This post has been sponsored by Clorox®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Nick and I just got back from our first trip out of the country with Milo (his first plane ride, too) and we had SO much fun. We traveled to Jamaica for the wedding of a family friend and got to hang out with some of our best friends for 10 days. We spent most of our time relaxing by the pool or the beach with our little guy and eating some of the best food! It was the perfect little getaway and it seemed like an ideal time to travel with our baby. He turned 3 months old while we were gone and I think that’s a perfect age!
Before and during our trip, so many people were surprised that we would travel with such a young baby. Most people were incredibly kind, but I could see in their faces that they either thought we were incredibly brave or incredibly crazy. But in many ways, a 3-month-old is kind of a perfect travel companion. They sleep a lot, hardly cost anything extra, and make every special moment that much more special. They also seem to bring out the best in people, at least in our experience. Everyone at the airport, on the plane, at customs, etcs, were so kind to us and couldn’t help but stop and talk to our smiley guy. He LOVED the attention, too.
Traveling with a baby is not without its challenges, though. So Nick and I put together a couple of tips we learned on our first plane ride with baby to help make traveling with the little one a little bit easier.
Tips for Plane Travel with a Baby
1. Pack as Light as Possible
This is a great tip for travel in general, but it becomes even more important (and even more difficult) when traveling with a little one. When you have an entire extra person in tow, having too much luggage can make it a STRUGGLE to get through the airport. We had a hard time with this one. There are some areas where you don’t want to skimp. A carseat and a stroller were pretty much non-negotiable for us. Diapers? Also a necessity. You can buy them in Jamaica, but they cost more. We packed more than we needed, but the ones we used freed up space on the way home. Breast pump? Might need that too. For a baby as young as Milo, though, we didn’t really need entertainment (he thinks we’re funny enough). We didn’t pack toys and just made sure we had a couple pacifiers to soothe him on the plane. The biggest takeaway here is to really think through what you use all the time and think you might need while you’re away. We felt like we had way too much stuff on the way there but ended eliminating an entire bag on the way home by traveling with a soft bag that could collapse down. Next time, we’ll have a better idea of what to pack.
2. Carry Disinfecting Wipes
One of my biggest concerns in traveling with a little one was obviously germs. We packed a few Clorox® To Go Packs of disinfecting wipes from Walmart in our carry-ons and luggage so that we could combat germs on the go. I love that they are compact and can fit into pretty much any bag. They also kill 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, so I feel good about using them to disinfect surfaces (think changing tables in restrooms, tray tables on the plane, tables in the food court). We also used them to disinfect the stroller and carseat handles periodically. We know that we are likely to pass germs onto the little and we touch these handles CONSTANTLY. The wipes can be conveniently found in the travel section at Walmart so you can pick them up when you are grabbing all your last minute travel essentials before you head out. Anyone else do this? I ALWAYS make a trip to Walmart a few days before my trip to grab all my travel size essentials.
3. Carry Small Bills
Nick and I NEVER have cash on us. But traveling with a baby, it was incredibly handy to have a few small bills for tips. We rarely utilize curbside check in or luggage help at the airport or bellmen at hotels because we can handle our own stuff. But when you have a baby on your arms, it’s nice to be able to have some help. It’s worth the few extra dollars. Just be wary of who has your stuff. Also, it probably goes without saying, but keep your cash secure on your person, but still easy enough for you to get to.
4. Know Your Rights and Luggage Allowances
Airlines have specific policies and luggage allowances for traveling with a baby. In our case, Milo traveled as a lap infant and we only had to pay taxes and fees (which amounted to pretty much nothing). We also learned that we could check his baby items at no additional cost. We checked his carseat and a soft baby bag with all of his diapers (the bag we later collapsed down and put in another suitcase) for free. We were also allowed to take his stroller as an extra carry-on (it does not count as one of the parent’s carry-ons) so we could use it throughout the airport. We just checked it plane-side and felt like that worked out perfectly. We actually used a smaller, travel stroller (not the one pictured here). Then I had the diaper bag/backpack and a purse, and Nick carried a backpack + a camera bag with all of our gear. You can actually travel with A LOT extra when you are traveling with a baby. Just be mindful of how much you can comfortably manage. In my opinion, it’s not comfortable to travel with all of the allowances.
In addition to knowing luggage allowances, it’s good to know what rights you have as a passenger. The airline we flew with has a specific policy saying that mothers can nurse their little ones on flights with no questions asked. I felt better knowing that I could nurse Milo without feeling like I had to look over my shoulder. A passenger MIGHT say something but that wasn’t my experience. I did my best to be discreet, but no one who noticed seemed to care in the least.
5. Go With the Flow
One of the biggest lessons we learned on our trip is to simply go with the flow. Things will NOT go perfectly. Ever. We had a pretty easy trip, but there were still stressful times. I hate going through security on a good day, even though I feel like a bit of a pro (I’ve been traveling by plane for more than twenty years). Adding a baby to the mix obviously makes security a little more challenging. Milo cried through security on our way out of ATL. He was an angel on his first flight, but cried some on the way home. You know your baby’s habits, but you can’t predict or prevent everything. We just felt like it was important for us to take a deep breath and do our best to be patient and calm. I honestly do not feel bad at all about Milo crying. I feel bad for him, but that’s where it ends. I obviously don’t WANT to inconvenience others, but I do what I can to meet his needs and don’t feel like I need to apologize to those around me. Keeping a calm and cool demeanor helped Milo and helped others around us in how they perceived the situation. If you are calm, those around you are less likely to treat you as a nuisance.
What are some things you’ve learned about traveling with a little one? Do any of these tips work for you? Let me know in the comments below or take the conversation to Instagram.
