motherhood + servanthood + livelihood

After a recent post on my Instagram, I received quite a few comments on traveling with a baby. I honestly couldn’t believe the number of direct messages and text messages I received asking for tips. Here’s the thing, I am in no way an expert on parenting or traveling with a baby – it is indeed on the job training. However, there are some experiences where we can learn from each other, and traveling happens to be one of those.

I made a neat little checklist for you to use for your carry-on bag.

P A C K I N G:
I am a huge neat freak, and extremely particular. I keep Elle’s luggage organized with (drumroll sound effect) Glad Storage gallon bags. I label each bag with a day of the week. Then, fill each bag with a complete outfit from head to toe. By doing this, I know Elle’s look for each day, and it cuts down on time spent getting dressed. Of course, with babies it’s likely they’ll need more than one outfit per day. So, I include additional Ziploc bags labeled: pajamas, onesies, and extras.

C H E C K – I N:
At the ticket counter, you’re going to check a few things. For this particular trip, we were visiting for almost a week with quite a bit of luggage. In addition to our bags, we also had our car seat and stroller. The car seat will be placed on the “belt,” and stored with other cargo. To cut down on the transfer of germs, I wrapped the car seat with netting to provide a layer of “protection.” Car seats and strollers are checked for free! I didn’t check my stroller at check-in since I knew I would need it to journey through Atlanta’s busy airport handsfree. Your stroller can be checked at the gate once you board.
While we are on the topic of handsfree, keep it simple. Don’t bring a large purse if you can help it. If you have a cute fanny pack, bookbag, or crossbody, I would lean towards using one of those items. I made the mistake of hauling my purse. That won’t happen again.

I highly encourage you to get to the airport early. That’s always the encouragement, right? Well with a little one, I’d say at least 2.5 hours before boarding.

You don’t have to dread T S A:
I say this with a little reluctance since I had to stand up for a momma who was treated not so nicely by a TSA lady. Don’t be mean to moms we are an army and we stand up for each other. With that being said, you don’t have to dread TSA. One of the most significant concerns for first-time moms and baby travelers is food. If you have milk/food, bring it. It won’t be tossed, only scanned and within your view. So bring your milk, meals, and snacks. No one has time to spend $$$ in the airport on food. If you’re formula feeding only bring what you need to make it through the flight (and a little extra in case of a delay). Once you get to your destination, make a store run and purchase more. This rule goes for diapers too. 

For The P L A N E:
Diaper bag complete with all the necessities. Refer, to the checklist for suggested items.
Since this was my daughter’s first flight, I made goodie bags for the passengers sitting next to us. I wish I could take credit for this excellent idea, but all credit goes to old faithful, Pinterest. The goodie bags which included: a note, candy, mints, and earplugs — were a hit. The truth, we never know how our little ones are going to act in public, better yet on an airplane. Especially at an age like 8-months, when they don’t understand. The note, from my perspective, was a friendly introduction and excellent way of saying she’s a baby if she cries, whines, screams, has a hissy fit, give her a break!

For Your STAY:
Whether you are staying at a hotel or with family and friends, there are a couple of more items that you should consider bringing:
1. Boon TRIP Travel Drying Rack – before I found out about the Boon Trip traveling drying rack, I was either a) bring my rack from home or b) using an unnecessary amount of paper towels when traveling. This rack comes complete with brushes for cleaning your bottle, valves for the breast pump, and bottle nipples.
2. Travel Laundry Detergent & Dish Soap – if you have the luxury of staying somewhere with washer and dryer bring your own detergent.
3. Bath Mat for Baby

So that’s it. Those are my tips for traveling with an infant. If you have any that you would like to share, please drop a comment below. I’m sure the momma community would love to hear from you.