Everything I Know About Travelling With a Baby

Travel has always been an important part of my life, one of those non-negotiables that shapes how I see the world. I was genuinely afraid that having a baby would change that, forcing me into a smaller, safer orbit of home routines. It hasn’t. Yes, it’s slightly more complicated now - more bags, more timing, more exhaustion - but I believe it’s worth every extra layer of effort.

My 9-month-old has just taken her eighth international flight, and each one has gone better than the last, emotionally at least. The logistics haven’t magically simplified, but my capacity to handle them has grown. This is entirely my personal experience - not a universal guide, just what this has looked like for us so far. The longest flight we’ve done is four hours, so everything here comes from relatively short-haul travel. We flew when she was 3, 5, 6, 8 and 9 month-old.

And this isn’t about the destination, or the holiday itself. It’s about the in-between: the airport, the plane, the logistics. I can’t say the process itself becomes easier but you do get a lot better at it.

Things to consider:

• Lap infant vs. separate seat. It’s is an ongoing internal debate. A separate seat gives you more space, hence more comfortable, especially on longer flights, but it’s expensive and not all babies like car seats. Lap infant works surprisingly well for shorter flights, especially if your baby is still small and wants to be close anyway. We tried both. We flew as a family and buying a seat guaranteed us the whole row, which was great. That’s the only advantage I would say, except for the safety of the seat (you never know how they handle it while transporting).

• Which seats to book: we try to get the first row. There is usually extra leg room + space for a bassinet. I don’t think all planes offer it but it’s worth asking. They are quite convenient.

• Timing. We did night flights, morning flights and afternoon flights. All were fine.

• Travel clothes. I put my baby in double zipper sleep-suits (my favourites are Next). They are comfortable and convenient for diaper changes. I don’t care how cute she looks when we travel. I want us both comfortable.

• What to pack for the baby (essentials, entertainment, etc).

• Entertainment for yourself (don’t forget to download audiobooks/podcasts)

When we arrive at the airport, we usually have the following:

• A stroller/car seat - we use the Doona X. It’s great, but definitely not essential. On four flights, we bought a separate seat for the baby, and since the Doona is certified for aircraft use, she sat in it for a bit (but mostly not). On the other four, she flew as a lap infant. Both options worked; as I mentioned, it really depends on your budget, how long the flight is, and if your baby likes the car seat. We usually get a taxi to and from the airport, and it’s great to have your own car seat when you arrive to your destination. But you might as well check it in. That’s what we did on the other 4 flights.

• A baby carrier - this is non-negotiable for me. Sometimes you need your hands free. It also doubles as a reliable way to get her to nap when everything else fails.

• A diaper bag - my current one sucks. It’s an open tote with no zipper, which means everything is constantly exposed and slightly chaotic. It worked, but I wouldn’t recommend it for travel. You want something structured, closable, and easy to organise. I’m thinking of switching to the Uniqlo shoulder bag - my brother uses it as an everyday city bag (not a diaper bag), and it’s surprisingly perfect: lightweight, spacious, minimal, and it actually closes.

• And then there’s the luggage. So much luggage (at one point we carried a Moonboon around!)

A small side note: airline luggage rules seem to soften when you travel with a baby. Suddenly, everyone is kind. They offer to check your carry-on for free, they don’t scrutinise every extra item, and they generally make the process easier. Even Ryanair, which feels almost suspicious. This has happened to us on eight flights now. Every time, they’ve asked if we want to check in extra bags. I’m sure it’s not guaranteed, but it’s been a consistent and very welcome surprise.

I think the hard part if that you have to let go of control while simultaneously planning for everything. The first times we travelled, I was deeply aware of time: wake windows, feeding intervals, the fragile architecture of a nap. I was nervous of germs (she was just 3 month old!). I know it can be scary.

But babies are surprisingly adaptable, often more than adults. They don’t care if they’re in Prague or Malaga. They care about proximity to you, warmth, food. If those are intact, it usually goes well. HOVEWER: some babies are more temperamental than others, some might have harder time with the change in routine. It’s not on you. Remember, it’s all temporary. Anyone can survive a few hours of hard.

Photos from our last flight (we woke up at 2am for the 5am flight):

What’s in the diaper bag:

• Diapers

• Baby wipes

• Hand sanitiser

• Plastic bags for dirty clothes

• Travel changing pad like this or a couple of disposable ones like this

• An outfit change for the baby (I would pack more for longer flights)

• Muslin cloths; they function as blanket, burp cloth, shade, emergency everything

• Pacifiers (bring extras; they disappear at the worst times). Bean stopped using them when she was 4 month old, so it’s a few less things to carry.

• Bottles and pre-measured formula in a container

• Water

• Snacks (so far we did fruit pouches)

• Lightweight blanket (forgot to take it last time, and the baby had to sleep in a bassinet on my jacket)

• Busy book - a great entertainment!

• Spinners for the window - also a great entertainment

• Documents (passport, insurance card, etc

• Wallet

• Headphones for me (I use noise cancelling Bose)

• Protective headphones for the baby (I will be honest, we never actually use them)

• A thin cotton hat (nap cap!). I put it over the baby’s eyes, and she naps well. It really does work.

  

Pre and during the flight

I used to stress about perfect sleep the night before, but now I aim for “good enough.” We keep her on schedule: normal bedtime, a full feed before lights out. No big disruptions or events, no new foods, so she’s not starting exhausted or sick.

Our last flight meant waking at 2am for a 5am departure, not ideal, but planned. We packed the final bits before waking her, changed her, and fed her in the taxi. Honestly, it was fine.

After security, where we had to take her out of the stroller, I put her in the carrier, and she slept while we had coffee in the lounge. She was still asleep when we boarded, but the flight attendants asked me to take her out of the carrier and buckle her on my lap for takeoff. I personally think it’s a stupid rule (have you seen that tiny belt? What’s more secure - a sturdy carrier or that flimsy piece of fabric?), but rules are rules. I, of course, complied. She, of course, woke up.

I managed to rock her back to sleep an hour later and even did a successful transfer to the bassinet! Don’t forget a blanket. I did, and she had to sleep on my rough jacket instead.

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I try to feed her during the take-off and landing. Ear popping can make babies fussy, so I time feeds or snacks right for those moments. Bean went through every ascent and descent without any drama.

Mid-flight is where you earn your wings. When she fusses (which happens), we entertain her with toys, spinners on the window, snacks or walk the aisles with her in the carrier. I downloaded Shrek on iPad for the last flight just in case, but it never came to it. I honestly don’t even know if she’d like watching Shrek. But I like watching Shrek, so…

Turbulence? I hold her close and hum over the engine noise. I think she actually likes the shaking.

(By the way, if the seat belt light is on, you must take the baby out of the bassinet!)

And ode to a carrier again. Carrier naps are magic. I’ve listened to entire books that way.

Our very first flight

Eight flights in, and what stands out is the shift inside: from bracing for chaos to expecting grace. Each trip has carved out a little more confidence, a little less apology, mostly thanks to the kindness of the strangers and magic nap powers of the carrier.

We’ll keep flying, because the world is wide. These early flights are just the beginning of her seeing more than home, of us building a shared map of places. I know right now travelling together is for us and not at all for her, but that will son change. I can’t wait for her to consciously crave the adventure. I am sure travelling with a toddler will be harder. But I also expect it to be more fun.

If you are on the fence about travelling with your baby, remember this: babies cry on planes, planes land anyway. Strangers are kind 99:1. Your first flight will feel scary; by the fourth, you’ll wonder why you worried. It’s temporary, and the world softens for small humans. You’ve got this.