Flying with a Baby - Part 1

I am so thankful. Flying back to PA with Abilene was another success. I have taken Abilene on 5 round-trip flights with me since she was born. Over half of those flights were just Abilene and I.

We're friends.

Every time I prepare for a flight I've become more and more confident in my ability to, at the very least, be prepared to have a successful trip. Abilene is growing so fast and has (obviously) been developmentally different at each trip. She's had different needs based on her age and, by being prepared for those needs (as well as God's grace), each trip has been surprisingly good.

Now, I know my day will come when Abilene (or Baby #2) will be sick or have a meltdown or simply be a kid and I'll have my own traveling "horror" story to notch in my Mommy belt. I also know that having one of those stories won't make me any less of a good mother just like not having one of those stories doesn't make me any better of a mother. But I do believe that being prepared for the situations I put my kids through is a huge part of what makes it successful. Kids have lots of needs and "winging it" won't cut it most of the time if you want something to even have a remote chance of going smoothly.

That being said, I wanted to put together a couple posts on some of the ways I prepare for a flight with a baby.

I'll start with the two things I always bring with me.

The first is the Moby Wrap. 
I know I've mentioned the Moby before. It's a wrap that I can use to carry Abilene and be hands free. Using the wrap allows me to carry my luggage, hold my boarding pass, unload at the security line, etc. all without having to worry about holding, shifting, moving, or adjusting Abilene. Both my hands are free during the whole process and Abilene is safely attached to me.

Blueberry picking. Clearly not the airport but you get the idea of the Moby.

Also, because I can stretch the fabric around her if I need to, the Moby Wrap can act as a jacket for Abilene to and from the airport as well as a blanket for her on the plane. Two less things I have to bring with me on the flight. (If you're nursing, it also helps with privacy.)

The second is a backpack.

I always trade my diaper bag for a backpack and, if I'm traveling alone, it's the ONLY thing I bring with me on the plane.

I love the diaper bag I have but I can only carry it over one shoulder. While I'm in the airport, I need something with two straps over my shoulders to get through the terminal quickly and confidently. The backpack I use is made for hiking so there are multiple pockets and sections that I use to my advantage by strategically placing what I need in certain parts of the bag. Having everything zippered up means I don't have to worry about anything falling out.

El Northface (with the Moby) ready to go.

My backpack has a front section and a back section. I use the front section for everything I am certain I will need to get out in the airport quickly and easily (boarding pass, wallet, liquid items, etc.) I save the back section for things I will use when I'm not rushed or things that I want to have but may or may not use (toys, extra outfit, extra diapers, and so on).

The backpack fits underneath the seat in front of me on the plane allowing me to have quick access to anything I need. If I'm traveling alone, I don't even think about bringing another carry-on to put in overhead storage. You want to get on and off the plane as quickly as possible and you never want to be stuck in a situation where you need something in the middle of the flight that's in overhead storage. Keep everything at your feet and you'll never have to worry about not being able to get to something.

Obviously I have a suitcase with me but that gets checked so the Moby and the backpack are all I have with me on the plane.

So that's what we're traveling with. Get excited because in the next post we'll talk about what I actually put in the backpack. I know you're squirming in anticipation so stay tuned for part 2 of "Flying with a Baby".