7 Tips for Air Travel with Toddler

"What happened?"

Traveling with a baby under two lulled us into thinking we had a handle on this plane thing. So the baby just had her second birthday, what could possibly happen on our next trip? Well, We were wrong, and a lot of things can happen. When your baby turns two, everything changes.

First, and most apparent, your "baby travels for free card" gets revoked, and now the airlines see you and your baby the same; as a full-fare customer. However, while airline attendants will probably continue to ignore you, they will still smile at the baby. So you feel like you get your money's worth.

Second, your toddler has discovered that he/she has legs, and that no belt, seat, or parent's arms need confine them any more. They will see the plane as a magic place filled with exciting hiding places, new people to meet, and long aisles to run down. Don't worry! While it may seem intimidating, air travel with your toddler can still be pleasant if you know this tricks.

1. Alcohol. - No, kidding. While this is a tempting solution, you need all your wits about you to pull this off, so save the drink for landing. You will have earned that celebratory drink.

2. Pack a toddler activities bag. - Fill this bag with an Ipad, or books to capture your toddler's attention. Bring their favorite doll/blanket, and pack a wide variety of healthy snacks. Nothing keeps your toddler smiling like a mouth full of cheerios.

3. Don't stress if your baby protests. - You need to have your child fastened in a seatbelt or sitting in your lap during take-off, landing and turbulence. Even if your child screams, don't compromise on this basic safety issues. Kids cry, it's what they do. If someone on the plane gives you dirty looks because you're trying to keep your baby safe, throw some cheerios at them.

4. Feed your toddler during take-off and landing. - This will prevent any unpleasant ear sensations due to pressure changes. Cheerios and water works best for us.

5. You do have a responsibility to manage your child. - While it's natural for a kid to cry, it's not ok to let them do whatever they want. A majority of your time on the plane will be to enforce limits on your child's behavior. Kicking the seat? That's a no. Throwing cheerios? That's a no (unless it's at rude people). We never get embarrassed disciplining our child on a plane. It teaches our child important social norms, and also gives us something to do.

6. If possible, time your air travel during nap time. - While at the airport, I try my best to tire my toddler out. I play hide and seek, tag and run in circle games. My goal is to make my child drop right to sleep once they get to the plane. 

7. Lastly, lollipops. - If you're about to lose it, just pull out this magical creation and it will keep your kid busy for 20 minutes while you catch your breath.

Hopefully your child sleeps the entire flight, or stays captivated by that Princess Sophia episode on her Ipad. If they don't, just follow the above tips and remember that you have a celebratory adult beverage waiting for you on the other side. 

Baby Food on Plane Tips

Can you bring baby food on the plane?

Short answer: Yes.

Long Answer: Baby food and milk are exempt form TSA guidelines for gels, liquids and aerosols. The rules say you are allowed to bring enough baby food for the flight. The big caveat here is that the amount allowed is not specified, and a TSA agent having a bad day could make security difficult for you if you brought a lot of food. If this occurs, ask patiently for the TSA supervisor and make your case why this amount of food is necessary. This has never happened to us, and we bring food for at least two plane trips.

To supplement the prepared foods, take some whole fruits like bananas and avocados that are easy to mash up on the plane. We also bring a couple packs of Mum Mums. Mum Mums are the ultimate baby pacifier. If our baby is fussy, or doesn’t want to go into her car seat, we simply break off a bit of this snack and hand it to her. Gives us five minutes of tranquility where we can position baby however we wish. She’ll be a willing participant, which is heaven-sent when on a packed plane. 

mummums.com

TSA guidelines for further reading

Plane Tips (Air travel with infant)

Key takeaways:

1. Your baby can do no wrong. Don't let stares or weird looks upset you if baby cries or babbles or screams. Do your best to hush baby (Puffs or MumMums are heaven sent) but sometimes just getting up to walk the aisle with baby works too. 

2. Nurse or feed at takeoff and landing. JUST DO THIS. The constant swallowing means your baby will not get funky ear issues as we all do when flying. Our baby nursed for about 45 minutes in the early months, so that will buy you almost two hours of noise-free, worry-free travel. If you're not nursing, bottle feed right as plane is taking off. Don't jump the gun or you'll run out of milk and baby won't be hungry anymore. 

3. Don’t be ashamed to change the baby on the seat. Yes. We've done it twice because the line was too long and baby was full of poop and upset. Just put your diaper mat down, be fast and be cool. No one will even notice if you don't make a big deal. 

4. Airline staff can be your best friends. Introduce yourself when boarding. If you're nursing, tell them you will be doing so at takeoff and landing and will need water. Better yet, buy a big bottle of water at airport and bring it on the plane. You'll be thirsty as soon as you start nursing. Plus, you'll need all that water. Flying dehydrates you and baby. You should be chugging often. Have the flight attendants refill it for you. 

Now back to point #2 (its the most important) During takeoff and landing, nurse or feed your baby so that the pressure does not build up in her ears. If you don’t do this step you will have a very loud, crying baby on your hands. 

Speaking of crying, If your baby has a melt down, don’t feel bad. We're going to touch on this again because AnaLiza had a hard time with this. I couldn't care less if people stared. Your baby has the same right to be on that plane as every other passenger, and it’s reasonable to assume that babies will cry. If someone gives you a bad look, they are an asshole. It’s as simple as that. Do not be one of those parents that purchase free drinks for those that are nearby, you are simply enabling adult asshole behavior. If your baby starts to cry, soothe as best you can and remain calm. And if someone gives you that nasty glance, simply smile back and return your attention to what matters; your baby.

The United staff are some of the friendliest I’ve encountered (you will soon learn I am an United enthusiast, and for good reason). They have always given my wife extra bottles of water without being asked, and they always give us the warmest smiles (even when our baby has had meltdowns). These smiles go a long way when you feel the whole plane hates you. United also allows me to walk the aisles with the baby, and on most occasions have let us use the first class bathroom if the back lavatories are occupied. Continuing on that topic, if the back lavatories are occupied, don’t ask to use the front lavatories, just go.

Additional tips for international flights:

I would recommend purchasing a seat for your infant for any flights over 5 hours. You may get lucky with infants under 6 months, as they will sleep most of the time. However, it gets a lot more difficult as they start to become more mobile. It's also emotionally, mentally and physically draining to wrangle a squirming child for that length of time. If you are traveling with a partner/companion it is much easier and you may not need that extra seat.

If you are traveling with a child under 5 months, a baby carrier will allow you to be hands free.

-Michael and AnaLiza

Baby Passport Tips

While cute, baby passports are a real hassle to obtain. You will face two choices; 1, you will be giving up the better part of your Saturday to wait in line, or 2, you will be missing work for a few hours during the week, but with drastically shorter waits. At least this was the situation we faced at the passport office located in Cadman Plaza in Brooklyn. We opted for the latter option when we went on a Saturday and saw at least a three hour wait for passports.  Saturdays are best reserved for brunch and walks, so we left.

Three days later, our wait was only one hour. I recommend showing up 30 minutes before the passport office opens to minimize any wait. A few things to remember:

1. Have your passport photo of your baby in hand. Most passport offices do not offer this service, and you want to have everything ready to go if you're fortunate enough to be the first few in line. Any FedEx office or Kinko's location can provide these services. 

2. BOTH parents need to show up. If only one can go, the absent parent will need to fill out form DS-3053 and have it notarized prior.

3. Fill out the application beforehand. You'll have your hands full with baby and don't need to be filling out government paperwork. 

4. Bring backup. If only one parent can go, bring a friend to keep you company and help with baby. You may be there for a while, and shouldn't have to attempt this solo.

5. Do all of this at least a month prior to your trip. It takes a couple weeks for the passport to arrive

All information regarding your child's passport requirements can be found here..

Beach Tips

My wife grew up on the Texas coast, so when given an option on vacation thoughts, she's always going to say "somewhere with a beach." 

Here are some tips for a beach day:

1. BRING BABY SUNSCREEN AND USE IT OFTEN! We can't emphasize how important this is. Baby's skin is more sensitive than adults and can burn much quicker. Also important - a baby hat, a sheet to sit on and an umbrella (unless you're going to a beach club that has umbrellas). The outdoors can dehydrate baby. Bring a water bottle and sippy cup or baby bottle and offer it often. 

2. Bring at least two towels for baby, snacks/food/formula/your boobs, and toys. Plus, mama can use the towels to lean on when nursing or feeding.

3. Bring something to change baby into after you leave the beach. A sandy baby bum is uncomfortable for baby so don't get in the car with it. And change diaper before getting into car.

4. Guava Lotus pack and play. We bring this thing everywhere. Position is under the shade of the umbrella and enjoy!

5. And last but not least, figure out the shade situation before you arrive (whether it's your umbrella or the beach club umbrella) just figure it out beforehand so you're not standing there with an annoyed baby. They don't like sun in their eyes (at least ours didn't...ever) so make sure you plan ahead. 

Hotel Tips

I do a lot of advance work when booking hotels rooms when travelling with baby. If done correctly, your comfort level can be maximized while paying the least amount of money.

My first destination is Expedia.com. I like the reviews and you can get a sense for the level of service at any given hotel. If you see responses to reviews, positive reviews and best of all, positive reviews of people who have traveled with similarly aged children, you can feel better about your decisions.

I typically will book a hotel with a free cancellation policy. I like the flexibility this affords me. Also, when you become an Expedia VIP member, you get a lot of perks like discounts and travel points that you can put towards future travel for free stays.

Once booked, I always pop off a note to the hotel manager. I let them know I am traveling with an infant, and that I would prefer a room that is not noisy, and will not bother fellow hotel patrons should baby decide to be noisy. I also let them know I will need extra pillows and a crib, as well as multiple ice buckets (so my wife can store her breast milk).

Sending this note does two things. First, it’s considerate and eliminates the risk of not having a crib. Second, it almost always results in the hotel manager doing something special for my stay. Sometimes it’s a handwritten note in the room, other times it could be a room upgrade as the larger rooms are actually better from a noise reduction standpoint.

At the hotel, I always make it a point to find the housekeeper that is assigned to my floor. I give her a tip at the beginning of my stay and let her know that we have a baby with us, and that we would appreciate if she could give us a little TLC during our stay. I also let her know to double the amount of towels in our room daily (we go through a ton of towels when travelling with our baby). For the tip amount, I recommend $5-$10 for each day you’ll be there. Trust me, this small act pays big dividends. I also let her know the best time to clean the room.

And last but not least, we've found that the best way to bathe baby while traveling is on the counter where the sink is. Just lay a towel down on the counter by the sink, lay baby down (do not leave baby's side) and bathe away with baby wash and a cup. This is easier and safer than putting baby in the tub (at least under one year). Also, do not forget your baby wash (ours had eczema so we had to bring Cetaphil wash and lotion) but even if you're just using Johnson & Johnson, don't forget it. The hotel will not have it. 

-Michael and AnaLiza

Packing Tips

Ok...here's the deal. Packing sucks. It takes planning, thought and consideration about the places you'll be and what the weather will be like. ALWAYS check weather first so you know what you need to pack before you even get into this. 

Here's how we do it:

First Layer - Baby gets the smaller side of the suitcase. Roll outfits tight and put them in rows. Keep extra onesies/socks/bibs at the edge. 

Second Layer - This shows both my side and her side. Do the same on your side and roll your outfits tight. The second layer gets more rolled clothes and shoes. Then put baby and mama toiletries on baby side. 

Third Layer - This is where sweaters and any extra things go. In this case, I threw in a hoodie for me on her side and extra dress on my side. 

1. On trips longer than a week, baby gets his/her own bag. For trips less than a week, pack baby and one parent in one suitcase. In this case it's mom's bag because my clothes are smaller. You can do this. We promise. Do not overpack. Here's the trick...

Pack for baby what you pack for yourself (one outfit per day based on the weather + a couple extra onesies in case baby has an accident). If you're going somewhere cold, bring 2 sweaters that can be worn over a onesie + one jacket that baby can wear the whole time. This goes for the parent who is sharing the bag as well. 

2. Two pairs of baby shoes and two pairs for parent. And here's the trick...wear one pair, pack one pair. Typically, if we're going somewhere warm, I'll wear my running shoes, and pack a pair of sandals. If you want to pack shoes for going out, don't pack heels unless you're going to a wedding or something. If I have room, I generally will throw in an extra pair of nicer shoes but with a short, chunky heel I can walk in. If we're going somewhere cold, I'll wear my boots that go with everything, and pack the running shoes. 

3. And speaking of running...I HAVE to workout even while traveling. I pack one workout outfit and a couple extra tanks. I usually wash my sports bra in the hotel sink and let it dry.

4. Once you have outfits ready to pack, the trick is to roll them one by one and strategically place each garment side by side and tight into suitcase. If you're going somewhere warm, silk blouses and baby stuff rolls very very small. Be smart about it, and you can actually get quite a lot in. I also typically pack one pair of leggings, jeans, and then wear a pair of jeans on plane. Throw in some dresses and you're set for clothes. If going somewhere cold, the roll method gets tricky because sweaters are bulky. But you don't need a sweater for every day. Pack like your child and wear a sweater, and pack two. Cashmere rolls up nice and thin and keeps you warm. Invest in it. It's worth it.

5. Throw your undergarments and bathing suits (rolled of course) in the middle of the bag in the zippered area. You don't want them touching your shoes. 

6. Next up - Toiletries. One clear gallon size plastic baggie for mom and one for baby. Make sure everything is 3 ounces. Don't pack what you don't need. Most hotels have shampoo, conditioner, body wash or soap and lotion. So for you, just put your toothbrush, toothpaste, hairspray, deodorant, razor, face wash and face moisturizer (if you need SPF, get it there). And I add a small brush and curling iron. For baby, (again everything in 3 ounces) baby wash, moisturizer, boogie nose sucker, nail clippers, comb, and barrettes. 

7. Diaper bag - We have a FIlson backpack that we love, isn't too big, and Dad looks hot wearing it too. Here's what's always in our diaper bag:  

Diaper changing Kit - we have the Skip Hop Pronto Changing Station in Onyx (in it we put enough diapers to get you through the next 24 hours, wipes and diaper rash cream).

A little baggie of meds you typically use (ours has Mylicon, Baby Tylenol, Baby D drops, and Gripe Water).

An outfit change in plastic bag (in case of accident - change baby and put dirty clothes in plastic bag).  

A plastic bag of food and snacks with bibs & spoons. ( We like Happy Baby Organics and Plum Organics - great for travel. Just take what you need for the next 24 hours and get or make food when you arrive at destination).                                                                                                                                                              

Small toys for plane or car. Small is important here. Unless your baby has a particular stuffed animal that he can't live without, pack several SMALL toys. When you get to your destination, you can get creative and find more toys there like the empty bottles of body wash and the plastic ice bucket. Besides, you're not going to be in the room, you'll be wandering around strolling baby, so you don't need too many. Just bring the really good ones. But keep them SMALL.                                                                                  

Mom's (or one partner's) purse things - Sadly, my Chloe purse hasn't seen the light of day since Karina was born. This Filson bag has become my purse and I'm actually pretty ok with that. Which is why we say get a baby bag that you love, and that isn't actually a baby bag. Anyway, in the front pocket of the Filson I throw my small wallet, small makeup bag, keys, headphones and cell phone. Again, if you're going to a wedding or date night there, pack your small handbag in here but otherwise, leave it. You have a child now. Consolidate and wear the backpack. TIP - I wear my pashmina, which also acts a baby blanket/swaddle/cover-up for nursing. If it's super hot, roll it tight and toss it in the backpack. If your baby is already in a sleep sack or sleep suit...that goes in your partner's bag (c'mon we can't take everything)!

8. The Cooler Bag - Ah, the cooler bag. Luckily, my dad gave me his old fishing cooler bag, and it's actually kind of cool. This is where I pack my pump, pump parts, milk storage bags, Sharpie, pumping bra, bottles and bottle gear/nipples, a couple gallon size plastic bags, and one extra plastic bag (a good, thick one you get from grocery shopping). The reason for the plastic bag is because if you pump while you're away and have any extra milk (or even when you go out of town without baby)... it's  best to put the cold milk in a baggie of ice and then in the thicker plastic bag. Then roll it up and put it at the bottom of the bag to bring home. 

9. The Lotus Travel Crib (Guava Playard) - We tried a few others. This one is a little more costly but worth it. It's lighter, and not an eyesore. More on this in the Gear Section. 

10. Partner's bags - Anything else that doesn't fit, your partner should carry in these bags. If you're traveling alone (which I (AnaLiza) have a few times) you just have to remove things or purchase things there. Diapers and wipes should be purchased there. Just bring enough for 24 hours and get to a store when you arrive at your destination.

xo, AnaLiza

Booking and Airport Tips

Check-list for purchasing ticket and before you leave for the airport:

1. Print boarding passes - Yes, you can have boarding passés on phone as well but this helps for when you're going through security with baby. 

2. Make sure you entered your baby’s info. Even lap infants need to be registered. And will need their own boarding pass. 

3. Do not buy first class (unless you are rich).

4. Bring a couple twenty dollar bills ($20 can help you out of most airport related jams).

5. Refer to overnight baby packing checklist.

6. Check flight status (also prior to leaving house).

7. Make sure all non-milk related fluids and lotions are under 3oz.

8. Bring photocopies of your baby’s birth certificate (we have never been called upon to produce this, but I find it a best practice to always travel with a copy).

9. Once ticket is booked, call the airline and ask for a bulkhead or bassinet seat. Oftentimes you will not be charged for these premium seats. If they do try to charge you, push back a bit. United will not charge you for this.

Which Seat to Select:

Our first plane trip with Karina was to Austin, TX. I happen to be a member of United’s 1K club for frequent flyers, and this made the process a bit easier, and I was able to upgrade my wife and mother-in-law. I highly recommend joining a frequent flyer club. You will save on bag fees, be able to select seats farther in advance, and generally you are just treated better. Status still reigns supreme in the aviation industry (and it just feels good to be treated special… even if it’s only early boarding).

During the first few flights I used my stored up miles to bump us up to first class. While it’s a better experience for the parents to be in first class, the baby could care less. From 2-6 months baby will sleep as soundly in a tight economy seat as she would in a slightly larger first class seat. And it’s probably better not to be tempted with the free alcohol that first class gives you.

While I don’t think it’s necessary to book an additional ticket for your infant’s car seat, it does make the trip a whole lot easier, and a much better investment than a first class seat. What I do is try to find flight times that are typically not crowded. On the day of your flight some airlines (my experience is with United and JetBlue) will go out of their way to block off a seat next to you at no additional cost. For flights over 5 hours you may want to consider purchasing an extra seat for the carseat just to be safe. Waiting until day of is an inherently risky move.

If you do not purchase an extra seat, make sure to get a bulkhead aisle seat as you will need to change a lot of wet diapers, and you may need to get up to rock the baby.

How early to arrive:

You should arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight, which typically translates to 1.5 hours before your boarding time. We have flown a total of ten times with baby at the time of this blog post. My wife and I are very punctual people (when it comes to getting to airport), but we have never left the house at the planned upon time. Our new strategy is to shoot to leave 20 minutes before that time. This sort of works. We are still late, but we are early enough to avoid the anxiety that you may miss a flight.

Security:

Security is the trickiest, riskiest and most stressful part of the entire trip. Do yourself a favor and sign up for TSA-pre (click here for TSA website). The lines are shorter and you don’t have to take off your shoes. Trust me, taking off and putting on your shoes while juggling a stroller, baby and carry-ons is a feat where something will always go wrong. Also, DO NOT GET IN LINE AT SECURITY WITHOUT YOUR BOARDING PASS AND BABY BOARDING PASS. Yes, babies need their very own boarding pass too, so don't get to the front of the line and realize you don't have one. Trust us...we made this mistake once and it will never happen again. 

You are allowed to bring breast milk through security. Tell them before you go through so they know they can check it if they need to. You are also allowed to bring water if it's for the baby. If you mention that the water is for you, you will have to toss it. So remember, all liquids are for the baby (safe to say this strategy won’t work with soda). However, gels and lotions need to be under 3 oz. So purchase some travel containers prior to the trip. Otherwise you will be leaving some precious baby aids behind.

If you are traveling with your partner, simply task one person with the job of holding the baby, and the other to do everything else. Plan this before you get there. This division of labor minimizes the chance you will forget something as you put items on the belt and gather them on the other side. Stick to this routine every time and you won't even flinch. 

If you're traveling solo, ask for help. It is simply too much to fold your stroller, lift your carry-on and hold your baby all at the same time. The TSA is there to help. If they seem to ignore your requests, hold up the line and insist that they do. It is in their job description to help you.

Pro tips:

1. Make sure to put your infant’s blanket in the diaper bag during this time so that it doesn’t fall out of the stroller or touch that nasty belt as you put it through the xray machine. In our case, we use wife's Zara pashmina as blanket so it can double as a cover-up as well to nurse.

2. Put wallet, phone and all pocket items in one place - a purse or a stroller zip compartment. With so many balls in the air, it’s easy to forget something if you do not consolidate.

3. Do not rush on the other side of security. Gather all your things and take a mental inventory of everything that you brought with you.

-Michael and AnaLiza