Tips for baby’s first flight
I love to travel. I’ve had the privilege of visiting 33 countries — from backpacking in Chilean Patagonia to attending international conferences in Ghana.
I’ve learned all kinds of tips and travel hacks over the years when it comes to packing, planning trips, and navigating new countries.
Yet, I panicked at the thought of traveling with my infant for the first time.
She took four flights before her 1st birthday — and I still learn something new every time. I remember feeling so overwhelmed and anxious before that first flight.
Here are some lessons and tips I gathered along the way:
Booking travel
Booking the flight: Infants typically fly for free under the age of 2 and don’t need a passport or government photo ID for domestic travel. But for some airlines, like Delta, you’ll need to update your ticket to add an infant. Doing this beforehand will save time and stress at the airport. For flight timing, we try to book flights that overlap with our baby’s nap schedule (less time needed to actively entertain the baby).
Reserving lodging: AirBnBs are great for families and are our preferred option. Searching for ‘family friendly’ homes on AirBnB will return options with common baby gear–like a high chair, pack ‘n play, books, and toys. AirBnBs also typically offer more space than a hotel room. Having a kitchen comes in handy for storing milk or formula. A separate space for the baby to sleep means not everyone has to go to bed at baby’s bedtime. If staying at a hotel, you can often request to reserve a pack ‘n play, mini fridge, and microwave for your room. The more you can borrow the better as this will help reduce your packing load.
The car seat
We’ve had experience bringing our own car seat and renting one. We don’t yet have a strong preference that makes the trip less stressful. Pro tip: If you have trouble installing your car seat during the trip, visit the local fire station at your destination for help (all stations have at least 1 person on their staff who is certified in car seat safety).
Option 1: Bring your own car seat. You can check it for free as ‘special luggage’ in a car seat bag. No need to bring the car seat base as it’s heavy (we learned the hard way). If you’re used to using the base, practice strapping the car seat into your car with a seatbelt at home before your trip. Trust me on this one; this is not a skill you want to have to learn on the spot at your destination.
Pros: You know how to use your own car seat and can pack bulkier, lighter items like diapers to fill the car seat bag.
Cons: There’s a risk that your car seat can get damaged during the bag check process.
Option 2: Rent one at a car rental agency. This typically costs $10-15/day.
Pros: You don’t have to worry about traveling with a car seat.
Cons: Car rental agencies are not allowed to install the car seat for liability reasons, which means you’ll need to learn how to install a car seat you’re not familiar with (watching YouTube videos for the specific car seat brand is the quickest way to learn). The quality, safety, and cleanliness of the rental is also not guaranteed. We bring extra antibacterial wipes to clean the rental.
Option 3: Rent one with Babyquip. We haven’t tried this option yet, but want to. Babyquip is like the ‘AirBnB’ for baby gear where you can rent a car seat from a local. There are quality controls in place to guarantee safety. Renters can meet you at the airport/car rental agency with the car seat and may also have other items for you to rent for your trip.
Packing for the trip
Packing bags: We pack one smaller duffle bag (items needed for the first night for the whole family and emergency supplies like medications), and one large, oversized luggage (for items needed for the rest of the trip).
Packing nursing supplies: If you are breastfeeding, triple check that you've brought all electric pump accessories (and extras) if possible, specifically backflow protectors and the pump charger. On separate trips, I forgot to bring the backflow protector and a piece broke off while traveling. It was stressful finding the right part at a local store. I also recommend bringing a manual pump like the haakaa as a backup.
Laundry: If you are staying at an AirBnb and they have laundry, bring a few detergent pods from home especially if you use a sensitive brand to clean baby’s clothes.
Before the flight
Use a baby carrier: We wear baby in a carrier at the airport and on the flight. This helps us keep our hands free and soothe baby when she gets fussy.
Check as many bags as possible (including your car seat). This will allow you to focus on the baby for the rest of the trip through the airport and not on your belongings. Count the number of bags you started with at the beginning of the trip and don’t leave the airport without making sure every bag is accounted for (we learned this the hard way, too!).
During the flight
Wait until the last minute to board: Families get priority boarding when traveling with a baby. But I prefer to board last with baby since we don’t need overhead space (all of our bags are checked) and so she doesn’t get impatient from sitting in a cramped space for too long. My husband boards first with our bags and wipes everything down while I let my daughter burn off as much energy near the gate before boarding.
Prepare for unexpected blowouts: We use overnight diapers for the flight and bring an extra set of clothes for baby, mom, and dad in case there’s a blowout.
Think about your nursing plan: It’s recommended that babies nurse/feed while taking off and landing to reduce pain from increased ear pressure. For privacy during nursing, I wrap a muslin cloth around my neck and pin one of the remaining corners on the hook above the tray table to create a tent. I prefer the window seat for extra privacy.
Bring more snacks than you need: At home, we typically stick to a strict meal and snack schedule, but have learned to relax this rule on flights. Flights are stressful for everyone, so do what you need keep the baby happy and distracted!
Bring entertainment: Babies love new toys. We pack toys and books that are light and interactive. You can buy cheap, new items from the dollar store. There are also a lot of free items on the plane—like the in-flight TV and games, empty cups, and straws—that can keep baby entertained. Packing cubes keep toys from different categories together and organized (e.g., arts and crafts, books, toys, etc). Some of our favorite products include: books (My First Library, Pat the Bunny, Dr. Seuss Baby Board Books), anything sticky (stickers, blue tape, post it notes, reusable stickers), empty water bottle with pipe cleaners and pom poms, and toys (spinner, Fidget Pops). Finally, our daughter loves watching videos of herself on our phones.
Pack extra ziploc bags: This will come in handy for dirty diapers, soiled baby clothes, and food wrappers.
Tackle the trip in 15 min increments: Keeping a baby entertained for a 3 hour flight can seem daunting. Instead, focus on getting through the flight 15 minutes at a time.
Arriving at your destination
Make a grocery run: The night before the trip, I place a Target order at our destination so it’s ready to pick up on our way from the airport to the hotel. This is an easy way to stock up on supplies you need for your trip (milk, snacks, diapers) so you can save extra space in your suitcase.
Recreate your home sleep environment: If your hotel room/AirBnb doesn’t have black out curtains, bring large black garbage bags to darken the room. When traveling to a different time zone, we start adjusting our daughter’s sleep schedule to match it 1-2 days before leaving for the trip. We bring our baby monitor and white noise machine from home to help create a similar sleep environment.
Flying with a baby will be stressful no matter what. But don’t let this stop you from taking a family trip.
A little planning can help. But letting go of control and trusting that you’ll make it to your destination will help.
The most important thing is to focus on your baby (not what other passengers think) and stay calm when things go sideways. I promise you’ll learn something new every time.
