Here, then, are my eight pro tips for traveling with your infant, baby, or toddler.
(Baby jetlag, however, is another story, for another time.)
This post originally appeared onVan Winkles.
My wife and I are neither braggarts nor excessive complimenters.
Thats just how we were raised, and well do the same to him.
That being said, we are proud of our little sprog for two things.
First, hes an excellent sleeper.
Assuming it suits your parental personalities, her plan works.
Second, the boy can travel.
At just 22-months-old, hes already taken 25 flights, several being long-haul international.
And heres how we did it.
Here are my tips for traveling with your infant, baby, or toddler.
This being a 14-hour overnight flight, that sky-rocker was critical for our well-being.
Which is why we didnt leave it to chance.
This ensures that those bassinets are put to good use.
Knowing this, we called United (months in advance, mind you) and requested that special row.
With a click of the button, we had the best seats in the house.
For these bassinets, weight and height limits vary per airline, but 25 pounds is generally the maximum.
Still, he got a few hours of much-needed rest on each flight.
2) Bring the Right Bag
Im a gear nerd.
Not with gadgets, but backpacks.
I have aKeltyfor every occasion, from the last-minute weekend to an around-the-world trek.
The small size forces me to be economical and efficient with my choices.
I dont bother bringing a book for myself.
No headphones or iPad, either.
(They go into my checked bag, which I secure with TSA-approved locks.)
Instead, its stuffed with snacks, toys, diapers and wipes.
I make a mental note of where I put everythingessential for digging around when the cabin lights are dimmed.
It was a bad movetoo cavernous, too bulky, too… masculine.
It lacked the compartments and divisions needed to stay organized during stressful moments.
On our next flight, Ill revert to my trusted tiny Kelty.
3) Prepare Two Packing Strategies
Theres an additional subtlety to packing your plane bag.
You actually need to prepare two different configurations: one for security, another for the flight itself.
(Dont bother arguing about waterjust buy it near the gate.)
Plan ahead for thisput all of your babys food and liquids in a single gallon-size Ziploc.
Leave it at the top, where its easily accessed.
As you approach security, remove the bag and hand it over to the screener.
If you dont want your kids food x-rayed, they will hand-inspect it.
(The same goes for you and your kidyou can request a pat down.
Personally, I would never let my kid step into one of those so-called pornoscanners.)
When youre through security and at the gate, its time to repack.
4) Be Early and Board First
Dont be that frantic family running through the airport.
Get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, and settle down at the gate.
If youre in an airport that sells beer and wine at the sundry shops, have a drink.
Let your kid run off some energy.
Stay off your phone and pay attention.
It may not seem so, but these are actually good times youll want to remember.
Like chefs and theirmise en place, you want to prepare your seat as soon as you board.
Stick a diaper, wipes, a bottle and snacks in the seatback pouch or under your seat.
That, and maybe a few toys and lollipops, is everything you need for takeoff.
Dont be that person.
Airline personnel hold more control over your experience than you’ve got the option to imagine.
From seat upgrades to additional security checks, they can make or break your trip at their discretion.
I tried to change our seats to the front row, but online booking was locked out.
We resigned ourselves to row 12, where we had the aisle and middle seats.
As it turns out, during check-in, one of our bags was overweight.
Faced with an onerous, obnoxious $125 fee, I didnt complain.
I didnt snarl and bitch at the check-in agent.
I smiled, shrugged and paid the surcharge without giving her any grief.
Its not her fault Id packed two suits for my friends wedding.
6) Fork it up for Economy Plus
Put simply: Always pay for premium seats.
The same goes for bags.
Dont cram everything you own into the carry-on.
Check the majority of your stuff, even if it means paying an extra fee.
7) Dont Assume the Worst Is Coming
Stressed parents create stressed kids.
Im not exactly the most Zen of individuals, but I dont go into situations expecting the worst.
Will my kid cry on take-off?
Will he stay awake far past his bedtime, revealing an irrational beast who wont be calmed?
If your kid bugs out, thats just how it goes.
Keep him fed, dry, and distracted.
The rest is a crapshoot.
Families fly, babies cry.
No one wants their kid to freak out on the red eye, but shit happens.
Some parents buy drinks for the people around them.
Thats a lovely gestureIve done itbut it ultimately doesnt matter.
When your baby screams, your fellow flyers want to see you trying to fix the problem.
And anyway, anyone who flies without noise-cancelling headphones is an idiot.
8 Expert Tips for Traveling with Your Toddler| Van Winkles
Jeff Koyen is the editor-in-chief ofVan Winkles.
Hes an early riser and hates hearing about your dreams.
Images byintararitandEugenP(Shutterstock).
