Flying With Little Ones | What I Actually Pack
Flying with little ones long distance
The first long haul flight with a baby is the one everyone dreads. I've flown California to the UK with my boys many times, and I can tell you two things. Children almost always do better than we fear. And the right few things in your bag make an enormous difference.
This isn't a list of everything you could buy. It's what I actually packed, what I stopped packing, and the tricks that saved us more than once.
In your hand luggage
Everything for the first night. Pack as if your cases won't arrive, because one day they won't. Pyjamas, nappies, the night light, the sound machine, whatever your child needs to go to sleep in a strange room. If the bags turn up, lovely. If they don't, you can still put a tired baby to bed.
A sheet from home. This is my favourite trick. The night before we travelled, I'd put a fresh crib sheet on their bed at home and then pack it in my hand luggage. It smells of home, and it makes a hotel cot feel familiar straight away.
One bed friend each. They choose which one, and it travels with me, never in the hold.
The sound machine and night light. For babies, this is non negotiable. We took our Hatch everywhere, well past the baby stage.
For the flight
Preloaded iPads. Download films, programmes and games before you leave, and don't rely on the plane. I once boarded a 13 hour flight from California to the UK with a two year old and a four year old, only to be told the entertainment system wasn't working. I have never been so grateful to have loaded those iPads the night before. Now for children under the age of 2 its very hard to use an ipad as they just don’t have the concentration span so make sure they are short episodes no more than 15 mins each.
Headphones they're used to. Children's headphones are brilliant, but only if your child has worn them before. Try them at home and in the car first, or they'll pull them straight off at 30,000 feet.
Snack cups. No spills, and little ones will happily spend twenty minutes opening and closing them. A win on both counts.
A reusable water bottle with a filter. One less thing to buy in every airport.
Cheap entertainment. Post it notes are genius on a plane. Children love sticking them on the window and the seat in front. I also used curated travel toy bags from about six months old, swapping the contents as they grew. And hold a couple of new toys back for the flight home. It's a whole new trip for them.
Wipes for everything. Wipe down the tray table, the armrests and the window before you settle in. The tray and the window are exactly what small hands love most.
Getting through the airport
A carrier. Hands free through security and boarding is worth its weight in gold. Every child is different, so the carrier your first loves may not suit your second. We used a BabyBjörn, an Ergo, a K'tan wrap and a Tula over the years.
A travel stroller that folds small. The best ones now fit in the overhead locker. The UPPAbaby Minu, Nuna TRVL, Babyzen YOYO and Bugaboo Butterfly are all good.
A backpack, not a changing bag. Both hands free, weight spread across your shoulders. A gate check bag for the stroller keeps it clean in the hold.
A portable changing mat. Changing tables on planes and in airports are rarely where you need them. Honestly I always used disposable ones that were mean for incontinence or pets when travelling to throw and not worry about wiping down or washing the mat.
Car seats
This is the one that gives families the biggest headache, especially with two children at different stages. You can rent in most places, but I'd always rather know exactly what my children are sitting in. For travel, the WAYB Pico and the RideSafer travel vest are worth a look. A car seat travel bag protects it in the hold, and there's usually room inside for nappies and coats, which don't count towards your baggage.
What to leave at home
Ask your hotel before you pack. Many good hotels will provide a cot, a monitor and bath toys, and some, like Four Seasons, have swim nappies and baby toiletries waiting. Some resorts will even set up a cabana by the pool with a travel cot for naps. Every item they provide is one less thing to carry.
The one thing to remember
Whatever happens on the flight, it ends. Nobody on that plane will remember the twenty minutes your baby cried. You'll land, you'll get through it, and a few hours later you'll be somewhere lovely together.
If you'd like help planning a trip where the hotel is ready for your little ones before you arrive, you can work directly with me here.
