Traveling with a Young Child: What The Internet Won’t Tell You

The first time I traveled with Jack was when he was six weeks old.  In my sleep deprived state of mind, I booked a ticket for the two of us to visit my family in New Orleans. I then did what all good moms do in preparing to fly with an infant: I Googled “Advice for Traveling with a Baby.” Duh.

The internet provided tons of great tips and I felt confident.  Alas, there are a few things that these magical little search engines can’t tell you, mainly that dealing with traveling and airlines is a pain in the neck.  It’s not often you hear someone say, “I love going through airport security.  I sure hope my flight gets delayed!” In all honesty, it’s hard to travel with a young child.  I do have some war stories tips to share with you from our travels to visit family that if nothing else, will make you glad you aren’t sitting next to us on a plane right now.

Pack Wardrobe Changes for Mom & Baby

Jack was four months old when we traveled to attend a wedding.  We were doing well until we reached cruising altitude.  I started to smell a little something and said a silent prayer that it was just flatulence.  After a few minutes, I realized I was going to have to crawl out from my window seat (choose an aisle if you can) and venture into the tiny bathroom. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that the contents of his dirty diaper had exploded all over him and he was up to his neck in his own poop. Thank goodness I had packed that essential extra set of clothes… Oh wait.  I hadn’t.  At this exact moment of realization, the captain came on and said to buckle your seatbelt because there was turbulence ahead.  In an act of desperation, I tossed the soiled clothes, cleaned him as best I could, and wished that I had packed an extra shirt for myself. Nothing says “Walk of Shame” quite like carrying your naked, smelly baby back to your seat. Moral of the story: PACK EXTRA CLOTHES.

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Leave Your Jewelry at Home

Every time I go through security, I forget to take off the three bracelets I wear daily.  Then the metal detector goes off and the TSA officers are not as compassionate as one would think.  I have to turn around, take them off, and go back through again.  This isn’t that big of a deal, but when you have a million things on that moving belt, you might just forget your favorite bracelets that have sentimental value.  If this happens, you might not realize these are missing until you arrive at your final destination.  Hypothetically speaking, it’s easier to go sans jewelry than track down the number to the San Antonio Airport’s security office in order to get your bracelets back.  Plus, that baby on your lap is going to be very interested in those super cute hoop earrings you’re wearing and will likely use them as a pulley, so appreciate the value in a stud.[divider_flat]

Respect the Bottles

Changes in altitude cause changes in air pressure.  Those little disk things that are placed between the nipple and the bottle?  They are actually significantly more important than one would think.  Not only do these small pieces of plastic keep the contents in the bottle if it tips over in your bag, they ensure that liquid will not come shooting out when the cap comes off when you are in flight.  Use these to make sure you don’t accidentally spray everyone around you or lose the milk your crying baby wants.  (Note: If you didn’t know what these were when you first opened the package, so you threw them away, they can be replaced for a small price. Not that I did that or anything.)

I also reference another type of bottle when people sit next to us by saying, “If he starts crying, your first drink is on me.”  I have found this small gesture to go a long way in lightening the mood.

Use Your Words & Ask For Help

In this age of the Super Mom and the, “I can do it all and make it look easy” attitude, it’s not as natural to ask a stranger to lend a hand.  When you are taking off your shoes, shoving your things into the x-ray machine, or trying to put your seatbelt on while dealing with a wiggling baby, it’s okay to ask for help. Other travelers will happily fold your stroller or hold your baby while you gather your things, all you need to is reach out to them.  That dude in the business suit doesn’t read into your desperate eyes, but if you vocalize your need for support, he will likely help you if for no other reason that he feels sorry for you.

The Silver Lining

There are some benefits of traveling with a young child… You don’t have to worry about checking in online because you get to board early.  The seat next to you is often vacant, providing more room.  Flight attendants allow you to illegally loiter outside the bathroom and bounce the baby. People are forgiving.  As long as you aren’t ignoring your crying child, the other passengers understand and many of them have been in your shoes.  The noise of the plane tends to lull little ones to sleep.  When your child is old enough, there is nothing cuter than watching him walk down the main aisle and seeing the faces of grown men and tightly wound business women light up and smile at him. And, when you do arrive in your final destination, there will be a sense of pride that washes over you.  Even if your child has poop in his hair and is donning nothing but a diaper.

 

Have you traveled with a little one?  We’d love to hear about your experiences!