Things to know about traveling with kids under the age of two.
Travelling with a baby for the first time can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. It is definitely a case where you just have to roll with it and if everything goes wrong, oh well. I will at least try to put your mind at ease by saying it is rare that a child screams an entire flight, which is pretty much every travelling parent’s ultimate fear.
Flying with a Baby
My first tip is to contact your potential airline for their regulations about baby travel before booking your tickets. Most airlines allow “lap-seat” babies until they are two years old, and also allow you to bring a carseat and stroller for free! In this day of budget flights and airlines trying to outdo each other with add-on costs, though, you will want to verify your ticket allows these things. Even if the baby is free, you do still need to let the airline know he or she is coming along for the ride. For more detailed information about traveling with carseats and strollers, check out the benefits of traveling with kids.
Also, if they are flying with only one parent, make sure to have a note from the other parent that you have permission to take the child out of state or out of country. Even if the airline doesn’t require this, if you are leaving the country passport control definitely will.
There is a lot of advice on what time of day to fly. My personal advice is just whatever works for your child. Some people like to travel at night because their baby will sleep. Others travel during the day because their kids get wound up and won’t sleep anyway, or potentially do worse because they end up having to wake up when you get off the plane.
Personally the time of day doesn’t make a big difference to me, but the length of the flight does. When traveling with baby, this is one time I will pay extra to avoid layovers in cases where I otherwise would have accepted a connection for a cheaper flight. You might also find it it worth opting into the larger seats now that there are more than just standard and first class options.
Accept help! For example, when offered family boarding, take advantage of it. Settling in to your seat can be difficult when holding a diaper bag, a baby, and luggage for both of you. If a flight attendant offers help, accept it graciously. You don’t have to do everything yourself. In my experience, fellow travelers are also all too willing to help. Many surrounding seatmates will tell you about their kids left at home, or their grandkids, and are excited to interact with a baby again. I realize stranger danger always exists, however I tend to not worry too much that people will try to run off with my baby when they are trapped on a plane. You can be more cautious while getting off the plane of course 😉
Taking off can be a great time to feed your baby by bottle or if you are breastfeeding. The sucking can help prevent ear pain. Other options are a pacifier or something to chew on for older babies.
Getting off the Plane… Hopefully you were able to gate-check your stroller and carseat and they are waiting for you right at the exit. Congratulations, you made it!
Special Items to pack
I would first triple all your standard diaper bag supplies, and keep those items with you at all times. This is especially important if you are checking your baby’s main bag. You just never know if it will get to you on the other side. Seriously. Bags get delayed and lost. A lot.
Also keep in mind you can take breast milk, formula, or even juice and baby food on a plane in containers larger than 3.4 ounces. You just have to let the TSA agents know so they can hand-inspect it. Ice packs are okay too, for keeping these items cold. As with everything, double check for updates before leaving. You can find updated regulations by checking with the TSA.
Some extra items that can be helpful while travelling are disposable table mats for restaurants, baby carriers like a Baby Bjorn, a few small toys and a collapsable, portable booster seat.
Also, don’t forget extra weather-related items like sunscreen, bug spray, swim diapers, and a sun hat.
If you are traveling longer than a weekend, don’t feel like you have to pack diapers and food for the entire trip. Use some common sense here, and do what you are comfortable with. Baby gets diaper rash unless he only uses a certain brand? By all means, bring enough with. However, in most destinations you can go to a department or grocery store to get extra supplies when you arrive.
I would still always bring a small amount just in case, which is why I triple the regular diaper bag supplies as a rough number. However, our first time flying with a baby we packed an entire box of diapers. We were going to California. In retrospect, I realize there was no reason for us to pay for a checked bag; I’m sure they sell diapers in California. 🙂
If you have more tips for traveling with babies and toddlers leave a comment below; I would love to hear them and other people could benefit as well!
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