Everly and I just returned from our first trip during a global pandemic – we have been very hesitant to fly due to large crowds/germs, but it was the perfect timing for us to get to Florida and visit with our family. We found a great deal on Delta and were so happy to see that they are blocking the middle seats too! I have been traveling with Everly (mostly solo) since she was 3 months old because my whole family is in Florida, so I have lots of tips and tricks to get you through a flight smoothly.
First things first, flying is hard. Even for adults. It takes a toll on your body and can be dehydrating, boring, and exhausting. It’s easier said than done, but you’ll definitely want to drink lots of water and get a good night’s rest the night before. Leading up to the flight you will always want to talk about traveling with your toddler. This recent trip was a surprise (we booked the day before we flew) — but it’s important to give your toddler a head’s up. Most kids don’t like change to their routines, so set their expectations for the day of travel.
To Buy the Seat or Not?
I get this question a lot! Children two and under are considered “lap infants” and are free travelers on airlines. They do not get their own ticketed seat and will have to sit on your lap for the duration of the flight. As soon as Everly turned one and started walking it was impossible to keep her in our laps. Even when flying with my husband, so we started purchasing her own seat. When you have a ticketed seat you can also bring the car seat on the plane. This was a game changer to buckle her in! She would start to fall asleep better on flights too. I always recommend buying the extra seat for children age 1 and over, but it depends on your budget and your kids!
Organize Yourself
I have to say this because I feel like this is a big part of a smooth flight. The week leading up to a flight you will want to organize all of your travel gear.
Are you bringing a stroller or infant carrier? Are you bringing your big stroller or the umbrella stroller? Will you check the car seat at the gate or beforehand? The are the questions I get on social media every time I fly! Plan this out and walk through the steps in your head.
Before age 1 I recommend bringing a carrier – we loved the LilleBaby one! The stroller is great to have because you can fill up the basket on the bottom with your backpack or even the car seat while walking through the airport. The Evenflo one we have fits perfectly under our UppaBaby Vista. If you’re planning to bring your UppaBaby Vista you probably want to bring the travel bag too. Can you put the Vista in the travel bag while holding a one year old because you’re alone? :::I’m sweating just thinking about this:::
Don’t forget:
- Travel bag for car seat
- Travel bag for stroller
Put all of your essentials in a backpack or small bag that is easy to carry. Essentials for flights are your phone with boarding pass downloaded, ID, credit card, hand sanitizer, and a baby pacifier (if needed). Everything else can be in your backpack or purse, but these items will need to be pulled out quickly to check bags, go through security, or board the plane.
Plan Ahead
My life motto is: if you fail you plan, then you plan to fail. I guess this is the event planner in me haha! But it applies to flying for sure. Try to schedule your flights in time slots that work for you and your baby’s feeding and sleeping schedule. If you have a baby younger than six months or so, they will probably sleep great on the plane, but sleep can definitely be an issue for older children. Everly would never sleep on a plane unless take off was perfectly timed with her nap schedule. If you can’t pick a flight around your baby’s nap or bedtime then plan to make them as comfortable as possible to fall sleep. Some items that I recommend for sleeping on the go are a noise machine, soft blanket, and car seat on a plane if you can swing it! We always prefer to fly early in the morning -kids are usually up early anyways, so better to get to the airport instead of waiting around all day.
If you’re lucky enough to get a plane sleeper then you’re golden! If not, here are some things I do to prepare for entertaining a toddler on a flight:
Bring Activities
Most toddlers will need constant entertainment on a flight. Some of my favorites activities to bring are:
- Reusable stickers
- Water Wow Books
- Post it Notes
- Busy Boxes – I haven’t purchased this yet, but have seen other parents bring them.
- Bandaids – ok this seems weird, but they’re exciting for kids
- Magnatiles or Magnaformers
- A travel art desk. We love the Crayola one with the mess free markers
- Coloring Books
- 2-3 Books for reading
- anything special that you have to keep your child entertained – maybe a tablet or an iPad with games/movies downloaded
Hand Sanitizer, yes please!
All airlines and airports require anyone two or older to wear a face covering. Everly wears a mask to school everyday and when we are in the city, so this wasn’t out of the ordinary for her. It can be scary for young kids, so chat with them about mask wearing. Here’s a blog post I found from another mom with lots of tips for the adjustment and some great resources to help the transition!
You have to wear a mask the full flight unless you are eating or drinking, so bring lots of snacks! haha
You’ll also want to bring:
- Hand sanitizer spray
- Hand sanitizer wipes
- Clean Masks
- A sweatshirt: I recommend wearing long pants and a sweatshirt to cover your head, if possible. This was easy for Everly because she has a dinosaur hoody she loves. She wore it during the flight and it went right into the laundry once we landed.
Have you flown during the pandemic? Share your tips in the comments!
xo,
Jacci
