TRAVELING WITH BABY+KIDS
Terrifying? Exhausting? No thanks, I’ll just stay home? Agreed. But as someone who took 35 flights with my daughter before her second birthday and now traveling with two kids, I have had plenty of opportunities to fine tune my travel hacks… And I can tell you the key to traveling with kids is ORGANIZATION. You cannot control security lines, flight delays, lost bags, the temperature on the plane, who sits in your row, aka all of the things that could make traveling with a child go from manageable to a nightmare. But a little planning and organization can help you keep your cool and avoid meltdowns (by mommy and baby).
From having everything organized in my carry-on so it’s easily accessible, to getting through security and the airport, to staying organized on the plane to ensure that baby or kid stays entertained, fed, and not screaming, organization has literally saved me in less-than-ideal travel circumstances with a kid.
Here are some tips and products that have worked for me after a lot of trial and error. Scroll to the end to see products and links.
CARRY-ON.
I always make sure I have several things in my carry-on:
Travel documents
Extra clothes for baby (jammies, shirt, pants, socks) and at least a shirt for a mom with a baby;
A plastic bag (or two);
A copy of your child’s birth certificate (or at least a photo of it on your phone). In all of these flights with children, I have had to show a birth certificate maybe 4 or 5 times. Not on the same trip, not the same airline or airport, so be ready just in case;
Anything the baby needs for sleeping or comfort (pacifier, sleep sack, lovey, etc.);
Snacks for mom;
Wet wipes;
Water;
Food/snacks/milk/formula— always pack extra in case you are stuck on the plane or stuck at the airport;
Extra diapers/pull-ups (I pack double the amount I think I will need). Also, try overnight diapers for travel because they are more absorbent and are designed to last longer;
Wipes! (Heads up- sometimes a larger or new pack of wipes will be flagged for extra security screening);
Allllll of the activities. I have included links to some of my favorites below, but I also check out the $1/$3 bin at Target or the dollar store for easy-to-pack (and easy to throw away) activities; and
IPad/Tablet. Download TV shows, movies, or games to your phone AND iPad/tablet before you leave the house. I do both because sometimes the lure of my phone is more captivating than the iPad because its usually forbidden. Or if a battery dies or there is a long flight delay I have a backup plan. A simple trick- I download different shows/games/movies on each device to have more options and variety.
STROLLER/CAR SEAT SITUATION.
I think a lot of this category is a personal decision and depends on your specific stroller and car seat situation in general, but here is what works for me:
I have to start with the best travel item if you travel a lot. The Doona. If you haven't heard of it and you travel, this is a magnificent investment. Its a stroller and a car seat, so no need to have both when traveling and no need to lug around a car seat base (although it does come with one). Its easy to use in an Uber or family/friend’s car at your destination, and its FAA approved so it fits in the seat on the plane. I usually gate check the Doona and on a few flights I brought it on the plane for the baby’s seat. Seriously, this thing saved me traveling to new cities.. from car rides to restaurants to walks. Bookmark it. Buy it. Add it to your registry, folks (linked here). And in full disclosure, here are my cons for the Doona- its heavy if you have to carry it; its expensive (around $550); the wheels do not detach to clean; and the handle does not come up very high.
When my daughter outgrew the Doona, I traveled with my City Mini stroller (linked here) because it has storage underneath for a bag or purse and I can easily fold it up with one hand and a lightweight travel car seat. I have used two travel car seats- Cosco for smaller kids (linked here) and the Graco for bigger kids (linked here). I normally gate check both the stroller and the car seat. Now that I travel with two kids, I gate check the Doona for the baby and I check the big kid car seat at check-in. I use a car seat travel backpack for checked luggage (linked here).
Important note- Most airlines allow you to check a stroller and a car seat in addition to your bag allowance and for no additional cost. You can also gate check one of each.
SECURITY.
Again, this is what worked for me and has continued to work traveling with two kids.
I always carry my babies in a baby carrier from the car through security for a couple important reasons. One, they both like being (and sleeping) in a baby carrier. Two, it leaves my hands free and allows me to push the diaper bag in the stroller instead of carrying it. Three, when they get old enough to face outward, it kept her busy looking around. Lastly, for almost all baby carriers, you do not have to take the baby out of the carrier to go through security! I always worried that if the baby was asleep in the stroller when we went through security, I would have to wake him or her up to put the stroller through the x-ray. With the baby in the carrier, you still have to take off your shoes, but they will let you go through the metal detector and then do a quick swab of your hands.
I tried several different carriers, and I prefer the Baby Bjorn (linked here) for smaller babies. My son prefers the Boba wrap (linked here) and I put it on immediately when I get out of the car at the airport.
With bigger babies, I LOVE the MiaMily carrier (linked here and picture included below), which has more back support, a little seat for the baby, and a zipper pouch.
Toddlers are a different story. I bounce back between keeping a toddler contained in the stroller throughout the airport and letting her walk next to me to get some energy out. Honestly, it depends on my time frame, how crowded the airport is, and the level of tiredness of said toddler. *I am currently trying out a new ride-on carry-on suitcase, but truthfully I am not thrilled with it so far especially for the price so I cannot give my stamp of approval (JetKids Bed Box, just in case anyone is interested) (linked here).
Tip- you are allowed to bring water for babies (not toddlers I have learned) through security. They have to do an extra test on it. I keep it in a children’s water bottle.
I put ALL food for the baby in a separate container or small bag. Some airports make you take out any food (more recently some let you leave it all in your bag). If the snacks and food are scattered throughout your bag, it adds time to the security process. I have done it two ways: I have put a separate little bag in my diaper bag; or as my daughter got a little older, I pack all of her snacks in a little backpack that she can help carry… it also is small enough to shove in the stroller or in another bag if she won’t carry it (linked here).
Don’t panic! Most people will be patient while you wrangle your contraptions and take out 6,345 items from your bags. Hot tip- Some airports allow strollers to go in the special assistance/wheelchair line, which can save time and relieves some of that panic.
Ask the TSA agents questions. For example, some airport security screenings have you put the stroller through the x-ray machine, some airports have you push the stroller to the front of the line and they do a physical search. Some airports make you take out any food or snacks, and some allow you to keep them in the bag. Ask questions before you start adding unnecessary steps to your security experience.
BOARDING.
My plan is to have enough time in the terminal to grab something to eat, get some water, and go to the bathroom/change diapers one last time. I think is helpful is talk to the gate agents when you get to your gate. Because airlines differ when families board, its nice to know when you can board. If you are gate checking a stroller or car seat, most airlines give you a tag to put on each of your items. And, in my experience, its the gate agent’s discretion when to gate check your stroller/car seat (some will give you the tag ahead of time and advise you to leave your item at the end of the jet way, some prefer to give you the tag as you board). Knowledge is key here since the boarding process is different from flight to flight. I prefer to board as soon as I can to ensure that I have time and space to get organized in my seat.
As soon as I get on the flight, I immediately get organized in the seat.
I wipe everything down (tray tables, TVs, seat belts, the window and shade, arm rests).
I take out anything I will definitely need (wet wipes, water bottles, headphones, iPad, etc.).
In my diaper bag I put a pack of wipes and two diapers wrapped inside the changing pad for easy access when we have to go to the bathroom. Those changing tables are BRUTAL. I always bring a changing pad to lay down... because gross. I also bring an extra diaper into the bathroom for a little pillow for the baby.
Snacks are easily accessible but under the seat.
I try to keep anything the child requires for sleeping/comfort in the bag for as long as possible to reduce the risk of it falling on the nasty floor. Extra clothes and items I may not need stay in the bottom of my bag. My arsenal of toys and activities are ready to go in the bag.
THE FLIGHT.
For babies, I try to feed for take off and landing to alleviate any ear pain.
Snacks. Snacks. Snacks.
If one activity doesn’t work, have another ready to go. One of my recent tricks is I have a particular show downloaded that is for travel only; we don’t watch it at home or on the iPad anywhere else. This way, it is kind of like a special treat and holds her attention far longer.
Aisle vs window? This is the ultimate personal choice when flying. But here are some quick pros and cons.
The aisle seat with a baby can be tough. If you need them to nap or eat, they can get distracted with every person that walks by. And heads up with the baby’s head on the aisle with people and carts walking by.
Alternatively, I know the window with a baby can be claustrophobic.
As much as I hate the middle seat, I much prefer to put a toddler in the window seat (aisle seat is a hard no for my escape artist toddler) and then I sit in the middle seat. The window seat provides more entertainment and you are a barrier between the kid and whoever is sitting in the row with you.
Please be careful buying economy seats with no seat assignment. You are not guaranteed to get seats together and there are people that will not switch with you. I’ve seen it happen several times.
Not panicking and expecting the unexpected will definitely help you. Being organized will save you. Remember to give yourself and your kids a little grace. If someone is rude or annoyed, you will never see them again so no sense wasting energy on them. On many flights, I had people come up to me after the flight to tell me how well behaved my baby was, when in reality, during the flight I was sitting in my row almost in tears wondering how I was going to make it through the flight. I hope some of these tips are helpful! Product links below. **Disclaimer- As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Melissa and Doug Reusable Stickers. They are around $5, you can throw them away, they don't permanently stick to anything, and they can keep kids busy for a while. They stick to the plane windows, hotel windows, the tray table, etc. I keep them at home too.
In-flight Phone Mount. (2 for $25) It can hold your phone several different ways. One of my favorite travel products!
