Tips for Air Travel with a Baby

I vividly remember the days leading up to our first trip with our first baby. I was terrified. I love traveling, but let’s be honest, air travel can be difficult in the best situations. J was almost six months old before we took our first family trip, so I was well aware that anything with the baby involved would fall far short of the “best situation”. We were headed to San Fransisco, a place I was so excited to visit, and yet, I found myself dreading the trip. We were regularly running 20+ minutes late for everything outside of the house, even a simple lunch. How was I going to manage catching a flight and then doing tourist-y things in an unfamiliar place? Well, finally our travel day was upon us, so ready-or-not, we set off for San Fran, and then we proceeded to have a FANTASTIC vacation! The flights were non-eventful, we made it to all of our plans (on time too!), and we had a blast exploring the area. 

After getting past the initial anxiety about the unknowns of traveling with a baby, we were hooked and our youngsters haven’t slowed us down since. We learned a ton about traveling as a family on this first trip and have been picking up tips ever since. I hope that some of this hard-earned knowledge can help you while prepping for your own flight with a baby. Let me walk you through some top tips for the whole flight process, from booking your flight to landing.

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Picking a flight

1. Direct flights are top priority!

Our goal when we travel is to make the travel day as short as possible. When moving through airports and airplanes, I have a constant low level of anxiety, and it seems like everything is more challenging. When we look at flight options, assuming reasonably priced options exist, the first thing we do it filter out all flights that require layovers

2. Flight times

This is not as important to us as airfare to the ability to book direct, but when options exist, we try to book flights in the morning, well before nap time (and target naps immediately when we arrive at our destination), or flights that fully cover nap time and we attempt naps on the plane. Morning flights are preferred. We always try to avoid anything that has us landing close to bed time. Our kids can handle nap disruptions ok, but bedtime disruption is a much bigger deal. Note that if you are traveling with a very young infant, the flight time probably doesn’t matter much. Very young babies with multiple naps per day are the most likely to sleep well on the plane and be-bop along just fine.

3. Seating on the airplane

Once you have chosen your flight, picking your seats is the next decision. There are pros and cons to each location, so you just have you ask yourself – are you a window person or an aisle person? Next to the window, you are a bit more secluded and might get a little more privacy if breastfeeding and a fussy baby might be concealed a but more. But on the aisle, you have the freedom to easily jump up for diaper changes or pacing the aisle to comfort the baby. I am firmly an aisle person. I don’t want to feel confined in the window seat, so I have always chosen aisle. Yes, that meant breastfeeding a bit more open and dropped toys rolling down the aisle, but it was always just fine. For short flights when I know we probably won’t need to get up, window would probably be fine. Looking outside might be a welcome distraction for a bored baby.

Seating choices get a bit more complicated on very full flights or when traveling with multiple people. (If anyone has the magic solution for family travel with two adults and two toddlers on a 3-3 aircraft, I am very open to advice.) Ideally, you and your travel companions can sit next to each other on the same side of the aisle, but if a flight is very full, you might not be able to sit together. In that case, I recommend aisles seats for everyone, even if you are separated by a couple rows. That way you can still jump up to help each other or switch off baby duty. 

4. One big caveat!

This method for choosing flights is what we have found to work best for our own children. Every family and every child is different. If you know your baby wouldn’t handle a long direct flight, then by all means, find shorter flights with a layover. If you are already stretching the travel budget, don’t splurge on that more expensive flight at a slightly more convenient time. Yes, cater to your baby’s needs as much as reasonable, but children are incredibly resilient and sometimes can surprise you with their ability to adapt. Their nap schedule will not be ruined for all time if you have to catch a flight that takes off in the middle of normal nap time.

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Packing for your flight

How will you carry everything?

Logistics can be annoying for air travel in general and are much more complicated when adding a baby into the mix. Packing is, by far, the hardest part for me when leading up to a trip. Traveling with a baby means a lot more gear and even less capacity to lug suitcases because you also have to carry the baby somehow. The first thing we try to do is determine our luggage plan for the trip. When we went to San Francisco, we brought three suitcases (wow!). We have improved since then, but wrangling that luggage along with our carry ons and infant car seat and stroller was… a lot. Now we try to think more realistically about what luggage we will need (factoring in car seats and carry ons) and come up with a plan for how we will transport these items from the airport entrance to the check in desk along with the kids. This plan is even more important if you will need to use public transportation at your destination.

Pack your carry on bag first

Make sure to get all the travel day essentials into your carry on bag(s). Short domestic flights, you can probably just use one diaper bag. A long haul flight, you might want your diaper bag and a supplemental carry on with extra diapers, wipes, entertainment, etc. Here are some of our essentials for a carry on when traveling with a baby:

• Baby carrier to baby wear through the airport and during the flight
• Dress the baby in comfy clothes that make diaper changes easy (like zipper PJs)
• Diapers and wipes for the full travel day x2 (Always pack plenty of extras. Once we had a 10 hour flight turn into 15 hours due to bad weather. Combined with baby’s tummy bug, I was literally down to 2 diapers when we finally landed.)
• If not breastfeeding, bottles and formula or breastmilk, + plenty of extra servings (see above). Make sure to include screw on mixing caps if needed. We loved using this formula dispenser for travel.
• Diaper cream
• Boogie wipes and antibacterial wipes
• Snacks (if eating solids). We were big fans of puffs and pouches. Pouches are actually still a regular part of our lives.
• Pacifier clip. Use for pacifiers, toys, etc. Prevents unnecessary falls to the airport or airplane floor. 
• Change of clothes for everyone, including all adults. Maybe two changes for the baby.
• Favorite toys and/or books
• Plenty of tissues and napkins. For inevitable runny noise or spills.
• Plenty of bibs. Spit up happens and bibs can be used to help clean noses too.
• In case of emergency: infant Tylenol, saline nose drops, nose sucker, teething tablets

For myself, I always wear pants or shorts with pockets. It is inevitable that I will quickly need to free up my hands to deal with an urgent issue, so I need a place to stash anything I happen to be carrying, like my phone, ID, a pacifier, etc. In the spirit of keeping hands free, I also plan on listening to podcasts as my own inflight entertainment. If reading or watching a movie doesn’t seem possible, I can just pop in my wireless earbuds and listen to pre-downloaded podcasts or music. 

Larger Baby Gear

This will vary by airline but MOST airlines will allow you to check one larger baby gear item for free and gate check another item for free. These larger items are things like strollers, car seats, cribs, etc. Yes, we did check a pack-n-play once. A typical scenario would be to check your car seat at the check-in desk along with your other luggage and then bring a stroller to carry the baby through the airport and gate check the stroller as you board the plane. Strollers are also useful for holding bags, bottles, anything else you have with you. 

Many people recommend bringing bags to store these items when they are checked. Some airlines require this and will provide a plastic bag if you don’t have your own. For anything checked at the check-in desk, definitely bag it up. For strollers at gate check, we don’t bag them up anymore. We typically fly United, and they don’t require it at the gate and it is more hassle than it’s worth. Our strollers have always come back in the same condition we left them. 

For gate checked items, remember to wait at the bottom of the jetway to collect your stroller after you land. The airline personnel will return all gate checked items right where you exit the plane.

When you are deciding between what to check at the desk and what to leave at the gate, make sure to take into account how you will carry all the items through the airport. Many people prefer to gate check their car seats, with the idea that they are handled more gently than the typical checked bag. For us, there is no way we could physically carry two car seats, our carry ons, and get the children safely to the airplane. So we always check them at the desk. These backpack bags for the car seats are our favorite. We have even gotten away with adding extras like diapers and such into the bag along with the car seat. We don’t use strollers too often anymore, but they have been very helpful in airports when the kids were younger. Just make sure that you can easily and quickly collapse them when the time comes to gate check as you are boarding the plane. We love our umbrella strollers for this

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Navigating the Airport

Ok deep breaths, you have made it this far. You are all packed up and at the airport. You are almost on your way. 

Check-In

Arrival at the airport will probably mean a first stop at the check-in desk. (Unless you are a way more savvy packer than me and doing carry-on only. In that case, bravo!) At the check-in desk, if you are traveling with more than one adult, designate one person to take the lead on check-in. Make sure that person has all the needed IDs and documents (with flight confirmation numbers). This way if the baby needs attention or distraction, one person is free to step away to take care of the baby and the other person will still handle checking in for your flight. Airline agents are usually pretty understanding and will allow check-in even if one of you isn’t directly at the desk, just visible and they can compare your ID.

Security

If you are like me, going through security is the most anxiety-inducing part of the airport. Everything feels so rushed, and each airport seems like handle things slightly differently. Even with the frequent travel we do, I never know exactly how the process will go. Since this can be the most stressful part of your travel day, let me walk you through the basics.

• My biggest tip to make the security line easier is to get Global Entry or TSA pre-check (Trusted Travel Programs). We just did this last year, and WOW, I don’t know what took us so long. The pre-check security lines are much easier to get through. All electronics can stay in the bags, shoes stay on, just the metal detector.

• You get extra lenience in carry-on items for babies. You are allowed to bring liquids like milk or food pouches, applesauce, juice, etc for your baby. TSA procedures for travel with children are here. Some TSA agents might interpret the rules differently than others, so I printed out a copy of the regulations and keep in our diaper bag permanently. I have never had to reference it or had any issues though, thankfully. There is some ambiguity in the regulation – a “reasonable quantity” could be interpreted differently. Once on our way to catch a long haul overseas flight, an agent commented about the amount of pouches we packed. We just pointed out the long hours of travel we expected and that our son is extremely picky and we were allowed to go on our way.

• Baby food/liquid items will need to go through extra screening (even in the pre-check line), so pack them in a convenient way to provide to TSA for examination. For milk, I would bring a small soft cooler and hand that separately to TSA. Now we normally bring several food pouches for the kids, and I keep those in a gallon size ziplock baggie in the top of the diaper bag that I just pull out and hand over. The extra screening is normally a swab for explosive reside and a visual inspection. I’ve never seen TSA open anything to smell or taste, but I have heard stories about that scenario. 

• Baby wear through security. Use a baby carrier or a wrap, whatever option you prefer. This will keep your hands free to get yourself and all your carry on items through security. If your baby is in a stroller, be forewarned that you will have to take the baby out and put the stroller through the x-ray. If you are wearing your baby, you will not be required to take off the baby, and they will send you through the metal detector instead of the x-ray machine. Then you will most likely go through an additional screening, like a hand swab for residue. No big deal and very quick, just don’t be surprised. You will probably have to wait the longest for the extra screening on any baby food.

Airport Terminal

You’ve finally made it through security and into the terminal! Now is the time to gather yourself and prepare for the flight. Make any purchases that you need (we always buy bottles of water for the flight). Depending on your baby’s age, you might want to let them crawl or walk around the terminal to burn off some energy. If you are close to boarding time, just make sure to stay close enough to your gate to monitor any activity. Before boarding, we do one last minute restroom break and diaper change. Airplane bathrooms are unavoidable for longer flights, but we always try to minimize their use. Most airlines allow families to board first. You might want to take advantage of this if you need to put luggage in the overhead bin (before the space starts to fill up) or if you just want to get situated in your seats before the plane gets packed. We normally like to get situated and get the kids’ movies on their tablets started, but we have had several flights when we were some of the last to board because we were trying to burn off toddler energy before sitting on a plane for hours.

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Flight

Takeoff / Landing

Try to feed your baby during takeoff and landing. The change in air pressure can easily cause pain in your baby’s ears, but the physical act of sucking down a liquids can help ease that pain. It’s similar to the advice we give adults to chew gum or drink some water or yawn to get your ears to pop. Ear pressure pain is at best uncomfortable for adults who expect it and understand the cause. A baby doesn’t have any context to this ear pain, just knows that it is uncomfortable and is going to react accordingly. Hopefully you can time feedings to help ease this discomfort and prevent a potential crying baby.

Baby Wear

Entertainment

If the baby does get fussy, and you know the baby isn’t hungry, distractions are key. A variety of toys is the best place to start. Current favorites and/or something new to the baby are always great, just be mindful of the other passengers when choosing toys that might make noise. We have been known to buy some small, cheap toys before a trip to break out on the airplane. Books are a great option, and reading through a book with the baby might buy you a good chunk of time. If things are not going well sitting in the seat, try pacing the aisle. The movement and new scenery might calm the baby.

Snacks

Keep plenty of snacks on hand! (If age appropriate). Snacks are a great way to pass some time and might stave off some potential fussiness. Even if it’s not close to a meal time, all bets are off for us when we are on a plane. If we think a baggie of Fruit Loops will prevent a meltdown, we are game. 

Diaper Changes

Changing diapers on the plane. So the worst happened, and you have to change a dirty diaper in that tiny airplane bathroom. It’s ok, you will manage – just know that you are in survival mode now. First, ask the flight attendant if there is a changing table. Some planes only have them in certain bathrooms. Some don’t have them at all (WTH!).

Grab the essentials from your diaper bag. Don’t try to bring the full thing; there just isn’t room unless you want to wedge it in on the bathroom floor. So grab a diaper, a packet of wipes, a disposable diaper baggie, diaper cream (only if you need it – don’t overcomplicate this process), and a change of clothes for the baby if it is that bad. Heaven-forbid, if you think YOU will need a change of clothes, I recommend taking care of the baby, returning the baby to your travel partner and then taking care of your clothes afterwards in a separate trip.

Once you get to the bathroom, there should be a drop-down changing table over the toilet. I have always found these to be plenty of room for a diaper change. Just try get in and out and maybe come back after to wash your hands if you think the baby is too precarious on the changing table for you to handle that task. If this is one of the miserable planes with no changing table, you can try on the closed lid of the toilet (yuck), but we have had success on top of the sink area. Maybe a flight attendant would help out with a blanket and allow you to change on the floor in the back of the plane. It sucks, I’m sorry.

Remember, NONE OF THIS IS IDEAL. You are in survival mode at this point, but you will get through it.

Accept any help!

This x1000 if you are traveling as a solo parent. Anyone that is kind enough to offer to help with the baby is probably being truly genuine. Don’t feel guilty and don’t be a martyr. Some people love playing peekaboo with a little one and it will give you a bit of relief. 

Let me walk you through this photo taken during my first (and only*) solo flight with a baby:

Plenty of kind strangers helped us bumble our way from Houston to LA. If I could survive this flight, you can too!

* I say “only” simply because we haven’t had a reason to travel separately since then. Not because it was too traumatic or anything. It was a challenge, sure, but I feel confident I could handle it again.

Words of wisdom

Here are a few pieces of advice that have become my mantra when we travel. As much as it feels like we are a complete spectacle, we are probably barely a blip on anyone else’s radar.

• Nobody is as upset about your crying baby as you are. I guarantee that the stress you feel if your baby is inconsolable on your flight is SO much worse than the annoyance to the other passengers. At worst, the cries are disrupting someone’s movie, but beyond an offhand comment to their own travel partner, they aren’t even going to remember it in a few days. Most passengers will be sympathetic to your situation. I know I always feel deep empathy when I hear another baby crying on a plane. For the parents and the obvious distress to the baby.

• You will never see these people again. Worst case, remind yourself of that.

• Babies are people too. They have legit reasons to be on that plane, the same as any of the other passengers. To visit family, to accompany mom and dad while they travel, to enjoy new places themselves. Don’t let anyone convince you that you shouldn’t fly with a baby just because there is potential extra difficulty.

• Once you are onboard, you will make it, no matter what. If the flight is particularly difficult, just know that it will end. Eventually.

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Arrival

YAY, you made it!! You all survived and arrived at your destination. Hopefully there were no tears, or at least only a few from the baby. Don’t forget to pick up any gate check items at the bottom of the jetway and then enjoy your trip!