Family vacations: 5 steps to make flying with an infant easy

By Benjamin Berman

Since my daughter was born 15 months ago, she has been on 18 flights, including family vacations from our home in Chicago to both coasts. Needless to say, my wife and I have learned quite a bit about how to travel with an infant. Hopefully, the lessons we learned from both our mistakes and successes will help make your travels with your bundle of joy a little easier.

Okay, so I broke it down in to 5 steps, taking you from booking your flight all the way through traveling. Let us begin…

Step 1. Booking a flight.

If you can, pick light travel days to start and end your family vacation! (See Jim Cohn’s blog on Flying with kids during the busy holiday season). And, most important, travel during your baby’s nap time. It doesn’t matter if it is a short flight or a long flight. If you have a child under one, travel during nap time. Do I need to say it again? The longer your baby is asleep in the air, the easier your flight experience will be. Think about the times your baby takes a nap before you purchase airline tickets. Of course we all look at the prices first, but my wife and I do our best to pick flights between 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m., as my daughter naps during these blocks of time.

If you don’t follow this one, and you choose to take the first flight out in the morning after your baby wakes up, or the little tike sleeps on the way to the airport, you’re making life much more difficult on the plane for yourself, your baby and your fellow passengers. Wouldn’t you rather be able to read a book, listen to music, and relax on theplane rather than dealing with a fussy baby? By the way, notice I said nap time, not bedtime. Those late-night flights may be cheaper, but spend a couple extra bucks and avoid the headache of waking a sleeping baby at 11 p.m. in an airport and having to deal with all that comes with waking a sleeping baby.

Step 2.  Time to Pack.

Ok, we all are packing light these days to try and avoid the extra costs of checking luggage. I get it, but, don’t pack too light with those carry-ons. Bring a blanket or two, some favorite toys, books, and plenty of milk and/or juice. In fact, my daughter really likes her adorable “puppy pillow” for travel, which comes in handy throughout our trips when she wants to put her head down on the plane or in the hotel. If your baby is old enough to eat “real” food, bring plenty of snacks too. My wifeand I use blankets not only to keep our baby warm and comfortable during the flight, but also as a makeshift play area. We usually bring a second blanket (germs everywhere in airport!) to lay on the ground at the gate with some toys and let our daughter have a little play time. She plays, and we relax or do last-minute prepping for the family vacation. This is also a nice little helper to tire her out so she’s ready to nap after we board.

Step 3. Traveling through the airport.

Don’t be fooled into leaving the stroller at home or checking it with your luggage. Use it in the airport. Even if you have an infant car seat adapter (see Step 4), don’t worry about getting these beastly strollers through security — they fit. We have a big stroller and have no issue when we fold it up and send it through the TSA machines.

Ah, think you have a stroller and you’re set? Not so, bring the baby bjorn too. We put our babybjorn in a compartment under the stroller, and when we get to security, one of us takes my daughter in the bjorn, while the other handles the bags. The bjorn is also very helpful if traveling alone with your baby, as it gives you two free hands to maneuver bags.

Step 4. The infant car seat.

Remember, we’re only talking about infant car seats. The rules change with bigger car seats. That said, we  don’t check the infant car seat with our luggage either. Yes, even if you have the baby bjorn. Your infant car seat has an adapter to fit in the stroller, right? So leave it (and your baby) in there until you get to security. Also, when you get to the gate, ask if the plane is full, and if not, ask to be next to an empty seat. Most airlines will allow you to bring your child on the plane in the infant car seat if you have an empty seat next to you. This will make the flight so much easier as you can let your baby eat, play and sleep in the infant car seat (and not on you). Oh, and if the plane is full, you can gate check the car seat just like a stroller and it’ll be waiting in the hanger when you get off the flight. For those who don’t heed my advice and check the car seat upon check-in, still remember to ask about the middle seat, as it can make a great little bed for a baby to nap on if you don’t want to hold your baby for the entire flight.

Step 5. Awake time on the flight.

Scared about the awake time on the flight? Baby will fuss and cause a ruckus? Fear not, you brought lots of food and toys. First, don’t be afraid to jump off your meal plans and feed the baby (we’ve been known to alter snack times on flights), or use some of those toys and books you brought to entertain him/her. And, finally, if that seat belt light is off, don’t be bashful, get up and walk the aisle or stand in the back of the plane and rock, sing and sway. Whatever it takes. Heck, flight attendants might know a new lullaby.

Now, don’t forget to sit back, relax and enjoy your flight — and your family vacation.

Related Orbitz resources:

• Family vacations
• Taking an infant on a Disney vacation can be a joy
  

Benjamin Berman, an attorney at Orbitz, is the ridiculously proud and
pathetically obsessed father of his beautiful baby-girl Sydney, who he
and his fantastic wife, Julie, take to and from Boston (in-laws!) and
other U.S. cities 6-8 times a year.

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