When it comes to traveling with a baby. It’s stressful enough making sure you have everything you need in order. Having a checklist in place will help you better prepare for traveling. Now add a baby to the equation and things become a bit more chaotic. It doesn’t have to be though, take it from me.
Since Xavi was born, we’ve traveled 4 Times already with a combination of at least 9 flights. I was nervous at first because you just don’t know how babies are going to react, and also feel bad for nearby passengers just because you just don’t know whether or not the baby is going to be chill or if you’re going to have a fussy one on hand!
Things to Check Off
Documents
Make sure you have all your traveling documents. The last thing you need is to be scrambling through your belongings. Have a separate pouch clipped to your purse or inside the diaper bag for easy access.
Depending on the airport, you might need more than one piece of identification for your baby, like a passport and birth certificate.
Extra Clothing
This is a must, between feedings and explosive diapers, have several extra white onesies on hand. They’re easy to dispose of while traveling. The last thing you need to pack away is a soiled onesie.
Diapers
Bring enough diapers to get you where you are going and an extra days worth. You can pick some up at the local grocery store. That way you can save extra room in your luggage for other things you need to pack.
Milk
Have extra breast milk on hand just because you might not be comfortable breastfeeding next to a passenger and the bathrooms aren’t really accommodating. If you’re not breastfeeding, have formula already prepared in bottles, that way you can just add water and go!
Disinfecting Wipes
Disinfecting wipes are a must! There are just so many germs on a plane. My husband and I literally go through a whole package wiping down the seats, armrests and folding trays. Babies like to touch everything!
Entertainment
Their are so many ways to stream entertainment. I have an iPad for my daughther and along with downloading movies, I also have some of her favorites downloaded from YouTube Kids. Depending on what mood you baby is in, bring along a couple of their favorite toys for comfor and even a book or two.
Baby Travel Gear
Carrier
Traveling through the airport I find it easier just to have her in my ErgoBaby Carrier. It’s so convenient just to have them attached to you.
Diaper Bag
I own a couple of diaper bags, and personally, I prefer the Backpack-Style. When you’re shuffling through an airport and bending over to grab things, it just makes life so much easier.
Travel Stroller
My advice for bringing a stroller on a trip is to invest in a travel stroller. If you have a nice stroller at home, keep it there. The airlines can be quite brutal when transferring your gear at check-in its not worth it. I know first hand because our car seat was damaged on one of our trips. Amazon has several good options to choose from.
Tips When Traveling
- If you’re going to be sharing a seat with your baby, make sure you have what you need within reach. It’s a bit challenging with space as you are holding your baby throughout your flight but it makes things a lot less complicated rather than grabbing a bottle or diapers from the overhead bin.
- Rent an Airbnb instead of a hotel. The convenience of having your own kitchen and laundry room is priceless. My husband and I always do this and it’s so nice to be able to stock up the fridge and warm-up milk when necessary.
- Cue your Mindset for Travel! It can be stressful at times but breathe through it and take your time. Give yourself an ample start to arriving at the airport so you don’t have to rush the process. Also, people may give you the “Oh No, she’s got a baby” Look… Remember to ignore them. They were once there themselves or maybe in the future. Make your trip a memorable one!
Good Luck Mamas with your traveling Ventures!
