Traveling in 2022 can be ROUGH! There is just no way around it. Add in a little peanut and it is definitely not for the faint of heart, but rest assured, with the right planning, products, and strategy traveling with littles can be very rewarding!

For children of all ages, visiting extended family, experiencing different cultures, and getting exposed to travel is very beneficial. Let’s focus on the baby stage from 0-6 months and then 6-12 months. Lots of development takes place in that first year so your planning, products, and strategy are sure to shift as your baby’s needs change, but let’s start with some basics for planning…

Baby Travel Basics

How old should my baby be for air travel?

There is no hard and fast rule here. Most pediatricians will discourage unnecessary air travel for a newborn and many parents opt to hold off until their child receives their first round of immunizations.

Does my baby need an ID to fly?

For US domestic travel, no! It is recommended to carry a copy of the child’s birth certificate and if traveling without your partner, a consent letter. However, in all my flights, TSA has never asked me to show these documents - better safe than sorry though!

What time of day is best to fly with a baby?

Planning your trip around feedings and naps can work for some families. Since you’ll want to feed upon take off and landing to protect baby’s ears, keep this in mind as you select your flight times. It’s okay if your schedule gets a little off track, but remember, flying with a hungry and overtired child is NOT fun so don’t stretch them too long. Timing for a little snooze while in the air can make the flight much easier. Also keep in mind the high traffic times in the airport that can make getting to your gate more difficult. Since you’ll be managing your child and a bunch of stuff, I always recommend keeping it as simple as possible. To avoid too many lines and too much commotion, those early morning flights are often best. 6am-8am are typically VERY family friendly!

Do I buy baby a seat on the airplane?

When scheduling your flight, consider buying an extra seat for your baby. Yes, it drives up the cost and might not be right for everyone, but if you can swing it, having an extra seat is optimal for safety and convenience reasons. Bringing your infant car seat on board will offer a safe and familiar place for your child to nap, gives you the option to put baby down for hands free time, and is the most secure in the event of turbulence. As an added bonus, it ensures that your infant car seat arrives undamaged at your final destination (phew!). If an extra seat is not in your budget, and you opt for a “lap child under 2”, the early morning flight strategy mentioned above can always work in your favor. Ask at the gate to bring your car seat on board! Sometimes they will allow it if the flight isn’t full. If they won’t allow it, you can gate check your seat.

How do I navigate the airport with a baby?

While you want to have everything you need for the trip, having to manage a baby and a ton of stuff going through security can be very cumbersome. As you pack, make two lists 1.) Products for on the flight 2.) Products for arrival. Anything for arrival ONLY should be immediately checked curbside or when you enter the terminal.* Get rid of as much as possible here! For younger babies, who are light, sleepy, and easy to carry (0-6 months), you might even get rid of your stroller curbside and opt to baby wear through security. If traveling with your full size stroller this might be your best bet because they often require you to break it down anyway (remove wheels etc) to put it through security. This takes lots of extra effort and time.

If traveling with a light, compact stroller and an older baby (9+ months), bringing your stroller through security and checking it at the gate instead is likely the better choice. This way, you don’t have to wear baby as much (save your back!) and the stroller is available as soon as you exit the aircraft.

Can I bring pumped breast milk or ready-to-feed formula through security?

These liquids are allowed in any quantity and do not need to adhere to the 3.4oz limitation, but might require some additional inspection, so give yourself the extra time with TSA.

*All baby items (stroller, car seat, travel crib) can be checked for free. No need to pay extra baggage fees

Baby Products for Travel 0-6 Months

Now that we have some basic questions answered, here are some compact and multipurpose products that I recommend for your travels…

Best baby products for air travel — Kibou Fanny Pack | OXO Bottle Brush & Drying Rack | Philips Formula Dispenser
| . Clek Infant Car Seat | Guava Lotus Travel Crib | Moby Wrap | Joolz Aer Stroller
| . Stroller Tethers | Baby’s Brew Bottle Warmer As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Baby Products for Travel 6-12 Months

Now that baby is more mobile and less sleepy, eating solids, and potentially outgrowing his infant car seat, here are some items to add or swap from the previous list…

I like these items because they can double for everyday use too. No need to buy a ton of extra things! Having a solid product strategy during your baby registry process can really prepare you for early travel. If you’re shopping for your baby registry with travel in mind, or planning your first trip, I’d be delighted to help you with custom product recommendations. Reach out for support and safe travels!

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