Okay mamas, I know there are lots of you wondering if you dare travel to the far ends of the Earth with your wee little baby. Some feel that the risks are too great and it will be too stressful, and others feel that traveling with your little tiger is the stuff of dreams. My dearest hubby and I fall somewhere in between, leaning slightly more to the side of looking forward to traveling.
Well, our first big trip was to a small city outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. It was a 14 hour trip, door-to-door. Our trip went like this: taxi, security check, flight, layover, security check (yes again), flight, customs, and a taxi ride to our final destination. What did I learn during this? Well, first and foremost I now officially hate the "Please Fasten Your Seatbelts" sign. That meant that no matter how cranky our little love bug was there was no getting up to walk or rock her. Ugh. Second, the other biggest lesson is that everyone else on the plane does not hate you, many people actually feel for you when your child is acting up and would do anything to help.
Overall it was an eventual trip, and an extremely long day. But, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and I think I learned quite a bit on how to simplify things.
1. Pick the security line off to the side, the one all the other families are going through. Often we will be ushered ahead of all of the other passengers (who then give you dirty looks) through the line that the flight crew uses.
2. Bring an extra shirt for yourself in the diaper bag. A friend recently had to purchase a $68 T-shirt as their child soiled their shirt and they only had a spare outfit for the baby, which would have left Daddy to stink up the plane without a shirt change. Hence, buying a $68 T-shirt.
3. Make sure your diaper bag comfortably fits under the seat. There is nothing as awkward as trying to hold a squirmy baby and getting your oversized diaper bag from under the seat.
4. It can help if the baby is sucking on landing and take-off. Pacifier, nurse, bottle, whatever your flavor. Our daughter has been asleep for take-off or landing multiple times and didn't seem to mind, but we were always prepared for otherwise.
Well, our first big trip was to a small city outside of Guadalajara, Mexico. It was a 14 hour trip, door-to-door. Our trip went like this: taxi, security check, flight, layover, security check (yes again), flight, customs, and a taxi ride to our final destination. What did I learn during this? Well, first and foremost I now officially hate the "Please Fasten Your Seatbelts" sign. That meant that no matter how cranky our little love bug was there was no getting up to walk or rock her. Ugh. Second, the other biggest lesson is that everyone else on the plane does not hate you, many people actually feel for you when your child is acting up and would do anything to help.
Overall it was an eventual trip, and an extremely long day. But, it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be, and I think I learned quite a bit on how to simplify things.
1. Pick the security line off to the side, the one all the other families are going through. Often we will be ushered ahead of all of the other passengers (who then give you dirty looks) through the line that the flight crew uses.
2. Bring an extra shirt for yourself in the diaper bag. A friend recently had to purchase a $68 T-shirt as their child soiled their shirt and they only had a spare outfit for the baby, which would have left Daddy to stink up the plane without a shirt change. Hence, buying a $68 T-shirt.
3. Make sure your diaper bag comfortably fits under the seat. There is nothing as awkward as trying to hold a squirmy baby and getting your oversized diaper bag from under the seat.
4. It can help if the baby is sucking on landing and take-off. Pacifier, nurse, bottle, whatever your flavor. Our daughter has been asleep for take-off or landing multiple times and didn't seem to mind, but we were always prepared for otherwise.
5. ABC--All Babies Cry.
6. If you do gate check your stroller and car seat, ask for your tags prior to boarding. While getting your tags, double check your seat assignment with the flight attendant as their may be a spot with an empty seat next to it that they would be happy to move you to in order to give you more space.
7. Did I mention ABC? ;)
6. If you do gate check your stroller and car seat, ask for your tags prior to boarding. While getting your tags, double check your seat assignment with the flight attendant as their may be a spot with an empty seat next to it that they would be happy to move you to in order to give you more space.
7. Did I mention ABC? ;)
8. Our prefered method of containment for our little one upon arrival for sleeping is the Peapod. Much lighter and smaller than a Pack 'n' Play. I bring a crib sheet and bassinet mattress pad to place over the mattress inside the Peapod, since our baby is a heavy drooler and tummy sleeper.
9. We preferred to wear the baby while in the airport and use our stroller as a place to carry our bags and car seat. (I take my Maclaren, and strap the car seat to the seat with a bungee cord. This way when out and about our daughter isn't so confined in the car seat as she would have been if we had brought the Snap 'n' Go.)
Safe travels! Really, it isn't that bad. We've actually come to enjoy it!
