I took several domestic trips alone with Olivia last year, and a trans continental trip on which Spencer accompanied me. I've had several friends ask me for advice about traveling with baby recently. So I don't forget, I'm writing a blog post about tips for traveling with baby.
Travel early and often: Between 4 months and 9 months seemed like the easiest time to travel (once the body was a bit solid, the poops less frequent, but while they were still happy being held in your lap.) In many ways, traveling with baby is EASIER than traveling without a baby. For one, on a trans-continental flight, you are likely to be offered the bulkhead seat. Much nicer than sitting with some guys' tray table in your lap for 14 hours. Better yet, you'll probably get a bassinet seat. There are other perks -- using the first class line in security. And don't forget that once your kid turns 2, you'll be plunking down $600 to get him or her across the country.
Minimize transfers: The hardest part of traveling solo with baby is dealing with the transfers. Getting up and down escalators or in and out of busses with baby AND luggage. Trips where you have someone meeting you on the other end are very doable. Getting a Eurail pass and backpacking across Europe will probably have to wait.
Play luggage roulette: It's much easier to check your bag in than to try to navigate through the airport with extra luggage.
Bringing the stroller/carseat to the gate?: The wheels are nice to have if you're traveling solo, it's nice to have a place to put the baby down when you use the lavatory or wash your hands while waiting for your flight (I have been luckly that I have never had a significantly delayed flight while traveling solo with Olivia.) But it is hassle to deal with luggage, baby, and stroller through security and boarding. After a couple trips, I started skipping the stroller and just using the soft carrier. If you are bringing stroller, the easiest thing to do is to also bring a Bjorn or other soft carrier and wear the baby through security while pushing the stroller (with your diaper bag in the stroller seat.) Now that Olivia is bigger, I will probably start bringing the stroller again.
What to bring on board:
Other travel thoughts:
Travel early and often: Between 4 months and 9 months seemed like the easiest time to travel (once the body was a bit solid, the poops less frequent, but while they were still happy being held in your lap.) In many ways, traveling with baby is EASIER than traveling without a baby. For one, on a trans-continental flight, you are likely to be offered the bulkhead seat. Much nicer than sitting with some guys' tray table in your lap for 14 hours. Better yet, you'll probably get a bassinet seat. There are other perks -- using the first class line in security. And don't forget that once your kid turns 2, you'll be plunking down $600 to get him or her across the country.
Minimize transfers: The hardest part of traveling solo with baby is dealing with the transfers. Getting up and down escalators or in and out of busses with baby AND luggage. Trips where you have someone meeting you on the other end are very doable. Getting a Eurail pass and backpacking across Europe will probably have to wait.
Play luggage roulette: It's much easier to check your bag in than to try to navigate through the airport with extra luggage.
Bringing the stroller/carseat to the gate?: The wheels are nice to have if you're traveling solo, it's nice to have a place to put the baby down when you use the lavatory or wash your hands while waiting for your flight (I have been luckly that I have never had a significantly delayed flight while traveling solo with Olivia.) But it is hassle to deal with luggage, baby, and stroller through security and boarding. After a couple trips, I started skipping the stroller and just using the soft carrier. If you are bringing stroller, the easiest thing to do is to also bring a Bjorn or other soft carrier and wear the baby through security while pushing the stroller (with your diaper bag in the stroller seat.) Now that Olivia is bigger, I will probably start bringing the stroller again.
What to bring on board:
- Bjorn or other soft carrier.
- 1.5-2x the number of diapers and wipes that you estimate you need for the flight.
- Plastic bags in which to dispose of used diapers
- 2 extra sets of clothing for child
- one extra set of clothes for yourself
- Water bottle (those plastic cups are an extra hassle with a baby in your lap.)
- A small bag to put under the seat which holds diapers and wipes.
- Herbal tea bags (you get dehydrated and cold nursing like I did)
Other travel thoughts:
- Wear clogs or slip off shoes
- If possible, don't carry a computer.
- As long as your baby carrier doesn't have metal buckles, you can wear it through the metal detector.
- If your baby needs changing within 10 minutes of boarding time, either wait to do it on the plane or discretely change the diaper at the gate (yeah, the other passengers don't want to see it, but I almost missed a flight because of a line at the changing station and a triple poop.)
- Nurse during takeoff and landing to prevent earaches for the baby.
- Aisle seats are easier than window
- Change the diapers in the bathroom, not at the seat. Yeah, we broke this rule on our first trip with Olivia, but we weren't wise to the ways of being parents yet.
1 comment:
I feel you are right .Traveling with baby is easier than traveling without baby. And gave some nice tips to be considered, while traveling with a baby. I would advise to use Icoo Pushchairs while traveling with a baby. As it is more convenient to use it and very much useful.
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