I took my daughter on her first of many flying-with-baby trips when she was 4 months old. At 11, she’s now super easy, even helpful, to travel with. But that’s only after I learned some really important lessons (the hard way) about traveling with a little one.
Give yourself more time than usual, and then a little more
I’ll never forget the time we were late. We were stuck in unexpected traffic, so my husband started weaving between cars.
My poor, carsick 1-year-old threw up all over her car seat right as we pulled into the departure lane.
Going through security (our flight in the final stages of boarding now), the car seat set off some kind of sensor. I don’t know if it was the vomit or the chemicals in all the wipes I’d used to mop it up, but I didn’t have time for a special security check.
Thrown off my game (if I ever had one), I left my favorite diaper-changing pouch at security, and a truly heroic TSA worker (whom I had just been snippy with) chased me through a crushing crowd of pissed-off travelers to make sure I didn’t board the plane without it.
Write a thorough packing list
I find the best thing to do to avoid constant worry and be able to sleep the night before the flight is to keep an easily accessible, editable digital packing list on your phone.
Make an airport game plan
You’re exhausted, possibly still hormonal, and ravenous from breastfeeding. That’s why it’s super helpful to write a bulleted list of everything you’ll need to do once you’re at the airport — add in breaks for changing, feeding, and getting to the gate early to check your stroller (and car seat if baby is flying as a lap infant).
I even go over the plan for security now — what needs to come out of what bag and how I can simplify that process. Hack: Don’t separate your stuff from your baby’s. Just put everything where you’ll be able to access it when you need it.
And remember to add extra time to your plan for whatever baby might throw at you.
Ask for help
The flight attendants are there to help you. But they also have rules to follow, so make sure you communicate with them if you’re not sure how to handle something.
Get on board early to get situated if you can. If you’re struggling to buckle in the car seat, ask for help early so they have time to help you before departure.
Pray, meditate, journal — whatever you do, DO IT
Remember my vomit-soaked car seat setting off the alarm at security? That’s only one of many travel horror stories from my early years as a mom.
The turnaround came when I started a new practice. Before each flight, I would think about one of the hardest jobs in the world — being a TSA worker, especially during the holidays.
I would set an intention to foster as much compassion and kindness as I could for them and the crew members who would handle my bags, clean the plane, feed us, and keep me and baby safe.
If you only do one thing as you prepare for your holiday trip, make sure to pray, meditate, journal, or do whatever you do with a special intention for these people.
Keeping your focus on them and their well-being will help keep you calm. And believe me, they’ve had to deal with a lot of crazy and under-prepared moms like me, and they deserve all the gratitude we can muster.
