10 Tips for Airline Travel with Baby

http://mamanatural.com/ Mike and I are avid travelers and having a baby doesn't have to stop us from continuing this great love of ours. We've already taken Griffin on three airplane trips in his young 6 month-old life.

While traveling with little ones takes a little more planning and patience, it can be done.

Here are the top tips for traveling with babies that I've learned along the way.

1. Book flights outside of the "witching hour."

With young babies, the later the date, the more fussy they become. I learned the hard way not to book a flight in the 3 to 7 p.m. window. It is much easier to take morning flights because babies are better rested, happier and therefore more adaptable.

2. Reserve a window seat.

This gives you privacy for nursing or feeding and contains a "wall" (the window) to lean against which helps with a squirmy baby. You are also in charge of the amount of light coming in through window shade, which helps when trying to get a baby to nap. An added bonus, some babies also like to look out windows... a nice diversion!

3. Go to gate early and see if you can be seated next to an empty seat.

If the plane isn't full, most airline attendants will let you move to a seat next to an empty seat. This is a HUGE score. We brought Griffin's car seat onboard and strapped him in the empty seat between Mike and I. He fell asleep easily because he's in his own space and familiar with being in there for naps.

4. Bring a travel companion.

If possible, be sure a husband, companion, friend or family member comes with you. This will allow you to take bathroom breaks and help you lug around all of the baby gear. In fact, I would seriously consider not traveling if you have to go alone.

5. Be prepared to nurse, nurse, nurse.

Wear an easy access top and bra so baby can nurse liberally throughout flight, especially during take off. I also brought along a pacifier, which Griffin only gets in special occasions, as another tool to help soothe him during the flight.

6. Bring toys.

Just a few of his/her favorites that pack well and aren't horribly loud. Again, this brings some of the familiar to the foreign environment. They are also a great way to entertain baby during long flights.

7. Pack for plane.

Bring along a little bag filled with a few toys, pacifier (if you use), extra diapers, wipes, changing and burp cloths, a change of clothes and an extra sweatshirt and blanket. Babies like to touch everything and put things in their mouths so the wipes are critical to keep the germs at bay. While I'm not a germaphob, planes are filled with new exposures to the baby that could prove harmful, especially if they are not vaccinated. Extra clothes and diapers are obviously important in case there is a diaper blowout. Fun times.

8. Bring a baby carrier.

My personal favorite is the Ergo carrier. If you don't have an extra seat for the car seat, you can use the carrier to rock your baby to sleep. I find that it worked much better than trying to create a bed on the airline tray!

9. If you can, wait till baby is 6 months.

We went to California when Griffin was 4 months and I found that was a tough age. He was "awake" enough to be restless and bored but he was also young enough to be a hot mess if he missed a nap. By 6 months, babies sleep cycles are more ingrained and they are more resilient. If they miss a nap, they can roll with it better making for a better traveling experience all around. I even think 0-4 weeks would be better than 2-4 months since babies are still in that newborn "haze" and can sleep pretty much anywhere.

10. Be gentle with yourself and baby.
Despite your best efforts, sometimes babies just need to cry on a plane. Griffin went "code red" for twenty minutes on his first flight and all I could do was rock him and patiently wait for him to pass out in exhaustion. I was getting the evil eye for all those around me. I felt like a terrible mother. It was hard. But it's gonna happen. They are babies and airplanes are very stimulating, and at times, uncomfortable places. Roll with it and try to even find the humor in the situation. It will be over before you know it. BTW, on the return flight, Griffin didn't make a peep and everyone was commenting on what an angel baby I had. LOL!

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[TheOfficialMG]

Awe Griffin is beautiful

[MamaNaturalBlog]

@TheOfficialMG THank you!

[CraftyKoo]

Thanks for this. I'm planning of traveling to Bali with my daughter who will be 20 mths.. not really a baby but you video give me a little more confidence... oh yeah... and I'll be traveling solo. Just me and her!!

[MamaNaturalBlog]

@CraftyKoo Good luck, mama! Hope it goes great!

[liljnnaps1]

Hey

We are traveling from Finland to New Zealand next saturday. We have a 2 yr old and a 1month old. The 2 yrold has herown seat. But I was wondering if i should risk taking a car seat for the baby.We will also have a stroller and im thinking the baby equpiment is mounting up and what happens tothe car seat if theres no spare seats for it?

Helpful video,just one thing about the window seat, i heard the opposite from others regarding the aisle seat being better for feeding and access.

[MamaNaturalBlog]

@liljnnaps1 Good luck mama! You can bring the carseat and if it doesn't fit in the plane, they will check it for you at the gate. I like the window seat best because it's more private and peaceful.

[christynjohn09]

@christynjohn09 oh and I herd you can push the stroller all the way to the gate? Can You leave the carseat on it?

[christynjohn09]

I have commented on this before but now I have a question! When you say get an extra seat...I only have one seat reserved for myself..and I have my 2 month old son...so how would I know not to put the carseat with the luggage? who would i ask?? Its my 1st time flying commercially! Ive always flown military where its mandatory your child has a seat.

[whatevs89]

you just dont travel with kids, let alone babies! they make EVERYBODY cranky...

[TheJessicag123]

Hate to say it but wearing babies on plane rides is dangerous. The baby becomes your airbag and can get injured more than you, or even killed in the result of a crash. I commend you for bringing your car seat on the plane though! Safest for baby! Griffin is just adorable and I love his name!

[elysesnow]

where did you get that adorable baby carrier?

[TheMsgoodforever]

i just traveled from india to cambridge, around 12 hours flight and my baby is 4 and half months and except for like 2 hours all she did was NURSE! she was great during the flight, in the airport was the problem. stupid of me i didnt carry the baby carrier and she just wouldn sit in the stroller!

[peanutbutter811]

thanks this really helped, I plan on taking a trip to visit my father, my lil girl is 6months.

[christynjohn09]

@LMPM0909 Yes it is now we are working on coming home! Took me 6 1/2 days to get here I can only imagine the way back!

[LMPM0909]

@christynjohn09 That trip is the WORST!!! 

[christynjohn09]

I just traveled from Florida alllll the way to Okinawa Japan with my 6 week old son by myself. We took "military" flights and it took a total of 6 days to get to my destination! My BIGGEST advice is be hands free,instead of a diaper bag bring a back pack it saved me sooo much hassle!