When I was pregnant with Isaac, I did a lot of traveling. If I counted correctly, I flew at least seven times for both work and to visit family in Texas. Perhaps that was his initial “training” because he’s been quite the easy traveler ever since. This last trip to Texas was probably the most challenging but only because Isaac with curious about EVERYTHING – buttons on the plane, the airplane windows, strangers’ laptops (he’d walk right up to them and take a peek, hehe!) and so on.

I decided it was worth it to share some of my tips for traveling with the little one in your life! I suppose my #1 tip would be to travel with your spouse or someone who could help you with the baby and/or luggage! I traveled once with just me and Isaac and was lucky to have a pleasant experience. I don’t think that will ever happen again!

PACKING:

1) Have easy access to essentials – pack the must-have items in the diaper bag and make sure they’re easily accessible. This includes diapers, wipes, changing pad, pacifiers, toys (that won’t irritate other passengers), and food!

2) Pack extra outfits – babies tend to get irritable when they’re wet or dirty so make sure you have an extra outfit just in case there’s spillage!

3) Bring plastic bags – make sure to have extra bags (or Ziploc bags) available for soiled clothes. 

4) Borrow a car seat at visiting location - as mentioned, we’ve traveled with Isaac quite a bit and this last occasion was the first time we’ve ever had to bring his car seat. Before, we were able to borrow one of my sisters’ child’s car seat that they saved just for us! It was great not to have to lug that thing around! But if you’re not as lucky to have a seat waiting at the other end, it’s NOT considered a check-in item that would require you to pay that $20 or so fee.

5) For moms – if you’re breastfeeding, I highly recommend bringing a manual pump. I was never one to breastfeed in public so a manual pump was compact enough that I could have in the diaper bag and pump in the restroom if need be.

FOR THE AIRPORT:

1) Wear comfortable shoes – slip-on shoes preferrably! It’ll help you get through security faster and your feet will thank you after having to carry both your baby and your luggage through the airport terminals!

2) Use a baby carrier / toddler harness – before my son turned 1, we put him in a baby carrier at the airport. It was great because it allowed our hands to be free to get through security and it also gave him a great view of the airport! Now, we use the toddler harness to keep him close by our side as he tends to go “exploring”. I’ve seen those travel backpacks that can actually carry a toddler so I’m going to have to check that out for our next trip!

3) Check in baby food/milk – airport security will need to screen your child’s food to make sure you can easily access them when you go through security. As long as you declare them, they shouldn’t give you a hard time (and it can be more than the 3 oz. liquid limit that they put on other items such as toiletries).

4) Time your kid’s meals – it’s a good idea to get your kid eat either right before you board or once the plane takes off. In my opinion, they’re less likely to be fussy if they have a full tummy. And if you’re lucky, they’ll fall asleep during the flight too!

5) Choose the right seat – when my son was a baby, we opted for the aisle seats so that we could have easy access to the bathroom. Now that he’s older, we choose window seats so that he can look outside. Also, we prefer sitting at the front of the plane vs. the back because we get off the plane faster!

6) Ask to pre-board – every time we’ve asked, we’ve been able to board before our group was called because we were traveling with a kid…there are some advantages afterall!

ON THE PLANE:

1) Prepare your baby for take-off/landings – my son really never had a problem with this, but we made sure we had his pacifier handy just in case the take-off and landings made his ears hurt. Another good trick is to get them to eat during this time to move their jaw muscles and also to distract them!

2) Make sure your baby is entertained – bring his/her favorite stuffed animal, books, quiet toys, etc. Although we haven’t had the need, I’m sure we’ll have to look into bringing a portable DVD player in the near future (don’t forget the headphones!).

3) Keep your baby comfortable – regardless of how or where I’m traveling, I make sure my son is dressed comfortably and in layers if possible. That way, if he gets too warm, I can remove clothing or if he’s cold, put him in a jacket.

4) If breastfeeding, be prepared! Bring a baby blanket or a nursing blanket if you have to feed your kid. It’ll make it more comfortable for you and the person sitting next to you

5) Be courteous to other passengers – if you have a fussy baby or a baby that won’t stop crying, offer earplugs to those around you. It might not help, but maybe they will be empathetic to your situation.

Which brings me to my #1 tip for the “other” passengers: It’s not easy traveling with kids…especially young ones. It’s hard to predict how kids will behave (maybe they’re scared or it’s too warm on the plane). So try to be empathetic to the parents/caregivers and cut them (and the kid) some slack. Who wants to have a crying child on the plane?!