Flying with a Baby

Some tips for future us on flying with a baby:

• Traveling at 6 weeks old is scary, but can be done and Lucy adapted well to this. She slept on the plane most of the time and her ears did not seem to bother her.
• Bring the nursing pillow, if possible a small version
• Bring extra wipes and diapers, enough for the flight plus enough for the first day of the trip. Buy more when you arrive.
• Pack an extra outfit in the personal item for mom and baby
• Call the airline to make sure "infant in arms" is on the ticket in advance
• Board first when families are called and take all the time you need to get settled in
• Pee and diaper change before getting on the plane
• Change baby's diaper in the seat while ignoring dirty looks for flight attendants. The bathroom is nasty.
• Wear the baby through security. The seat and stroller will need to be scanned.
• Drive to and from the airport during sleepy times if possible
• Choose a longer layover over a short one
• Avoid flying through NYC
• Breastfeed. Whip out the boob and just go for it.

• Remember that babies do not have appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Ignore other passengers when they comment that your baby was "good." Babies are babies and all babies are good. "Didn't cry" does not equal "good."
• Take Lysol wipes for piece of mind
• Pack outfits in baggies for ease of finding everything you need. Also makes a sealable place tp put soiled items.
• Wear shoes you can easily get on and off at security while wearing baby
• Place birth certificate in a plastic sleeve and then in a folder for safe keeping in case they ask for it at security
• Try to rest if baby sleeps on the plane
• Try to underpack, particularly if you are going some where with a Target and/or a washer/dryer. We take more crap with us now than when we went rock climbing in Thailand and took our own gear. It is incredible and completely unnecessary. We are learning!
• Give baby a chance to stretch out during layovers. Play games, sing songs and do some baby yoga. 
• Dress you and baby in layers. I love to wear a nursing tank, yoga pants and a long-sleeve t-shirt. I like to dress Lucy in a short-sleeve onesie with a long sleeve, light jacket over it and pants that have feet. I cannot handle sock loss and you never know the temperature of the plane. 
• Be calm. Baby can sense your stress!