Get TSA Pre Check
Get TSA PreCheck so you can go through the shorter line at the airport. This way you have less time for your baby to be fussy & stuck in a line. And, you don’t have to take stuff out of your bags and can keep your shoes on. It’s definitely worth the money and was so easy to do. Water bottles are allowed through security if you have a baby (technically for formula).

Wear your baby
Wear your baby through the airport and on the plane (except during takeoff & landing, since it’s against the airline’s rules). You can keep your baby on you during security. The TSA people seem to be way nicer when you have a baby, too! We used the Baby Bjorn mini and it was great. I would not recommend a cloth wrap carrier for travel – opt for the more sturdy kind like a Baby Bjorn or Ergobaby.

Borrow or rent a car seat, stroller and pack ‘n play
If you are visiting family or friends, see if you can borrow an infant car seat and pack ‘n play or crib so you don’t have to lug it with you. If that’s not an option, you can check or gate check these items for free. We visited family and borrowed both from my sister-in-law and then we borrowed a stroller, car seat & crib from my parents’ neighbor. It never hurts to reach out to a neighborhood Facebook group to see if anyone has an extra laying around!

If you are traveling to the beach or somewhere without family nearby, you could always look into renting these items too. You can add on a car seat from car rental companies, which we might do when we go to the beach later this summer (Update: we did, and I highly recommend it!) You can also request a crib if you are staying at a hotel – just bring your own sheets. We have the Uppababy Vista stroller, which you can buy a travel bag for on Amazon that “insures” your stroller in case of damage. I just didn’t want to risk getting it dinged and dented – I’ve seen how the luggage handlers at the airport chuck those bags! Once Jett is older and can sit up on his own, we will bring our small umbrella stroller to push him through the airport.

8 month update: We have now been on 8 flights with our baby and it gets easier every time, although looking back, it really was easy when our baby slept the whole time! Now we have to entertain him 🙂 Now when we go to the airport, we put our baby in our travel stroller through the airport and gate check it. You do have to take baby out at security.

Last time we traveled we rented a car seat from our rental car company and had a great experience. If it’s not too expensive, it is a very convenient option. Plus, both of our flights were full, so we couldn’t have used it on the plane and would have had to gate check it and risk it getting damaged.

Travel Size Formula
We are bottle feeding and love the 2 oz travel size formulas. These were perfect for flying. We made sure to stay on top of his schedule and feed him at the top of the hour before he realized he was hungry.

Now that Jett is older and eating more per feeding, I bring 3 bottles on the plane and our formula container with pre-measured amounts. He currently drinks 7-9 oz per feeding, so I put 7 oz in each compartment of the container, and filled 2 containers, for a total of 42 oz to have onboard. I know it’s way extra, but I would rather have way more than I need than not enough in the event of a flight delay or diversion. You can bring a water bottle through security, or ask for water at a restaurant, bar, or on the flight.

Check out my post on flying with a toddler for snack & toy suggestions!

Bring extra of everything
I packed 20 diapers, 2-3 days worth of formula, and 4 outfits to be safe. One of our flights did end up getting diverted to Arkansas from Dallas, where we had to sit on the tarmac for 2 hours. This was not ideal with a newborn but thankfully I had planned enough of everything. I don’t know what we would’ve done if we had run out of food or diapers and I don’t ever want to be in that situation!

Temperature
Bring a portable fan and blanket in case your baby gets too hot or too cold on the plane. When we got diverted to Arkansas they turned the engine of the plane off and it got really hot. We used our portable fan to cool Jett down. If you get stuck in an airport the blanket could be good to lay out on the floor.

Feed & earplanes on takeoff & landing
Feed your baby on takeoff and landing to help with their ear pressure. We also used earplanes which I think helped a ton! Next time, I would bring medical tape to make sure they don’t fall out of baby’s ears but they worked well and he didn’t scream!

Keep track of your baby’s schedule
We use the BabyTracker app to track Jett’s feedings, diapers, and sleep. Keeping track of your baby’s schedule is SO important especially on a flight to prevent a meltdown. Don’t wait for your baby to tell you something is wrong – go ahead and feed your baby when it’s been enough time, and change diapers frequently.

Pacifiers
Pacifiers on clips so they don’t drop on the dirty ground. I like to keep extra in this pacifier case in my bag.

Diaper changing on a plane & in the airport
Put your baby in zip onesies for easy diaper changing. This diaper changing pad was a lifesaver in the tiny airplane bathroom. Some planes have a changing table that folds down above the toilet – otherwise you will have to change them on the toilet seat lid. This pad protects having to put your baby straight on there & keeps the diapers and wipes all together in one. Pro tip – family bathrooms are your best friend! Find a family bathroom in the airport and change your baby’s diaper right before you board the plane.

Buy diapers & formula once you get where you’re going
If you need to save room in your luggage, buy more diapers & formula once you reach your destination.

Sit near the back of the plane
On the flights we have been on with Jett, we chose to sit towards the back of the plane to have easy access to the bathroom for diaper changes & to avoid being a spectacle in case of a mid-flight meltdown. We boarded during the family boarding (on Southwest this is after the “A” group) which gave us time to get our seats and get settled in.

If you are traveling with someone and the baby is your lap child, I would recommend taking the aisle and middle seats. It’s cramped for sure, but easier than taking the window/middle and asking the aisle person to get up every time your baby needs a diaper change. Babies like to look at other people, so the aisle is good for that too. If you are lucky and it’s not a full flight, you’ll get a whole row to yourselves! This happened to us twice. Turns out most people do not want to sit next to a baby on a plane! LOL

These are my tips for a happy baby on a plane! Enjoy your trip & good luck!

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Check out my blog post on taking your baby to the beach here!

My best tips for flying with a toddler