Hello, fellow mamas with a fear of flying with an infant! It’s an adventure, and all expectations must be pushed aside — but with the right mindset and packed carry-on, you’ll feel like you can conquer anything!
Thanks to so many suggestions on Instagram, I felt confident when embarking on our first trip as a family to Denver. The direct flight was 2 hours, so it was the perfect test for us. I have heard that layovers can be a whole different animal!
Below are my packing lists as well as big tips I’ve been taught and practiced successfully when traveling and flying with a newborn. These work best for 6 months and under, from my understanding. Any other can’t-miss tricks? Share them in the comments!
And a friendly reminder for all of us: If you forget something, do not fret. Amazon or stores in your destination city await you for a last-minute need.
BABY ITEMS PACKING LIST
CARRY-ON
Using this bag with an insulated section was incredibly helpful!
2 ready-to-go bottles in an insulated bottle cooler bag
3-5 diapers (depending on how long your travel day is!)
Wipes
Changing pad
Grocery/Target plastic bags
Baby extra outfit
Momma extra shirt/outfit (if they spit up or poop on you)
Pump + parts + breastmilk storage bags + chargers
A few Ziploc bags of every size (for dirty clothes or anything smelly)
Muslin blanket
Pacifier + clip (the clip is essential, ew to accidentally dropping it on a plane)
Bib
Burp cloth
Phone chargers
Small tupperware of formula with scooper
Extra blanket for tummy time on the airport floor during layovers (stored in a grocery bag and not used for/with anything else because of germs)
CHECKED
Burp cloths (2/day)
Diapers (8-10 per day)
Wipes
Swaddle
Bibs
Pacis
Pajamas
Daytime outfits
2 extra empty bottles
Baby bath soap and dish soap in travel-size containers
Baby thermometer and medicine: Infant Tylenol, gas relief drops, etc.
AIRPORT AND PLANE TIPS
Wear a baby carrier or be ready to hold your baby comfortably throughout the flying process. They’ll love the extra cuddle time on flight day!
Be sure you have added “Infant in Arms” (no charge) when purchasing a plane ticket. If it’s hard to find online, simply call customer service.
Gate check your stroller/carseat and buy the stroller bag/carrier — we swore by the Doona! — if you did not buy a seat for your child. Go ahead and get the gate check ticket before boarding so you aren’t scrambling.
If you’re traveling Southwest, ask a gate agent if it’s a full flight. If it is not full, you can try to snag an extra seat for your baby and place the carseat in the seat!
Families get to board with priority seating! Take advantage of the extra time.
Once seated on the plane, make sure a prepped bottle is within reach for takeoff. If yours needs to be warm, ask a flight attendant for a coffee cup of hot water, and you can place the bottle in the cup to warm it up. Or, if you’re using formula, hot water can be used to mix, too.
Feed baby when taking off and again at landing to help with ear pressure! Sucking on a paci can work too, but it’s not as guaranteed that your baby will want it! They always want milk, right?
HOTEL SET-UP
Babyquip was a game changer for us in Denver. We rented a pack-n-play, Fisher Price play mat, bottle warmer, and bouncer for $90 total for three days. All items were dropped off and picked up based on our hotel reservation. It was fabulous. None of these were required, of course; but considering Hudson spent so much time in the room while we were at wedding events, it was helpful and more entertaining for both him and our sister-in-law babysitter!
If you do not have Babyquip in your destination city, most hotels have lovely cribs available for use. If you prefer to check your own pack-n-play, go for it.
When we drove to Fayetteville the following weekend, we brought our pack-n-play and Fisher Price playmat with us in the trunk!
