Summer Travel Series: Traveling with Baby

Thanks for checking back in with our Summer Travel Series! We will be talking about the latest and greatest gear and accessories for traveling with different age groups. One essential for traveling with your little one is a stroller. It does not count as a carry on item because you can check it at the gate. Get to the airport even a little bit earlier than you would with out baby so you have plenty of time to get through security. You will have to take baby out and lift the stroller onto the security check point belt. The best strollers for travel are the ones that convert, but are also light weight and compact. The Cybex Onyx Stroller and Infant Seat as well as the Orbit Baby (see our review for more info on this amazing set up) are both excellent for this. A baby carrier, such as Ergo, Baby Bjorn, or Cybex is also a good idea for holding a fussy baby hands free while walking and sight seeing.


One thing we found to bother baby while traveling is pressure changes. Their little ears are very sensitive and if baby seems uncommonly fussy when you feel pressure changes, this is the likely cause. Help them by allowing them to nurse (only if on a plane with baby in your lap, never drive without baby secured in their car seat), drink from a bottle, or suck on a pacifier. Pack baby’s bottles, milk, snacks, and jarred food in a Pack n Protect, keep it toward the top for easy check in at security (they will allow you to take them on the plane but they have to screen each bottle first). For easy spoon feeding on the plane, try the Munchkin Easy Squeezy Spoon.


Dressing baby in layers is a good idea for travel. Also bring along a couple of swaddle blankets for multipurpose use (keeping baby wrapped warmly and comfortably, as a burp cloth, and for emergency diapering purposes). Make sure to bring along babies favorite lovie (if they don’t already have a comfort item, now might be the time to choose one, but buy a few of the same if you can and rotate through them: Little Giraffe, Miyim, Angel Dear, and Taggies are all great options). Usually you can fit a few baby toys in your diaper bag, but as baby gets bigger and needs more entertainment, bring along a spare “toy bag” or backpack just for baby. Skip Hop has cute designs that are the perfect size. I like to link all of baby’s toys together (especially during the fun “I can throw things? Cool!” stage) using teething links. Some good items to link up are a set of keys, stroller toys, and a teether.


Speaking of diaper bags, you are likely going to need to put yours in the overhead compartment. For convenience, stash a quick change kit containing a few diapers, wipes, and a built in changing pad under the seat along with baby’s feeding items (or your nursing cover, which makes a good blanket as well). Also keep a pack of Grime Fighting Wipes on hand in your quick change kit for wiping down the table tray and anything else baby might touch (so, everything around you pretty much). After flying many times with my now 18 month old, these three items are all I carry with us on the plane (I stash my tiny purse in his backpack as soon as we take out a few toys). I like to hook them all together and just pick up what I need rather than rummage through a large diaper bag.

With these handy items, traveling with baby can be a breeze rather than a hassle. Check back in for the next installment in our Summer Travel Series: Traveling with Younger Children (3-5 year olds) featuring the Melissa and Doug Trunki Ride on Suitcase!

~Alena