Tips for Flying and Traveling With Infants & Toddlers

Flying with a baby or toddler and afraid everyone on the plane will hate you? You are not alone. When I’ve given presentations about traveling with children to new parents, the most common worry I hear from audience members is being “that parent” on the airplane with the screaming baby. As someone who has been that mom, despite all my preparation and attempts to soothe my child, I understand. Follow these 15 tips for your best shot at a smooth flight with a young child.

As the parent of a baby or young child, it is imperative to keep the number of connecting flights to a minimum. Landing is typically what puts pressure on those little ears, causing the pain that makes babies scream on airplanes. Plus, less time spent in transit means less chances for a mid-flight tantrum.

If you must book a flight with a connection, schedule extra time on the ground between flights. (Two to three hours is probably ideal, unless your flight is delayed quite a bit.) You don’t want to be running through the airport with a baby, diaper bag, car seat and other travel paraphernalia. You can use the time in the airport to grab some non-airplane food, change a dirty diaper, and most important for toddlers, let your child run free for a while to burn off energy!

Ideally, you want to board the plane with a dry diapered child. Therefore, be sure to hit up the airport bathroom one last time before heading down the jetway. While you’re there, you may want to double up on the diaper cream and put your baby into not one, but two diapers for extra leak protection.

If traveling with a toddler who’s potty training, of course you’ll want one last potty break, too. A pre-plane bathroom visit means one less trip to the tiny airplane lavatory. This leads to less work in the air for mom or dad and less inconvenience for those seated nearby. Plus, you never know how long it will be until the “keep seatbelt fastened sign” will be illuminated. It’s better to be safe than sorry (and stinky)!

You may think you should skip the pre-board to ensure spending as little time as possible on the airplane with your little one. But getting situated on board a flight takes more time with a young child. Flying with a baby or toddler is stressful enough without having passengers behind you sighing as you struggle to buckle in your little darling.

I recommend you book a separate seat for your child, even though lap children under age 2 typically fly free. Not only is this the safer option, but also it gives your family more room to spread out and relax on the plane. If you boarded a plane and were informed that your safety belt was broken, I’d bet you’d balk. Why put your child at risk?

Here’s what the Federal Aviation Administration says on their website, “Did you know that the safest place for your child on an airplane is in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device, not on your lap? Your arms aren’t capable of holding your child securely, especially during unexpected turbulence.” They continue, “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) strongly urges you to secure your child in a CRS or device for the duration of your flight. It’s the smart and right thing to do so that everyone in your family arrives safely at your destination.”

I know it’s more expensive to book a seat for your baby or toddler and this may limit your travel capabilities. For this reason, it’s important to find ways to save money when traveling with kids.

Air travel tickets can be one of the most expensive parts of travel. Thankfully, JustFly.com makes it easy to save money on your family’s flights. Use JustFly.com to search and compare the best flight deals from 440+ airlines. After you search for a particular route, this intuitive website will prompt you to set up a fare alert to receive a notification when prices drop to the destination of your choice. And, unlike some airlines that charge extra for booking by phone, JustFly.com’s team of travel agents are happy to assist you in finding affordable air tickets by phone.

You can also search JustFly.com for deals on hotels, rental cars and cruises for even more savings.

At no additional charge, most airlines allow parents and caregivers to gate check bulky baby gear like strollers and car seats. Simply request gate check tags from the attendant at your airline’s gate. Attach one tag to each item and deposit it at the bottom of the jetway. Be sure to fold strollers before boarding. Gate checked items will typically be waiting for you in the same spot at your destination when you disembark. Sometimes, though, they must be retrieved from baggage claim. Check with your airline before your flight regarding their gate check policy.

To lighten your load in the airport and avoid baggage fees, consider renting baby travel gear. You can have cribs, car seats, high chairs and more delivered to your destination airport, hotel, or grandma’s house. This service is available in locations around the world for traveling families. (If traveling with a toddler, then you might want to use a lightweight CARES safety harness on board the airplane and gate check your child’s car booster seat.) Read here more tips.