Tips for Long Haul Flights with your Baby/Toddler
If you’re like me and live a transcontinental flight away from Greece, you know that the trip there can be tiring. Add a baby or a toddler to the equation, and the trip can feel down right daunting. One of the most common questions that I get from the moms in my life is, “how do you take your little one on a long haul flight?” It can seem like a completely daunting task. But with a little preparation, you can definitely do it! Here are some of the tips that have helped me tackle the long trip...
Bring a change of clothes for both you and the baby
Accidents happen - whether it’s a blow out, spit up, or throw up. I usually pack an extra pair of comfortable pajamas for my son on our long haul flights... Little Sleepies are our go to. I also pack at least an extra shirt, underwear, and a pair of leggings for myself, because you never know when you will need to change your own clothes! I also recommend dressing in layers, because when you’re wrangling a baby, you tend to get hot!
Have a small bag full of diapering essentials
The bathrooms are SMALL on flights. Bringing a my bulky diaper bag felt like overkill, not to mention I am a bit of a germaphobe on airplane bathrooms and I didn’t want it touching anything… So I made a zip pouch with my diapering essentials — diapers, wipes, aquaphor, hand sanitizer, changing pad. I would bring it with me to the bathroom and it made it much easier to have everything in one place.
Become friends with your flight attendants
Flight attendants are the BEST! They are there to make sure that you make it to your destination safely, and will help you navigate the flight. The first time I flew to Greece, I was alone with my baby. At one point, he was asleep in his carseat and my bladder was bursting. I felt most comfortable asking the flight attendant to watch my baby rather than another passenger while I used the restroom. The flight attendant happily did this (as they weren’t busy at the time) and I was so grateful to not have to wake him up! The flight attendants also checked on us frequently and assisted with boarding and de-planing. Flight attendants also know the best bathroom and biggest bathroom for diaper changes!
Don’t forget about the carseat
I’m not sure why figuring out the carseat situation stresses me out so much, but it does. You want to figure out if you’re going to bring a carseat or if you are going to rent one (or buy one!) when you get there. Or, is some circumstances, you might not even need a carseat if you are going somewhere with great public transportation. If you decide to bring your own, there are a few other things to consider:
Are you going to bring the carseat on the plane for your child to sit in? Or are you going to check it? The most important thing here is to CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE regarding their carseat policy. The next equally most important is to make sure the carseat is FAA compliant. This post is a good one to read.
If you are going to Greece, most US carseats require a locking clip, because the carseats function differently. Some carseats come with them — ours did! But I bought an extra just in case. Depending on the car, you might need to use one to assure it’s installed safely. They are easy to use, but you should familiarize placement.
When I brought my son to Greece the last time, he still fit in his infant carseat. This was amazing because our infant carseat clicked into the stroller and was super easy to use. Now he is in a convertible carseat, so it makes things a little bit more complicated. We plan to purchase a lightweight travel convertible seat for him when we travel and bring it.
Don’t bring too much stuff
This is my #1 and I totally made this mistake the first time I traveled with my son. I read so many posts and watched so many videos about what I should bring — I ended up completely overpacking! You need less than you think! If you are traveling alone, like I was, this is EXTRA important. If your child is a baby or a young toddler, you probably don’t need that many toys. You can get creative with the stuff already on the plane — we had lots of fun playing with an empty water bottle, looking at the inflight magazine, and playing with the safety card. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on favorite travel essentials for both mom and child!
And lastly…It’s okay if your baby cries
A crying baby can be very nerve-wracking. Not only do you feel awful for your child (and yourself), but it can be stressful worrying about bothering the people around you. My advice: do your best to soothe your child, keep your cool, and don’t worry about the people around you. Most people will be sympathetic to your situation, and those that aren’t — well, you probably will never see them again after this flight!
I hope these are helpful! Traveling with a little one can definitely be a challenge, but with a little preparation it is definitely doable. If you have any tips, please leave them below!