Air travel Tips For New Parents
Traveling with family is rewarding but getting to the destination can be grueling. To lighten the load in preparation and enjoy the plane ride I have a few tried and true travel hacks for parents with small children. You will nurture the idea of travel being easy and fun the more you travel with your little one. As your child grows travel will foster independence, teach responsibility, patience and adaptability-all wonderful traits to learn and practice through life.
Make checking in easy with an infant by taking full advantage of curbside check-in. There is a small fee(around $4) to check your bags curbside however, doing this lightens the load immediately and helps you skip any line inside the airport to check bags. Curbside bag check will tag your bags and issue your boarding passes straight away. Headed to security and you’re in!
Best friends in the airport with baby:
My City Tour Stroller -gate check stroller in backpack or place it in the overhead bin.
Bottles with pre-measured formula in them. Once on the airplane you can ask flight attendent for half hot/half cold water to mix it. Bottle or breast feeding at ascending and descend of plane will help with those little ears not popping from the altitude adjustment. For an older baby sucking on a pacifier will help with ears adjust to altitude change.
Comfy, easy to change outfit for baby with an extra to spare for those diaper changes. No one wants to be fussy around with 50 snaps in an airplane bathroom.
A lovey for baby & light organic muslin blanket to use as a changing pad or to keep baby warm on chilly airplane.
Snack & water for parents.
Traveling with a baby is the easiest stage if you are set up for success and pack with intention. Pack 10 diapers in your carry-on and get the rest once you arrive. Make sure enough snacks, water and formula/milk are in carry-on for you to arrive at destination well-fed and hydrated. Flight attendants are a great resource. They generally love holding a baby, are happy to get you water and show you how to use the changing table on board if needed. If you request bulkhead seats, there are bassinets you can request when available.
Safe travels to you and your little family! I can’t wait to hear where you adventure next!