Living Her Vision

 Traveling can be stressful. Especially when flying.

Then, when you add a tiny human to the mix, it can be even more stressful.

When my son was 13 months old, we took our first major trip as a family of three. We traveled to New Orleans from Baltimore-Washington Airport.

Both my husband and I were nervous. We did not want to be the parents with the screaming baby on a plane.

But you know what? Babies cry, and it is not always at a time that is convenient for us. And in moments like that when there’s a screaming, inconsolable child, give the parents some grace. They already feel bad, so they don’t need the mean glares and rude comments.

So, we decided that we were not going to let the “what ifs” of flying with a baby stop us. We were going to be as prepared as possible.

If you plan on traveling with a toddler there are some things you can do to make it a smooth process.

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1.       Make a list

I know this may seem basic, but it helps, and should not be overlooked.

A few weeks before your trip, make a list of all the things your child will need for the entire trip. Then, decide what you actually need to bring. For example, since we were visiting family, I gave my cousin a list of food we would need for my son for the time we would be there. This allowed me to focus on only packing food for the airport and our departing flight.

2.       Pack extra

Bring extra clothes, diapers, and food in your carry-on. Things happen. You never know if your flight may be delayed or canceled, and you don’t want to be without food or clean clothes. Have you seen all the flight delays and cancellations horror stories on the news?

On our way back from New Orleans, our plane was held on the tarmac. We arrived at BWI, but due to another’s plane late arrival, we had to sit on the tarmac for an additional 45 minutes. This added an extra hour to our drive home. Thankfully, we had everything we needed.

3.       Take a direct flight

If possible, do a direct flight. Once you board the plane and get settled, you do not want to move again until you reach your destination. It can be disruptive for your child and can cause you added stress of having to rush to a connecting flight.

4.       Fly in the evening or at night

For our trip, we chose an evening flight that corresponded with our son’s bedtime. We wanted to limit disruptions and make sure that he had adequate sleep so that he was not cranky.

When you fly in the evening and at night, lights are usually turned off so that people can rest. This was the best environment for our son. On both our departing and returning flights, he was asleep within thirty minutes of takeoff.

This worked out well for our return flight when we were stuck on the tarmac. Our son slept through the additional time only waking up when we were going to pick up our car.

5.       Do Family Boarding

Check to see if the airline offers (free) family boarding. Family boarding allows families with kids under a certain age to preboard – usually after first and business class. This is a great perk because you can get boarded and settled before the other passengers are allowed on.

6.       Pick a good seat

I recommend either the front or the back and be sure that you’re close to a bathroom.

On our flights, we opted to sit a few rows from the back. We also realized that most families had this same thought as there were several babies and toddlers in the back rows. It felt comforting to know we all understood if they got fussy.

7.       Reduce air pressure ear pain

As adults, we’ve learned to anticipate the air pop that happens when a plane takes off. But for little ones, it can be uncomfortable and painful. To alleviate this, you can use headphones or make sure that they are chewing or drinking.

For our son, we bought noise-canceling headphones for him just for takeoff. Of course, he hated having them on and tried to take them off, so we had to hold them on his head.

8.       Bring entertainment

For the flight, we brought two of our son’s favorite toys and a new toy that we thought he would like in case he was bored with the old ones. We also downloaded several hours’ worth of baby songs and shows.

9.       Purchase a stroller cover

Another thing we purchased was this bright red gate-check stroller cover. When you travel on a plane, you know that the airlines do not care about your luggage. Bags and items can be easily damaged especially if you are checking bags.

Although we didn’t check any bags on this trip, we did gate-check our stroller. When we had our son, we invested in a good, sturdy stroller, so we did not want it to be damaged and be without it on our trip.

The stroller cover provided some protection and made it much easier to gate-check and identify it after our flight. The bonus was that it folded into a small carrying case that fits in a diaper bag.

10.   Read the airlines policy on bringing breastmilk and food

Most airlines have specific guidelines for food, so be sure to read the airline’s policy about breastmilk and food for children.

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Following all these tips, our first major trip as a family was successful. Elijah did amazing on both flights. The most stressful part of traveling ended up being going through airport security. Other than that, everything went well

If you have specific questions, contact me. Safe and happy travels!