We are so lucky to have Lauren, a flight attendant and mom of 2 with us today for a guest post about traveling with kids on airplanes. Here are some of her top expert tips!
Don’t:
Overpack and do your best pack mule impression. Airports are big and require a lot of lengthy, fast paced walking. You already have your hands full with baby. Rethink the car seat, bulky gate check stroller, extra packs of diapers, and 30 toys. Getting that all on the plane will be a hassle you don’t need.
Change baby on the tray table. That space is meant for food not baby booty. There are changing tables in the lavatories.
Hand your pee or poop diapers to a crew member. All diapers, no matter their contents, must be placed by you in a lavatory garbage bin only.
Worry if baby gets fussy. It can make things more stressful, but it’s very common. Calm parents make for a calmer baby.
Forget the headphones or back up charger! While you may love the soundtrack to Cocomelon, shockingly enough, other passengers may not. Self awareness while entertaining baby can go a long way when traveling with little ones.
Get up with baby when the seatbelt sign is on. This could be much more dangerous than you realize. If you feel you have to, try to ring for a flight attendant and ask if it’s okay to get up for a diaper change, etc.
Let baby crawl on the ground or put mouth on plane furnishings. The amount of bacteria on an airplane is highly disturbing. Instead, play with baby in your seat, hold hands and walk the isle when safe, and always bring a teething toy.
Forget! They sell diapers wherever you’re going! No need for lugging bulky packs of diapers with you. Budget for getting what you need at your destination for the major convenience of carrying less.
Give baby airplane tap water. If you need a bottle warmed, use bottled water to mix with formula and warm the exterior or the bottle by placing it a cup of the hot tap water. You can take your chances with the water if you’d like, but for a baby’s new immune system, you might prefer to air on the side of caution.
Strap baby into your seatbelt with you. Truculence can push you against baby and seatbelt causing serious injury. Strap in and hold on to baby unless otherwise instructed by a flight attendant.
Leave baby in airplane bassinet during turbulence. They’re not magic bassinets.
Do:
Take extra clothes and wipes for everyone in case of blowouts or vomit. Also, take a couple garbage bags to put soiled items in.
Wear baby, if possible. Car seats are bulky and it’s one less thing to pay for and lug around.
Make sure you’re not accidentally in an exit row or directly before or after one, especially if you brought a car seat. The gate agent can reseat you before boarding, if you bring it to her attention.
Breastfeed, if possible, to save from the headache of carrying bottles through security and keeping them cold for travel.
Feed baby during take off and landing. This helps with ear block. Also bring saline solution for nose, just in case. And a thermometer, while you’re at it.
Bring a changing pad liner for the changing table in the lavatory. And travel size Lysol wipes to wipe surfaces before and after use. Plane bathrooms are full of cooties.
Try to clean up after you and baby as best you can. This is especially important after snack time. Some snacks get messy and cleaning piles of Cheerios out of airplane carpets, can delay boarding for the next group of passengers.
Take pictures of your little jet setter! Some children don’t get to travel ever. And your little one won’t remember their first flights anyway. Ask a flight attendant to snap a picture of your family’s first travels.
Thank you so much, Lauren, for all these tips! And to see more of her advice, check out our Ask the Expert podcast where I interview Lauren on YouTube: