I want to dispel a nasty rumor that has been going around for many years now. Have you ever heard the one about not being able to fly with your baby? Or, maybe had friends talk about not traveling for a year or more because flying with a baby is too hard? Let me put my hand up in a stop sign right now. For all the new jet-setting mamas out there, YOU CAN 100 PERCENT TRAVEL WITH YOUR BABY! I have traveled transatlantic and domestic with my little lady beginning at 2.5 months old, and she is now one. She has taken a total of 14 separate flights (six of which have been international). Since we now have a mini frequent flyer on our hands, I hope to offer some helpful hints to new mamas planning their next vacation because you deserve it!

I must shamefully admit that once upon a time, I was the girl on the plane staring at mom/dad screaming baby combo and thinking, “dear lord, please don’t be seated in this area.” I have also been seated next to babies on flights who were an absolute dream. The experience quickly vanished from my mind because we tend to focus only on negative experiences instead of positive ones. As a new mom, I am now the one pushing a trolley full of baby goods and apologizing to everyone around me with the classic “she’ll be good, I promise.” I had stress dreams leading up to our first transatlantic flight with a 2.5-month-old (Dublin to Seattle with a long layover in Chicago). Sheer terror filled my thoughts of her screaming for eight hours at 35,000, and every single passenger and crew member throwing side-eyes. But then something incredible happened - she was a dream! I thought maybe it was a fluke. Perhaps the travel gods were smiling on us that day. No way it would be that easy on the way back! IT WAS THAT EASY ON THE WAY BACK.

A few months later, a death in the family had us on another transatlantic flight (same route) with our five-month-old baby in tow, and she crushed it. On our return flight, we were seated in the premium economy bulkhead row on British Airways (Seattle – London), and the entire row was babies. Next to us in the middle row was a three-month-old and on the opposite window seat was a solo traveler with a six-week-old brand-new babe! I decided this flight would be the testing ground for my hypothesis: babies are good travelers. The theory was proven true. There were a few little cries but no meltdowns or parents pacing up and down the aisle with a screaming baby.

Traveling with your wee babe (ages 12 months and under, and more specifically, not mobile) is pretty straightforward. At that age, babies are still small enough that the basic needs of eating, sleep, change, repeat are the same in the sky as on the ground. Below I will walk you through the prep, airport, and airplane to help you travel with ease.

*Please note I do not get any commission from the below products/links. These are actual products I have used in-flight.

Pre-Departure Prep

Doona

If you love to travel and are becoming a parent, buy a Doona. I cannot say enough good things about this car seat/stroller combo. There is a reason you see celebs and all your Instagram influencers pushing this wonder stroller around. The Doona is FAA-approved and will fit in the plane seat or the overhead bin. It folds up small enough to go through security, so there is no need to worry about checking the stroller ahead of time or gate checking because you can’t bring it on the plane. The car seat feature does not need a base as it can safely buckle in with a seat belt which makes it ideal for taxi/Uber/rental car travel. The Doona was the best thing we bought as frequent travelers. My only complaint is that they don’t make a model for babies older than one.

Skip Hop Go Pronto Changing Pad

My second secret, the Skip, Hop, Go Pronto Changing Pad. Packing up this little changing buddy is a game-changer for travel and puts everything you need in one easy-to-grab spot. It is also compact enough to fit in your seatback pocket, so there is no digging around for things when the baby needs to be changed. Let me walk you through the perfect packing configuration.

1. The front zipper pouch will hold your diaper throw-away bag, hand sanitizer, and an extra change of clothes. I recommend the two/way zip Kyte footie pj’s.

2. When you clip to open the changing buddy, the top mesh area is suitable for four to five diapers.

3. The middle zipper pocket is for your wipes. The changing system comes with a holder, but I swapped it out for the Skip, Hop, Grab & Go Seal holder as it was easier to pull out single wipes.

4. The bottom area is your changing mat that covers the entire changing area on a plane.
Note: Typically, only one bathroom on the plane will have a changing table. Once you board, ask a member of the flight crew which bathroom is baby friendly.

Wrap/carrier

A carrier or wrap is essential for those traveling with the five months and under crowd to keep you hands free. When my baby would nap in the wrap, I could eat, watch a movie, or even take a little snooze myself. Traveling at three months, I found the Baby K’tan wrap to be the best as the fabric can sit around you like a scarf when not in use. For older babies, the Bjorn Baby Carrier Mini is simple to put on and easy to pack with a forward-facing feature that is good for babies to look around.

Diaper Bag

Last to prep is the diaper bag, which should include extra diapers, a pack of wipes, formula, a blanket, and a few toys for entertainment. I HIGHLY recommend buying single-serve ready-made bottles of formula from either Aptamil or Cow & Gate (European brands) or Similac (American brand). If you are a powder family, pre-measure out the bottles with the powder ahead of time and buy a bottle of water once you get past security for ease. Formula, breast milk, and baby food can all go through security but will need a secondary scan. To help simplify the security screening process, put all the baby food/formula in a clear plastic gallon bag ahead of time and place it in its own bin.

While you are packing all these things for the baby, be sure to throw in a few snacks for you too. New mama’s get hungry, especially breastfeeding —dehydrated fruit or kind bars and great on the go.

Day of Travel

Dress your baby in something light and easy with a two-way zipper, as mentioned above, I love the Kyte brand as they are soft and breathable. Clip-on a bandanna bib to assist with any spit-up or drool, that way, you aren’t digging around for a burp rag. Don’t forget to bring an extra change of clothes and a backup bandanna bib in the event of a blowout.

For the mama’s dressing for the flight, think of comfort and ease. I love the breastfeeding sweaters from Seraphine coupled with a breastfeeding tank and leggings. You also need to pack an extra set of clothes, or at a minimum a shirt, in case spills or sickness happen. I don’t want you stuck up in the sky with poop on your shirt for hours on end.

In-Flight

As soon as you board the plane, getting your seating area set up for you and your baby is critical. There is a reason the airlines ask families to board first. It is to give you extra time to get settled. For those sitting in the bulkhead seat, you will need to put the diaper bag in the overhead bid, which means the charging buddy, a bottle, toy, and a snack for you and baby should be loaded up into the front pocket. If you did not purchase a seat for the baby, you need to seat belt them across your lap. I saw a traveling mom on a flight from Seattle to London with a fancy seatbelt helper linked here, but I haven’t personally used one and don’t think it is necessary.

Once your seating area is set up and you and your baby are buckled in, it is time to prepare for takeoff. Whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, it is best to feed your baby during taxi/takeoff, as the sucking motion helps with the pressure change and ear-popping. All of our flights have been feeding at takeoff and her falling asleep for most of the duration (even at ten months). The sound of the plane is soothing for babies, similar to a noise machine. If you are not breastfeeding and you bought baby their seat, try to encourage sucking on a pacifier or giving a bottle.

Layover

Have a layover and need to keep your little one entertained? The Fisher-Price Stow & Go Discovery Gym is a solid low-cost purchase to keep your baby occupied on a long layover. The mat is padded, and it easily folds in half to fit in your suitcase or ties on top of your luggage like a hat. The toy is probably only good until the age of six months, but for those with baby travel on the brain, it is a must.

No matter how you prep and decide to travel with your little one, know everything will be okay. I have had dozens of friends talk about the fear of traveling with a baby, only to discover, it isn’t that bad. I have a few more international trips coming up, and as my baby continues to grow, I will continue to keep you in the know about the best way to travel with your baby/toddler. If you have more tips/tricks on traveling with a baby, I would love your feedback.

Happy flying, mamas!

Xo,

SnS