on hand. She does get tired of her toys, like any baby, so try out giving baby your keys, phone, or chip bag to play with. You would be amazed at what ends up keeping them occupied!

I hope as you prepare for your next flight with baby, you have smooth sailing! Just relax, ask for help from TSA, and by preparing efficiently ahead of time; you will have a much easier time! Thank you to Gerber for partnering with us and providing the perfect meal for both everyday and in flights.