I’m getting ready to take my son Jack on his first plane ride! His passport just arrived and I’ll be signing him up for NEXUS/Global Entry and TSA PreCheck later today.
Since I’ve never traveled with a baby before, I’m looking to compile—on one page—a big list of tips for traveling with a baby as a first-time parent. Add your tip in the comments (with how you’d like to be credited), and I’ll add it to the list. Thanks!
Share your tips for traveling with a baby in the comments below!
This was meant to be included in my original post:
http://www.dutchdutchgoose.com/
This is a shameless plug for my niece’s blog, Dutch Dutch Goose. She has some tips that might assist as Jack grows.
I depend on your blog for insights and help when traveling. Thank you for making travel easier for the rest of us!
I’m not a mom yet and I just peeped on this one to prepare myself for future ‘traveling mom’ duties. They are all quite insightful and helpful tips. The only one I can share (I witnessed this during a flight), carry a lot of toys, they really help to keep the baby busy and happy.
Hey Johnny,
It’s only a big deal if you make it one. Don’t stress. Realise that at times you may need to move at a slower pace. Oh and the Baby Bjorn travel crib is a must!
Go local. People all over the world have babies. There is no reason why a baby cannot travel.
Yes, bring your own paper towels and paper cups for this method of helping Jack’s ears. A flight attendant once showed us this trick on a flight, but the attendants are usually too busy to deal with this during take-off or landing. So bring extra liquid for this and for thirst. Also being extra sets of clothes, for both babies —and parents. On our first trip to Europe with a 4-month old, he had used up his entire wardrobe, and ours, before take-off. And we still had an 8-hour flight to go! Music also helps as well as familiar things from home. Most important, act as if flying with a baby is perfectly natural — and fun! Kids get stressed when parents are stressed. As a mom, I often flew with three kids under four. A sense of humour is key. Finally, don’t let any grumpy stink-eyes on the flights bother you. They were once babies too!
For very young lap children, nurse or give a bottle right after take off. The swallowing helps with “popping” the ears and may prevent screaming ear pain. Flight attendant trick: if baby or toddler is screaming early in the flight and it persists, ask for hot water soaked tissue in the bottom of a paper cup. Place them over the baby’s ear. The heated air may help equalize the ear pressure. For Older children, Most know Mufasa from Lion King. Have them give several huge Mufasa roars (opening their jaws widely may pop the ears). For toddlers on up: take New toys or crafts and be sure they are not in the overhead bin. Take night flights. Don’t forget “blankie” Consider getting Seats A and C, you might luck out and have more room, or an easy trade with the person “stuck in the middle” Beware of the isle seat. Baby’s leg or arm may slip over or under the arm rest and be mangled as the beverage cart goes down the aisle.
Always make sure to have an extra outfit in your carryon for both parents as well as the baby. Accidents happen! Enjoy!
If international, adjust your son’s schedule to the time zone you are in. My son went to Italy at 8 months, we adjusted his clock but kept the same routine and it was great. He had a really long nap on his way back. Also have a bottle for the take off and landing, don’t pop it in until they wheels leave the ground, no screaming kid and everyone enjoyed it.
Hi Johnny,
We have three kids and when they were very young we sometimes needed to travel by air. As you know, any time a plane ascends or descends, you can hear someone’s babies screaming in pain in the cabin. That’s because they can’t clear their ears the way some adults can. Nor can they chew gum the way some people advise adults to do, when their inner ears are blocked due to congestion or whatever. Other parenting guides will suggest giving the baby a sip of water. Well, I don’t know about their kids, but when a baby is screaming it is not interested in taking a sip of water.
We discovered a solution that so far has worked EVERY TIME. It’s to bring an eyedropper. When the baby cries and you think it’s due to the air pressure, simply use the dropper to put a couple of drops of water or whatever on the baby’s tongue. It is far too little to cause any choking, but is enough to trigger the swallowing reflex, and the swallowing in turn equalizes the pressure. Works like a charm.
If not traveling first class book a bulkhead seat. More room for extra little one. Not as suffocating and the flight attendants cater more to you as you are more in view.
check into Earplanes. They help with ear pain while flying. Adult and kid sizes are reusable!
Have saved me a few times!
My mom traveled with me in the womb and when I was a baby. All over the world, by herself, because my dad worked long hours in the shipping industry. And my mother’s family was across the Atlantic from South America. Here is the #1 tip: MAINTAIN A SENSE OF HUMOR. Your little guy is gonna barf/pee/poo/cry at the worst moment and definitely you want good smelling wipes and a change of clothes for him and you kept handy.