This post is long overdue since Jett and I flew to Kentucky for the first time a year ago in July! We are going back tomorrow and I thought I would get this post up before our trip. His first trip was at 2 months old and he was still exclusively breastfeeding. Skyler didn’t come on this trip with us, it was just Jett and I. We’ve flown 4 times just the 2 of us so if you’re worried you’re on your own, don’t be! In this post I’m sharing flight tips and everything I packed in my diaper bag(s)!
For our first trip, I brought the UPPAbaby VISTA stroller and his MESA car seat. I gate checked both and had a generic bag that I got off of Amazon that I wouldn’t recommend. I would highly recommend the UPPAbaby travel bags because after you register them, if your stroller or car seat are damaged then they will replace the item if it cannot be fixed. I also brought our Ergobaby carrier so I could carry him on my chest while I folded down the stroller and put it in the bag.
For my diaper bag that went under the seat, I packed:
Ziploc bag for dirty burp cloth(s).
Swaddle that I could also tie around my neck as a nursing cover.
Extra pacifiers.
2 Wubbanubs (in case one fell on the floor, which it did, and I put it in that “dirty” ziploc bag)!
Diapers and wipes.
For my diaper backpack that went in the overhead bin, I packed:
Swaddle that I could also tie around my neck as a nursing cover in case the first one got spit up all over it (it did).
Extra outfit in case he had a blowout or threw up all over himself (which he did big time)!
Extra diapers and wipe in case we got stuck somewhere and had to stay overnight.
Extra nursing tank for myself if Jett threw up all over me (which he did- yikes)!
TIPS FOR FLYING WITH A NEWBORN:
Call the airline ahead of time and make sure that your newborn is on your boarding pass and everything is all set. Otherwise, you won’t be able to check in on your mobile app and it’s a mess. Trust me, just call beforehand! For our trip tomorrow, the customer service agent even changed my seat assignment for free since I’m flying with a child- whoohoo!
Have a copy of your babies birth certificate just in case. I’ve never been asked for this, but I always bring it just in case.
Pack more diapers than you think you’ll need just in case you get stuck somewhere over night!
Bring a baby carrier like an Ergobaby for boarding and deplaning. You’ll need both hands to get your bag, backpack and whatever else you brought! People are helpful and just ask someone to buckle it if you can’t get it on your own. No one has ever told me no and is always happy to help!
Get an organizer for your diaper bag! I didn’t have one until I found this one on Amazon for my Louis Vuitton Neverfull and it is LIFE CHANGING!
If you have a layover longer than an hour and a half, I would suggest gate checking your stroller. It makes things so much easier.
If you’re breastfeeding, google the airport you’re going to be in to see if they have any breastfeeding rooms or pods. DFW has a room and ATL has pods. For the pods you have to use an app but it’s usually easy to download then and there. In ATL I used the the mamava app!
Fly Southwest. I’ll be honest before having a baby I did not like Southwest. The whole boarding situation just gives me anxiety. However, with a child it’s the best, you know why? Because you get to board first and there’s a 99% chance that the person who sits next to you LIKES children or you might even get an empty seat next to you- WIN-WIN!
Wear leggings but not leggings that are too thick/tight because it’s harder to get them up when you have the baby carrier on. I got these from Revolve and LOVE THEM. They are my travel leggings now- ha!
Wear your hair up so it doesn’t get all caught in the baby carrier.
Dress your baby in pajamas with feet and a zipper so you don’t have to worry about their socks falling off!
Those are all of the tips I have for flying with a newborn, I’ll do another post about flying with a 4 month old, 7 month old, and a 1 year old! They’re all such different experiences and it gets harder as they get older. Trust me, if you’re a newborn mom enjoy this time when they just sleep and eat on the flight (and hopefully don’t pool LOL)!
Xo,
Haley
