Tips for baby’s first flight
I panicked before my first flight with my baby: Here’s what I learned | 7 min read
I love to travel. Pre-baby, I visited 33 countries — from hiking in Chilean Patagonia to attending global conferences throughout Africa.
But the thought of getting on a plane with a baby for the first time made me panic.
She took four flights before her 1st birthday. I’m not an expert and I learn something new every time we fly.
Here’s what actually helped:
✈️ Booking travel
Flights: Babies under 2 fly free domestically. They don’t need a passport or government photo ID but may need to be added to your ticket in advance (e.g., Delta). Do this before your trip to save time and unnecessary stress at the airport. Book flights that overlap with nap time so you can spend less time as an in-flight entertainer.
Lodging: If you’re booking a hotel, request a crib, mini fridge, and microwave. AirBnBs are even better since you may have access to more (high chair, pack ‘n play, books, toys), kitchens and refrigerators (for storing formula and milk), and most importantly—separate rooms so you’re not whispering in the dark to your partner when baby goes down at 7pm.
🚗 The car seat
Bring your own or rent? We’ve done both.
Option 1: Bring your own. It’s free to check as ‘special luggage’. Don’t bring the base—it’s heavy and you can use seat belts. Practice strapping it in before your trip (trust me, this isn’t a skill you want to learn when everyone’s wiped after the flight). If you choose to bring it on the flight, baby may nap better as they’re used to the environment. Pro tip: Fire stations have staff members certified in car seat safety, so you can always visit one at your destination for a quality check.
Pros: You’re familiar with your own and can stuff lighter items in the car seat bag without checking an extra bag (we fill it with diapers).
Cons: Risk of damage.
Option 2: Rent from Car rental agency. This usually costs $10-15/day.
Pros: No extra luggage (your partner’s back will thank you, too).
Cons: You get a mystery car seat and have to install it yourself (but there’s a world of installation tutorials on YouTube). Rental quality, safety, and cleanliness aren’t gauranteed, so bring antibacterial wipes to wipe it down.
Option 3: Rent from Babyquip. Babyquip is like AirBnB for baby gear. Renters meet you at the airport or car rental agency with the seat and may also offer other items rent. Haven’t tried it yet, but seems promising.
🎒Packing
The stroller: With one baby, our carrier was our best friend. With 2 kids, a travel stroller became a must-have (especially for zoos, city walking, or other high-step days). It’s also key for containing an active toddler (and extra carry-ons) when you need to move through long terminals quickly. We love the Mockingbird travel stroller because it folds/opens with one click and has a roomier storage basket than others we’ve tried.
Bags: One smaller carry-on (essentials for the first night, emergency supplies like medications, extra breast pump accessories), and one oversized suitcase (for everything else).
Nursing gear: Triple-check pump parts like black flow protectors and the charger (I forgot a key piece once and let’s just say that was painful, physically and mentally). Also pack a manual pump or a haakaa as backup.
Laundry: If your AirBnB has a washer, pack a few detergent pods, especially if you use a sensitive brand. If you’re staying at a home, laundry sheets are super packable and easy for sink washing.
Dishwashing: Bring a small bottle of dish detergent and a sponge to keep those bottles and pumps clean.
🛫 Before the flight
Baby carrier: This is a hands free power move, and makes it much easier to get through the airport. Also great for rocking the baby to sleep on flights while getting your steps in.
Check as much luggage as possible: This lets you focus on baby and not your belongings.
Count your bags: Before leaving the airport (also learned this the hard way).
👶 On the plane
Boarding strategy: We skip early boarding. Instead, my husband boards first to wipe down our seats and get our stuff settled while I let baby burn off energy at the gate. We board last; again to minimize the need to serve as in-flight entertainment and sitting in a cramped space (if we don’t like it, babies definitely don’t like it).
Diapers: Use overnight diapers for the flight! We also bring extra diapers and outfits for baby—and mom and dad (yes, blowouts happen).
Feeding strategy: Nurse or bottle-feed during takeoff/landing to help with ear pressure. For privacy during nursing, I wrap a muslin cloth around my neck and pin one of the corners on the hook above the tray table to create a tent. I prefer the window seat for extra privacy.
Pack snacks…then double it: Flights aren’t the time for strict meal and snack schedules. A happier baby = happier flight. Pack extra and embrace the snack fest.
Entertainment: Our kids love the thrill of new toys. We like flight-friendly toys (spinner, Fidget Pops), books (My First Library, Pat the Bunny, Dr. Seuss Baby Board Books), anything sticky (stickers, blue tape, reusable stickers), or even empty water bottle filled with pipe cleaners and pom poms. Clear storage pouches like this (for toys) or this and this (for snacks) keeps things organized and easily accessible. $10 of toys at the local dollar store is also a hit. If all else fails, let them watch videos of themselves on your phone.
Extra ziploc bags: Comes in handy for dirty diapers, soiled baby clothes, and food waste.
Survival mindset: A three-hour flight sounds intimidating, because it is. Break that down into 15-minute chunks (that’s just 12 rounds of entertainment).
🌎 Once you arrive (yay!)
Grocery run hack: The night before our trip, we place a Target order pick up so we can grab the essentials on our way to the hotel (milk, snacks, diapers, wipes). It helps free up extra room in your luggage too.
Sleep setup: No blackout curtains? Pack large garbage bags or black disposable table cloths and tape to cover the windows. Adjust baby’s schedule 1-2 days pre-trip if you’re crossing time zones. We also pack the baby monitor, sleep sack, and white noise machine to recreate our home sleep environment.
Prep for the mornings: It always took time to rally our family for breakfast in the mornings, so prepping a ‘bridge’ snack when we get up (for all of us, not just baby) was a life-saving. I also fill my water bottle with fresh water from dinner the night before and store it in the fridge for the morning. Having granola bars (Target pre-order!) and fresh fruit (you can find them in most hotel lobbies) go a long way too.
Flying with a baby will be stressful. Accepting that will save a lot of pain and suffering. But don’t let it stop you from taking a family trip!
A little planning—and a lot of flexibility and deep breathing—make a difference.
Focus on your baby, not what other passengers think. Stay calm when things go sideways. And when you land, take a breath and give yourself credit for getting through the whole flight.
It’ll be hard, but I promise you’ll learn something new every time.
💬 Q&A: 100 flights before kindergarten
I sat down with a close friend, a mom of two who has flown 100+ times with her two kids, before her oldest turned 5 years. She shared her tips for surviving (and actually enjoying) flying and traveling with little ones.
Here are some highlights:
On red-eye flights: “Put them to bed at their normal bedtime for a real nap before the flight. Trying to keep them up until midnight backfires every time.”
On packing: “We stopped bringing toys. We go to a thrift store when we land, and just leave everything behind before we fly home.”
On mindset: “Adjust your expectations. It’s not going to be the same as traveling without kids. But it can still be a fun adventure.”
Read the full Q&A for more tips, her worst flight story, and the packing item she swears by that has nothing to do with diapers.
For more on what helped me get through stressful newborn transitions (sleep, feeding, and more), check out the link below:
