Traveling with a baby – 6 tips to make it a breeze

I know I know, life is tough as it is and to think you have to travel with a toddler!
Oh, the horror! Apart from Xanax (joke!), I do have a couple tips that made my life and my munchkin’s life easier whenever we traveled, both short-haul and long-haul flights. And we travel every month so you can imagine how much hair I have left!

Bed-Time Flight

If and whenever possible, always book a flight that coincides with bed-time. That’s a sure fire way to get your toddler asleep for the most part of the flight and lots of peace and quiet for you.
If it’s not a bed-time flight then wake your little one earlier than normal so that they are bound to rest at the time of the flight. It will save them the agony of popping ears during take-off/landing too.

Minimal Hand Carry

Oh wow, this is an important one. I take absolutely zero trolley bags now. Just a backpack and a purse. I could not handle the carry on trolley bag with my toddler and it was a pain dragging the two. Now I keep my items in the purse along with medicines and baby essentials in the backpack. Here’s a cheat sheet of what you should carry:

Stick with the Carrier

The trick with baby-wearing is put the carrier on after going through security since you will not have to take the carrier off. The carrier works when you know your little one will not squirm or want to run off or if you’re getting to the airport very close to your flight time.
It will definitely be easier for you being hands-free. If you’re with an infant, the bonus is you can easily feed onboard and chances are the baby may fall asleep being this close to you.

Bring the Stroller

I have a hyperactive munchkin so the carrier only worked during the newborn and early infant days. After that iI resort to using the stroller to keep the little one near me. Plus I’m able to put my bag or the diaper bag in the stroller so my shoulders are pretty happy.
The downside is that you have to get it through security that leaves your child kind of mobile. Other than that there really is no downside, you drop the stroller off at the gate and on you go to your seat onboard the plane.

Baby/Toddler Hand Carry Items

1. DIAPERS! My assumption for any flight is a diaper change every 1.5 hours plus 2 extra so that would be if it’s a 5-hour flight that would be 3 diapers + 2 total 5 diapers.
2. Diaper changing essentials – rash cream, lotion, disposable change pad liners, wipes, sanitizing spray, wet wipes. Keep those small samples that you get from Babies R Us for your diaper case.
3. Change of clothes – 2-3 change of clothes and 1 extra top/shirt for yourself.
4. Small toys/Gadgets
5. Chargers!!
6. Snacks pouch & Milk
7. Stroller or Carrier 
8. Mama’s multi-purpose toiletry bag – I get away with using my stuff along with the little ones in the Purple Vibes Toiletries & Accessories bag

Make use of the helpful Flight attendants

Most people understand how stressful it is traveling with a little one so people will generally be helpful. Make use of that. In case you need to use the restroom or get a bite to eat etc please use the flight attendant’s help. They will be the only people you trust on-board with your child.
Hope these help out in making way for a less stressful flight and more of an exciting one. Please do share your feedback if you have any tips to add on to this.
PS. I’ll be adding a post soon on some of the traveling items I bought that made my life super easy.
Thank you and happy traveling 🙂