Tips for Flying with Baby

Ok buckle up for travel tips on flying alone with a baby. I’ve done 6 round trip flights already with my daughter who is 9.5 months old now. I started when she was 3 months. Each time has been a different configuration but I think I’ve dialed it in now.

My first flight I tried to gate check the stroller and it’s not worth the effort. I got frustrated trying to break it down alone and put the car seat in the protective bag while wearing my baby in the front. So if you want your stroller, get a cheap one and send it under the plane along with your car seat or there is a great app called BabyQuip that you can rent baby gear from locals.

I’m lucky because I go to visit my parents and they keep a car seat and stroller I can use that my nephew grew out of.

So for the airport, what I do is check my big bag and then I bring my small roller bag with my laptop and any other items I don’t trust to be checked. It can be heavy but there is always someone willing and they usually offer before I ask to lift it up into the compartment.

Next, I bring a backpack that I keep light. I just bought a new backpack that has a back strap to go over my suitcase handle so I can roll them together and not carry it which is soo much better on my shoulders since I’m already carrying the baby. I fill that mostly with baby items like a portable folding changing pad with about 3 diapers and a thinned out diaper wipes pack. So basically grab one you’ve already been using so it’s not as thick to pack. 

And then since my baby drinks formula, I pre-fill up 4-5 small 4oz bottles with formula so that when I get on the plane I can flip down a tray and fill a bottle with water from my water bottle and she’s good to go with a bottle for takeoff. You can do that with milk too. I actually found a nice little cooler that fits in my backpack so you could put in an ice pack and the milk there. I still use it to keep my bottles organized and easy to grab since they’re in their own compartment.

More things in the backpack are an extra change of clothes for the baby and a shirt for me just in case. And then a few little toys she can play with and chew on. I try not to bring the louder toys just to be kind to anyone around. 

The toy I bring out the most is two toys actually that I connected together with a silicone lanyard which makes it easier for me to hold on to since we all know most toys end up on the ground.

Following that logic I keep her binky on a lanyard as well and I clip it to a bib that I put on her. That way it’s not clipped to her clothes and I have something on hand to wipe her face with.

Next up is the carrier setup. I bought/got gifted a few different pouch carriers but the one I swear by is the Baby Bjorn Mini Carrier. This thing clips and unhooks from both sides, top to bottom making it a breeze to get her in and out of.

Then for extra support, I strap on my Tushbaby (Use code MAYA for a discount) to keep more weight off my shoulders. Altho if you have a baby like mine, she likes to lean forward if she’s facing out so that’s fun and still weight on me. Haha. Having the Tushbaby also gives you extra space for another couple diapers and wipes or a spare bottle or whatever you want to put in the pouch. It can get tricky to put back on after TSA while you’re wearing the baby and then don't forget to remember you have it when exiting the plane because I did almost forget it once. 

Going through TSA I have pre check which I highly recommend. It’s about $80 and good for 5 years. That way I don’t have to worry about taking anything out of my bag or taking off shoes and then I just walk through the metal detector with baby still strapped in the carrier. After TSA I go fill my water bottle and wait to board. Keeping the baby entertained and not trying to eat the seats or whatever is on the floor is the hardest part.

On the plane I try to give her a bottle on takeoff or at least have her binky in her mouth for her ears. I like to fly southwest so I can pick a seat and then if someone does come sit in the row, they know what they’re getting into and typically the middle seat is open unless it happens to be a full flight but it’s not usually. I used to take the aisle seat so I could get up and change her but now she’s better with less diaper changes and my flights are 2 hours max at a time. So now I’ve been doing window and letting her see out which she loves.

The bathroom scenario is not as bad as you’d think. The changing table folds down over the toilet which saves on room. If there’s a middle seat, I claim that as mine because a sleeping baby gets heavy in a small seat. They don’t let you keep them in the carrier during takeoff and landing for some odd reason even though that seems more secure than holding a child. But either way you can put them back in after. So sometimes I just nap her in that and then open it up and lay her down in the seat or on my legs after she’s asleep because that will kill your shoulders if they stay in it. If you can get them to sleep holding them in your arms, again, just try to lay them in the middle seat after or your arm will go numb. She will usually nap pretty easy just after takeoff. I think it’s the loud constant sound and maybe the heavy pressure going up. If they’re excited and bouncing around, try to see if toys help and just entertain them like you’d do at home, just on your lap in a small space. Haha.

Try not to worry about them being loud. People can get over it and if they didn’t bring headphones that’s on them. Also, bring yourself some noise cancelling headphones if it’s making you anxious at all. I find that shutting out all the noise around you is very calming and puts you in your own little world of just you and the baby and perhaps some of your old therapeutic loud music that you haven’t gotten to listen to in a while because you’ve been caught up in taking care of the baby at home. I throw that on and play with the baby and if she sleeps I’ll keep listening and play some solitaire. Easy peasy. I usually get off the plane calmer than I’ve been in weeks. Happy traveling mammas, you got this!

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