Skip to content

Top Navigation

Parents Parents
  • GETTING PREGNANT
  • PREGNANCY
  • BABY NAMES
  • BABY
  • TODDLER
  • BIG KID
  • FUN
  • HEALTH
  • PARENTING
  • FOOD
  • HOLIDAY
  • News
  • Moms Run the World
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES
  • MORE

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Parents

Parents Parents
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      22 Chore Ideas for Every Type of Kid

      Find a chore your kid loves to do, and start a habit of wanting to help out that'll last a lifetime. Read More Next
    • Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Top 5 Mom Friend Problems—And How to Fix Them

      Parenting is so much easier with good pals. Learn to overcome friendship hurdles and bond with women who get you. Read More Next
    • How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      How to Sleep Train Toddlers and Big Kids

      I’m a pediatric sleep specialist who has seen it all, and I’m here to tell you that it’s not too late to get your child to (happily) stay in his own bed all night long. Read More Next
  • GETTING PREGNANT

    GETTING PREGNANT

    See All GETTING PREGNANT
    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    Your Chances of Getting Pregnant Every Day of the Month

    When sex coincides with your most fertile ovulation days, you'll increase your chances of getting pregnant. Get to know each phase of your cycle to make conception faster and easier.
    • Ovulation
    • Reproductive Age
    • Maximizing Your Fertility
    • Pre-Pregnancy Health
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Dealing With Infertility
    • Genetics
  • PREGNANCY

    PREGNANCY

    See All PREGNANCY
    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Signs of Approaching Labor: How to Tell Your Baby is Coming Soon

    Anxiously awaiting your baby’s arrival? Learn to recognize the first signs of labor approaching, which signal that your little one might make an appearance soon.
    • Signs of Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy Week-by-Week
    • Giving Birth
    • Labor & Delivery
    • Pregnancy Symptoms
    • Due Date Calculator
    • Pregnancy Complications
    • Fetal Development
    • Gender Prediction
    • Baby Showers
  • BABY NAMES

    BABY NAMES

    See All BABY NAMES
    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    These Are the Most Popular Baby Names of 2020

    Curious which baby names stole the show this year? From new classics like Noah to tried-and-true faves like Ava, here are the top boy and girl names of the year so far, plus more naming trends to consider.
    • Baby Girl Names
    • Most Popular Names
    • Names by Origin
    • Twin Names
    • Baby Boy Names
    • Names by Religion
    • Celebrity Baby Names
    • Baby Name Quizzes
  • BABY

    BABY

    See All BABY
    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    How to Decode Your Baby's Cough

    Caring for a baby with a wet or dry cough? Listen for wheezing, hacking, or barking first, then read on to find out what's normal and when it's time to worry.
    • Newborn Care
    • Crying Baby
    • Health
    • Baby Development
    • Safety
    • Gear
    • Breastfeeding
    • Diapers
    • Sleep Issues
    • Feeding
    • Nursery
  • TODDLER

    TODDLER

    See All TODDLER
    • Preschool Activities
    • Behavior & Discipline
    • Toddler Development
    • Milestones
    • Potty Training
    • Starting School
    • Health
    • Safety
    • Childcare
  • BIG KID

    BIG KID

    See All BIG KID
    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    How to Deal With Bullies: A Guide for Parents

    Mean kids aren't just a middle-school problem. The trouble has trickled to the youngest grades. Learn how to spot it—and how to protect children of all ages from bullies at school.
    • Education
    • Health
    • Food & Nutrition
    • Bullying & School Problems
    • Child Development
    • Safety
    • Manners & Responsibility
  • FUN

    FUN

    See All FUN
    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    17 Budget-Friendly Kids’ Birthday Party Ideas

    A fun celebration doesn’t need to cost a pretty penny. Throw a memorable bash with these clever cost-cutting kids’ birthday party ideas.
    • Birthdays
    • Indoor Activities
    • Outdoor Activities
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Printable Coloring Pages
    • Kids' Entertainment
    • Best Toys
    • Holidays
    • Family Vacation Ideas
  • HEALTH

    HEALTH

    See All HEALTH
    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    All About Coronavirus COVID-19: A Concerned Parent's Guide

    Here’s everything you need to know about the disease that originated in Wuhan, China.
    • ADD & ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Autism
    • Cold & Flu
    • Coronavirus and COVID-19
    • Cough
    • Down Syndrome
    • Emergency Aid
    • Fever
    • Medication & Vitamins
    • Obesity
    • Rashes
    • Stomach Aches
    • Vaccines
  • PARENTING

    PARENTING

    See All PARENTING
    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    The Stay at Home Guide for Parents

    Everything you need to thrive at home as a family.
    • Positive Parenting
    • Parenting Style
    • Celebrity Parents
    • Family Dynamics
    • Divorce
    • Home
    • Adoption
    • Just for Mom
    • Money
    • Toy Recalls
    • Stroller Recalls
  • FOOD

    FOOD

    See All FOOD
    • Family Recipes
    • Baby Food
    • Toddler Finger Food Recipes
    • Hints & Tips
    • Healthy Eating
    • Birthdays
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Quick & Easy Meals
    • Food For Pregnant Women
  • HOLIDAY

    HOLIDAY

    See All HOLIDAY
    19 Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make

    19 Mother's Day Gifts Kids Can Make

    Moms love nothing more than a handmade present on Mother's Day. Help the kids make mom feel special with a creative gift from the heart!
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Valentine's Day
    • Easter
    • Mother's Day
    • Memorial Day
    • Father's Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Hanukkah
  • News
  • Moms Run the World
  • THE STAY AT HOME GUIDE
  • SHOP
  • OUR MAGAZINES

    OUR MAGAZINES

    See All OUR MAGAZINES
    • Parents
    • Parents Latina
    • Ser Padres
  • MORE

    MORE

    • Newsletters
    • Contests
    • #ParentsIRL
    • Adulting
    • First Year Playbook
    • Celebrate Your Way

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Give a Gift Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

LIVE
  1. Home
  2. Fun
  3. Family Vacation
  4. Vacation Planning
  5. Traveling with Baby

Traveling with Baby

By Michele Bender
March 15, 2010
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin
Credit: iStockphoto
Going on vacation? These tips will make any trip with your infant safe, smooth, and stress-free.
Start Slideshow

1 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Be Direct

mother with children walking through airport
Credit: Juergen Bosse/ istock

Book the most direct flight (nonstop if possible), and travel first thing in the morning to avoid delays. Also, get to the airport at least an hour and a half early so you have enough time to go through security.

1 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pack the Essentials

Diapers
Credit: iStock

Take enough diapers, wipes, and formula to last your journey -- plus extras in case of a delay -- then buy more when you reach your destination. (If you're staying with relatives, ask them to stock up before you arrive.) Keep your baby's favorite doll, blanket, or other comfort object handy in your carry-on. And instead of packing bulky baby gear, consider renting a crib, stroller, or high chair from a company such as Baby's Away (babysaway.com), which has more than 50 locations in the United States.

2 of 12

3 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Think Surprises

baby playing with toy
Credit: Fancy Photography/ Veer

Bring a toy, rattle, or other goody your baby hasn't seen before, and take it out midtrip (or mid-meltdown). Something new and exciting will keep him entertained and distracted longer.

3 of 12

Advertisement

4 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Dress for Security Success

asian woman at airport going through metal detector

To pass through airport security checkpoints more quickly, wear slip-on shoes in case you're asked to remove them. Avoid accessories that might set off the metal detector, like jewelry or a belt buckle. The Transportation Security Administration requires that babies go through security screening too, so take off your child's shoes, and don't dress him in clothing with metal buckles or zippers. Always pack nail clippers or scissors in your checked baggage, and in case your carry-ons get searched, organize small items into gallon-size resealable plastic bags. "This way security people can check the contents without creating a mess for you to repack," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby.

4 of 12

5 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Pocket What You Need

passport
Credit: iStockphoto

Have your tickets, photo ID, and other important documents -- as well as dollar bills for renting luggage carts or tipping skycaps -- in an easy-to-reach spot.

5 of 12

6 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Don't Forget Your Stuff

packing diaper bag
Credit: Greg Scheidemann

You know to bring a sweater and extra clothes for your baby, but also stash an extra outfit of your own in your diaper bag. Accidents can happen, and who wants to sit in sticky, smelly clothes for hours?

6 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Diaper with Care

Diaper change
Credit: PhotoAlto/ Veer

Change your baby just before you board a plane or hit the road because few airplanes and trains have changing tables in their bathrooms. Still, a row of empty seats will do as long as you won't offend nearby passengers. Take along a few plastic bags in case you can't get to a garbage can right away.

7 of 12

8 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Make the Most of Naptime

baby asleep in car seat
Credit: Kathryn Gamble

"If you'll be driving long distances, leave late at night or during your baby's naptime so you can get in several hours of driving while your baby sleeps," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby.

8 of 12

9 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Bring Your Own Food

baby bottles
Credit: Bryan McCay

Mix infant formula in advance, and keep it cool in a insulated bottle. When it's time to feed your baby, pour the formula into a baby bottle, then ask the flight attendant for a cup of hot water and place the bottle in it for a few minutes to knock off the chill. Or measure out powdered formula beforehand, and carry bottled water that's room temperature. Pack enough baby food and other snacks to make it through potential delays or traffic jams. On flights, don't forget to take along something for yourself that you can eat with one hand. After all, you won't be able to pull down the tray table if you're entertaining your baby on your lap.

9 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Give Baby a Break

father helping baby walk
Credit: StockDisc

"If your child's crawling or cruising, she isn't going to be happy strapped in a car seat for hours," says Ericka Lutz, author of On the Go With Baby. On road trips, map out pit stops every 45 minutes to take a stretch. On planes or trains, walk her up and down the aisle.

10 of 12

11 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Protect Tiny Ears

baby's side profile
Credit: Juice Images/Veer

The change in air pressure during takeoffs and landings can cause ear pain. If your baby's sleeping, he probably won't notice. Otherwise, feed him or give him something to suck on, such as a bottle or pacifier, to relieve ear pressure.

11 of 12

12 of 12

Save Pin
Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

Safety Seats on Airplanes

baby in car seat
Credit: iStockphoto

Though the Federal Aviation Administration and most airlines don't require you to buy your baby an airline ticket, they strongly recommend it. "It's tempting to save money by holding your baby on your lap, but doing so can be very dangerous in cases of hard landings or turbulence," says Peter Greenberg, travel editor for NBC's Today show. "Your infant is safest buckled up in a car seat." Some airlines have an empty-seat policy: You can bring a car seat on board and use it in an empty seat even if you haven't purchased a ticket. But with cutbacks in scheduled service, you can't always count on an available seat. (For international travel, you're typically required to buy a ticket for your baby.) Make sure your car seat is certified for use on an aircraft (the label will say so) and no wider than 16 inches (to fit in most coach seats).

Updated 2010

12 of 12

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 12 Be Direct
    2 of 12 Pack the Essentials
    3 of 12 Think Surprises
    4 of 12 Dress for Security Success
    5 of 12 Pocket What You Need
    6 of 12 Don't Forget Your Stuff
    7 of 12 Diaper with Care
    8 of 12 Make the Most of Naptime
    9 of 12 Bring Your Own Food
    10 of 12 Give Baby a Break
    11 of 12 Protect Tiny Ears
    12 of 12 Safety Seats on Airplanes

    Share options

    Facebook Tweet Mail Email iphone Send Text Message

    Login

    Shop | Parents

    • Diaper Bags
    • Maternity Clothing
    • Prenatal Vitamins
    • Car Seats
    • Breast Pumps
    • Maternity Dresses
    • Baby Shower Gifts
    • Baby Gates
    • Pregnancy Pillows
    • Kids Backpacks
    • Shop More Next

    Parents may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.

    Parents

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Cozi Family Organizer this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • From Our Sponsors this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program this link opens in a new tab
    • Sitemap

    Connect

    Follow Us
    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Other Meredith Sites

    Other Meredith Sites

    • 4 Your Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Allrecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • All People Quilt this link opens in a new tab
    • Better Homes & Gardens this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Insights this link opens in a new tab
    • Bizrate Surveys this link opens in a new tab
    • Cooking Light this link opens in a new tab
    • Daily Paws this link opens in a new tab
    • EatingWell this link opens in a new tab
    • Eat This, Not That this link opens in a new tab
    • Entertainment Weekly this link opens in a new tab
    • Food & Wine this link opens in a new tab
    • Health this link opens in a new tab
    • Hello Giggles this link opens in a new tab
    • Instyle this link opens in a new tab
    • Martha Stewart this link opens in a new tab
    • Midwest Living this link opens in a new tab
    • More this link opens in a new tab
    • MyRecipes this link opens in a new tab
    • MyWedding this link opens in a new tab
    • My Food and Family this link opens in a new tab
    • MyLife this link opens in a new tab
    • Parenting this link opens in a new tab
    • People this link opens in a new tab
    • People en Español this link opens in a new tab
    • Rachael Ray Magazine this link opens in a new tab
    • Real Simple this link opens in a new tab
    • Ser Padres this link opens in a new tab
    • Shape this link opens in a new tab
    • Siempre Mujer this link opens in a new tab
    • Southern Living this link opens in a new tab
    • SwearBy this link opens in a new tab
    • Travel & Leisure this link opens in a new tab
    MeredithParents.com is part of the Parents Network. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright . All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.parents.com

    View image

    Traveling with Baby
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.