Airplane Hacks for Parents: Packing for Baby (Part 1)
When I found out I was going to be a mother I was of course thrilled! This was what my husband and I had wanted and longed for - a child to love and a new adventure to embark upon together. But a part of me also began to panic. How would I ever continue my life of nomading when I was now in charge of a a screaming child that needed me 24-7? How would we sleep together on the flight? Eat together on the flight? How would I ever go to the bathroom? What should I pack?
I was the person who could fit two weeks of European winter clothing into one small carry on and whiz through the check in line. Now I was faced with the daunting task of taking piles of items that I was convinced I needed to successfully make it on our first flight.
Since then I have taken William on 37 flights before his second birthday and am good at adjusting my travel packing as he’s grown. We’ve even taken him to top museums around the world. Travel with him has become second nature. And I’ve realized less is more. But at the time, William was a 4 month old and I was a first time mom flying with my baby while in the midst of a global pandemic.
That first flight for William ended up being just me and him. While my husband had planned to travel with us, his work trip snarled our journey and I ended up being on my own. Luckily, I like travel and I am at ease in airports. But even still, I was a nervous wreck the entire time. We ended up making it successfully, learning along the way, and had a magical family vacation in Arizona. That trip when he was so small and happy may be one of my favorites of all time.
Along the past two years of travel with William we’ve had lots of trial and error. I’ve made lots of mistakes. But my mistakes can be your gain. You CAN do this, I promise! And rely on your mom tribe of friends for their tips! A lot of my early travel help and packing lists came from my sister in law. And remember - before your baby is two they are FREE to join you! Come on, book that trip now!
BEFORE THE JOURNEY
1 - Make sure your baby is added to your ticket. I prefer to call the airline when I book my flight to ensure he is listed with me. You can also call a few days before and also add him at the gate (but that takes a while and is kind of annoying).
2 - Make sure you have travel documents for your baby. We went ahead and got him a passport when he was first born, which I find to be the easiest. You can also use a birth certificate. I also recommend Global Entry for parents (and baby). This process to sign up is slightly time consuming but pays huge benefits for years to come and the $100 you will spend on 5 years of Global Entry includes TSA Pre check when traveling domestically. If a parent has Global Entry, their child can domestically travel with them to skip the line until they are 12. If traveling internationally, the child needs their own Global Entry.
3 - Book a place to stay that works for your new reality - a baby. A hotel or an Airbnb has different advantages. A hotel often has on-property amenities like a bar or restaurant that can make adult time easier during a snooze in the stroller - less jostling than getting out to a restaurant. We found for longer stays we prefer an Airbnb with a kitchen and laundry. When booking either, ask if they provide pack and plays or other baby cribs (one less thing to pack). We also like hotel rooms that have some separation (if possible) to give us some areas to talk/hang when William is asleep (balcony, suite room, second room etc).
WHAT TO PACK
ON THE PLANE AND DIAPER BAG/CARY ON LIST FOR INFANTS - 12 MONTHS
A Note on Bringing Strollers and Car Seats - When William was small, we would always bring the stroller, car seat and stroller bag with us to the gate. When you arrive at the gate you need to go to the gate agent to get a gate check tag for these items. You can also ask if there is an extra seat, and if so, you can put the baby in the car seat. If you think having him in the carseat is easier/more familiar go for it. If there isn’t an extra seat, your child will have to be on your lap. In this instance, we’ve found keeping William in the carrier for loading (and napping and as long as he can) was really helpful. When he was really little I don’t think the extra seat was of any use. But when he got older, an extra seat (with him sitting in the car seat) was awesome. We got a huge gate check bag from the Southwest Airlines ticket counter, but I would recommend buying one anywhere that is extra large. If you wanted to check these items at the counter all the way through, you can also zip in extra diapers and other items (coats etc) into the bag. We’ve used this hack often when we needed more space.
In Diaper Bag
I would suggest repacking your diaper bag the night before by the person who will likely be with the baby the most so you know where things actually are. We use the Land brand because it fits lots of things.
-Travel documents
-Milk/Bottles for baby - even when I was breast-feeding I had some powered formula handy so I had something to feed him in case we were in a pinch. Rules for taking breastmilk on airplanes in the US can be found here.
-Pacifiers (several, they will get lost). I like to travel with one WubbaNub because they are easier to find/grab and several other little ones.
-Several diapers, wipes and a diaper changing station
-Food/pouches if they are eating solids yet
-Simple blanket that can also be a nursing cover
-Burp cloths and bibs
-Dog poop bags (I use them for dirty diapers or soiled clothing) or you could also use ziplocks (but more expensive).
-Granola bars/snacks for mom and water bottle for mom (especially if breastfeeding).
-Small diaper creams
-Sanitizing wipes
-Small baby medicines
-Small baby thermometer
-Small baby sunscreen
-2 sets of spare clothing for baby, 1 set of spare clothing for mom (yes, I’ve been pooped on). If traveling during night hours I’ll do jammies too (and try to do some of their bedtime routine)
-Baby carrier. My favorite is the Happy Baby carrier. (I wish I had gotten the revolution, which also has forward facing options). We also like the Ergo Baby)
-crinkle books and toys. Some people find that they do best with NEW toys to keep their kids entertained. We found William likes to have his favorites.
-Portable fan (temp control is hard when traveling)
-Portable sound machine
-Carabiners to hook things to your bags that don’t fit when you take everything out and try to put it back in.
-Sweater/coat
IN YOUR SUITCASE
-2 outfits a day + PJ a day and 3 extra outfits.
-Baby monitor if you are in a setting you will use it. We love our Motorola Halo (that apparently they don’t make anymore. Here is one that is similar) (note - wifi at hotels sometimes isn’t as reliable for wifi-necessary apps to see your child. Bring the actual monitor if you have one)
-Weather appropriate items (coat, swimsuit etc)
-Additional toys if necessary (remember though, less is more and everything can become a toy)
-Extra diapers and wipes (though you can always buy them when you arrive).
-Pouches and Snacks (another thing you can buy when you arrive
-Pump and bottles (if breastfeeding and pumping)
-Bottles
-Pack and Play/travel crib and a sheet (often a place will provide the pack and play but not the sheet!)
-Burp cloths/blankets/bibs for nursing
-Stroller and car seat
-Sun hat
-Swim diapers (if going to a place with a pool/beach)
I’m sure this is just a starting point for helping you pack for your little one. But remember, less is more because you will have to move it all. We often would put William in the carrier and load all our stuff in the stroller to get it around town.
You CAN do this! I believe in you!
*PS - I’m not being paid anything to say any of this LOL! But I think I am required somehow to disclose somewhere the Amazon links provide a small commission if anyone actually buys anything. So this is me doing just that!
