Flying with a baby

By the time Linden was four months old, he had been on six flights. Two domestic flights (Vancouver to Saskatoon) and four International Flights (Vancouver to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to Venice and Venice to Montreal, Montreal to Vancouver). We love traveling and wanted to introduce Linden to the wonderful world of traveling as soon as possible. So, the same day as his three-month birthday we had booked a long trip from Vancouver to Venice. It was a 9-hour flight direct to Frankfurt and then another one-and-a-half-hour flight from Frankfurt to Venice. We were so excited about our vacation and enjoying our family time in Venice that I totally forgot to stress about taking Linden on his first plane right. A week before the trip, my anxiety started to kick-in… Especially when people started saying “you’re so brave, taking a three-month-old on a long flight”. Was this brave? Or was it stupid? I guess only time would tell. So, I read everything I could find on tips for flying with a baby. Some helped, some were silly, but some were helpful. Therefore, here is my list of suggestions and tips for flying with a baby.  

Seat Location  

If there’s one very important thing to consider when booking your first flight with a baby, try to keep in mind where you are sitting. Firstly, for a long haul flight, see if you can upgrade to premium economy. Yes, it may cost you more, but the extra space you are given is well worth it, especially if you are not planning on purchasing a seat for your baby/infant. Most airlines have a policy that you do not need to purchase a seat for any children under the age of 2. Therefore, the extra room is certainly helpful. An extra bonus, on a long flight, try and book the bulkhead seats. Yes, there is very little room above your seats for storage, but you will get so much more legroom and with a baby in your lap the more room, the better. Also, some bulkhead rows have the bassinet attachment. This is AMAZING! For our longer flight from Vancouver to Frankfurt we flew Lufthansa (this was the airline that treated us the best with the baby. They went out of their way to make sure we had a great experience every step of the way, for our first flight this REALLY relaxed us and had us feeling much better about the whole experience). On this flight, we had book the bulkhead row with a bassinet attachment. Although he didn’t sleep in the bassinet (see picture below, ha!), we were able to put him down to get some much-needed arm resting from holding our heavy 3-month old (he was already 15 pounds at this point, ha!). Another thing to consider when booking your seats is to find out where the change tables were. I just (silly of me) assumed that each washroom on an aircraft has a changing table, this is not the case! There are only change tables in some of the washrooms so try and book your seats as close to this as possible so that when those “seatbelt lights” turn off you can quickly get up and go to the washroom as soon as possible. Oh, one last thing… let’s talk about first-class seats. Our flight home from Montreal to Vancouver was on my 29th birthday. Kevin called ahead without me knowing and upgraded our seats to first class. Such a nice gift and treat (especially since Linden hadn’t been sleeping the last few nights on our trip and so the extra relaxation was going to be greatly appreciated). So, what was it like to fly first-class with a baby… well, let me tell you. Firstly, be prepared to get A LOT of dirty looks from other people in first-class. We definitely felt a lot more welcome in economy. Lots of smiles and people waving to our baby. First-class was a completely different experience. You could smell the anger in the seats as we walked by and could read their expression of “that baby better not cry” in their minds. The second thing was, if flying with a couple, the seats ARE NOT close together, and I mean NOT AT ALL. We had worked out this great system between Kevin and me with the baby and us sitting together. Kevin would put out his tray and we would share food, one would hold the baby while the other one would go to the washroom, etc. First-class although amazingly luxurious does make co-parenting on the plane very difficult. So, here’s my take… if you are flying alone and can deal with people staring at you, then definitely go with first-class. The laydown seats are amazing for cuddling with your little baby and there is tons of room on the side to have your own tray tables with food and beverage (something there is no room for in economy or premium economy). This was the only situation where it made it possible to watch a movie on the plane as there was adequate space and Linden was so comfortable laying on me in any position he wanted instead of being squished. Also, a huge benefit is that you can use the first-class washroom meaningless people and fewer lines (so you can change the baby quickly). So although luxurious, I don’t think I would do it again with a baby. I felt like it was a little too hoity-toity for me with a baby and I received to many dirty looks. I was anxious the whole time that Linden might cry and people would hate me. I think with a baby, being in an economy is the best place for me. Another important thing to note is that a baby is not allowed to be in the exit rows (ever)! My parents were on our return flight from Saskatoon and had booked the exit row. They wanted to hold Linden and play for a bit but were told that no babies were allowed in that row (which makes total sense). Just to keep in mind if you are traveling with others. 

Clothing  

Pack EXTRA clothing (for you and your baby). Nothing worse than sitting on a flight in soiled (poop, pee, spit-up) clothing for hours. Also, pack clothing that can be put on and removed easily. Planes tend to be hot, then cold, then hot again. Putting your baby and yourself in layers that can be easily removed and added makes for an easy quick change in a pinch. Chances are you will be warmer on the plane as holding a baby for 10+ hours can get very hot very quickly. I personally loved wearing my H&M Mama Tanks! They are my go-to. Nice and light and quick and easy snap on and snap off for easy feeding.  

Change pad/change caddy  

Personally, this item is a MUST for me (check out my must-have, baby blog post for more of my favorite baby items. For traveling this is amazing. There are multiple reasons why this changing pad is great. Firstly, I don’t know how often the change tables on a plane are cleaned and/or sanitized and what has been done on them and therefore I feel a lot cleaner with Linden being placed on my own change pad to change him rather than directly on the changing table. It is also softer and warmer which can help him feel more comfortable on the table. Please keep in mind that the change tables are VERY small in the already cramped washroom of the plane so you will have to be creative when changing your baby if they are bigger. Linden’s legs were often in frog shape and used some very clever yoga moves to get his diaper and sleeper on and off. Another reason this change caddy is great when traveling is that you don’t have to bring the whole diaper bag with you to the washroom (again, there is a big lack of space). You can have the changing caddy stocked up with diapers, wipes, Vaseline, cream, and anything else you may need without having to bring your whole arsenal of items. The pad can also be clipped right to your arm so that you can keep your hands free for you baby in one arm and opening the door, getting the pad out, etc. in the other hand.  

Gate Checking  

We loved traveling with our Uppababy Vista Stroller and Mesa Car Seat because it allowed us to travel with the only item (broken down into 2 parts) and allowed us to gate check. This was super convenient so we could stroll Linden around the airport without carrying him the whole time and put our bags and other personal items in the large storage compartment underneath. By gate-checking the stroller we were able to have the stroller available to us right until we boarded the plane and with us right after we landed from the plane. It also made our car seat easily accessible when we got transport from the airport to our hotels/homes. Please keep in mind that when you go through security you do need to hold your baby instead of keeping them in the stroller and they will check the stroller separately. This is where having two people traveling with you will come in handy. That being said, there was one time when Kevin had to go to secondary clearance and security was more than helpful by allowing me to walk through with Linden and they pushed the stroller and my items through for me.   

Traveling with two adults  

I was very fortunate to have Kevin travel with me on all of our flights making things much smoother. If I had to use the washroom, Kevin could hold Linden while I used the washroom. One could hold the baby while the other one ate, etc. That being said, I think that I would feel comfortable traveling on my own with a few changes. I would definitely pack a lot lighter if it was just the two of us. I would bring just my Fawn Diaper Bag and the Skip Hop Jump Change Caddy with a stroller and no carry-on. The Diaper bag can be worn like a backpack and I could clip the change caddy to the diaper bag for ease. I would not bring a carry-on because it would be too much for one person. Asking for help would be crucial and taking people upon it. Especially the flight attendants. They ALWAYS offered to help and if I was traveling alone I would definitely have asked for their help. Having two adults makes this a breeze, but I don’t think traveling solo with the baby would be impossible. On our flight from Montreal to Vancouver, Kevin slept most of the time so it was super easy for me to have Linden on my own (especially since I didn’t have to use the washroom during the flight and he didn’t need to be changed).  

Nursing 

If you are nursing your baby, it is so easy on the plane and makes it a lot more convenient. No need for bottle warmers, sterilized bottles, clean water, etc. etc. Simply nurse your baby on the plane when needed. The best part of nursing on the plane is it is super comforting for your baby. This kept Linden comfortable and happy on all 6 of his plane rides and it actually terrifies me to stop nursing and take our first plane ride without it! We had heard that nursing (or having a baby suck on a soother) can help them to not notice their ears popping and it really worked for us. One of our flights, Linden’s ears really began to bug him and as soon as he started nursing he totally forgot, it was a complete lifesaver! 

Baby’s age  

I think flying with a baby at an early age is great to not only get them used to it but to also get you more comfortable with it. Getting that plane anxiety dealt with nice and early and on our own terms was great so there wasn’t a long date in the future that we were dreading flying. The first two sets of times we flew Linden had not yet been on a sleep schedule and pretty much-slept majority of the flight (which was amazing!). He was comfortable and cozy in our arms. The last flights we took he was on a sleep schedule so we tried our best to plan for his nap to be on the plane and it pretty much worked out. If your baby is on a schedule try your best to work around that, it will be more comfortable for you and them and help acclimate them to travel a little easier. If you miss a nap or your timing runs off, no problem, you can always get back on schedule. 

Preparing for bed  

We found preparing Linden for bed was wonderful for the plane. We would pretty much do a makeshift version of his bedtime routine right before getting on the plane. For arrival at the airport and going through security, I would have him in regular clothes like it was awake and playtime. Once we were very close to boarding the plane (with about 10 minutes to go) I would go to the washroom and change his diaper, and then put on his sleeper. I would then bring him on the plane and put the nursing cover on and nurse him to sleep (something I do not do at home). If he was having trouble falling asleep, I would take my portable sound machine and put it quietly under my nursing cover and rock him until he slept. On our long haul flights, I even put him in his sleep sack so that it gave him a hint it was time for bed. This worked really well for us. 

Nursing cover  

Not only is this amazing for nursing on the plane but it did double duty as a little darkroom for Linden. We found that as he got older the plane became much more exciting and entertaining for him. He would look around at everything including every person who walked by. This made him not want to fall asleep because he did not want to miss out on the action. So I would put him under the nursing cover so it was nice and dark for him and he would fall asleep in my arms not knowing the “exciting” things that were going on around him. 

Take advantage of priority situations  

I do not know if this is a guarantee or just something nice that they try to do with airlines and at the airport, but definitely, take advantage of priority situations. Traveling with a baby can be stressful, especially if things take longer than expected and you get an overtired baby (this happened to us once and was horrible). So, take advantage of the perks of having a baby. Ask if you can go into the priority line at check-in, ask if you can go in the priority line at security, and take advantage of early boarding on the plane (you definitely need this, it takes a lot longer to settle on the plane with a little one). The worst that could happen is that they could say no, the best that could happen is your life is made a whole lot easier! 

Longer flights

I found the most stressful part of traveling with Linden was being at the airport itself. Going through security and checking in. The plane was always pretty easier for us. Boarding can be very stressful and also trying to catch a connecting flight. Therefore if you are booking a long-distance flight, my suggestion would be to book a longer direct flight over a shorter flight broken up into connecting flights. 

Be flexible and throw schedules out the window  

Unlike a road trip (see my traveling with a baby blog), you can not decide when you want the plane to take off or if there are any delays. Therefore, throw your schedules out the window and throw those “good habits” away too. It is only temporary. Even if you never feed your baby to sleep or let them fall asleep on you, this is the perfect situation to break the rules. Change your nap schedule, do whatever it takes to make your baby happy. A sleeping baby on a plane makes things so much easier and less stressful. You can always get on track later and spoiling your baby a little more than normal is a nice treat for both of you! 

Pack everything, but pack light  

This is the same tip I have in my traveling with a baby blog. Pack everything you will need and them some including double the amount of diapers and clothes you think you may need. But don’t pack any non-essentials. The space on a plane is tight and it's just more for you to lug around. You don’t need all those extra toys, your Ipad, magazines… you’re gonna be taking care of a baby all flight and likely won't be able to read or watch a movie so make your life easier and just don’t bring what you don’t need. If you can, have everything in one bag and wear that bag as a backpack so you can have your baby in your arms and the bag on your back. I love my Fawn Diaper Bag and have brought it with me on every trip. I also have my eye on this Baby K’ Tan Weekender Diaper Bag (hint hint Kevin… Christmas is coming!). On the plane, it’s also a great idea to pack anything you MIGHT need for the baby. We brought baby Tylenol, gripe water, a thermometer, Polysporin, Vaseline, diaper rash cream and anything we thought we COULD need. I packed everything in a small first aid bag and would pull it out at security and tell security all liquids were for the baby. They never gave us a hard time about it and always said it was fine, but I was fully prepared that they might make me throw it out. I never had to use anything but it was nice to know that if I needed it, I had it on hand.

Bringing formula and milk  

Each time we have traveled Linden has always been exclusively breastfed but I did pack emergency ready to feed formula in my diaper bag. Since it was sealed and brand new I never had any problems with going through security or boarding the plane with it. Just make sure you let security know it is in your bag before having your bags scanned. I have heard that it is also fine to bring pumped breastmilk on the plane with you, but since I haven’t done this myself, I would call to double-check the policies and procedures for this. 

Ask for help if you need it  

When you are traveling with a baby, ask for help when you need it. We had people more than willing to lend a hand when needed. There were times when Kevin was carrying our bags and I was holding Linden and going through security (you cannot push the baby in the stroller through security) and the officers pushed the stroller through for us. There were many times where people offered to help us with our bags and flight attendants who offered to hold the baby while I went to the washroom. Having a baby can bring out the bad in strangers but it can also bring out the kindness in strangers as well, so don’t be timid and ask for help if you need it. 

Expect the unexpected (and prepare for that)

There is a chance that something could not go according to plan. This happened to us many times on our travels. Specifically, the following 3 experiences stick out in my mind. 

1. Before boarding our first flight with Linden ever, we thought it would be an adorable idea to dress him as a little pilot (see image at the top of this post). Before we boarded the plane Linden had the BIGGEST blowout I’ve ever seen. Through the diaper, clothes, and all the way onto our car seat. This was before even going through security… So there we were already nervous about our first flight with our baby and we were washing him in the sink and trying our best to clean our car seat with paper towels before a 16-hour flight… it was definitely not the ideal start to our trip. So we made a quick decision. We weren’t going to fly with a soaking wet and washed outfit for 16 hours so instead… we threw out it. He wore the outfit for maybe 30 minutes and we got behind schedule with the washroom incident, but oh well, that’s the way things go.

2. Linden still had very short wake windows when we were on our first flight (around 1.5 hours - 2 hours max). On the first flight, he was very excited and happy… so excited in fact that we could NOT get him to sleep or relax he just wanted to see everything… so much so that he was up for 4 hours straight and we were starting to worry that we were going to have a very overtired baby who would freak out on the plane. We were getting very anxious and trying everything to get him to sleep. We had the bulkhead rows and the flight attendants had installed the bassinet in front of us for Linden to sleep. That was a no-go (see picture below). So Kevin and I took turns rocking him and trying to get him to relax. Eventually, one of the 5 times I tried to nurse him, he latched, nursed and fell asleep in my arms… for like 3-4 hours straight… it was the longest he had ever slept straight before, it was wonderful. I finally got a chance to watch a movie (the first time in a long time) and all that nervousness and freaking out was for nothing.

3. OK, so this one was our worst experience. When we went to check-in for our flights home from Venice it was a disaster… the representative at the customer service desk was not knowledgeable at her job. It took us almost an hour to check-in to our flights which put us way behind schedule and had me standing with a crying baby who had wet his diaper and was very unhappy (I wasn’t able to leave the desk because she needed me there for check-in). It was horrible. He became overtired and didn’t just cry but screamed and cried the entire way through security and boarding. I felt so horrible for him (and everyone around us). It was emotionally draining and I felt awful for Linden because all I wanted to do was nurse him to happiness and I couldn’t because we were going to miss the plane. It was not a great experience and to be honest if that had happened on our flight to Venice… I would have thought flying with him was a huge mistake and it would have put a damper on our trip but guess what… everything was fine. Babies cry, plans don’t always work out and sometimes your that crazy mom running around “shhh" ing your baby to no avail. But, that’s being a parent and those things happen. Would I do anything differently next time? Nope, I would just be more relaxed and say “It happens”.