travel with infants--step 2: packing for onboard the plane (guest blogger: beth from cloud surfing kids)

travel with infants--step 2: packing for onboard the plane (guest blogger: beth from cloud surfing kids)

the packing can be the hardest part, so here is my advice on how/what to pack:

many people advise to pack minimally. i don't agree. you should *concisely* pack everything you need for worst case scenarios like lengthy delays, unplanned overnights, spit up, and diaper blowouts. illnesses creep up at the least convenient times. on one flight i was working a child vomited on his mom. she was soaked and had no change of clothes. it was just the start of a 7 hour flight. i have learned it's best to always have at least one complete change of clothes for everyone traveling, down to socks and underwear. bring at least 2 spare outfits for baby. always bring some kind of fever reducer just in case.

i pack the following in the diaper bag:

·      small blanket

·       6 diapers

·       travel size diaper wipes case

·       at least 3 small trash bags (for dirty diapers, soiled clothes, or trash--i reuse grocery sacks)

·       3 burp cloths

·       3 bibs if your baby is a drooler

·       2-3 NOISELESS toys (no need to annoy other passengers with anything more than baby crying.)

bright starts buzzin around bee

·       pacifier (multiple ones if baby loves paci)

·       teething tablets

·       1 change of clothes for baby including socks

·       baby sweater

·       snack for me such as luna bar, mixed nuts

·       your purse or wallet (with experience you'll be able to blend this with your diaper bag always.)

·       nursing cover (if nursing)

·       3 empty 4 oz. bottles (if bottle feeding)

·       formula (if using)

both enfamil and similac have formula packets. i love these for traveling!



 then i pack my backpack:

·       1 change of clothes for me (including underwear and socks--put in gallon size ziploc bag)

·       sweater for me

·       additional change of clothes for baby (pack in ziploc bag)

·       additional diapers and wipes (i like to bring 8-12 diapers for a 10 hour travel day.)

·       small magazine for me (don't bother with a heavy book. even if baby sleeps you'll find it difficult to focus on anything for more than a few minutes at a time.)

·       any prescription medicines for me or baby

·       glasses/contacts/phone charger/other essentials

·       ear bud headphones

·       additional snacks for me (maybe an apple and peanut butter and jelly)

·       quart size ziploc bag with baby medicines (tylenol, ibuprofen, teething gel), hand sanitizer, any other liquids you need such as contact solution/lotion/etc.

·       thermometer

exergen temporal artery thermometer--so easy to use and very accurate!

in the airport you can buy water. if you're nursing you're going to be REALLY thirsty on the airplane. plan on at least 1 liter up to 6 hours. buy more water if you'll be using it for the baby's formula. you CAN bring water for bottles/mixed formula/breast milk through security, but if you're able to just buy the water in the airport it will be a much simpler process getting through security.

*Buy at least 1 liter of water for the airplane trip

you could fit all these items in just a backpack, but i find it tends to get too heavy and things become difficult to find. for me it helps keep things organized when using 2 bags. the list looks long, but almost everything is small and will fit easily in 2 easy-to-manage bags. once it's all organized and packed you'll know where everything is and you won't have the stress of needing something you don't have while away from home.

our guest blogger, beth is a flight attendant for a major airline and mom to a curious explorer, "e".  "e" earned elite status at the airline at 20 months. in her blog, "cloud surfing kids", beth gives helpful tips and insight based on her experiences.


in case you missed her first post in this series, you can find it here.

stay tuned for the next two weeks are she continues to provide us with invaluable advise for airline travel (with toddlers this time).

travel with infants--step 1: getting to the aircraft (guest blogger: beth from cloud surfing kids)

travel with infants--step 1: getting to the aircraft.


traveling with infants is easier than you think. infants often sleep much of the flight so you can at least breathe once you settle in your seat. the toughest part is getting through security, so that's why i start here.

do yourself a favor and check your suitcase. even if you have to pay a checked bag fee, it's worth it. can you imagine lifting it into the overhead bin while juggling your infant? even if you have baby in a carrier, it will be nearly impossible to safely lift that bag. yes, it would be nice if someone helped you, but you can't count on that. simplify the trip in any area you can. i carry on only a backpack and diaper bag (or combine the two).


you can check your car seat (airlines do not charge for car seats/pack 'n' plays/strollers), or do what I do: use gogobabyz wheelz.

gogobabyz wheelz

gogobabyz has amazing products to assist in air travel and if you fly with the baby more than once a year, the cost is *DEFINITELY* worth it! the infant cruizer comes with an adapter to allow you to use it with a convertible car seat once the baby gets bigger so it's a great investment.


even if the baby will be in your lap, not in her own seat, it's nice to have wheels to push the baby or the bags through the airport. Leave the wheels attached and gate check if the baby does not have a seat.


getting through security:

many large airports have a line at security dedicated to families with children. look for this line where there will be less pressure to rush from the passengers in line behind you.


it's nice to have baby in a front pack/sling/or infant carrier while setting everything on the scanner belt so you can have both hands free.


-remove your ziploc baggie of liquids and place in their own bin. (add to this bin liquid for bottles, if bringing. more advice on this next week.)


-put the backpack and diaper bag straight on the belt (no bin)


-remove your shoes and yes, baby's shoes if he is wearing them. (don't bother with shoes on your infant for airport travel. if the look of shoes is important to you, get trumpette socks.

-if you have the car seat and wheels, detach the wheels and put both through the scanner.


-last, remove baby from carrier and put carrier on the belt.


after walking through the scanner don't feel you have to rush in reassembling, but move out of everyones way. push all your belongings to the end of the belt and assemble in reverse of how you put bags on in the first place:
-put on front pack/sling
-put baby in carrier
-shoes on
-wheels on car seat
-backpack on car seat
diaper bag stacked on backpack


or, of course you can use the infant cruizer the way it's intended and put the baby in. then wear the backpack and carry the diaper bag. (go-go babyz also has a great diaper bag that attaches to the infant cruizer handle.) 


you made it though the toughest part of travel with an infant! next week I'll show you how i pack for the airplane with an infant. 

stay tuned: beth will be blogging with us for the next few weeks sharing her *fabulous* airplane travel tips for infants and toddlers both!


**i do not represent any of the above mentioned companies. i am simply a fan of their products and want to share them with you.**


welcome to beth!

beth is a flight attendant for a major airline and  mom to a curious explorer, "e".  "e" earned elite status at the airline at 20 months. in her blog, "cloud surfing kids", beth gives helpful tips and insight based on her experiences.