Traveling with a baby can seem like a daunting task. There are so many unknowns and things that can seem intimidating. My baby is just over one years old and he has been to 12 countries. His first flight was when he was 2.5 months old, his most recent flight was when he was 13 months old. He has been on several flights in between. Don’t let flying with a baby scare you from going on a trip. I know it can seem hectic but I promise it’s not as scary as it seems. I am going to share what has helped us while flying with a tiny human.
0-9 months old
I feel like I can lump this group together. Basically if your baby is still sleeping most of the day and cannot walk yet then this list is for you.
ON THE PLANE:
- Nurse, bottle feed, or give your baby a binky before takeoff. Takeoff (and landing) is when the plane has the most pressure and can bother your babies ears. Nursing during takeoff is a good way to help your babies ears not get plugged. It’s easy for you and me to just clear our ears by yawing or plugging your nose. Babies don’t know how to do that. So nursing or giving them something to suck on helps relieve the pressure in their ears.
- Ask for a bassinet for your flight. You will have to do this before you board the plane. A lot of airlines have a first come first serve policy. We have been able to get a bassinet by going to the gate early and asking the gate agent. Because it’s first come first serve, the earlier you can talk with someone the more likely you will be to get a bassinet. The gate agent will be able to move your seat so that you sit in the bulkhead of the plane- where there is a wall in front of you. The bassinet clips into the wall and your baby can sleep in the basinet for the duration of the flight. One thing to note is that for take off and landing babies are not allowed to be in the bassinet. Also, a good thing to remember is that for most domestic flights bassinets are not available because there is not a bulkhead. International flights are different because the plane is bigger and there is a bulkhead.
- Bring extra clothes for the flight. In my experience when babies are younger they have more blow outs. Our first flight with a baby was a 12 hour flight to Australia. We brought two extra outfits in our diaper bag and used all of them for our flight. I brought 12 diapers in my diaper bag too. I thought one diaper per hour in the air would be enough. We maybe used 4 diapers but it was nice to have the peace of mind just in case. I would also recommend bringing a change of clothes for the parents in a carry on too- just in case!
- Most airlines allow you to check a stroller, car seat, and baby bed for free. I suggest taking the stroller all the way to the gate with you and then checking it at the gate. However, being able to check a portable bed or car seat is super nice and makes navigating the airport a lot easier. Taking a stroller all the way to the gate with you is helpful because then you can have your baby in the stroller and not have to worry about carrying the baby. When you board the plane you just fold up your stroller, get a tag from the gate agent, and leave your stroller on the jet bridge right before you board the plane. Just remember to pick up your stroller in the same place when you land- on the jet bridge. (Sometimes you will have to pick up the stroller from the checked baggage carousel but most of the time you pick it up on the jet bridge right after you get off the plane.)
OTHER TIPS:
- Get a good stroller. There is nothing worse than having a bad stroller with bad wheels- especially on cobblestone. My must haves when it comes to a good travel stroller is having good wheels that won’t get wrecked if it goes over bumps or cobblestone, being able to steer the stroller easy and one handed, and having a stroller that the baby can lay down comfortably. We got a stroller that you can adjust the height of the stroller so when baby is awake they can sit up and face outwards, when baby is asleep you can adjust the back so it’s pretty flat and baby can lay down. A stroller with a good sun-cover is nice and a stroller with some kind of storage beneath it is also nice.
- A portable bed. Not going to lie, we co-slept with our baby for awhile but having a light weight portable bed- like a pack and play is so useful.
- Travel at a slower pace. This one can be tricky if you are used to faster paced travel. A good thing to remember is that traveling with a baby is going to be different than before you had one. That doesn’t make it bad, it just makes it different. Babies are really good at making you slow down. It also takes a lot longer to do things when you have a tiny human with you. I suggest having one or two activities per day and give yourself a lot of free time to be able to wander, eat, take nursing or feeding breaks, diaper changing breaks, and even nap breaks back at your accommodation if needed. You may need to spend an extra day or two in the same city but it will be worth it to be not feel rushed. A lot of unexpected things throughout the day can happen when you have a little one so do yourself a favor and just plan extra time into your schedule.
- Get a good baby carrier. A stroller is great and I definitely recommend. But a carrier is also great. Especially when you are in a place with a lot of stairs- it is just easier to wear your baby instead of lugging a stroller up and down stairs or on and off of public transportation.
9-14 months
This age is a little different to travel with because your baby will be more mobile and active. Baby will also be awake a lot more and possibly walking.
ON THE PLANE:
- See the above list of things that are helpful on the plane for 0-9 months. All of those tips apply to 9-14 month old’s . Maybe you will need a few minor adjustments like instead of nursing give your baby a binky or snack- something to get them sucking or moving their mouth. You also probably won’t need as many changes of clothes or diapers but it doesn’t hurt to have extras. The bassinets can still work for a baby up to 25lbs. So a lot of babies this age will still be able to use one.
- SNACKS. You need snacks, snacks, and more snacks. Let’s be honest here, airplane food is not the best. Your baby is already in a different environment it’s going to be helpful to have familiar snacks that you know your baby will like. There’s not many problems that can’t be fixed, or at least helped, with snacks. Make sure you pack enough for you, parents, too.
- Toys. I like to bring a favorite toy and some new toys. A favorite toy because it’s comfortable and familiar for the baby. New toys because they are fascinating and will probably *hopefully* distract baby for longer periods of time. I avoid bringing toys that talk or sing or make noise because ain’t no one trying to listen to that for an entire plane ride.
- Books. I bring at least one small book for a plane ride because my tiny human likes looking at the pictures and turning the pages. I like to bring books that have flaps that can be opened because that adds even more time for baby to be distracted… and for a long flight we’re trying our best to distract and keep our tiny humans busy.
- Red Eye Flight. If you are travelling on a long haul flight I truly suggest booking a red eye. This means that you won’t have to distract your baby for as long because a big chunk of the flight will be while your baby is sleeping and you can just put them in the bassinet or hold them. It’s a lot easier to sleep on a plane when you are tiny and if you have a bassinet- baby is basically flying first class!
- Make friends with the flight attendants. We have been so lucky and have had such great flight attendants who care and are so helpful and nice. It can go a long way by just smiling and talking with the flight attendants before and during the flight. Flight attendants can really enhance your experience. They have brought us extra blankets, pillows, snacks, water, and even little toys.
- Be prepared to be more active on the flight. When baby is older and more active and mobile your flight experience will be a lot different. It definitely won’t be a relaxing experience. So, go into it knowing that you will have to be more active. It may mean you are awake for the majority of the flight reading books, walking up and down the aisle, or trying to find something to watch that will hold your babies attention. It’s not a bad thing it will just be different now that your baby is older. If you go into the flight- especially a day time flight, with that in mind it will help manage your expectations.
OTHER TIPS:
The other tips I stated above will still be applicable. But now that baby is older I have a few more things to add to hopefully make your life easier.
- Portable high chair seat. A lot of places in Europe do not have high chairs for babies. This means that you will have to keep your baby on your lap for meals. We brought a portable high chair seat that we could just clip around any chair. It was light weight so it fit easily in the diaper bag. It made it so nice for restaurants without high chairs. We just got a cheap one from Amazon and it worked like a charm.
- Pre-trip training. Before leaving on a trip try to add more flexibility into your routines. Have your baby take naps in their stroller, in the daylight, and without being quiet. Getting your baby used to sleeping when it’s light, loud, and in the stroller or carrier that you will be using on your trip will make your life easier when you are actually on the trip. There is nothing wrong with going back to your accommodation for nap time. However, that is not always going to be possible or ideal to do every day when traveling.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Remember, babies are super adaptable. They also will still act like your baby even if you are a long way from home. Your baby will still need the same things they need at home. They won’t change just because they are in a new country or city. The most important thing that your baby needs is you. So, take a deep breath, and don’t take things so seriously. Traveling is meant to be fun and a learning experience. If you need to take things slower that is okay. Give yourself and your tiny human grace.
Thanks for tuning in. Happy & safe travels to you and your fam!