Babies come with a lot of baggage, but it is becoming ever more expensive and inconvenient to fly with tons of stuff. Pack and carry onto the plane the absolute minimum you can. You do not want to be wrestling with too many bags and pieces of baby equipment at the security checkpoint or on the plane.
Before you pack any carry-on items, check both your airline’s baggage policies and the latest restrictions from the Transport Security Administration. It is your responsibility to know the most recent rulings on traveling with baby formula, containers of breast milk, water, canned or jarred baby food, and juice. In general, always err on the side of caution and be prepared to hand over for inspection any liquids on your person.
Use your diaper bag as a purse so you only have one carry-on to keep track of. Then follow these handy steps for what to pack specifically for your baby in this carry-on:
1. Figure out your total travel time. Then pack twice as many diapers as you would usually use in this span of time. You do not want to be in a situation where your only new diapers are trapped beneath the plane in your checked suitcase.
2. Fill your diaper wipe container completely. You also do not want to face a poop emergency with one, dried-up wipe.
3. Pack hand and face sanitizing wipes instead of little bottles of sanitizer so you have one less liquid to deal with at the security checkpoint.
4. Pack only a few small toys of different kinds that you can rotate in and out to keep your baby entertained. Remember, you can always entertain your baby with free on-board supplies like plastic cups, straws, or the air-sickness bag. It’s best to pack toys that clip or attach to things, too, so that you can keep track of them more easily.
5. Pack at least one extra outfit, and two if your baby is prone to messy diapers.
6. Pack several burp cloths to mop up various messes, along with a small plastic bag or two in which to store used burp cloths or any clothes that become stained.
7. Planes are usually kept fairly cold, so pack a lightweight baby blanket and a sweater or a hoodie for your baby so you can have a layer to put on and take off depending on the temperature. A hat and an extra pair of socks can also be useful if you have room for them.
8. Pack a portable changing pad so you don’t have to lay your baby directly on any public changers. This will also contain the mess if you end up having to change the baby on your seat tray, which, horrifyingly, did actually happen to me once. But take heart, my baby and I (and our somewhat appalled neighbor to the right) all lived through the experience.
9. If you are bottle-feeding, pack whatever bottles and extra formula containers are currently allowed by your airline and the TDA.
10. If your baby is old enough to be eating solids, pack a plastic container or plastic baggie of dry cereal or other small finger snacks.
11. If you are worried about your baby’s ears popping during takeoff and landing and do not plan to be breastfeeding or giving your baby a bottle for those times, pack a pacifier or even a sippy cup (filled with liquid AFTER you pass the security checkpoint) for him or her to suck on.
12. If your baby is going to fly as a lap baby, or if you suspect he or she will not be spending much of the flight secured in his or her own seat in a car seat, you may want to invest in a Baby B’Air Flight Safety Vest. This is harness is approved by the FAA for in-flight use and straps the baby securely to you while he or she is sitting on your lap.
The last step to packing your diaper bag carry-on is to check for items you normally carry in your diaper bag that you will now want to remove, such as nail clippers, nail scissors, or any other sharp items you might have handy for first-aid emergencies or baby grooming. Move these items to your checked luggage.
This is a list of basic suggestions. We all have different babies with different needs. Use this list as a starting point, and then add to it the specific items that you and your baby just can’t live without, such as a sling or other baby carrier or a specific lovey or blanket that your baby needs for comfort. Last of all, be sure to put in some magazines or something fun just for you. After all, there’s always a chance that your baby will sleep during the flight, and you don’t want to be caught with nothing to read but the safety instruction card!
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