Tips on traveling with a baby

Traveling with a baby or toddler can be a very rewarding experience. It can also be very stressful. Before the age of 1 our baby has been on 2 plane trips and 2 road trips. Here are a few ideas to make the trip easier for them and you as well.

Toys

Bringing toys is a must but traveling through airports and hotels can make them covered in germs. I would recommend making sure the ones that you pack are washable. There are even books called Indestructible that are washable. Also pick up some pacifier wipes which can also be used to wipe down toys while still safe for babies.

Disposable place mats

While I don’t love buying more plastic these are a good exception. The place mats attach to surfaces with a double stick tape. These mats are great for eating out in restaurants, providing a clean non toxic surface to eat but also the designs can keep them occupied while you wait for your food. We also were able to use them in out hotel room and on the plane. Putting these on our tray table while up and in the down position gave our babe something clean to look at and touch.

Floor time/play time at the airport

Give yourselves enough time at the airport to let your babies have some play time at the gate before being stuck in a seat. Bring a thin blanket for some tummy time, reading books on the ground, or playing with cars.

Letting your kids be kids before getting on a plane can make a big difference in their attitude and helps avoid meltdowns. Just make sure to wash their hands afterwards and put the blanket in the dirty pile.

Put kids on the plane at the last moment

I know we all want to get on the plane as soon as we can. I mean we are literally sitting there waiting to be let on. If you are traveling with children under 2 you can board the plane in the first group so that you have time to get things settled before everyone else gets on. Unfortunately that also means that they are sitting on the plane for sometimes an extra 30 minutes.

If you are traveling with another adult have one person board the plane first with all the bags and the stroller and car seat. The second person should stay with the baby and get on the plane with the last group. While the first person boards the plane they can organize all the bags, sanitize everything, and install the car seat if you are using it during the flight.

For a walking toddler having the extra time and space at the gate before boarding means they can get their energy out. Hopefully with the burnt off energy they can sleep peacefully for most of the flight. For a less mobile baby this is a good time for some floor time while everyone else is in line. Don’t forget to do diaper changes or potty time during this time as well.

Feed or give water during take off and landing.

Most people probably know this already but in case you don’t. A baby’s little ears can have a hard time adjusting to the pressure change take off and landing. Swallowing helps relieve that pressure.

Stroller and car seat drop off at gate.

If you are not using your baby car seat on the plane drop it off along with your stroller at the gate check. We have a travel system that has the car seat that attaches to the stroller frame so that’s what we used around the airport.

You can purchase bags or covers for your strollers and car seats but we personally didn’t feel like we needed too. Some stroller companies will replace the stroller if it gets damaged but only if you use the cover.

Also remember that you will most likely need to put the stroller and car seat through the xray at security.

Don’t pack too many diapers

If you can buy a pack of diapers at your destination or ship them to your destination I would highly recommend that. They take up so much room in your suitcase. If you are traveling to a new location double check to make sure there is a store close by.

If you are using cloth diapers check out my post on traveling with cloth diapers. https://lilyofthehomestead.com/elimination-communication-and-cloth-diapering-while-traveling/

Check with hotel about bathtubs and cribs

Be prepared for bath time by knowing what to expect. Don’t trust the pictures of hotel rooms. Make sure to call the hotel to talk about what you might need. If your child needs a bathtub have the hotel put that in their notes.

Most major hotels have cribs or playpens for babies to sleep. Make sure you ask about the size if you are bringing accessories for it (see below).

Crib sheets and blankets

To help your baby sleep well and feel more at home bring some items from their bed. How well they sleep will have a big impact on everyone’s mood.

Before bringing a crib sheet make sure you check with the hotel for what size crib they have. The hotels usually have a smaller crib than you might have at home. Having a wrong size sheet could be a safety concern. If that is the case you might want to purchase a crib sheet that size before the trip and wash it with the rest of your baby’s laundry, maybe sleep with it a couple night also, so that it has a familiar smell.

If they are old enough to sleep with a blanket or lovey don’t forget to bring them.

Blackout tent or curtains

A blackout tent for a play pen or small crib has been very helpful for us to keep the sleep environment dark for naps. It also prevents too early mornings by babies not waking up as soon as the sun rises.

We have not tried the portable blackout curtains but that could be another great option. Some attach by suction cups to the windows and are easy to put up or down.

Breastfeeding cover/highchair cover

If you don’t normally use a breast feeding cover, you might consider bringing one anyway to keep the baby from getting too distracted while eating. Airports, restaurants, even other people’s houses can be too distracting. Another use for it is as a highchair cover.

Laundry

Find out if where you are staying has a laundry room for guests. Doing laundry may not be something you want to do on vacation but the benefit to doing it is less clothes to pack and less dirty clothes to bring back.

If they have a laundry detergent that you can use but your baby needs a specific brand don’t forget to pack it as well. My new favorite brand is a fragrance free detergent that is sold as thin sheets. It is so much easier to pack since it takes so little space and you don’t have to worry about spills.

Feed in Stroller

You may not always have a highchair available. I have found that my baby eats very well in a fully upright sitting position in a stroller. The tray table included in the stroller is easy to wash, especially since it is removable.

Travel size bottle Cleaning brush.

I thought I wouldn’t NEED it since we only bottle feed a couple times a day, but cleaning it with washcloths was just too difficult and I don’t think it gets as clean.

I have seen some great little travel size brushes on Amazon, but you can also pack a regular one too. While you are at it don’t forget your favorite dishwashing or bottle washing detergent. I use a plant based dishwashing detergent for all my dishes so I used that for my bottles and pump parts as well.

Carrier or wrap

Having a hands free carrier makes traveling a lot easier. We use it at the airport and on the plane. My baby loved to sleep in it so it was nice to use on the plane but not during take off and landing as some airlines don’t permit it. I also brought it with me if we were out past her bedtime so she could sleep in it when a stroller was not possible.

The backpack carrier was a must have when we had a trip that included hiking but we have also used a wrap when she was younger. The style of the carrier is a personal choice, but make sure you practice wearing it before the trip for both you and your baby.

Happy travels!

I hope these tips were helpful. Comment below if you have more tips!