How to Travel By Plane With a Baby
Are you a new parent wondering how to travel by plane with a baby? Yup, that was us at one point too. You do live and learn in this situation, but it always helps when someone else can lend some insight on things you can try out. Not all babes are created equal, but all parents can try these tips on how to travel by plane with their baby. Hopefully some of these work for you and your little one!
Keep reading for some must-try ideas!
Packing Your Diaper Bag
You will want to adjust what you pack, based on your needs and the length of your travel time to your destination.
- Pack only enough diapers to get to where you’re going. If you have a particular brand that may not be available at your final destination, then pack the rest of what you’ll need in your checked luggage
- Pre-fill bottles with powder formula, for easy making (strictly breastfeeding, keep scrolling to that section below)
- Pack baby-safe cleaning wipes like these ones. I will usually dump what’s left in the dirty bottle. Rinse, then clean with the wipe and then I will rinse with clean water again. These are good for cleaning binkies and other items too.
- A couple of extra sets of baby clothes
- A few age-appropriate toys
- Washable changing pad (put something between your baby and that icky changing table!)
- Muslin swaddle that can act as a breastfeeding cover, lightweight blanket, or car seat cover.
Pro Tip: Opt for a diaper bag with multiple compartments for ease of use and travel.
Carrier or Stroller
This is really dependent on how you like to travel with your baby. My husband and I were fans of the stroller, as it helped us manage all the other things and we could put items in the bottom of it. The plus for a carrier is that baby is on you and you don’t have to fuss with gate-checking the stroller.
Pro Tip: A stroller with a one-handed open and closing feature is such a travel game-changer. This makes maneuvering airport transit easier.
During Take-Off & Landing
This was something new to me when I first started traveling with our baby. Their little ears have to adjust with the cabin pressure also, so during take-off and landing, be sure to help your little one with that. Either a binkie or feeding during these times helps alleviate this pressure. This will help stave off having a cranky little one!
Bulk Head Seats
In many bulkhead areas of the plane, a bassinet or baby cot is available for use. You will need to check with your airline carrier before you board and see if this is an option for the seat you selected. These spaces are great even without the bassinet, as there is more room overall.
Take Advantage of Boarding Early
We only think this is an advantage at an early age. Once your babe is in full active mode, you will want to board later so they can get some energy out!
Boarding early at a younger age allows you time to get yourselves and your baby settled before take-off.
Noise Canceling Earmuffs
We were usually game for our son to be around the naturally occurring noises of the world, but the plane was off-limits while he was asleep. On flights where he was sleeping, we would place noise-canceling earmuffs on him so that the loud noises of the plane or the captain coming on over the loudspeaker wouldn’t startle him awake.
Bring an Extra Shirt or Outfit
Hey, accidents happen, if you haven’t already figured that out early on in your parenthood journey. For those times when the baby throws up, you will be thanking yourself for packing an extra set of clothing.
Breastfeeding & Breast Milk
If breastfeeding on the plane is not something that you’re comfortable with, then you might want to consider bringing along your breastmilk. According to TSA, you are able to bring your breastmilk outside of liquid limits, but may be subject to additional screening. From personal experience, frozen breastmilk will not go through the same screening process, but it will be visually inspected.
Photo: Sleepy baby after a full belly.
These are the tried and true tips that we have used or experienced during our baby travels. We hope that this post inspires ideas on how to travel by plane with a baby. Which of these have you tried? Let us know you’re baby travel experiences below in the comments!
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