Over the past year, I’ve flown a lot–way more than I would have anticipated with a new baby. Lila and I have flown up and down the East Coast and all the way to Europe. It hasn’t always been easy–especially when it’s been just us girls–but I’ve gained some useful travel tips along the way:
1. Book your baby’s ticket. Even lap infants need
their own tickets. Call customer service after booking your own, because there’s
typically no obvious way to do this online. If your child is under 2, she flies
for free domestically, but there are taxes and fees if you fly overseas. Lila
chilling on my lap added about 10% to the price for our round-trip to Geneva.
2. Dress simply. Airport security is an ordeal for everyone post-9/11, but even more so when you’re traveling with a toddler in tow. Keep things simple. Wear shoes you can easily kick off in the security line, like loafers or flip-flops.
3. Seek necessary help. When flying alone with a baby, you carry endless gear. There’s no way you can schlep everything from your home to your destination without some help. If no one’s offering, ask. If need be, embrace your inner chutzpah and direct unencumbered adults: “Could you put this car seat on the metal detector conveyor belt?” (It’s not really a question.)
4. Shun the red-eye. The worst thing you can do for your toddler is fly overnight (as we did to Geneva). Meghan Casano, sleep team leader at Boston-based Isis Parenting, recommends that you fly during the day, so if any sleep is missed, it’s nap time. By the time you reach your destination, your child will be tired and more inclined to sleep, rather than completely overtired, having missed a whole night’s rest.
5. Pack some toys, find others everywhere. Lila loves spoons, so I like to pack plastic spoons and other small teething toys in my carry-on bag. However, with airlines’ copious baggage restrictions and fees, it’s often easier to pack less and find more on-board. We’ve discovered that sugar and pretzel packets make great rattles. Ditto for (closed) roll-on deodorant, if you stowed personal items on board. Plastic cups from beverage service are also fun for your toddler to roll, crunch, and chew.
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