Summer is coming up and summer travel is on the rise. Traveling with a baby isn’t easy but it can be accomplished! Here are our top 10 tips when flying with a baby
Plan travel around your baby’s nap time- We planned flights around her morning naps so by the time she got on the plane she was ready for her bottle and then to knock out. We got a good hour to two hours of quiet time during the flight
Stock your Diaper Bag- Pack an extra set of clothes for you and your baby, toys, different snacks, blankets, diapers, diaper wipes, and plastic bags. There is no such thing as overpacking, parents need to be ready for all elements. Our Riley loved to have diapers blow out on the plane so carrying a couple of plastic bags to put her dirty clothes helped. Amazon Diaper Bag Link
Download some of your baby's favorite videos- We really don’t let our baby watch TV but watching a video on the plane helped occupy the baby for at least an hour. Riley’s favorite YouTube channel was Little Baby Bum and Cocomelon
Window or Aisle: We always pick a window seat, especially when I breastfed the baby on the plane, it has little more privacy also gave Riley a chance to stand/ walk around. We brought a breastfeeding cover from Amazon
Bring Baby’s Paperwork- Most airlines need baby identification, a copy of your birth certificate or passport will do. Southwest for sure needs baby identification.
Get to the airport early- Even with TSA pre-check, we get to the airport early because with TSA you never know how they are going to screen breastmilk/formula. Some airport will just search all of the mothers belongs other will do a full-on pat-down. Also, gives you time to go to the bathroom and change a diaper or nurse right before the flight.
Gate Check your Stroller and Check in your car seat- No need to check in a car seat or stroller at the check-in desk, you can leave your stroller and car seat at the gate for check-in. When Riley was a baby we brought our Uppababy Mesa Car seat and used the JL Carseat Backpack for traveling.
Use a baby carrier- Riley loved the Ergo Baby Carrier or we also used the Boba Wrap. I strapped her in and had two hands to lug all our travel gear.
Make sure baby is eating/drinking something during takeoff on landing- The pressure on those little ears is so uncomfortable for them. So having a bottle ready, breastfeeding, or even just giving them something to chew on will help prevent ear pressure from building up. To warm up the bottle (Riley refused to drink cold milk) we usually ask the Airport Coffee Shop for some hot water and warm up the bottle in the hot water right before boarding.
Stay Calm, babies cry for a reason, either they are sleepy, bored, hungry, ears popping. If you get nervous when they cry, babies sense that and it harder to calm the baby down.
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