Planning a faraway getaway with your little one? Don’t worry. I’ve don’t some tips for flying with a baby.
We recently took Grace on her first big trip that required flying to our destination(s). Our vacation didn’t involve just one flight, however. It involved five. Go big or go home right?
We first flew to one of our favorite places – Captiva, Florida – for some fun in the sun (although it ended up being ridiculously cold for part of our time there). Then we went to Mississippi to visit my brother-in-law.
Luckily, Grace is an awesome baby and was so chill on all of our flights. While deboarding from her very first one, the couple sitting in front of us literally said, “We didn’t even know there was a baby behind us this whole time!”
While Grace is good natured, there were a few steps we took to make traveling with her go as smooth as possible. So before you depart on your next trip with your tiny tot, here are some tips for flying with a baby.
CHECK YOUR STROLLER & CAR SEAT FOR FREE
Airlines allow you to check both a stroller and car seat for free, including at the gate.
If you do decide to bring both on vacation, check to see if the manufacturer also sells a travel bag for each. We purchased the bags made specifically for our UppaBaby Vista stroller and UppaBaby Mesa car seat. They not only made traveling with our gear easier, but when you register the bags online, UPPAbaby will cover any damage caused during air travel. Sweet!
Another pro tip — don’t forget to attach a luggage tag onto each one and include your name and contact info.
DO A DRY RUN WITH YOUR GEAR
Practice putting your stroller and car seat in their respective travel bags before leaving on your trip. Sometimes there’s a learning curve and you don’t want to be googling how-to videos at your airline’s check-in desk.
If you have a travel crib, also practice getting it up and breaking it down. Once you get to your destination, you’ll probably be so wiped out from traveling with a baby that figuring out how to set up the crib will be the last thing you want to do.
Also, if you’re using your car seat for the first time without a base, practice putting it into a car base-free. I wanted to be sure I knew how to get the car seat in securely so I practiced a few times.
Sometimes you’ll need a rolled up towel to help level a car seat so be sure to pack that as well. We threw ours into the travel bag containing the car seat so we didn’t take up space in our suitcase. These are all key tips for flying with a baby.
BOOK FLIGHTS BASED ON BABY’S SLEEP SCHEDULE
Okay, this tip is definitely meant to be done within reason.
While I’m definitely a proponent of having flexibility in a baby’s schedule, I also know how important sleep is to their development. The only time Grace got a bit fussy was during the one flight that was booked past her bedtime. What stunk even more was the interrupted sleep she had that night.
Grace (finally) fell asleep about an hour or so after takeoff, but then woke up when we landed. She was then awake until we got her into her car seat to drive home. She fell asleep in the car, but then woke up again when we got home to put her into bed. You get the idea…
I used to be big on extending vacations as much as possible (i.e. fly home as late as possible on our last day away). Now I know it’s better to book an earlier flight and get home in time for bedtime (or at least somewhat close to bedtime).
BABY WEAR TO YOUR GATE
Speaking of strollers, instead of wheeling it to the gate, I recommend checking it with your other baggage and using a baby carrier to bring your little one into the terminal. We found it easier to navigate the terrain with as little gear as possible, so we basically had one small bag, our diaper bag and the baby/baby carrier.
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OPT OUT OF THE METAL DETECTOR AND BODY SCANNER
When I was pregnant, I refused to go through a metal detector or body scanner while flying (call me overly cautious … or call me safe). Now that Grace is here, I’ve decided she won’t be going through them as well.
All you have to do is tell TSA you want to “opt out.” They’ll probably grumble and act annoyed and question why you can’t go through the scanners (even though they’re not supposed to question you), but stand your ground.
Opting out requires you to receive a pat down (by a female agent if you’re a woman and a male agent if you’re a man), so just be sure to give yourself a little more time to get through security.
Also, if a TSA agent does give you a hard time (it’s happened to me on multiple occasions) just ask for their supervisor. I was told that by a TSA agent friend.
PACK A SMALLER DIAPER BAG WITHIN YOUR LARGER ONE
While traveling, I kept a smaller “grab and go” diaper bag within my larger one. I put in it a changing pad, a couple of diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and hand sanitizer. That way when I went into the bathroom to change Grace, I didn’t have to worry about maneuvering my big bag. Or, when I had to change her on the plane, all I had to carry was the small bag.
For the bag, I actually use a wet bag so I can throw it into the washer machine.
PUT A NIGHT DIAPER ON BABY BEFORE TAKING OFF
Trust me, you don’t want to be changing a baby’s diaper on a plane. The changing tables are teeny tiny and usually located above the toilet, which is kind of gross.
One of the best tips for flying with a baby is to put a night diaper on your little one before taking off. Since they’re more absorbent, I knew it would make Grace more comfortable.
However, I recognize a night diaper isn’t foolproof. Of course, if baby decides to go #2 mid air, you’ll want to change her. Yup, it happened to us. Twice. Oh Gracie. So in that case, see the tip above.
BRING TOYS FOR THE PLANE, BUT SKIP ONES THAT MAKE A LOT OF NOISE
Toys are a great way to keep baby occupied, but be mindful of your neighbors. No one wants to hear a noisy toy for hours on end. So stay away from beeping or music playing ones and instead opt for things like teething toys and small books.
DON’T FORGET PACIFIER CLIPS
After dropping one too many pacifiers on the ground, we smartened up and started using pacifier clips. But we don’t just use them for pacifiers … We also use them for toys. While on the plane, we also clipped them onto us instead of Grace which ensured they wouldn’t be falling onto the armrest or seat, which is probably covered in germs (yuck). And only use a pacifier clip when baby is awake and supervised.
PACK A SMALL SOFT BLANKET
Let’s face it – air travel isn’t very comfy, but at least a soft blanket can make it a bit more cozy for your baby. If the airport or plane is cool, it can also offer some added warmth.
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TELL PEOPLE NOT TO TOUCH YOUR BABY
Sometimes it happens out of nowhere and it’s too fast for you to say something, but don’t be afraid to tell people not to touch your little one.
Multiple times while we were traveling, people touched Grace without asking us first.
A stewardess on one plane rubbed her finger on her cheek. Another passenger rubbed Grace’s hand as we were deboarding (hands that subsequently go into her mouth as well as mine).
Not cool, people! Don’t touch babies without asking. That even includes if you personally know the baby/parents. I don’t know what you touched before putting you hands on my daughter. I don’t know if you’ve washed your hands, and it’s the height of cold and flu season.
Sure enough, Grace caught a cold while we were traveling. I can’t say for sure whether it was because of her being touched but chances are she got some germs because of it.
NURSE DURING TAKEOFF AND LANDING
Because of the pressure change, babies’ ears can be super sensitive during takeoff and landing. But sucking can help alleviate their discomfort. So as a precaution, I nursed Grace as the airplane lifted off and descended. She didn’t fuss whatsoever. If you’re not nursing, you can also use a pacifier.
TURN ON THE OVERHEAD AIR
When thinking of the best tips for flying with a baby, this one was a must-include. If you’re a mom or dad, you know you’re always worried about your little one getting sick. I learned this tip when I was a health reporter and it came from a doctor. When flying, turn on the overhead air. It will apparently help blow germs away from you (and your baby). I can’t say I know it works for a fact, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.
IF VISITING MULTIPLE DESTINATIONS, PACK YOUR SUITCASES BASED ON CLIMATE
On our recent vacation with Grace we visited both Captiva Island, Florida and Mississippi, the former destination being much warmer than the latter. That said, we packed Grace’s clothes and gear in one suitcase, and my husband’s and my clothes in a second one. But it occurred to us when we arrived in Mississippi that we should have packed based on climate – a warm weather bag and a cold weather bag. Or, we should have at least repacked our clothes based on climate before heading to our second locale. This would have saved us from even having to open a second suitcase in Mississippi.
CHECK TO SEE IF YOUR AIRPORT(S) HAVE BREASTFEEDING PODS
I was so impressed to see that Atlanta International Airport offers lactation pods to nursing mothers – a comfortable, private space for you and your baby. According to their website, “The suites can be locked from the inside and provide bench seating, a small diaper-changing table and an electric outlet for pumps.”
Unfortunately, I didn’t see a pod until we got to our departure gate. So instead, I nursed Grace in a restaurant booth, huddled under a breastfeeding cover. Before leaving on your trip, do a little research to see if such amenities exist.
I hope you’ve found these tips for flying with a baby helpful. Have any of your own? Leave them in the comments below. Taking a road trip? Check out my tips for traveling with a baby: Road trip style post.
Happy travels!
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