Tips for Traveling on a Plane with your Baby

So you have decided you are ready to take that trip on a plane ride with your baby. What if your baby screams the whole way? What if someone gives you a hard time about breastfeeding next to them? What if your melon’s ears pop? What if they get sick? What if you can’t keep your melon in your lap? These are the concerns that ran through my mind as soon as booking our tickets. Castle was 7 ½ months when we took him on his first plane ride. Here are some tips I learned.

Tip #1 Be prepared! Pack a favorite toy or a new toy your baby has not played with before. I made the mistake of packing several toys for fear my son would get bored, and I would need to rotate them constantly. Instead I ended up with a heavy carry on and he ended up being more amused by his Grandpa’s watch, the magazines, and barf bags they leave in the seats. Hah! But if your melon is like mine at this age, paper will disintegrate in 2 seconds flat and before you know it you are doing anything you can to get that wad of paper out of his mouth safely. So, once I removed the paper items I put a couple of his toys in there so he could explore and it worked out great.

Have your bags ready to go before getting to the airport. Check your airline’s website to see what you will need for security. Have your ID and boarding pass ready, don’t wear a belt or jewelry you’ll have to take off, and have the things you’ll need to place in separate bins ready to grab so you aren’t digging through your bag at the last minute. Also, think about what you’ll need on the plane out of that diaper bag and place it on top. It can be a juggling act getting under that seat in front of you, especially when your little melon is in your lap.

Tip #2 Feed your baby! Do this during incline and descent. It will help with those ears popping. Here is a tip. Instead of attempting to nurse or feed your melon as soon as they announce it is ready for takeoff, wait until you actually start lifting up into the air. I made the mistake of feeding him immediately and then it took another 10 minutes to get to the runway and by then my melon was done. If you are unable to feed your melon, try a paci, lovey, teething ring, or toy that will get them to suck and swallow. If you have discussed it with your pediatrician and are comfortable giving medications then this may be an option for you as well. I packed it in case for the trip but I personally try to avoid the use of medication unless it’s a last attempt and absolutely needed, which again should be discussed with your child’s pediatrician. 

Tip #3 Calm Down!  If you are stressed, your baby will react to that stress and only make it more challenging. Take a deep breath. As long as you make an effort to comfort your baby, it is unlikely people are going to glare at you. The only times I heard complaints from others is when the parents were not making an effort to soothe their child in anyway. People are more understanding and willing to help than you may think.

Tip #4 Bring a Helper! If this is not an option, consider taking advantage of checking your luggage at the curb to avoid lugging it into the airport. Also, baby wearing is great but with all the bags I had to carry, I felt like I was completing a marathon. Next time I am bringing the stroller! And they check it right before getting on the plane so you can use it right up to the door of the plane. Another tip is that families traveling with children can go through a faster line right up to security so you don’t have to wait in that long line.

Tip #5 Plan your Arrival! Make sure you discuss the car seat situation ahead of time. If you are brining your own, great! If you are getting a rental make sure you ask for the car seat ahead of time so it is available. If you are visiting friends and family, coordinate with them to make sure they have a car seat you can use. Have them check to see that it is not expired and fits your melon’s weight and height requirements. Talk with your family or friends to make sure it is properly installed in the car. I failed to mention it needed to be rear-facing to my mom and was struggling to properly place it, feeling rushed with the line of cars behind us in the arrival area. If your friends or family are unsure how to properly install, offer to pay for parking and take your time to properly install the seat before leaving the airport.

So there you have it, all the tips I learned on my first plane ride that you can now hopefully use to your benefit! Happy Travels!!