I learned these the hard way so you don’t have to.
Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure
“Were not sure where your car seat is.”
Those are eight words no traveling parent ever wants to hear.
Jocelyn Newman and her family on a hike together.Credit:Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure
“Just another datapoint,” I said, chuckling as I squeezed my husbands hand.
That level of calm may seem ridiculous, but my family isnt new to challenging travel.
We lived nomadically for more than a year, visiting nearly 30 countries along the way.
Jocelyn Newman’s 9 month old baby in an airport and the packed up stroller.Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure
That said, traveling with a little baby was new for us.
Due to COVID-19 closures, we didnt start traveling with my oldest until he was nearly a year old.
How bad is air pressure actually on infant ears?
Jocelyn Newman’s family while on a trip together and her children in the airport.Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure
Could my daughter do tummy time in the aisle?
How do you entertain a novice crawler on a long-haul trip?
Fast-forward nine months, and my little girl has taken 20 flights.
A bundle of First Pack for Little Explorers onesies.Jocelyn Newman/Travel + Leisure
Here are my conclusions the lessons Ive learned the hard way so you dont have to.
Lesson 1: Avoid gate check at all costs.
In our 20 flights, our gate-checked car seat was lost twice.
Now, a 10 percent failure rate may not seem so bad at face value.
Generally, Im a devout carry-on traveler.
Even with two kids, my family never travels with more than two backpacks.
But even I would recommend checking over gate checking.
Better yet, seek out products you could bring on board.
TheYoyo2 travel strollerfits in the overhead bin, so it never needs to ride down below.
Lesson 2: Budget airlines cut corners on more than snacks and baggage.
With the amount of travel weve done this year, weve often turned tobudget airlinesto cut costs.
The surprising difference Ive learned is budget airlines wont sit your family together unless you pay for seat selection.
Lesson 3: Variety is the best entertainment.
“What will keep their attention for six hours?”
My short answer: There’s no silver bullet, but variety and novelty go a long way.
Part of the strategy is recognizing the vast developmental leaps in a babys first year.
What entertained her at 3 months was a total flop by 5 months.
But sometimes, those 3-month items could be used in a new way at 8 months.
On each flight, my best bet was to cycle through a series of options and see what stuck.
Now, “variety” doesnt mean it’s crucial that you bring your whole playroom along.
A good no-pack activity is sheer movement.
Walk the aisle, do tummy time on your empty seat, and visit the galley kitchen.
Lesson 4: Dress in layers and that includes you.
When flying with a baby, mess is inevitable.
But in tight quarters, taking off a soiled layer is far easier than putting on a new one.
I always dress my daughter in a T-shirt or onesie, layered under a stretchy, breathable sweatshirt.
Beyond dressing your little one in layers, dont forget about yourself.
A backup for yourself can be easy to forget, but is often critical.
Lesson 5: There arent “good fliers” and “bad fliers.”
But in truth, I dont believe there are “good fliers” and “bad fliers.”
But for no reason I could name, her 20th flight was a straight screamfest from takeoff to landing.
Some days are smooth; others are more turbulent.
The nice thing is that in those 20 flights, I experienced immense kindness in the difficult moments.
Every time my anxiety was rising, I was able to find a sympathetic smile.
