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This post is all about how to make traveling with kids easier- from things you might not know, to my packing tips & traveling must haves!
Flying with babies can be so overwhelming. Flying in general just stresses me out because you have to think more about what you’re packing and being on time and adhering to all the rules that you wouldn’t have if you were driving. Being prepared though can make a big difference. So hopefully you will find something from my experience that will make it easier for you and your family!
Scroll to the bottom to find my free printable for the Ultimate Packing List for Traveling With Kids.
Booking a Flight With Kids
When booking our flights I try to coordinate them during a sleep time. So the best times that work for us is early morning like 5ish, or evening. Nap would be an option too but right now, for us, their naps don’t always match up so it isn’t as helpful. However, from our latest experience, delays are a real nightmare. Our last flight we had a 14 hour delay and were stuck in the airport. Not only were we delayed, we loaded and deplaned and then waited some more and then flew to Knoxville so they could get gas and then waited some more. All of the preparation in the world could not have prepared me for that.
Preparing for a Flight With Kids
To be prepared I like to make lists about what I need to bring and then lists for each baby. Knowing what you need with you and what you can take can make traveling a lot less stressful (and checking it off is so satisfying). When I first thought about traveling with babies I was so discouraged because I thought about everything that I would need to bring and how much more expensive it would be… BUT that is not the case. Airlines, in my experience, are super helpful when traveling with babies.
5 Things You Need To Know When Traveling With Kids:
- You can bring a stroller with you {and check it at the gate for free} So you can use it to carry your baby and bags all the way to the gate!
- You can bring a pack and play and carseat {and check it at the gate for free} because it is considered an “assistive device” typically one per ticket
- You can bring a diaper bag (in addition to your personal item and carry-on) for free
- You can bring a bag for your breastpump and cooler for your breastmilk for free!
- You can also carry on liquids that are “for the baby” (water for formula or their juice/water)
This takes so much stress out of traveling because they don’t make bringing all of these baby necessities a hassle.
What To Pack When Traveling With Babies
- Diapers & Wipes
- Sound Machines (we travel with both hatch machines-even if were in the same room- the ones with the batteries are a little more expensive but definitely worth it when traveling and when the power goes out haha)
- Pack and Plays (we have three different brands of pack n plays and these are the lightest and easiest to travel with)
- Sheets & Blankets (Pack these and extra diapers & wipes in the middle of your pack and play bags
- Carseats (Everson’s will go in a travel backpack bag to protect it and make it easier to carry & Kaiverly’s will be apart of our stroller attachment so it will go in our stroller bag)
- Bottles and breastmilk cooler
- Evie’s Backpack of activities
- Double Stroller for gate checking// or // Single Stroller Ultral Light weight & folds up small
- Clothes
- Toys
- Toiletry Bag (travel lotion, soap, toothbrush + paste + floss, nail file, banaids, hair brush + curl cream)
- Packing Cubes– separate by person or by day so everything you need is in one cube! You could color code by family member so there is no guessing.
- Travel Hammock for kids – to create an easy space for them to lay out and rest for long trips! I haven’t used this yet but we are saving it for our next trip! I love the idea of it
MY MUST HAVE TRAVELING ACCESSORY
Okay, so here’s my best & favorite traveling with babies tip... invest in a Knackbag! It is my favorite bag to carry around for my everyday use because it is convenient and easy to access everything. But… when you’re traveling it is a necessity for sure! I use this as my back up diaper bag/ extra secret carry on because it counts as my backpack but it has a suitcase compartment for extra clothes (I pack an extra outfit for each baby plus their outfit for when we arrive to our destination so I don’t have to go searching through their luggage to find it. I also store all of the plane necessities: snacks, disinfecting wipes, masks, hand sanitizer, my computer, evies tablet, phone chargers. Everything has a spot so I can access it with easily with babies hanging all over me. It makes traveling so much easier. And it is the only bag I use if we’re only going somewhere for a quick weekend trip because I have a suitcase, computer bag and diaper bag all in one. When traveling with babies your hands are already full so I am trying to bring the least amount of bags as possible! Shop this bag here or by clicking the picture above!! I have a medium blue and a large black one! If that is not in your budget… below there are some affordable options that have the same concept!
What To Pack For Your Baby In Your Carry-On
That is it for our big stuff, I try to keep it light and easy. Each knackbag has extra diapers, wipes, outfits, medicines, snacks and disinfecting cleaners/hand sanitizers (and now masks). Each baby has a carry on luggage (or we check it if it is free) with all of their outfits and shoes. Evie carries his own mini backpack (personal item- since they are in their own seats) that I pack with different activities and new toys to keep him constantly entertained as well as some snacks.
Favorite Toddler Luggage
Favorite Toddler Toys for Plane
Favorite Toddler Snack Trays
Last Minute Traveling-With-Kids Tips and Tricks
Evie sits in his own seat now and Kaiverly will sit in our laps till she is two. We bring Evie’s favorite treat, Zollipops to keep him in his seat when he gets antsy and it works like a charm! I will nurse Kaiverly so that will be her treat. Always make sure to nurse (feed or let them suck on a lollipop-whatever works for your family) during take off and landing to help with their ears popping.
My most important tip would be to just relax. If you are stressed then it will automatically be more stressful but if you just take it step by step it will be so much easier! Enjoy it because it is exciting for them and it will be a memory for you and it will be over before you know it! Remember to find joy in the journey (quite literally-haha)!
I literally had to force my own advice on our last trip because we were stuck in the airport for 13 hours with them, boarded and deboarded a plane twice and went on a random stop to Tennessee so the plane could get gas so we just sat on the tarmac for an hour…. but we made it home and the babies did so well! I think the adults struggled more than them hahaha
Make sure to follow along to see all my next post for all the tips and tricks for traveling with kids! Shop what I talked about throughout the post below! I can’t wait to hear about all your travels and things you learn- comment them below so we can help each other out!
My Amazon Traveling With Kids Must Haves:
Frequently Asked Questions
Depending on the age of the baby the best way to alleviate their ears popping when landing and taking off on the plane would be nursing or feeding the baby, giving the baby a pacifier to suck on or giving your older child a lollipop during those intervals.
The best age to start traveling with kids is entirely up to you. When you feel comfortable is going to be the best fit for your family. Generally speaking, the ages of 3-9 months would be the easiest because they can sleep on you and aren’t mobile enough yet. The more travel you and your baby do the more prepared & comfortable you and your kids will be.
You can buy a seat for your child at any age but it is not required until after their second birthday. At age 2 they are no longer a lap child.
No, you have the option to bring the carseat on the plane ( if you purchased an extra seat for your child) but it is not required. It may be a better option for you because it stays with you, you have multiple children or because you want to contain your child more comfortable on the seat so they can sleep. You also have the option to check or gate check your carseats so you don’t have to have them in a seat.
