Fake News: Flying with your little one is difficult
By the time our daughter Marley is 9 months, she will have been to Seattle, Nashville, Greenville, Chicago twice, New York twice, Houston three times, Nashville, and Asheville three times. I get it — she won’t remember any these trips. But having a fresh new baby shouldn’t limit your family from partaking in travel adventures.
I can already hear all the words you are muttering under your breath: “What if my child gets sick during the travel?” “How do I travel with this extra luggage (not your little one, but actual luggage)?” “It’s so expensive!” “When would we even start traveling?”
Try these tips before boarding your first flight.
Watch what you pack
Admittedly, we were intimidated on Marley’s first flight, as the destination was Seattle for the annual Specialty Coffee Association trade show. The outbound flight had a layover in Houston, and the return had a three hour layover in Denver.
My wife and I determined that we needed to pack as lightly as possible, so leaving the stroller and car seat behind was the first step. We also decided to pack and plan for only using a carry-on roller suitcase, a backpack for me, and a backpack for my wife. If you do choose to bring a stroller, note that some airlines have stroller size restrictions, so check before you bring them. You can gate check your car seat and stroller prior to boarding.
This makes for a much easier (and flexible) travel plan if you have to roam the streets when checked out of the hotel, and your flight doesn’t board for another 10 hours.
Wear your baby
We made a point to wear Marley as much as possible, since she would be experiencing jet-lag, a pressurized cabin, new smells, new people, crowds, etc. It also allowed us to be hands-free for most of our journey.
Don’t be afraid to breastfeed
Finally — and this is a nod to mothers and fathers pushing so hard every day to normalize breastfeeding — breastfeeding on take-off and landing helps relieve the pressure in the ear for your child.
Remind yourself why it’s worth flying with your kid
– Children fly free (on your lap) until two years of age. That’s enough financial reason to fly with them. Note that some airlines require that you call in reservations to claim flying with infant on your lap within 24 hours of the flight.
– Depending on the airline, families with children under age two might be eligible for early boarding. (Check this detail ahead of time.)
Know your final destination plan
Take advantage of the public transportation system once you arrive. The first time we traveled to Chicago, we made the mistake of taking Marley’s car seat and renting a car. The second time we traveled to Chicago, we took advantage of the seven-day unlimited Ventra Pass. This omitted having to bring a car seat, and we reached all of our destinations faster.
Now with 11 trips under our belts, I am comfortable to say that Marley is a pro traveler.
On the fence about traveling with your newborn? Just do it. It gets easier and easier. We promise.
Photo Credit: Steven Lim
This story was written for CharlotteFive’s latest channel for parents in the QC, called QC Playground. Sign up for the weekly QC Playground newsletter here.
This story was originally published August 13, 2017 at 9:00 PM.