This summer, we went on a family vacation. It was the first time my kids would all be flying by plane and also the first time that I would be traveling with a Baby! After having gone through it, I thought I would share my experience.
What Baby Gear Is Needed?
Car Seat
You will definitely need your Baby’s carseat. One of the things you will have to decide on is whether or not you will take it onto the plane with you. In my case, I opted not to take it on the plane, simply because it was a bulky item to have to carry through a narrow aisle. I simply held my Baby because I wanted to make sure that she felt safe and comfortable. Plus, if you have other kids, as I do, you might not want to have to deal with carrying it onto a plane, either. It’s just less to have to deal with. I would probably recommend on, for a long, International flight. Since our flight would not be more than 3 hours, we decided not to. We had it checked in, with our other luggage instead.
Stroller
I would definitely recommend taking your own Baby Stroller. It made traveling through the airport, so much easier, when carrying a Baby! Plus, your Baby is comfortable with their own familiar stroller. Most airlines will allow you to check one in with your luggage, with no extra charge, especially if it is part of the Baby Carseat combo.
Pack’n’Play
Due to Corona Virus and not wanting to expose my Baby to “bed bugs”, I decided to take our Pack-n-Play. I used this as a crib for our Baby to sleep in. It also converts into a play pen, which gave my Baby a clean, safe play area to play in. I did have to end up paying $50 for each flight, so check with your airline.
It was worth it for me because it made me feel more at ease. One of the benefits was that a Pack’n’Play lines up with the height of a bed, so I was able to roll over and check on her throughout the night. It also made her feel safe to be able to look up at me and know that I was right there. Being in a hotel room can off set a Baby because it is unfamiliar, but she did so well and slept through the night! You can see the picture below.
Have The Right Amenities
When choosing our room, we made sure that we had a refrigerator to store Baby foods and keep foods for the kids. It also came with a sink and dishwasher to help steam, wash and disinfect Baby bottles.
Our room had plenty of room from the door to the couch, which allowed for a play area for the kids and the Baby.
We absolutely loved this room and the space it provided our family!
We had a bed for the kids and a bed for us. Although I had brought the Pack’n’Play, I also brought a Baby Play Gym to allow for play time on the bed with Mom and Dad. I just didn’t feel comfortable placing her on the floor. When traveling, Hotel floors are super nasty, so as far as safety goes, my Husband or myself was always with the Baby if she was on the bed.
Getting a Rental Car?
You’ll already have your Baby’s car seat, but if you have more than one child, don’t bother paying for the rental of booster seats for your other kids. We purchased two booster chairs at Walmart, once we arrived at our destination. We paid $14 for each one, which was cheaper than renting! We were going to be charged $50 for each booster seat! So, save some money and just purchase your booster chairs when you land.
We just left them in the car, when we returned the rental, but perhaps donating them is also an option before departing. Another thing to remember is making sure that you measure your stroller before booking your car rental. We were able to determine the size of the vehicle that we needed, based on how much room the stroller took up, which included our luggage too. The last thing you want to find out, is that your stroller doesn’t fit in the trunk, so set a reminder and measure beforehand.
What Are the Cons?
Unless you are flying Internationally, there is not going to be much room on a plane. We made sure to book the very back seats. This made it easy for me to get up to go to the bathroom or change the Baby. If you are breastfeeding, it is doable, but not the most ideal situation. When bottle feeding, your Baby might feel a little uncomfortable, but in our case, we brought toys to distract her and she slept for most of the flight, both ways, which was great!
Due to Covid restrictions, we all had to wear a mask on the flight. It was awkward, but time goes by quickly.
There is not very much space underneath the seat in front of you, so make sure not to over pack your diaper bag or back pack. It has to fit under the seat in front of you.
Ask About Sky Cots
Some airlines offer a sky cot, which is a bassinet for Babies. They are limited and some airlines charge extra. I didn’t bother, plus, it made me feel more at ease that I was holding her in my arms, while she slept.
What Are the Pros?
There is always early boarding for passengers with babies, so make sure to listen for the boarding announcement. This helps when you need to get situated.
After getting off your flight, someone at the gate doors will get your stroller for you. It’s a plus to get around a busy airport, so make sure to take it!
Airports have breastfeeding stations for Mom and Baby, which is ideal!
Bathrooms are always equipped with changing stations and changing paper pads, but make sure to pack your own changing pad, just in case!
Baby Tips?
Make sure to keep a pacifier in your Baby’s mouth during the flight. This helps to reduce the pressure in the ears. Also, make sure your Baby is awake while the plane takes off and before it lands. This will also help reduce the pressure in your little one’s ears.
How Would I Rate My Experience?
Honestly, I would say that apart from having limited room on the flight, my experience was good. Just make sure to check with your airline and go on their website to double check. The extra perks offered to Parents are really accommodating. So don’t over stress! Enjoy your flight and live to tell about it!
