Travel used to look a lot different before the baby arrived. In your pre-baby life, you probably threw a few outfits into a carry-on, grabbed an overpriced latte at the terminal, and casually read a magazine while waiting to board. That version of you might feel like a distant memory now that you are staring down the barrel of your first trip with a tiny human. Suddenly, you aren’t just a traveler; you are a logistics manager, a snack dispenser, and a mobile entertainment unit all rolled into one. Plus, the fear of being “that parent” with the screaming infant at 30,000 feet is enough to make anyone want to stay home forever.
But while traveling with an infant is undeniably different from your solo backpacking days, it is entirely doable with the right strategy. Here are some useful tips for traveling with an infant!
Book Direct Flights Whenever Possible
Booking direct flights can save you the hassle of navigating layovers and the stress of boarding multiple planes with a little one in tow. Fewer transitions mean fewer opportunities for meltdowns and less chance of disrupting your baby’s routine. Direct flights also reduce the total travel time, making the journey smoother for you and your child. While they may sometimes cost a bit more, the convenience and sanity they provide are well worth it.
Start the Journey With a Well-Rested Baby
When your baby is well rested, they’re less likely to be fussy at the beginning of the journey, which can be immensely stress-relieving for you. So try to ensure your child gets adequate rest before your departure. This can help them stay calm and better handle the changes in their environment.
Feed During Takeoff and Landing
Ear pressure is the number one reason babies cry on planes. Adults know how to yawn or swallow to pop their ears, but infants don’t. Instead, the most effective way to help them is by encouraging them to suck and swallow during the ascent and descent. Nursing, bottle-feeding, offering a pacifier, or even giving them a finger to suck on can provide the necessary jaw movement to equalize the pressure. Timing this can be tricky, especially if delays keep you on the tarmac, so try to hold off on feeding until the plane is taxiing and accelerating down the runway.
Wear Your Baby Through the Airport
Navigating a crowded airport terminal while pushing a stroller, dragging a suitcase, holding a boarding pass, and sipping water is a recipe for disaster. Instead, invest in a comfortable, supportive baby carrier. Babywearing allows you to be hands-free, keeps your little one close and secure in crowds, makes boarding the plane much easier, and allows you to move quickly if you are running late. Most security checkpoints will even let you walk through the metal detector while wearing the baby, although you may have to undergo a quick swab test on your hands.
Pack Double the Supplies You Think You Need
Calculate how many diapers, wipes, outfits, and formula servings you need for the travel day, and then double it. Being stuck on a tarmac for three hours with a blowout and no fresh diaper is a nightmare scenario you want to avoid.
Additionally, pack a survival kit in your diaper bag that includes extra pacifiers, a changing pad, plastic bags for soiled clothes, and sanitizing wipes for the tray table. It is always better to have too many supplies than to be begging a stranger for a wet wipe.
Bring the Smell of Home With You
New environments can be overstimulating and scary for tiny travelers. Bringing familiar items can help soothe their anxiety and help them settle down for a nap in a strange hotel crib. Since smell is a powerful sense for infants, unwashed items that smell like mom or home are particularly effective. For instance, security blankets can comfort your baby effectively because they smell like home and are already associated with comfort and safety in your infant’s mind.
Pack a Spare Outfit for Yourself in the Carry-On
New moms often obsess over packing multiple changes of clothes for the baby but completely forget about themselves. This is a rookie mistake. If your baby has a massive spit-up incident or a diaper explosion mid-flight, guess who is going to be wearing it? You do not want to sit in soiled clothes for a five-hour flight. Roll up a lightweight T-shirt, a pair of leggings, clean underwear, and a fresh pair of socks, and stuff them into the bottom of your diaper bag. You will thank yourself profusely if you end up needing them.
Know the TSA Rules for Liquids
Security regulations regarding liquids are strict, but they make significant exceptions for parents traveling with infants. You are allowed to bring breast milk, formula, toddler drinks, and liquid food (such as those pouches of veggie and fruit puree) in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces. Generally, you need to separate these items from your other liquids and declare them to the TSA officer before the screening begins.
Accept That Your Pace Must Slow Down
You cannot travel with a baby the same way you traveled alone. Gone are the days of cramming four museums, a hike, and a late dinner into a single day. Babies force you to slow down, and that can actually be a good thing. Plan for one major activity per day, leave plenty of buffer time for naps and feedings, build in rest time for yourself, and be willing to scrap the itinerary if the baby is having a rough day. Traveling at an infant’s pace allows you to savor the small moments rather than rushing to the next landmark.
Embrace the Adventure, Chaos and All
The first trip with your baby is a rite of passage. It likely won’t be perfect, and there will almost certainly be a moment when you question why you left the house. However, watching your child experience new sights, sounds, and smells is incredibly rewarding. You are building resilience in yourself and adaptability in your child. So remember these useful tips for traveling with an infant, go with the flow, and give yourself a massive pat on the back. You are doing a great job, Mama!
Feature photo by Odua Images via Adobe Stock
