10 Things to Bring on a Plane for a baby
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We took advantage of being able to fly with an infant for free for the first two years of Emerson’s life. In the United States, infants under 24 months can fly for free if they sit on the lap of a paid passenger. By the time Emerson turned two years old he had flown to Alaska, California, Florida, Las Vegas, Texas and Virginia. Every one of these trips taught us the essentials we needed to fly with an infant. Here is our top 10 list.
#1. Food
You never want to sit in an airplane with a hangry child. Pack some snacks that are easy to carry. We brought breastmilk, formula, and juice on the plane as well for the baby. TSA will usually test these liquids, but you shouldn’t have any issues bringing them through security.
I used the Pack It Freezable bag on multiple flights for our little ones Snacks and drinks including a business flight where I had to fly across country pumping for 3 days.
#2. Diapers and wipes
No one wants to hold a crying baby with a full diaper. We have done it once thinking we had enough diapers and wipes and learned the hard way. Check your diaper bag to make sure you have enough diapers and wipes! You can’t buy diapers 30,000 feet in the air.
#3. Two sets of extra clothing
Babies can go through a lot of clothes in a short period. The one time you decide to bring one extra set of clothes, that is where you will need two.
#4. Extra bottle/Breastfeeding cover
If you are bottle feeding, bring an extra bottle with you on the plane. With the small space, there is a high chance you will drop your bottle on the ground/misplace it. If you are breastfeeding, a cover is great to have to breastfeed in your seat and not be exposed to the person sitting next to you.
#5. Baby carrier
Babies will fuss and sometimes you will not be able to calm your baby down while sitting in your seat. It will make it a lot easier for you to walk around in the isle with your baby hands free.
#6. Stroller and car seat
We check in our car seat prior to boarding the plane. However, we love having the stroller with us to help us get around the airport. Sometimes, when it is crowded in the security lines, TSA will have the strollers go to a different line for people who need more time.
We use this carseat backpack when we travel. This will allow you to free up your hands so you can carry the rest of your luggage. We flew our carseat in the red bag once and it tore :(. It’s a lot harder to lug around as well since you have to carry it with your hands as opposed to putting it on like a backpack.
#7. Mom bag
Traveling is stressful and we always think of everyone first before preparing for ourselves. A change of clothing is a good idea, because you never know what will happen to you during the flight. Food spilled, baby throw up or diaper explosion. I always have some sort of baby stain on my clothes, however it is not the most comfortable on a plane.
#8. Plastic bags/Ziploc bags
Grab a handful of shoppers bags and ziploc bags and place it in your diaper bag. This will be a great storage for when your baby has a dirty diaper or dirty clothes. Ziploc bags are always nice to have for snack bags ripping.
#9. Jackets or light blanket
While you may not have a lot of room or traveling to somewhere tropical, it’s still smart to bring something to keep you comfy on the plane. For me, the airplane is chilly and you don’t want to be cold for a 2 + hour flight. I always bring a down comforter jacket because I can use that as a pillow or blanket.
#10. Charger for your phone camera and external battery
We love to bring our iPhones, iPads, and headphones to watch movies on the airplane. However, while using these items on the plane the batteries tend to die. The last thing you want to worry about is a dying phone when you get off the plane.
What are your must have items traveling with your baby?
