Traveling with a baby can be pretty daunting at first but we found that once we dove in the whole experience was really quite manageable. When Asher was 2.5 months old we flew to Israel and honestly, it was SO easy. Here are my tips for traveling with a tiny tot.
We applied for his birth certificate and social security card while we were still in the hospital. Once we had the birth certificate we applied for his passport and paid the extra fee to expedite the process, which I definitely recommend doing if you’re either planning a trip fairly soon after your baby arrives or just on short notice.
What to pack for baby in your checked baggage:
Clothing – I read somewhere that you should pack enough outfits to have 2 for each day you’ll be away plus 2 extras. This was way too extreme for us, but you need to know your child. We packed Asher 1 outfit for each day we would be away and then a couple extras. I also packed these small packets of baby detergent that could be used to wash stuff in a sink in case of emergencies, which did come in handy.
1 blanket
Extra diapers and wipes – We brought all the diapers and wipes we would need for the whole trip with us, but if you’re going somewhere where that stuff is easily accessible I would recommend packing light and getting what you need when you arrive. With that said, it was really nice to not have to worry about it. I guess you just have to decide on how much you want to bring with you.
Diaper bag – For when you get to your destination.
Inflatable bath tub – This isn’t totally necessary, but it made giving Asher his bath SO much easier as opposed to bathing him in the sink or some other way. We got this one.
Baby shampoo/wash & lotion
A great carry on bag:
We bought the Okkatots Baby Depot Diaper Bag Backpack and this thing was a life saver. It was the only carry on bag that we brought with us and it fit everything we needed for both ourselves, Asher and then some. There are so many compartments that you don’t have to spend a long time rummaging around for stuff. It’s an organizational dream. This bag is quite large so I don’t recommend it for everyday use, but for traveling is was perfect. Once we got to Israel, I used my regular diaper bag, which I had packed in our checked luggage. Stay tuned for a full review.
What to pack in your carry on luggage:
1 baby blanket – We put 1 in our carry on and packed another in our checked luggage. Some people could probably get away with just 1, but having the extra is nice just in case any mishaps occur, like they did for us.
1-2 pacifiers – If your baby takes them.
A wet bag – To hold any little messes. We decided that we didn’t want to have to figure out cloth diapering while traveling internationally so we put Asher in disposables for the trip. Well, as luck would have it, he blew out of his diaper while flying over the Atlantic ocean. Luckily, due to my distrust for disposables I had come prepared and it wasn’t that big of a deal. The Okkatots bag comes with a wet bag of it’s own. Did I mention how awesome this bag is?
Extra outfits – You should definitely pack several changes of cloths in your carry on bag just in case of an emergency.
Diapers & Wipes – Pack more then you think you’ll need, but no need to go over board.
1-2 Burp cloths – We got away with having 1, but it would have been nice to have 2, not essential, but nice.
Hand sanitizer – Airports and planes are gross and it isn’t always convenient or easy to wash your hands right away when you need to.
2 bibs – We packed 2 and this worked just fine for us. I did have to hand wash them a couple times, but they dry fairly quickly so it wasn’t a big deal. I highly recommend bibs that have a waterproof layer. I have some like these and think they are just wonderful. No more wet outfits from a soaked through bib. I mean, what’s the point of a bib if it’s just going to let the cloths underneath it get messy anyway?!
An extra top for mom – Babies are messy and the last thing you want on a long flight is to be covered in souring milk with nothing to change into. Thankfully I didn’t need the change of clothes, but you never know.
Nursing cover – This is up to the individual. I’m not a huge fan of nursing covers, but there are times when I don’t feel as comfortable nursing without one. I used my nursing cover on the flight to Israel, but on the flight back I decided that it was more trouble then it was worth and just opted to be stealthy, which was honestly SO much better. It did however come in handy when we were in Israel itself. I have this one, which is great, but if I had to do it over I may consider getting one of the wearable poncho covers for the flight, that way I wouldn’t have to keep removing it, finding it, putting it back on, etc. Something like this or this.
Saline solution – This is great to keep tiny baby nostrils from getting dried out while in the plane, however in a pinch, breast milk works too. We used these saline swabs, which are a lot easier to manage in tight quarters than the drops are.
Something familiar – We brought Asher’s woombie with us and zipped him into when he slept on the plane. I also played him his lullaby CD and the familiarity of those two things helped him sleep for the last 5 hours of our flight. Score!
Snacks and toys – This is important if your baby is a little older, i.e. 6 months+
Instant formula – Good to have handy just in case. We didn’t use it, but it gave me piece of mind, however I had been having milk supply issues, so most people probably won’t need this. Also if you’re traveling with an infant you’re allowed to bring liquids on the flight. Look into it.
A small baby carrier – We got the Baby K’tan and it was SO wonderful to travel with. To find out more about it, check out my full review HERE.
Water bottle – I brought my amazing Nalgene with me on the flight and this was so helpful. I just asked the flight attendants to fill it up for me periodically and that way I was able to stay hydrated and didn’t have to worry about holding a cup and a wriggly baby. I am seriously IN LOVE with this water bottle.
Snacks for mom – Nursing makes you hungry and airlines can be pretty stingy about when they hand out food, so come prepared.
Whatever else you usually pack in your carry on bag: passports, lip balm, gum, tissues, etc.
What to wear:
Baby – We put Asher in a simple long sleeve white cotton onsie, some cotton socks with a pair of fleece or terry pajamas over that. Layering is important, but you don’t want to put too many layers on to make diaper changes any more of a hassle. A bottom layer of cotton is great because it breathes and is soft against the skin, while a single warmer layer on top helps keep them cozy without having to bundle them up too much. 2 layers max, and if you can, try to dress them in things are aren’t too complicated to get on and off.
Yourself – I wore a nursing tank top with a stretchy t-shirt over top, that way I could easily and discretely nurse without needing a cover if I so chose. I also wore a zip up hoodie and ‘dressy’ sweat pants. Don’t forget the feet: socks with shoes that can be slipped on and off but that are stable. I wore sneakers, but something like boat shoes probably would have been easier. I also opted to wear a light jacket and I was thankful I did because it helped keep me warm and the giant pockets came in handy for storing baby essentials that I wanted to keep on my person. When you’re traveling with a baby, comfort if VERY important.
Where to sit:
This is REALLY important in my book. The key to making traveling long distances with an infant go as smoothly as possible is to sit at the bulk head, that way you have tons of room to get up and down when needed (also the extra leg room is vital if you or your spouse are over 6 foot). The best way to ensure that this happens is to call and request a bassinet ahead of time. If there is no bassinet available ask to me seated in a bassinet row. This is the one area where I feel it’s worth making a bit of a stink if you encounter resistance. Trust me, if you are on a long flight, you want to be at the bulk head. The only thing better than the bulk head is upgrading to business or first class. Some flights make people pay extra to sit at the bulk head because of the extra leg room, they call it ‘economy plus’ (they really try to milk every cent out of you), but when you have a baby and you request a bassinet, you get to sit there at no extra charge. The bassinets are provided on a first come first serve basis, which is why it is vital to call ahead and request one BUT you still need to ask for one again when you are at the airport checking in. If they tell you they don’t have one available, then you can say, that you called ahead and were told that one had been reserved for you.
If you are on a shorter flight on a smaller plane OR if for whatever reason you can’t get the bulk head on a longer flight I recommend sitting by the window. It provides maximum privacy for nursing and ensures that no little limbs will be hanging out into the aisle, plus who wants to keep getting up to let someone out when they have a sleeping baby on their laps. If the flight isn’t full and you are traveling with your spouse, it may be a good idea for one of you to book the aisle and one of you to book the window in the hopes that no one will want to sit in the middle seat. If for whatever reason someone does end up sitting between you it should be easy enough to switch.
Take off and landing:
Many babies get upset or are uncomfortable during take off and landing due to the pressure build up in their ears. If this is the case for your child, it may help to either nurse them or give them a pacifier to suck during these times as sucking can help (but not always) equalize the pressure. If sucking doesn’t work, you could try engaging them in an activity to help distract them. Either way rest assured, your child won’t be screaming bloody murder forever and no lasting harm will be caused by the pressure build up not matter how uncomfortable it may be. Asher, didn’t want to wait until take off to be fed so I nursed him while we waited to board the plane and he slept for all the take offs and landings, which worked out really well for us.
Gate checking a stroller and/or car seat:
When we traveled to Israel, we opted not to bring a stroller, but we did bring Asher’s car seat. We gate checked his car seat and it was simple enough, but since it wasn’t a direct flight we had to lug it around at our connection with us and that was no fun. If you are bringing a car seat, I recommend checking it in, unless a) you have a direct flight or b) it is part of a travel system stroller that you have also gate checked.
It is a fantastic idea to gate check a stroller. That way you don’t always have to carry the baby if you have a lot of connections or there are long lines (if you do end up carrying the baby the stroller can double as a luggage cart). Gate checking is AMAZING. I think a sturdy umbrella stroller is the way to go when traveling by air. We have ordered this one for our next trip. I’m sure I’ll do a review once we actually get it and go for a spin. It is 14 pounds and it doesn’t recline fully, but at $60 I can’t complain too much and I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on something we are only going to use when we travel (since I am OBSESSED with our Baby Jogger City Mini GT). BUT if money was no object, I’d try to find something that had a deeper recline and weighed around 11 pounds. Check out this list for more options.
I recommend getting a gate check bag to ensure that your car seat and/or stroller stays clean.
Jet Lag:
This can be tricky, but we had wonderful success with simply going about Asher’s bedtime routine at the time we normally do it. In other words: don’t worry about it. In my experience adults are affected by jet lag way worse than children. Their sleep may be thrown off a little, but just do what you normally do at the time you normally do it. Israel is 7 hours behind the D.C. area, so I was pretty concerned about how the time change would affect Asher’s sleep pattern, but bless his heart he transitioned from one time zone to the other super smoothly. Coming back his napping routine was a tiny bit off but nothing major.
Final Words:
I have generally found everyone to be very helpful when you are traveling with a baby. It is in everyone’s best interest to keep you and your baby happy for the duration of the trip. Don’t fret about your baby crying on the plane. It will happen and for the most part everyone understands. Trust me, it’s much worse for you then it is for the rest of the passengers. Just stay as calm and relaxed as possible. If your baby is having a melt down, it won’t help for you to get all worked up too. Just focus on the task at hand and don’t worry about anyone else. Being friendly and sociable goes along way and it isn’t hard when you are carrying a cute bundle of joy. People were literally stopped mid-word at the sight of Asher and just went on and on about how delightful he was, so milk those good vibes. We did however get criticized for dressing him in yellow. Apparently a few strangers were put off that they weren’t able to identify what sex he was immediately. Some stuff you just have to laugh off and chalk up to this crazy wonderful world we live in.
Do you have any other air travel tips? If so, I’d love to hear them!
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