Tips For Traveling With A Lap Infant
For the first two years of life, your baby gets a free pass to fly with you. As a family who loves to travel, we have done our best to take advantage of Harper’s lap infant status and have learned some things along the way (mostly through trial and error, haha). We have brought Harper along on trips to San Diego, Seattle, Maui, and Minnesota a handful of times to visit family. With Harper’s second birthday around the corner, her lap infant status will be expiring in just a few short months. We are squeezing in a couple last minute trips before her birthday and thought now would be a perfect time to share some tips we’ve found to be helpful over the past (almost) 2 years of traveling with a lap infant.
How to book your baby’s ticket
First things first, how do you book a lap infant seat on an airline? Each airline has a different process so the easiest way to figure out how to make sure your little one is on your ticket is to review lap infant policies for the airline you are traveling on. For instance, we often fly Delta back to Minneapolis. To add a lap infant to your reservation, you must either call or message Delta ahead of time. Most airlines also give you the option of adding your baby to the reservation at the airport, but we prefer having everything ready to go ahead of time if possible. Other airlines, Alaska for example, allows you to add your baby on the reservation at the time of booking. Make sure you verify your airline’s lap infant policy and add them to your reservation.
What seat is best to sit in with a lap infant?
There is no correct answer to this question, but we prefer window seats when baby is little or when traveling alone and aisle seats once baby can crawl / walk. If we are traveling all together, we like to book adjacent aisle seats to make bathroom trips, short walks up and down the aisle, and take turns entertaining Harper.
Getting through Security / TSA Precheck
Getting through security with an infant can feel really overwhelming,. We have had our fair share of nightmare situations getting through security with a screaming baby, so learn from us and use these tips to make the process easier. Get TSA pre-check. Seriously you guys, it is so worth it! Before we had Harper, we actually applied and interviewed for Global Entry (TSA pre-check comes with for free). Saving time in the airport is a must when traveling with kiddos.
Once you get to security, take your baby out and separate your car seat and stroller. We always travel with our Babyzen Yoyo, which folds up small enough to place on the belt and through the x-ray machine. Our Nuna infant car seat also fits through the machine on the conveyer belt. Now that Harper is in a toddler seat, we will be adjusting our strategy next trip to include her car seat on a cart since we use it once we get to our destination. We’ll update you all after our next couple trips! After all your stuff is pushed through the machine, TSA will have you hold your baby and walk through the metal detector.
It’s always a good idea to review TSA rules and what rights you have as a parent to bring necessary items for your child. I once encountered a situation where Harper’s diaper bag was searched and I was asked to throw away her diaper cream because it was (barely) over the maximum ounces allowed. I politely corrected the TSA agent, explaining it is considered a medication necessary for her skin. I have also been told by an agent I was not allowed to bring a bottle of milk through security. Knowing what you are and aren’t allowed to bring is always a good idea so when you inevitably encounter these situations, you’re prepared to handle it!
Keep in mind when traveling with breast milk, bottles, and medications (diaper cream for example), you may be subject to additional search. Even though we have TSA pre-check and aren’t required to remove these things from our bags, we do always remove liquids. Usually TSA will place Harper’s milk into a machine to test it, so we have found that pulling the bottle out and alerting TSA you have it helps speed up this process!
Ask about additional seating for your car seat / Tag Items for Gate Check
Once you get to the gate, ask the gate agent if there are any extra, unfilled seats to bring your car seat on board. If your flight isn’t completely full, the gate agent might just be kind enough to save a seat next to you so you can bring your car seat on board. I have found this particularly helpful when traveling alone! Having a secure spot to buckle your baby in is not only the safest option, it makes things a lot easier for you! If your flight is packed, you’ll still be able to gate check your car seat for free by asking for a tag. Remember to get one for each piece (ex. car seat and stroller). We have never had any issues with damage to our car seat or stroller, but I don’t blame parents who really don’t want to risk it. Other options for ensuring your car seat and stroller arrive safely is bringing them on board as a carry on or booking a seat for your baby to guarantee you will be able to bring the care seat aboard. There are also padded travel bags you can buy to cushion your items for the trip. Another reason we love our Babyzen Yoyo is it narrow enough to easily roll down the aisle of the airplane and folds to fit in the overhead compartment on most flights.
Take advantage of pre boarding / family boarding
Getting on the plane early and getting settled in is so helpful when traveling with your little one. Listen for the family boarding call and take advantage of this perk.
Tips for on the flight
Nurse, bottle feed, or give baby pacifier at take off and landing. This helps release the pressure in their ears.
Bring lots of snacks as an activity, or purchase on the plane.
Throw screen time rules out the window. Traveling with kids is not an easy task and we have learned that making an exception for screen time on the airplane does not make you a bad parent. Often times, Harper is more interested and curious about what is going on around her than she is in shows. But a time or two she has been able to calm down and fall asleep with a small amount of screen time on the plane, so we don’t restrict it if she’s interested. Don’t forget some comfy headphones for your kiddo.
Bring a few activities, but keep it simple. We have found that the more stuff you bring, the more you have to dig through your bag to find and pack it. Nothing is more annoying than having a perfectly packed to the brim diaper bag torn apart by security and then strewn all over the floor of the airplane by your child. Two or three toys that are small, packable and can be rotated for play on the flight is enough. Plus, Harper usually finds playing with the barf bag in the seat pocket or peek-a-boo with the passenger behind us more entertaining than anything we bring along.
Consider bringing a carrier to nap in on longer flights. We have found this helpful for walking the aisles or standing up for a while to rock Harper to sleep.
We hope this helps you fly with more confidence the next time you bring your lap infant! What other helpful tips do you have for traveling with lap infants?!