Traveling With an Infant

As I sit at my gate waiting for my flight, I have mixed emotions, as this is my first time traveling without my son since he was born. I travel occasionally for work, and it certainly was not easy to say goodbye to my son and husband this morning. I held my son extra tight and lingered for a bit longer before handing him back to my husband, fighting back the tears.

Flying out of Charleston brings me back to the fall when I traveled alone, with my son, when he was eight weeks old. My parents were moving from Pennsylvania to Tennessee, and I knew it would be much harder to get up there with the little guy after they moved. So, I booked a ticket; my husband thought I was crazy, and I planned our solo adventure.

Fast forward to the day of our departure. I checked my bag, which was absolutely necessary for a week-long trip, so that helped with navigating through the airport. It was a challenge trying to coordinate our flight with his feeding schedule, and of course he started throwing a fit about half an hour before we were supposed to take off (so much for trying to feed him while the plane took off). I had his stroller, with car seat attached, a Baby Bjorn, and my carry-on – packed to the gills with items I felt I couldn’t go without for the short hour and half flight to Philly.

Passengers just started boarding when I heard it… a huge explosion coming from my son’s diaper. UGH. Okay fine, let’s go to the bathroom and get this kid changed. I got to the bathroom and someone was using the changing table as her personal makeup station (so annoying, never mind completely gross).

I went into the handicapped stall – no changing table. Okay, maybe I can change him on my lap while I sit on the toilet? Ewe, no that won’t work. Maybe in his car seat in the stroller? Yeah, that’s not going to work either.

We leave the stall and Makeup Lady is finally gone. I open up his onesie, and I swear it was the largest poop I had seen to date; this required a full wardrobe change. How can such a tiny baby produce so much waste?! And so frequently?!

Finally he’s clean, I’m all sweaty, I get him back in the Baby Bjorn and leave the bathroom. I get to the gate and it’s empty. I am just standing there like a deer in headlights (thinking the gate was changed!) when the attendant at the counter asked me if I was Sidlowe.

Yep, that’s me.

He urged us to get down the jet way as they were about to close the cabin and prepare for takeoff. I couldn’t believe it. I was THAT PERSON. You know what I’m talking about – plane is just about to depart, you’re all settled and then you see someone get on last minute with a BABY. Luckily, I had asked to have my seat moved to the back where I wouldn’t be sitting next to another passenger.

The little guy took more of his bottle and fell asleep for the rest of the flight. It was simple as that. Wow. Who would have thought the hardest part would have been just getting him on the plane!? I was pumping at the time, so the clock was ticking when I got to Philly, where my parents were waiting for us. We high-tailed it to the car so I could connect my torture device and pump.

It was such a joy to be in PA and to have our little guy meet all of his relatives and so many of my close friends.

So… are you thinking of flying with an infant? Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Call the airline after you book to have your baby added to your itinerary (if you are not purchasing an extra seat).
• Plan for how much time you think you may need to get to the airport, through security, and be ready at the gate – and double it.
• People WILL go out of their way to help you – take them up on it! You’d be amazed at what an extra hand will do to make the trip through security, assembling your stroller/car seat at the gate, etc. easier.
• Plan to feed your baby at takeoff and when you’re about to land – it will help alleviate pressure in their little ears.
• Check to see if the flight is full, and if not. when you arrive at the airport, ask if your seat can be moved to a row that is empty or next to an empty seat. You’ll have more space and your former seat buddy will thank you.
• Security isn’t that bad, TSA can be very helpful – if you’re traveling with breast milk or formula, print out the formula, breast milk and juice guidelines and have it on hand (you never know) and let the agent know you have BM/formula with you; they will take it and test it.
• Those “gate check” bags (the big red ones) are not worth it. I had planned on putting the car seat and stroller in those bags and I didn’t have time and it was just too hard to manage alone. The stroller and car seat were fine without it.

Take advantage of the fact that babies sleep a lot and you don’t have to pay for their ticket! Traveling alone with an infant is nothing to be nervous about; just give yourself a lot of time – the last thing you want to be stressing over is missing your flight. Safe travels!

What tips would you add to the list?