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I took my baby on her first flight when she was around 6 or 7 weeks old. We were living in Alaska and had no other family around. I didn’t think it would be so soon, but I was on maternity leave and some of my family was gathering in Florida. I also don’t know if there was a better way to surprise my dad with meeting his first grandchild. Yes, he cried. Let me tell you, a flight from Alaska to Florida is not short. It usually takes a minimum of 11-12 hours of total travel time. But guess what? I made it and flew with her again. And again. And again. I flew round trip with her three times to the lower 48 before she was a year old. I became more confident every time.
However, here are some things I wish I knew the first time when flying with a baby.
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You can bring opened formula or milk on the plane. My kids always took bottles, which made this a little bit easier. First off you can bring formula on a plane as well as bottled water for a baby. Mine just had to be tested when going through security. When I first flew, I brought an entire can of formula (this was a pain). I then realized I could have the formula pre-measured already in the bottles before even going to the airport. I just kept extra formula away in a carry on. Again, they just had to test it at security. Whenever I waited at a layover, I prepped my bottles again. If my hands were free and I needed more, I made sure to prep my bottles again. I literally scooped the formula into the bottle. Then, I closed it so all I had to do in a hurry was add water and shake. Not always ideal but made it easier to travel solo with a baby.
You can ask to switch your seat. After passing through security, I went to my specific gate. As soon as I saw an attendant, I asked about seats. Most of the time, I had already picked out my seat. Typically, all the seats would show as taken. However, when I flew by myself with my baby, I always asked for a seat next to an empty one. Sometimes, they couldn’t switch, which was totally fine. But other times, I ended up getting an entire row for myself and my baby. This was greatly appreciated when my baby wouldn’t sit still. Airlines will mark seats off for various reasons so they might not actually be full. But the biggest lesson I learned was that it never hurts to ask.
You can push the stroller all the way to the plane. I love having my stroller with me while flying. You typically need to get a tag for the stroller. I have always done this at my gate and check my seats at the same time. This allowed me to literally keep the stroller all the way to the door of the plane. I enjoyed having the option to set the baby down and the extra storage. Typically, I would put any bags underneath. Then, I would place the baby in the stroller if needed. After that, I just kept my small purse on me. At this time, my car seat also snapped into my stroller, and both were easy to break down. I didn’t have to worry about a separate car seat. The travel system I had made this possible, and my baby carrier (#ad) helped during layovers.
The Graco Travel system I used and loved! I only brought the infant car seat (on ground) and the stroller part (bigger attachment can be removed) when flying. I would then just use a car lap belt to install the car seat at my final destination. The stroller folds up nicely too. So EASY! As an Amazon Associate, I may earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you
You can utilize the bathroom on the plane BEFORE take off. Obviously I know the bathroom can be used on the plane. But to use the bathroom on the plane before take off? I did not think of this until I had our second child. I used to try to rush to the bathroom right before boarding started, but so did everyone else. Usually, flights will allow families that need extra time to board earlier. I take advantage of that every time. When I boarded early, I saw another person using that bathroom. “Oh my goodness!”, it clicked. Why didn’t I think of that. Granted there is not a ton of room in those bathrooms, but the boarding process can be long. Now, once I get on the plane and find my seats, I will change the baby’s diaper quickly in that bathroom so it’s a little closer to take off time. Even if I don’t need to, it’s so nice to know that this is an option.
It is so much easier if you stay organized. I used to bring so much stuff on the plane that it was sometimes difficult to manage on my own. I had a young baby who only took milk. I realized I needed to prioritize keeping what I would definitely need in my seat with me. I would estimate how many bottles and diapers I would need based on the flight time and then add one. When my kids were that young, they didn’t need too many toys. I tried to just have one or two on me max. I put any extras I needed while traveling in another bag. This did not include items for that specific flight. These extras might go overhead if able to. I would keep extra diapers, wipes, pacifiers, milk, and bottles in my extra bag. I also included at least one extra pair of pants. If you’ve had a baby, you know why! I preferred to use my diaper bag. It served as my “personal item.” Then, I used a smaller duffle bag as my carry on. I personally never had any issues doing this.
It’s OK if the baby cries. Honestly, I was fortunate most flights, but there were still times my baby cried. It was stressful for me. On the inside, I was freaking out. The reality is most people are very understanding. Usually, I also wasn’t the only person with a baby or young child on the flight either. Even flying with my baby, I would hear other babies crying. And guess what? It didn’t bother me. I can’t tell you how many times people asked if I needed help grabbing my stroller when I got off or just in general. I always tried to remind myself the flight wasn’t forever and it was always worth the trip.
Check out my other posts: How to Make Flying With a Toddler Easier and Questions to Consider When Packing For a Family Trip.
