Updated July 2019
Planning
- For traveling out of the country, passports and permission from both parents are required.
- Practice “being in a plane” at home to see how you can soothe and care for baby.
In the airport
- If you take formula, security will open it to check, so if you have the kind that doesn’t have a cap, you will want to bring a bottle or way to store the opened formula.
- More info on liquids and baby foods from TSA
- If you have a soft carrier, you can wear your infant right through the security checkpoint. And, many airports have a medical screening or a family line you can go through if you’re carrying breastmilk or pre-mixed formula. Sometimes, the line is faster than the regular security line!
- Gate check or check your stroller, car seat or base. Consider requesting a bag at the check-in counter to put them in.
- Do a diaper change immediately before boarding. If traveling with a partner, have them board first with all the stuff and then board very last with your clean-diapered baby.
- Ask security to change their gloves to reduce exposure to germs.
Where to sit on the plane
- Confirm that your seats are together. Depending on the airline and reservation, your seat assignment may not be together.
- Things to consider: window seats are great for nursing and aisle seats are great for getting up to bounce the baby.
- For babies held on laps, it’s a good idea to call and inform the airline that an infant is included in your reservation.
- Board early or late? Two perspectives: “Ignore the early call to board with small families. Go last and minimize time on the plane.” Or, “Take advantage of early family boarding.”
Packing
- Bring baby’s birth certificate as some airlines require it.
- Bring toys that can be attached to plastic linking rings and connect it to the back of the seat – this keeps toys from getting thrown on the ground and getting dirty.
- Bring toys that are easily washable in a sink and pack easily. Also, consider using disposable placemats to put on the tray table if you plan to hold your baby. It’s entertainment plus it covers up the nasty table.
- Stuff diapers throughout your bags in case you lose a bag.
- Keep wipes handy.
- Consider using an inflatable nursing pillow and travel-friendly changing pads.
- Bring liquid infant Tylenol, just in case.
- A hand pump might come in handy.
- One mom wore her Chew Beads – accessorize with toys!
- 1 diaper for every hour in transit, door to door, plus lots of wipes, 2 baby outfits and a blanket for the plane.
- Bring an extra change of clothes for everyone. (“Walking off the plane with poop on my dress was awful!”)
- One parent said, “Wear layers!”
- Reusable, zippered bags are great for dirty clothes and diapers.
- Hats and SPF clothing to protect your baby’s skin from the sun.
- If you’re going to check your child’s car seat, know that it may be counted as an extra bag and the baggage-handling machines at airports can rough them up.
- Research medical options at your destination and consider bringing your provider’s hotline number.
When you are on board
- Dress baby in a onesie with baby legs for easy diaper changes.
- Use sanitizing wipes (instead of baby wipes) to wipe down EVERYTHING you will touch on the plane… buckle, tray, buttons, bathroom. Those surfaces are where the germs transfer, not the air.
- Planes are louder than pumps – use a nursing cover instead of the tiny bathroom.
- Wear a dark nursing cover all the time. It will help keep you clean, provide shade for a nap, and in one worse case scenario, catch copious amounts of vomit from a suddenly sick baby!
- Ideas for holding baby comfortably include an inflatable travel pillow, a travel boppy, FlyeBaby, and a bed pillow.
- For ears and pressurization – breastfeed or offer pre-portioned bottles during landing and takeoff. Also, blowing on baby’s face causes them to swallow and reduce pressure on the ears.
- The 10 or 20 minute rule – have ideas for distractions that take about 10-20 minutes. For an infant, make a playlist of songs to sing, a session of finger plays, a gaze and chat, over the shoulder looking around, walking the aisle, feeding, changing – all of these are things that you will do anyway… but breaking them up and feeling like you can move on to something else can help! This can become small toys, crayons, and books for a toddler or preschooler.
Take your gear or leave it at home, both perspectives:
- “Wear the baby, no stroller, no car seat, and the younger the better! Breast feeding? Great! Nurse on takeoff and landing, if they’re not asleep. Can they eat? A container of puff snacks keeps them busy opening and closing the container.”
- “For plane travel: Carrier and a stroller are both musts. Find a kind-looking granny-type who can hold your baby in a pinch. If you’re nursing, have mental armor on for the potential dirty looks that come with baby dangling his feet in your neighbor’s lap while baby eats.”
- Consider renting items like strollers, car seats, cribs and other kid items from a baby gear rental service like Baby’s Away.
- Ship diapers or other baby supplies directly to your travel destination.
Travel might be fun or necessary, and sometimes there are alternatives to travel:
- “Mostly, we just stay home and make our families visit us. Traveling with a toddler is stressful for everyone and I find it takes weeks to get them back to normal. We paid for my mom to fly out to Seattle so we could have a long weekend trip alone. Totally worth it. Just my two cents.”
- “If you have visitors, don’t try to be a perfect host. Let them care for the baby while you get rest or a shower, or ask them to help with chores while you care for baby.”
And, thanks to these PEPS Parents who remind us:
“Stay calm and don’t worry about anyone else. Take your time. I used to rush at the airport; now I stroll though security at whatever pace is needed and take time regrouping after. It helps the stress level for sure.”
“Overall, people have been very kind on planes. Good luck!”
More ideas:
Rebecca Michi, a local children’s sleep consultant, shares info on Helping baby sleep on vacation.
PEPS Parent Shannon Stabbert wrote this post on traveling with a toddler on her blog.