Air Travel Tips When Traveling With Baby

It is highly likely that at some point you will be traveling by airplane with an infant or small child, and surely it is always good to have stroller accessory on hand, like a chewy baby toy. Since traveling with an infant does take some work, Mobile Moms offers these air travel tips to help everything go smoothly!

Airlines

• Find your airline’s website and then search for information about flying with an infant or small child. What you find (or don't find) will tell you a great deal about how helpful they will be when you fly.
• Check if your airline will allow you to gate check your stroller. Consider taking an uppa baby g-light featherweight folding stroller and accessories found at Mobile Moms and leaving your larger one at home! Since infants are squirmy and difficult to carry, you'll want it and your stroller accessories close at hand until the last possible minute before you board the plane.

Airports

• The best rule of thumb is to allow plenty of time for airport check in and for connecting flights. Remember that everything takes much longer with an infant in tow. You’ll be carting a diaper bag, stroller accessories, car seat and more so you will need plenty of time.
• Ask if your flight is full when checking in. Some assistants will block out the seat next to you in a less full flight or offer you the option of sitting next to a vacant seat.
• Get on the plane first and gate check your stroller and accessories, if possible. Stay on the plane last to get a better chance of assistance from the cabin crew.
• Look out for fast track customs and immigration checkpoints for those traveling with infants.

Getting Around

• Be sure to bring a few small toys and books to keep baby entertained during the long airport wait.
• Stroller accessories like your stroller blanket are very handy to bring along. Some airports can be very chilly and you don’t want baby getting cold.
• Another option is an infant front carrying pack, which can be helpful so that you can carry baby while you push the luggage cart.
• A back pack diaper bag is a great option since it leaves your hands free.

Diaper Changing

• Immediately when you get on the plane, pull out the small bag that you've packed that has one diaper, a few wipes, a plastic bag and diaper cream and place it in the seat pocket in front of you. Mobile Moms has small travel size baby products which are perfect for traveling with baby.
• Ask the flight crew if any of the restrooms have change tables so that you are prepared when diaper change time comes.
• A baby travel bag that can fit under the seat can come in handy as well. You can pack an extra change of clothes for the baby, all of the diaper and feeding essentials as well as a few small toys. Mobile Moms has the perfect size bag that is made to fit under airline seats.

Safety

• The FAA recommends that the safest way for baby to fly is in an approved car seat used as a flight seat using a flight harness. Check the base of your infant or toddler car seat to look for the FAA approved sticker.
• Print out a copy of the FAA’s Childproof Your Flight brochure, read it and take it with you when you fly.
• If you are not able to purchase a seat for your child under two years old, you will be asked to hold your child on your lap. You must then comply with the local regulations for securing (or not securing) your child by means of a lap belt during take-off, landing and turbulence.

Traveling with your child can be a success with some preplanning, organization and patience. Bring your stroller and stroller accessories, keep smiling at your baby, ignore people who are rude and don't forget to bring a change of clothes for you and the baby! Bon voyage!