Survival Guide to Flying with a Baby
As a new mom, there are many “firsts” with your baby. Some are challenging and some are exciting. Going on an airplane with your baby? For me, that one was a big one that I was honestly scared for. I am someone who struggles with anxiety on a plane so add a baby to it, and I was 10x more anxious to conquer this “first”!! That’s why I’m writing this blog, to help other new mamas feel at ease when they go through this experience as well! In this blog I will give you some of my top tips to make your flight experience as seamless as possible, and outline everything we brought on the plane that made the trip easier!
1. Planning Your Flight Times…
I know this is not always a possibility but if you can book your flight times somewhat around baby’s naps, it makes things 10x easier so you can still stick to a somewhat normal sleep routine during travel. We had to leave around 4:50am for our flight and Dallas usually wakes up at 5:00am, so this kept us on track for following his wake windows and helped to start the day off strong. - P.S. the Huckleberry app is the best thing ever for tracking naps, bottles, etc. and helps us stay on track with Dallas’ routine!! You have to get it (Download the app here)!
2. Getting Through Security…
Getting through security was a breeze for us because little man was still very happy and well rested. FYI you’ll have to fold up your stroller and put it on the belt along with your other things so if you’re traveling alone, just be prepared because you’ll have to do everything with one hand (but us mamas are used to it lol). Side note, once through security, grab some water bottles from the store asap so you have water for baby’s bottles (if you formula feed).
3. Put Baby In A Carrier Before Boarding
Once we were about 10 minutes away from boarding, we put Dallas in his carrier so that he would get nice and sleep for the plane ride. I HIGHLY recommend doing this if you are traveling with a baby. There’s so much going on, so being in the carrier gets them in the mindset of nap time and makes getting them to fall asleep on the plane a lot easier.
4. Bring A Boppy For The Plane!
If I were to recommend ONE lifesaver, it’s this. I never realized how hard it is to cradle a baby on a plane until now lol. Your arms will get so tired, so having this under you to help cradle them is a game changer and makes the trip so much more comfy for you and your baby!!! It’s a little bit of a pain to carry around but sooo worth it.
5. Have Them Sucking During Take-Off & Landing
Because of the pressure in the plane during take off, you’ll want them to be sucking on something so they don’t get upset. You can use either a binky or feed them a bottle during both take-off and landing.
6. Bring A Travel Stroller
You will definitely want to bring a travel specific stroller so you don’t have to lug around a heavy stroller! This one was amazing because it was super lightweight and easy to fold and unfold with one hands (which is super helpful when going through security)! However, Dallas likes to be held, he’s a social dude and wants to be a part of the party lol. So we did not use the stroller much. We either held him or he was in the carrier! But dang this stroller was AMAZING.
I hope these pieces of information and tips help you to feel more prepared for traveling with a little one! Below is a full list of items you will need to have a successful airplane ride with your little one (side note: you can pin any of the photos in this blog to your Pinterest so you can refer back to this list when packing!).
Full Packing List For Flying With A Baby:
(shop everything we brought here)
Diaper bag - My favorite is the Mina Baie but we also have the Caraa and that one is great too!!
Change of clothes - I brought 2 outfits for him incase of blowouts, spit-up, etc. and then I also brought one extra outfit for me justtttt incase (you never know what the day will hold)
Plastic bags to carry any dirty clothes in (since they will be a mess and you don’t want that all over your diaper bag lol)
A few toys - Keep in mind you’ll want quiet toys for the airplane! We actually brought more toys than we needed…he was more entertained by our hands and funny faces than the toys at this age lol. But if I were to choose just two toys to bring it would be a crinkle book and this baby rain stick!
Baby food - In addition to his bottles, we brought 1-2 containers/pouches extra of solid food. You never know if you’ll need it!
Travel wipes - This way you don’t have to bring a huge thing of wipes in your bag so you have more room for other things!
Diapers - Bring plenty. More than you need just in case!
Changing mat - Get one that is easy to just fold back up into your bag!
Birth certificate - They didn’t ask for this on our trip, but I’ve read that sometimes they do. Better safe than sorry!
Baby carrier - My favorite is Artipoppe because it has the best back support which is so so great while walking so much through the airport.
Pacifiers - We brought 6-7 and thankful we had them all. Sometimes they unexpectedly fall on the ground and you need a backup!
Pacifier clips - A godsend! I clipped one on my shirt and his. You’ll need this handy asap when they fuss on the plane and you need to settle them!
Disinfecting wipes - Germs are inevitable, but I was sure to always wipe down at least the changing stations.
Boppy - Like I mentioned above, having this was a game changer on the plane and made things 10x more comfortable for both of us!
Blankie - Planes can get so cold so don’t forget a blanket! Our favorites are from Atlas Grey (code TAYCHAYY for 10% off!)
Dropper stopper for toys - These are just like a pacifier clip but for toys! So helpful so your toys don’t touch the airplane floor.
Bottles - Ok let me change your life with these bottles. You put the formula on top, fill the bottom compartment after you get through security with bottled water, and when you’re ready to use it you push each sides and BAM! You shake it and it’s good to go. Seriously so cool. We only brought 2 of these bottles so we didn’t take up too much space
Formula dispenser - We just had about three additional servings of his formula just incase we needed more than the two bottles!
Travel stroller - If you are looking for an amazing travel stroller this one did not disappoint. It goes in the overhead bin and can wheel down the aisles!
I hope this helps ease your mind and better prepare you for your first trip with your baby. Just remember, stay confident in who you are as a mom. It’s going to go so well, you got this!
XOXO, TAY
