I flew with my son for the first time during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was only four months old.
I had just accepted a new job (after losing my former role due to said pandemic, while pregnant), and our chosen daycare didn’t have availability for another two months. My sister graciously offered to care for my son at her home in Tennessee, alongside my one-year-old niece, while I worked from her guest bedroom.
I felt irresponsible for traveling with my baby during a global pandemic (and for that reason, I didn’t tell many people about it). I also felt shame for wanting to go back to work. These emotions were only compounded by the fear of flying with a baby—during a pandemic.
As I secured my son in the front carrier and walked into the airport, I braced myself for the unknown. Would my son cry endlessly and draw impatient stares or negative comments from strangers? What if I couldn’t soothe him to sleep? How would I manage a diaper change from a tiny airplane bathroom? Did I pack everything I needed? What about airport security?
Then I got on the plane and had one of the most pleasant flying experiences of my life.
A heartwarming experience
Not only did my son sleep on our two connecting flights from Pennsylvania to Tennessee—I quickly discovered the plane engine is basically a giant sound machine—I was met with a graciousness I had never experienced in any setting, let alone a plane. Flight attendants doted on me and offered to rock my son in their arms. They gave him his first “wings” aviation pin, and seeing that it was his first flight, they even invited us into the cockpit of the plane for a photo op. Complete strangers smiled at me with warmth and also offered their help. My seatmate volunteered to hold him while I gathered myself and situated our belongings.
Here’s what’s even more surprising: the kindness has continued. When he was a traveling toddler, one woman offered to let him stretch across her lap (and mine) so he could sleep on the plane. At Charlotte Douglas International Airport, an American Airlines employee handed my son a bag of small toys and goodies at the gate. And as I write this article, my son—now 5—just received another set of aviation wings from a friendly airline attendant who addressed him by his name.
Our trip to Tennessee—just he and I—has become an annual tradition, and we both look forward to our airport adventures (minus the inevitable delays or cancellations) because they’re always a bonding experience. Of course, it’s even more fun when we fly with my husband for family vacations, and every year, we fly a bit farther as he gets older and a tad more patient. “We also get to pick snacks and drinks on the plane, Piggy!”, he told one of his stuffies before we left for a recent trip.
So if you’re reading this and wondering if you can handle a flight with your baby or young child, the answer is yes, you can. You might even be pleasantly surprised (and refreshed) by the kindness of humanity, just like I was.
Tips for flying with babies and young kids
There are several things you can do to prepare for a smooth flight with your young jetsetter(s). These tactics are what I have found to be most useful.
- Get TSA PreCheck: Better yet, invest in Global Entry, which includes TSA PreCheck. Anyone age 17 and under on your reservation will automatically get TSA PreCheck, too, which means you and your kids will spend less time waiting in long security lines.
- Don’t Worry About Security Screening: With the exception of potentially long lines (check out our tips on avoiding airport lines), airport security will likely be the least of your worries. Breast milk, formula, and water are exempt from the 3-1-1 (3.4-ounce) rule for babies and toddlers. Those items will just need to be screened separately. Ice packs and cooler bags are allowed, and like most other food, pouches and purees are also acceptable to bring through security.
- Fly First Thing in the Morning: There are statistically fewer flight delays and cancellations in the morning, and while I don’t particularly love getting up early to fly, my son has always found something magical about being woken up in the dark to drive to the airport before sunrise (and has often taken a nap once we arrived at our destination).
- Use Mobile Ordering: Even if you don’t use the Starbucks or Dunkin’ apps at home, download them ahead of your trip. Before you arrive at the airport or land for a connecting flight, place your mobile order to avoid long wait times (because there is almost always a mile-long-line for coffee at the airport). As soon as our connecting flight lands in Charlotte, I always order coffee at the Starbucks in my terminal (and am easily able to locate the closest Starbucks location on the app).
- Hit the Dollar Store Ahead of Time: Stock up on small, inexpensive surprises to pull out of your carry-on bag during the journey. For my son, it’s always been Hot Wheels cars and new coloring books.
- Bring Candy: Yes, candy. I can’t tell you how many times a tube of mini M&Ms has helped keep the peace. Snacks, in general, are almost always the answer.
- Allow Screen Time: Screens may be limited at home, but crowded planes and long flights are not the setting for strict rules. Lower your expectations and embrace age-appropriate shows and apps—consider that you could be taxiing on the runway for a while before you even take off for that long flight—and allow a little grace for everyone.
- Pack Extra Outfits for Everyone: Don’t overlook the possibility that baby will make a mess of your clothing, not just theirs.
- Bring Dog Poop Bags: They’re packable and the scented bags are especially good at hiding unpleasant odors like full diapers. Plus, they can double as vomit bags, trash bags or a catch-all pouch for anything else.
- Look for Kid-Friendly Activities: Some airports offer designated play areas for kids, but escalators and moving walkways are also a great source of entertainment when you’re waiting to board a flight. Airports can also be great places for I-spy and other no-gear -needed games.
