Flying with a Baby - Part 3

Hey-o! It's Part 3 of "Traveling with a Baby." Yipee-skippy!

Today we've graduated to packing the front of the backpack that we will take with us on the plane. If you're looking to catch up with us, you can go here to find Part 1 and here to find Part 2.

So let's get started, shall we?

The front part of the backpack is reserved for everything I will need to get out quickly while I'm in the airport.

Remember the 2 diapers and the case of wipes you set aside from yesterday's post? They go in first and they have a friend!

1) I pack two diapers, a full case of wipes and a spit-up rag in the front of my backpack.

The Northface backpack I have has a nice little pocket in the front section that is perfect for holding these items. Two diapers is usually all I need to get through a flight and the wipes are easily accessible for diaper changes or quick clean-ups. Abilene doesn't do much spitting-up anymore but if she were to get a little sick, I'll be glad I have the rag with me.

Here's a shot of the sweet little pocket in the backpack.

Using the pocket is so convenient because it separates the "diaper" section from the rest of the things in the front of the backpack. The more items that have a "home" when you're traveling means the easier you'll be able to find what you're looking for when you need them.

2) Any liquid or food items are stored in zip top bags and placed in the front of the backpack.

If you've ever traveled on a flight, you know that airlines now require all liquids to be kept in (no larger than) 3 ounce bottles. These 3 ounce bottles then have to be placed in a (no larger than) quart-sized, clear zip top bag. And, finally, that bag has to go through the x-ray machine separately (as in, it has to be taken out of your backpack when you put your items on the conveyor belt).

I'm pretty sure you are also only allowed one zip top bag per person. I, however, bring two and I'll tell you why in a minute.

I use one bag for all of Abilene's "pharmacy" needs. This includes infant acetaminophen, infant ibuprofen, teething tablets, diaper rash cream, baby lotion, a thermometer, a tube of petroleum jelly for the thermometer (poor Abilene), a comb and chapstick (for me).

Clearly, all those items aren't liquids but it keeps "like" things together so I know where everything is in the bag. I put the entire bag on the conveyor belt in the security line and I've never had any problems getting through.

Here's where I fudge with the second zip top bag.

I also bring squeezable baby food with me on the plane. I'll get to the squeezable part in a moment.

In an effort to continue keeping "like" things together. I put squeezable baby food, a plastic (one that you can wipe off) bib and a baby spoon in another zip top bag.

Here's my conundrum. Is squeezable baby food a liquid or a solid!?!

I have no earthly idea. It's liquidy and solidy all at the same time.

So! I put it in a zip top bag and send it through the x-ray machine just like I do with my "pharmacy" bag. I've never had any problems with it and, if there were ever any questions, they would already be out and ready for inspection.

Any solid foods I have for Abilene (such as Cheerios or whole peas for example) also go in the front section but they do not have to be removed from the backpack in order to go through the security line.

• Side note: They also don't have to be in an unopened container. For some reason, I thought they might have to be in an original box but you don't have to worry about that which is really nice. Solid foods can be in whatever container or bag you want.

Here's where I jump on my squeezable baby food soap box. I received this tip from another experienced traveling mother and boy was it a good one. Here are some reasons why squeezable baby food is a smart buy for traveling on a plane:

• It's in a malleable, plastic bag. It doesn't take up as much space in your carry-on because it can mold and fit into places that a jar of baby food couldn't. It also doesn't easily puncture or burst.
• When I'm feeding Abilene, I just squeeze a little bit onto her spoon and then it goes straight to her mouth. There isn't any food on the neck of the spoon for Abilene to grab and get all over her hands.
• When you're finished with the baby foot, the empty pouch takes up even less space than it did when it was full. A jar would still be just as bulky.
• Because you're not sticking the spoon into the pouch, the food stays contamination free. So if Abilene doesn't finish all the baby food (and if I use it before the temperature would affect the food's safety), Abilene can finish the food later in the trip.
• It's quick. It's easy. And it's clean.

Now, is that to say that Abilene doesn't get a lick of food on her while I'm trying to feed her? No. But, it's significantly less. That being said, for goodness sakes buy flavors of baby food that you would like too. You can have all the wipes in the world ready to clean up a mess but we all know that your own mouth is the quickest fix. If Abilene happens to grab the business end of the spoon, I can quickly stick her hand in my mouth and get the food off so you're gonna want to make sure it tastes good. Now that I type that out it sounds super weird but, I promise, it's not and Abilene usually thinks it's a fun game anyway.

The plastic bib catches any drips from the spoon and can be cleaned off with a wipe after the meal is over. Empty baby food packets, the wiped off bib and the spoon all go back into the zip top bag until you are in a spot to be able to throw away your trash. Easy peasy.

Ok! The last items to put in the front of the backpack:

3) I put my boarding pass, copy of Abilene's birth certificate, wallet, cell phone and snacks for myself in the front of the backpack.

The option to print out your boarding pass before you get to the airport is a time saver you'll want to take advantage of. Even if you have to check your bag or confirm with the airline that you have a baby, it will make the process faster and smoother when you get to the attendant at the check-in desk. Some airlines require your boarding pass to indicate that you have an infant with you, some airlines require the infant to have a separate boarding pass all together. None of the requirements are hard, just do your research ahead of time so you know what to expect when you get to the airport.

There are a few airlines that require you to have proof of your child's age by providing a copy of the child's birth certificate. Even if the airline doesn't require it, it's a good thing to have and it doesn't take up any more space in the backpack than your boarding pass.

Wallet and cell phone are a must. I usually put my license, boarding pass, copy of Abilene's birth certificate and cell phone into my zippered jacket pocket when I enter the airport so that I have easy access to them when I need to pull them out.

Lastly, you need to bring some snacks for yourself.

The most lovely couple in the world, Ryan and Kathleen, who did our premarital counseling gave us sound advice when telling us about the acronym H.A.L.T.

H - Hungry
A - Angry
L - Lonely
T - Tired

At the time, they were referring to this in regards to having an argument or serious discussion with your spouse. You should never enter into a hard conversation if you are any of these, bad things will probably ensue.

But! H.A.L.T. reigns true for almost any situation.

Holy goodness - So. True. Source.

If I am hungry, angry, lonely or tired I am not Abilene's best mother. I become short-tempered and impatient. I do not want to attempt flying with a baby if I'm any of these. So how can we avoid them?

• Hungry: Have food available. Take a protein bar or something that's going to give you more energy and fill you up longer than candy. That being said, take some sort candy that will give you a little boost of sugar if you need it (peanut M&Ms are great for that). Have a bottle for water so you stay hydrated. If you assume you'll have time to grab something when you get back to the terminal, you probably won't. Don't take the chance, it's not worth it.
• Angry: If I feel rushed I will become impatient. That's just me, I don't fly by the seat of my pants very well. That being said, leave with more than enough time to get to the airport and through the airport. This is where packing early becomes especially helpful. If you missed our posts on packing your suitcase, you can find the first one here.
• Lonely: This one might be tough to avoid if it's just you and the bean. But, really, if you have your baby with you, you're not alone and it can actually be really fun! Enjoy the time you have with your bean and love on him/her as much as you can and as often as you can.
• Tired: More reason to be done packing well before you leave. Get a good night's rest. If you've prepared by packing in advance, you won't be staying up late the night before or stressing about what you haven't done. A good night's rest prepares you for a successful plane flight.

OK! We just about done packing our carry-on backpack!

Here's a picture of the finished front section:

Everything has a place and everything is in it's place (thank you Young Life Food Service for embedding that in my mind).

The last thing I add to the backpack is an empty bottle/sippy cup for Abilene and an empty bottle for me.

The Northface has two nice side pockets on the outside of the bag that are perfect for water bottles.

Remember: The bottles cannot have any liquids in them before you go through security so make sure they are empty before you walk through. After you get through to the terminal you can fill them up at a water fountain.

Phew-y! That was a long one but kudos on your endurance! Our carry-on is officially packed and all that's left to do is actually go to the airport and get on that plane!

Part 4 will cover just that: how to actually get through the airport with your carry-on and your little babe.

Here's to happy travels!