I have taken all 4 of my kids on trips when they were about 5 months old. We also took the oldest 3 to Mexico and the oldest 3 also went on my last kid’s 5 month trip to Japan so we’re quite experienced at traveling with babies and young kids.
Related: What to Bring on a Trip To Warm Climates With Young Kids
Before your trip
Mentally prepare
Several weeks or months before you go, remind yourself that most likely something will go wrong. Keep remembering this so that when you go on the flight you are aware that you are able to remain calm and help your child through the experience by example.
Talk to your kid
Keep your kid in the loop with what is going to happen. Read books with them before you go so they are aware, or try to watch a YouTube video for kids on what happens when they fly somewhere.
Check out seat guru
To see what the seat you choose will offer, look up your flight on seatguru to make sure you are aware of how much under seat storage you will get as well as how much your seat will recline and any other amenities it may offer, like a charging port or extra leg room.
Choose a good seat
The seats near the bathroom may be empty often, but the sound of a flushing toilet might wake your kiddos up. The emergency exit rows may offer more leg room, but it’s likely you won’t be able to book those seats with kids.
Incognito
Sometimes airlines will track your searches and hike the price. Use incognito mode on your web browser to ensure you get the best price for your flights.
Tuesday or Wednesday
Book your tickets on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. For some reason they seem to be cheaper on these days instead of the weekend.
Smaller airports
Flying into a smaller lesser known airport can be cheaper.
Flexible dates
Try to see if flights are cheaper a day earlier or later than your desired travel date. Often you can save some money by choosing an earlier or later flight by a day or two.
Precheck
Get precheck for your family. Usually if the parents have it kids are automatically allowed through until they’re 12.
Download maps
Before you go, download a map of the area so incase you are unable to access the internet when you arrive, you can still get to your hotel or airbnb.
Download
Make sure you download content such as audiobooks, movies, apps, or music before you take off. Or better yet, the night before when you have your own reliable internet connection.
Check in online
Check in to your flight online the day before. They usually send you an email or check out your booking on their app.
Kid items
Strollers
Strollers can be gate checked which means you can bring the stroller through the airport. If your stroller folds up small enough it can fit in the overhead bin. Use a stroller to hold bags or a tired toddler. Alternatively you can even rent one at your destination if they are available where you are going.
Car seats
Usually car seats are free to check. Use a car seat for your kids seat if you bought one, they will be familiar with having to stay seated in a car seat.
Pack and play
Pack and plays are frequently free to check at most airlines. You can see if the hotel or Airbnb you will be staying at will have a pack and play for you to use.
Diaper bag
Most airlines let you have a separate diaper bag in addition to your carryon and personal item.
Baby carrier
A wrap, sling, or more structured carrier can make it easier to navigate crowds. This can also be great for walking up and down the aisle while in the air. A ring sling with metal rings may make the metal detector go off.
Breastmilk
They will let you bring this through security but they may need to test it. Make sure they change their gloves before handling it for sanitary reasons.
Snacks
All the snacks are essential for kids. A fed kid is a happy kid. Airlines let you bring liquid snacks for your young kids, check out the TSA website for more details.
What to bring
Snack bag
We like to bring a hanging snack bag full of snacks for our kids to choose what snacks they want when they want them while on the flight.
Toys
New toys are great for when they get bored or restless. Slowly introduce your toddler to each new toy. You can even hide some toys for several months before your trip and then reintroduce them on the flight and they will seem new!
Books
Board books with fun pictures can be a great way to entertain a baby. However they can take up lots of space, thin paperback books can be great for younger kids and even babies if supervised well.
Diapers
Make sure you have enough and extra and wipes too for the flight. 1 per 2 hours. But buy diapers when you arrive at your destination. Change your baby’s diaper right before boarding.
Diaper poop bags
Use poop bags for doggie poop to hold dirty diapers, any soiled clothes, or trash on the plane.
Water Bottle
Fill a bottle with ice for each person before leaving and fill it up after going through security. You may not know this but ice is a solid and is allowed through security.
Ginger chews
Ginger can settle an unhappy tummy. Bring some ginger chews with you.
Change of clothes
Being a change for you and baby on the plane where you can access them.
Birth certificate
Bring a copy just incase. If you are traveling without the child’s dad make sure to have a signed and notarized note saying it’s okay to travel.
Plastic bags
Have some plastic bags of some sort for soiled clothing or poopy diapers. I like to use doggie poop bags.
Ziplock bags
Make sure to pack some ziplock bags they are endlessly useful for wet or dirty clothes or packing clothing like it’s in a compression bag.
Dirty clothes bag
You can use a plastic bag or a designated dirty clothes bag to store your dirty clothes separate from your clean ones. Just have something you can use.
Laundry detergent sheets
These are thin and great for washing laundry.
First aid
Have basic care items like bandaids, Neosporin, Dramamine, and Tylenol. It might be difficult to find these in other counties.
Pajamas/ sleep sack
If you’re traveling at night time get your kids dressed into their pajamas or sleep sack to encourage sleep.
Muslin blanket
This can be a canopy over your child for rest time, a blanket, a burp cloth, a nursing cover. It’s incredibly versatile.
Sweaters
Planes tend to be cold, pack a sweater for each kid. Don’t forget to pack one for you!
Headphones
If you plan on allowing your kid to listen to any music or watch anything, you will need headphones. It’s required so you don’t disturb any other passengers. I don’t think they are needed for kids under 18 months, but they are for kids over 18 months. Get a pair of headphones that will fit your child comfortably. We have headphones that can daisy chain together so each of our kids can all listen to the same thing at the same time, or be used individually.
Small multi charger
Bring a charging block or something that can charge multiple devices at the same time. Sometimes all the plugs at the airport are full and hotels and Airbnb’s may not have as many plugs as you would want.
Portable charger
Bring a portable charger to make sure your devices are always ready. Don’t forget a cord to charge it with. Some airlines provide a plug on the seat back, but incase they don’t, a portable charger will ensure your phone, iPad, or other entertainment is always charged.
Foldable bag
Bring a small lightweight bag for day trips, or souvenirs to bring home.
Pack a game
Make sure to have some entertainment that doesn’t rely on a battery. A simple card game can be great for a kid even when they’re 3. We love spot it. If your kids are older, a simple compact deck of cards can provide hours of entertainment.
Bring a travel adapter
If you are traveling internationally, bring a travel adapter so you can use all of your electronics while on your trip.
Bring paper soap
If you’re traveling to Japan, Mexico, or China, you may need to bring your own soap for public bathrooms.
Bring a hand drying towel
When traveling to Japan you may want to bring a small hand towel for drying your hands in public bathrooms as they don’t provide blow dryers or paper towels in most of them.
Related: 15 Non-Essential Travel Items
What not to bring
No silly putty or playdough
Say no to bringing these messy items on the plane. They require a lot of supervision and even then they can still make a mess or cause damage to the plane.
No stickers
It really doesn’t matter if the stickers are removable or not, they can leave residue that is hard to remove. Unless your kid is old enough to know to only use stickers in a book and won’t throw a fit if they drop or loose a sticker don’t use these. Don’t bring them. Instead you could try window clings since those are designed to stick to windows without leaving residue. But again if your kid will throw a fit, do not bring them.
No markers
Markers are just inviting trouble. Put a bored kid in a small space with markers and accidentally fall asleep and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
No Snack box
Don’t do this to yourself. I know the snack boxes look amazing and beautiful and so convenient, but when they are dumped it’s a nightmare. The other thing that isn’t fun about these is cleaning them. If you want a one time use item that may cause tears when it’s dumped, by all means go for a snack box. But if you want to avoid tears and messes you have to clean, don’t do it.
No polly pockets or legos
These toys are tiny and the parts can easily get lost. Don’t bring any other tiny toys that can easily get lost and cause distress.
No strong scents
Do not put any strongly scented perfumes or body sprays on. Don’t even bring them on your trip incase they spill. Be considerate of others. Instead just use deodorant.
Packing
Make a list
Make a list of everything you use on a daily basis and everything you think you want to bring. Then reduce it down. Look over it many times to ensure you’re not forgetting anything, but also not bringing something you won’t use.
Share toiletries
As much as possible, get your kids and spouse to use the same toiletries as you. This will save you space and stress. Most of the time on a trip, you won’t need all of a travel sized container.
Packing cubes
Use compression packing cubes to pack your clothes. You can choose to sort by each person/kid, or by day, or by item of clothing. Smaller cubes are easier to rearrange so that they fit better in your bag.
Get the right kind of bags
Get a boxy bag that will fit the packing cubes well. A bag that opens up more is better for packing it well.
Pack right
Put heavy items like shoes or winter gear at the bottom in the middle for good distribution. Add your toiletries on top incase you need to get it out at security.
Pack extra clothes
In your personal item, not the one that goes in the overhead bin, pack extra clothes. There’s always a chance your overhead bin bag will be checked and you don’t want to be left without extra clothes incase of an emergency.
Pack dual purpose items
Items that serve multiple purposes are great for traveling. For instance, a muslin swaddle can be a blanket, a nursing cover, a safe space to lay baby, a burp cloth and much more. Another example is Vaseline, it can be used in place of Neosporin, it can be chapstick, it can be diaper cream and more.
Use a cord organizer
A rubber band, velcro strap, or reusable twist tie can be great for keeping a cord together, but putting all the electronic’s together in a pouch can ensure that you aren’t digging through everything to find your chargers.
Pack smart
If you have a collared shirt and a belt, pack the belt in the collar of the shirt so they help each other keep their shape. If you have an extra pair of shoes, pack them full of socks. Tuck underwear into your bra so it all fits well.
Travel sized toiletries
Get yourself some travel sized toiletries. You don’t have to buy the travel sized version, you can buy some empty bottles or even better pouches. Many toiletries are liquid which TSA has a 3.4 oz allowance per item and they all must fit into a quart sized bag. Forgoing liquid toiletries in favor of solid shampoo, lotion, or toothpaste tablets is one option, another is to use pouches that lay flat to fill with your own liquid toiletries. Some people completely forgo their own toiletries if they know their hotel or airbnb will have the essentials, but I personally wouldn’t do that since I have sensitive skin and scents can really bother me.
Pack early
Get your packing list started early and set everything you want to bring out so you can see it. Try packing several times and reducing what you bring.
“Capsule wardrobe”
I hesitate to use the phrase, but make sure all of your clothing can be worn together. If you have a pair of bright orange pants they probably won’t go with all of the shirts you own, so try to choose more neutral colored clothing or a color pallet so everything goes together.
Distinct
If you are checking your bag, or incase your bag is gate checked, or even just mixed up on the plane, make sure your suitcase is distinct. If it’s a solid color, add a piece of colorful tape, a ribbon, or a luggage tag so it can be returned to you or recognized as not being someone else’s.
Kids travel tips
Test bags
If you are going to have your toddler or young child carry a bag, make them try it out. Pack everything they are going to bring with and have them wear it while going on a walk. If they choose some heavy books, they may decide against those heavy items. (Definitely based on a personal experience)
Dress a baby in footies
Put your baby in footie pajamas so there’s no risk of loosing a sock. Get ones that zip from the bottom and the top for easy diaper changes.
Screen time
All rules go out the door for screen time while traveling. Download movies, content, or the app for the airline before takeoff.
Ear pressure
Use a pacifier, lollipop or breastfeed during takeoff and landing to relieve ear pressure.
People offer help
Accept help from people who offer help. People usually understand that toddlers and babies can have a hard time traveling. They may offer to help out your bag in the overhead compartment.
Go potty at a good time
Before you get on the plane have your potty trained kiddo go potty, or change their diaper for younger ones. Make sure to have your kids try to go potty right after eating their meal, or snacks if it’s a shorter flight.
Kid hammock
Try making a hammock for your kid to have more space on the plane. To do this simply tie two corners of a blanket together around the seat tray in front of you. If you do this, make sure your kid doesn’t kick you much or the people in front of you may be upset. Your flight attendant may ask you not to do this depending on the airlines rules.
General travel tips
Laundry
Rent a unit with a washer and dryer in it. You can pack fewer clothes and bring less items.
If you can’t stay in a space with a washer, try a scrubba and wash a few pieces of clothing every day. Alternately you can wash clothes in a sink or tub with laundry detergent powder or laundry sheets.
Prepare for dryness
Airplanes tend to be extremely dry. Make sure you bring what you need to combat the dryness- hand cream, eye drops, and chap stick.
Don’t check bags
As much as possible don’t check anything. It’s the worst when things don’t arrive when they’re supposed to.
Hydrate
To combat jet lag make sure to drink lots of water and consider some electrolytes to ensure you are properly hydrated.
Hard copies
Print a copy of information for Airbnb or hotel as well as your car rental information. Print copies of passports, and any other important documents you might need.
Take a picture of your luggage
If you have to check bags, make sure to take a picture of both the outside and inside of your bags so that they can identify your luggage quickly and you can be reimbursed up to a certain amount for lost luggage.
AirTags
Add an AirTag into each piece of luggage or even your carryon bag. You can track it and make it ding to know where your bags are at.
Email yourself pictures of documents
Before you go, take pictures of your ID, passport, and other important information. If you loose these things at least you can access the information through your email.
Buy things there
Worst case scenario you can buy all necessary items when you arrive at your destination. Clothes, diapers, wipes, bottles, everything can be purchased at almost any destination.
Passport
Keep your passport on you at all times. It’s expensive and difficult to get a new passport if it gets lost for any reason.
After the flight
Delayed luggage
If your luggage is delayed, the airlines are responsible for up to $3800 for necessary items such as diapers, toiletries, underwear, or other items you may have had in your luggage.
Delayed or canceled flights
If your flight is delayed or canceled by the airline talk to them about what you can get, including a refunded flight & rescheduled one as well. They may also be required to pay for a place to stay and food. Ask them about free lounge access.
Oversized luggage
If you checked a car seat it might be at a different location than other luggage since it is large. Keep your eyes peeled for an oversized luggage area nearby. Ask an airport employee if you can’t find it.
What not to do
Dryer sheets
Don’t pack these. They are so bad for you and full of chemicals. Instead put a drop or two of essential oils on a Kleenex or cotton ball to keep your clothes fresh.
Eat greasy foods
Don’t eat a big greasy meal before your flight. You won’t feel good. Eat something light and healthy to make the flight as pleasant as possible.
Buy expensive water
Fill up your own reusable water bottle after you go through security to avoid paying $3 or more dollars for a small water bottle.
