It’s October which means the travel, err I mean holiday season is just around the corner. Which means it is time to start thinking of the best ways to travel with an infant.
I’m approximately 10 weeks away from having my 2nd child; so I made it perfectly clear I will not be traveling this holiday season.
For those of you that are planning on flying the friendly skies to take junior to see Grandma for the holidays we offer the following 5 helpful tips to get you from gate to gate without too much anxiety.
- 1. Request pre-boarding if it isn’t offered to you. During the busy travel season your little companion may be overlooked by airline staff. Check your airline’s website for policies for traveling with infants and young children.
- 2.Consider a car seat with wheels and handles for easy transport through the airport. Or better yet just purchase a wheeled luggage carrier at your local superstore. All you have to do is strap the car seat on the luggage carrier and you are ready to go. Check out these two products from www.onestepahead.com, the gogo Kidz Travelmate and the Ride-On Carry-On.
- 3. Keep your hands free with baby carriers and baby slings. Your little tike is strapped to your front in her baby carrier and your gear is in a backpack on your back, leaving your hands fee to manage ticket and other airport necessities. You can find a variety of baby carriers and baby slings at www.lalababyboutique.com. Extra tip: Be prepared to take off your Baby Bjorn or carrier during the security check-in. I have heard that some mothers have been able to keep the baby safe and secure with some of the baby wraps.
- 4. Know the rules. Eliminate frustration at the airport by calling ahead or looking online for any new travel rules.
- 5. Use resealable plastic bags to organize your carry-on or diaper bag. Use one bag for small toys, one for crayons and coloring books, one for snacks, another for pacifiers, and finally one for diapers and diapering products. Keep one extra empty bag for dirty items – just in case.
Special Note: After experiencing this situation first hand, make sure you have proof of your child’s age if they are under 2 years old, otherwise you may be forced to buy a ticket for her or missing your flight until you have the proof. I ran into this problem twice – even when my daughter was just one years old.Thanks to “Find It! Source ook for parents” for the helpful travel tips.
