Flying with a newborn baby might sound overwhelming, but so does the idea of being stuck at home all winter. With that in mind, we booked our first international family trip and jetted down to the Caribbean for some fun in the sun with our infant daughter– parenting achievement unlocked!
While traveling with a 3 month old is definitely not a full-on vacation, most parents will agree that it’s actually cheaper and easier to fly with an infant versus an active toddler. Which is what we kept trying to tell ourselves while navigating mid-flight blowouts, fussiness due to multiple flight delays and all that extra baggage. I promise, it’s all worth it though once you finally get there!
From what to pack to the must-have items on board, here are my top tips for flying with a baby.
The destination is everything
Setting yourself up for success when traveling with a baby starts with picking the right destination. Ideally you want to go somewhere with direct flights, good weather, and to stay put as much as possible to avoid transfers and packing/unpacking.
All-inclusive resorts and cruises are both great for this, which is why we opted for a week at Beaches Turks and Caicos for our inaugural family trip. It’s extremely family friendly so we didn’t get any side-eye from other guests if she got fussy (honestly, she was usually better behaved than the toddlers), they have FREE childcare and all meals and activities are included.
Turks and Caicos is also relatively small without a lot of ‘must-see’ attractions, so we knew we’d be content to spend most of our time enjoying the resort and not have FOMO that we weren’t out exploring all day long. Beach destinations are definitely a great option for family travel.
READ MORE: What it’s really like to stay at Beaches Turks and Caicos resort
That said, some countries in Europe like Portugal and Spain are known to be extremely child friendly; just be aware that you may encounter issues like a lack of elevators, cobblestone streets that are harder to push a stroller on, and have to adapt to a new time zone when coming from North America.
Pack more than you think you need when traveling with a baby
As a self-proclaimed carry-on only queen, packing for a week-long trip with a newborn was quite an adjustment and we absolutely ended up checking a large bag: the diapers alone took up a quarter of it!
While you’ll probably be able to find necessities like formula, diapers and wipes at your destination, do you really want to spend your precious vacation time hunting those down and dealing with inflated prices? What if your flight is delayed an extra day?
On that note, be sure to pack more of the essentials than you think you’ll need, like:
- Extra soothers, because one will inevitably fall on the dirty airplane floor
- Multiple outfits for blowouts (yes, they will happen).
- Lots of diapers, wipes and formula
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But also, don’t overpack!
This sounds counterintuitive to the last point, but you also don’t want to pack too much–i.e., things that aren’t a necessity. This is especially important if you plan on moving around because hauling extra stuff around will drive you crazy.
Here are a few examples of things we brought but didn’t end up needing:
- Portable bottle warmer: It was just as fast to heat up water in the kettle and pour it in a mug to heat her bottles. Flight attendants can also get you hot water if you need it on the plane.
- Baby monitor: Unless you realistically think you’ll find yourself far enough from baby that you won’t hear them cry otherwise, leave this pricey device at home.
- Lots of burp cloths: You’ll want a few on hand for travel days, but once you’re at the destination you can use washcloths from the hotel room (bonus: less laundry for you).
Choose your equipment wisely
Most airlines* allow two of the three following that can be gate checked/checked for free: a stroller, car seat and pack and play. I highly recommend gate checking whenever possible, to reduce the likelihood of an item getting damaged and having to wait around at baggage claim. We gate checked a car seat, and it was there waiting for us by the time we de-planed on all four flights.
*Be sure to check your airline’s requirements, as they can vary. Here are direct links to the child policies for each of the major North American carriers:
Prior to our trip, we spent about an hour at West Coast Kids chatting with their knowledgeable experts and testing out travel stroller options since we didn’t want to bring our heavy, expensive UPPAbaby one.
Our criteria: super lightweight, easy to navigate, an optional bassinet or car seat option since our daughter was under six months old, and something that could fit in the overhead bin so we didn’t need to check it. We landed on the Joolz Aer+ and were absolutely thrilled with it–it even folds down with just one hand!
We also got the adapters which work with Nuna or Cybex car seats, which worked really well for us since we had a few rides in rental cars and Ubers during our trip.
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If your little one is sensitive to light while sleeping, consider springing for a SlumberPod. These portable tents slide over cribs, toddler beds and Pack ‘n Plays, creating a blackout environment in even the sunniest spots. I also suggest getting a padded, protective car seat cover.
In-flight essentials for flying with a newborn baby
The actual flight is probably one of the trickiest parts when traveling with baby, and ideally there will be at least two of you: gate checking gear, boarding, loading carry-ons into the bin and getting situated in your seats isn’t the easiest with an infant hanging off of you. That said, other passengers are usually happy to help out if needed, especially when your kiddo is a cutie!
During takeoff and landing, be sure to give your little one a soother, bottle or breastfeed to help their tiny ears acclimatize to the changing air pressure.
Important items to bring onboard
Unless you’re lucky enough to fly first class, there isn’t a lot of real estate back in economy. With that in mind, keep only the essentials close at hand like a light blanket, bottle/formula, a couple of soothers and perhaps a small toy.
Since our daughter was so little I brought a nursing pillow on board, and stuffed it in a soft-sided duffel bag with her essentials tucked in the pockets. However, there’s a better way to travel light: bring an inflatable travel nursing pillow to save space, and pack everything in The Getaway Bag by No Reception Club. Designed by globetrotting parents, it has all sorts of features to keep you organized like built-in compartments, an insulated lunch bag, laptop sleeve and multiple zippers for easy access.
The Getaway Bag meets the personal item size requirements for airlines so it won’t take up all of your precious foot room, has detachable stroller clips, and an ’emergency compartment’ to store soiled or wet items.
Airplane bathrooms are gross, so you’ll want to avoid lugging your whole diaper bag in there. Instead, fill a smaller washable bag with a handful of diapers, change of clothes (for the inevitable blowouts) and a changing pad to use while in transit.
If you purchase the Getaway Bag Travel Bundle, it also includes a changing pad and Sidekick which is a fanny pack-like bag that seamlessly incorporates into the bigger bag. It detaches and can be strapped around your waist to keep things hands-free which is perfect for those diaper changes in awkward spaces, and has the coolest built-in wipes dispenser with a magnetic closure.
We love ours so much we use it all the time at home instead of a larger diaper bag!
Navigating security at the airport with an infant
Getting through security is stressful at the best of times, never mind with an infant. Some airports have dedicated staff to offer assistance or special lines for families, so be sure to take advantage of these if you see them.
Formula and breastmilk does not count towards your allotment for carry-on liquids, so bring as many bottles as you need. Breast pumps are considered a medical device, so they also don’t count as an additional carry-on item. Here’s more information on the TSA (American airports) and CBSA (Canadian airports) guidelines.
Seat selection
There are a few booking options to consider when flying with a baby, the most important being if you want a dedicated seat for them. Children up to age 2 can be lap held, which is either free or has a nominal charge depending on where you’re going (usually no charge domestically, and 10 per cent of the adult ticket price on an international route). In that scenario they get their own carry-on, but not an additional personal item.
Some families opt to pay for a full seat to enjoy extra space, and bring a car seat on board to buckle baby into. Some planes also have a bassinet option in the bulkhead row, which can be great for long-haul flights (though sometimes there’s usually an additional fee to pre-select them since they’re considered premium seats).
Globe Guide tip: Travelling with two parents and a lap-held child? When picking your seats on a plane with a three seat configuration, choose an aisle and window seat near the back of the plane. This increases the chances that no one will be in the middle seat so you’ll have the whole row to yourself, and if someone does end up claiming it they’ll likely be more than happy to switch with one of you so you’re still beside each other!
Baby wearing
Use a baby wrap or carrier when getting on and off the plane so your hands are freed up. A lot of airports in the Caribbean, Europe and Africa don’t have jet bridges and require buses and stairs to get to the plane, so baby wearing is also the safest option when flying with a newborn.
Baby carriers aren’t permitted during takeoff and landing, so if your kiddo isn’t in a car seat you’ll be required to hold them. I highly recommend bringing a nursing pillow for baby to lie on in your lap, which makes the trip way more comfortable for both of you.
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