Flying with Babies Sucks (Five tips to make it suck a little less)
It’s happening. You’ve booked a trip - whether out of pleasure or out of necessity (can’t miss your third cousin’s best friend’s wedding - yes, mom) - and now you must do the inevitable - fly with a baby. Before you start (or continue) to freak out - I’m here to help. Here to calm your nerves and reassure you that it will, most definitely, be terrible. That’s correct! I’m not going to sugarcoat it - it will SUCK. Your precious baby will become a demon who seems to feast off your insecurities and anxiety. BUT, there are a few ways you can make it not suck as much.
Gregory, my two year old, got to enjoy his sixth plane ride this past week. That’s right, he has flown more times in his little life than I did before high school. And as the person sitting in front of me stared as he yelled over Encanto playing over his headphones about Bruno, I sighed in relief knowing that we have come a long way since our first flight. Here are five tips to make flying with you baby suck just a little less:
Bring the right equipment. Babies (especially older babies) are heavy and lugging them around a crowded airport is exhausting. You need a place to put them. This is especially true when they aren’t walking (yet can climb on top of a windowsill - true story!). My first choice is always a stroller. You can strap them in, grab a needed coffee without an infant clawing on you, walk them around the airport if you get a delay to distract them, and possibly get them to take a nap. Plus, parents with strollers typically get to board the plane earlier than others. And you can gate check that stroller for free! Another option, bring your baby carrier and wear them throughout the airport. ALWAYS test this out in advance. My son hated being worn so this never worked for us.
Change your baby prior to boarding. Hopefully you can go an entire plane ride without having to change a diaper. Changing tables on planes are TINY! The max weight is 25 pounds on most. Both of my children exceeded that by three months. At 11 months, Gregory’s head was the only thing that actually fit on the changing table. So, if you must change your baby, opt to do it at your seat. People may think it’s disgusting but it will be much more comfortable for you and your baby. Way less tears (from both of you).
Pack more snacks and food than you think you need. With a baby, you are excused from the standard liquid rule (TSA official rules). You are allowed to bring breast milk, water for formula and powdered formula, and ready to feed for formula through security. Make sure the TSA officer is aware. They will test it separately but there should not be an issue. If formula feeding, you do not (I repeat) do NOT have to buy overpriced bottled water once you pass through security.
Feed your baby during take-off and landing. Ears pop as the pressure changes on planes, and baby ears are no different. If you can, feed your baby (breast or bottle) during take-off. It may help prevent ear popping but at the very least will help soothe them during the change in environment.
Embrace low expectations and stares. The truth is, people will be annoyed when your baby cries, kicks the seat in front of them, has a stinky diaper, and basically acts like a baby. Most will say nothing, except stare and whisper. Some will loud whisper. And a few may actually complain to you. Those people are horrible and do not deserve your sympathy or compassion. You can politely apologize, but if they continue, you have every right (in my opinion) to tell them they have absolutely no idea what you are going through at this very moment and they should shut up. Actually, scratch that, another parent on that flight should stand up and stick up to you. You have enough on your plate right now to have to bother entertaining the ignorance of someone who is basically upset that they do not get to sit and watch the movie. Guess what, you don’t get to either. So parents, if you see another struggling - lean over and tell them “You’re doing a great job!” Pretend you don’t smell that diaper or that you don’t notice the spit up in their hair.
And finally, when you land - give yourself a pat on the back. Grab a coffee (or a glass of wine) and realize that you did it! You flew with a screaming, smelly, adorable baby and survived! Congratulations. You got this! Now go take a much needed nap!
