Do you have an airplane flight coming up soon with your lap infant?
Don’t fret! We have ten tips to insure you have a smooth and successful experience traveling with your sweet baby.
Preparation is key. Create a checklist of items you will need for your baby and pack accordingly (i.e. diapers, wipes, bottles, formula, burp cloths, blankets, clothing, pjs, socks, shoes, accessories, baby toiletries, etc.
Use an infant carrier to hold your baby. This will make walking through the airport and especially security, which leads me to my next point.
Check-in the baby’s personal items. Unfortunately, lap infants do not get carry-on luggage. Only a baby bag. So it makes the most sense to check in their luggage, car seat & stroller so you have less to manage. These are all free on most airlines. You don’t have to check in the stroller though, as it can be walked all the way to the gate if you need it to help haul your stuff so it’s up to you!
Print the baby’s boarding pass. It is required for lap infants to have their own pass, even though they’re sitting on your lap so just go ahead and print it when you’re printing your own. (This will depend on the airlines)
Security Check is a hassle. You will have to remove the baby and carrier and put all of your personal items on the conveyor belt. An extra set of hands from a family member is useful at this time. If you don’t have an extra set of hands be ready to put everything onto the belt first and then lastly you will go through the detector while holding your baby and may get a pat down afterward.
TSA will pull you to the side if you have baby related feeding items. Water in baby bottles, formula cans, baby food pouches are all allowed but will have to be checked separately so it would be helpful to have them all located in the same compartment of your bag so that you don’t waste more time.
Change your baby’s diaper right before you board the airplane. This will allow them to feel fresh and clean and comfortable when you board.
Be ready to board the plane first. All airlines allow families with small children and babies to get on first, this will allow you to get situated without a crowd and you can utilize over head bins if you need them.
Feed the baby when the plane first starts taking off. This will help reduce the air pressure in their ears, give them comfort and hopefully put them to sleep for the flight.
Keep baby items within reach. It’s best to keep your baby bag under the chair just in case you need to grab a burp cloth, blanket, wipes, toys, etc.
Of course some of this will depend on the airlines. You may or may not be able to do some or all of these things but just be mentally prepared and you won’t have a headache or stress coming into the situation.
If you’re looking for a great infant carrier recommendation for traveling, I absolutely love my Tushbaby Hip Carrier with the Snug Attachment. (See below)
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https://tushbaby.com/?rstr=30160
