Tips Travel Newborn

Tips Travel Newborn – Flying for the first time with your new baby? Wondering how to pack breastmilk or formula for a flight? Here’s what you need to know!

When the baby flies as a lap baby, they essentially travel free because they are sitting on your lap and don’t need their own seat. Nate flew as a lap baby on his first flight at four months and it went great. We had an early morning flight so I wore him in his carrier the entire time we were in the airport (thank goodness he was!), breastfed him on take off and then held him while he slept for the rest of the flight.

There were two major downsides: 1) I checked his stroller and car seat as luggage, so I had nowhere to put him down. This meant taking him to the restroom with me, holding him, and carrying our things. Thankfully the lady sitting next to me was incredibly sweet and helpful. She offered to hold him when I had to pee and helped me with my things when we boarded.

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2) Not much room to spread out and less privacy when breastfeeding. I was really worried about this so I decided to get a first class ticket. The larger seat made breastfeeding much easier and since I was in the first class cabin, I was sitting next to only one other passenger, rather than two in economy. I was also able to get on and off the plane first.

After I shared on Instagram that I had flown with Nate in the first class cabin, I received several messages from my uncle asking how the other passengers reacted and if having a child with me would have any side effects.

First of all it is important to remember that flying is a form of public transport and babies have the same right to travel by air as adults. Also in these pandemic times, I think people are more understanding of a parent who wants to fly with a baby first – not so close contact with strangers, to the front of the plane, etc. I personally didn’t think twice about it. I was incredibly nervous because it was 1) his first flight and 2) I was traveling alone with him. My priority was his comfort and my own sanity- not the opinions of strangers.

All in all, our experience was very positive! The other passengers and flight attendants were very friendly and I think everyone would have appreciated seeing Nate’s cute smiling face. He was agitated for a few minutes, and I felt sorry for the noise, and all I could do was try my best to calm him down and apologize to those around me. Everyone was very kind and no one made me feel bad or uncomfortable. I would definitely fly first again if circumstances warrant.

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On Nate’s second flight at 5 months, I decided to buy him his own ticket and bring him on the plane in his car seat. My first time flying with him I was nervous about folding his UPPAbaby Vista stroller and car seat and checking the gate, but the second time I gained some confidence and felt like I could deal with the stroller and car seat. Airport.

Just like my first time flying with him, everything went smoothly and better than I expected. I packed the stroller frame in its travel case and tried to get to the gate as quickly as possible without stressing when it was time to check the gate. Yes, I had a lot more to deal with at the airport than I did on my first flight with Nate, but at least I had a place to put him down and could keep my purse and diaper bag in the bottom of the stroller. Boarding the plane was a slow process as I was snuggling him in Nate’s car seat rather than his baby carrier, but once we were in our seats it was a comfortable experience.

At check in I asked if we could be placed in our own row without a third passenger and thankfully! That meant I had room in the entire row to discreetly breastfeed and was able to keep him in his car seat for most of the flight. When I had to pee, I called a flight attendant and asked if she could stay with him.

Did you feel safe flying during Covid? That was the common question I was asked on both of my flights with Nate.

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My experience both at the airport and on the flight was honestly no different from what I was used to in pre-Covid times. The biggest changes were actually very positive. Everyone wore a mask. All flights were re-boarding at the front to avoid unnecessary crowding and delays. Passengers can only approach the gate when their row is called. The airport and plane were incredibly clean.

I know most airlines block middle seats (Delta still does as of March 2021), however when I fly in January 2021 both United and Allegiant are back to filling flights. I remember my United flight was almost full and they alerted me that I could switch to an empty flight without any change fees. I decided to stay for the entire flight and felt comfortable the entire time.

Breast milk, formula, juice and baby medications in liquid form are exempt from TSA carry-on restrictions but may be checked. This means you can pack more than 3.4 ounces or 100 ml in carry-on luggage without having to fit these into a quart-sized bag. I recommend packing them in a clear zip lock bag separately from your other carry-on items and immediately notify TSA agents that you are packing liquids over 3.4oz for your child. Be prepared for the TSA to check any liquids you bring through security.

On my first flight with Nate, the TSA agents didn’t check the 8oz bottle of breast milk in my diaper bag – even though I informed them I was carrying more than 3.4oz of liquid. However, on my return flight home, agents removed the bottle from my bag and went through the motions of inspection.

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Basically what they do is open up the liquid and stick a small paper test strip to it. It takes about three minutes and you can stand there to watch them do it in the security area. To avoid spillage or confusion, I recommend putting any liquid formula or breastmilk in a secure container that is easily accessible in your bag and easy for a guest to open and close.

I made the mistake of putting Nate’s milk into a pre-made Dr. Brown’s bottle (lots of little pieces) so the rep took too long to remove the nipple Going forward I will definitely be packing all liquids in a screw-on cap made with a nipple. Tip: The TSA agent may ask you to put on new clean gloves before handing over any of your packed liquids.

Frozen breast milk and ice packs can be packed in carry-on luggage. As with liquids, frozen breast milk and ice packs over 3.4oz are allowed to be carried on flights. The big difference – frozen items require no TSA inspection and do not need to be removed from your luggage when going through security. Frozen items can go through the conveyor belt scanner like any normal item.

On our flight back from Florida, I carried 15 oz freezer bags of breast milk in the insulated cooler compartment of this bag with no problems. I put all the freezer bags in a large gallon size zip lock bag and surrounded them with ice packs inside the backpack and they stayed frozen almost the whole time. It took about 6 hours for my milk to go out of the fridge during the trip to the airport, the flight and then home. If possible, I recommend storing anything frozen in a bag or container separate from other belongings to avoid opening it and releasing cold air while you’re in transit.

Tips For Flying With A Baby — Big Brave Nomad

+ Best kept in the fridge for about 6 months; Acceptable up to 12 months. Freezing keeps food safe indefinitely, but it’s important to follow recommended storage times for best quality.

+ Breastmilk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with ice packs frozen for up to 24 hours when you travel. Once you arrive at your destination, the milk should be used immediately, refrigerated or frozen.

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