A New Mom’s Survival Guide to Flying Internationally with a Baby

 

 

Oh baby, baby, baby! Flying and traveling can be frustrating for an adult. But, flying with a baby can be nerve-wracking and downright frightening. Put your mind to rest, this post will help alleviate your baby flying fears and make your trip memorable instead of miserable!

Flying with a baby? Fear not! In a few days, my husband and I will be traveling to India, New Delhi to be exact….with Baby J. While in India we will be voyaging to Agra to see the Taj Mahal( I can’t believe I have never seen it before!) and Haridwar. I knew even before Baby J was born, that I wanted to expose him to the Indian culture as much as possible. What better way to do that than visiting India itself? I am excited, hesitant, nervous and insanely scared all at the same time! Flying and traveling with a baby doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience. It should be as seamless as possible and it can be- but you must be prepared!

Tidbits for traveling/flying with a baby.

• Best case scenario- J will sleep during the flight and not cause a fiasco.
• Worst case scenario- J will be fussy, cranky and irritable the whole way to India. It’s a 16-hour non-stop flight so this is definitely not what mommy wants or needs!
• Make sure you reserve an infant seat/bassinet for the baby before you fly (A week or two ahead is fine).
• Give baby a bottle during take-off and landing. This will help alleviate the pressure in his/her ears. I am also going to ball up a little cotton and place it in his ears.
• Pack an extra outfit or two for any oops moments on the plane.
• Bring your stroller if it’s easier for you to transport the baby. Car seats are practically unheard of in India which is terrifying to me but it is what it is. When we travel by car, I will be carrying J in my baby carrier.

When you arrive:

• Jet Lag-This will be an interesting adjustment, to say the least. With the vast time change (India is 10 hours and 30 minutes ahead of us), I know that adjusting to the new one will take a few days(hopefully). This is one thing I am not looking forward to. And of course, as soon as J get used to the timing in India, it will be time to come back, so that is going to be another challenge my husband and I will have to deal with

 

Let the packing begin!

I have compiled a list of must-haves that I will be bringing to make the flight and overall trip much easier. I have linked each product to help you further. Of course, you should always be prepared for any hiccups along the way. But, I think the essentials will help you cope with any of that.

Keep in mind this is just a rough list. I have a whole suitcase and diaper bag dedicated to just J’s stuff. Just remember to take the trip in stride and try not to get freaked out.

• Diaper Bag– Bring a sturdy Diaper Bag to help you carry around things, preferably one that has a crossbody strap to free your hands. My brother and sister in law just bought this one for J from Carter’s. Its super comfortable and has tons of pockets to hold things. The bag I have linked is the exact same one I have except the color is different. Carter’s Cheron Print Tote Diaper Bag, Grey

 

• Formula– Some planes actually provide the formula for you (it’s a rarity) but it may be different from what you use at home and could upset the babies tummy, which would definitely not make your life easier. If you are breastfeeding I would still recommend bringing some formula for the plane ride to avoid being uncomfortable in such close quarters. We packed 6 cans of formula in our checked in baggage and 1 can in our diaper bag, it may sound like a lot but I rather pack more than less. I definitely did not want to take the chance of having to buy formula in India when J’s little tummy isn’t used to it. We use  and Enfamil PREMIUM Non-GMO Gentlease Infant Formula, Powder and couldn’t be happier with it!

 

• Bottled Water– I will not be packing any for J as the plane has them and when we get to India my father in law has already purchased bottles for us at home. I am not comfortable with boiling water and giving it to Baby J or for my husband and me at that. Bottles water from a reputable company is the way to go. Nestle and Bisleri in India have been around for ages and I have never had an issue with them on any of my previous trips.

 

• Baby Food– I usually make J all of his baby food at home every single day. I know it may sound crazy but it gives me peace of mind knowing its fresh and has no preservatives. Carrying his prepared food on the flight wouldn’t have been feasible as it’s perishable, so we decided to go ahead and purchase two weeks of food for our whole trip. Our pediatrician advised us not to let J eat any food in India, even if it is cooked and prepared at home and especially not while traveling around India (this should be a given) Do not take any chances with your precious child. I packed 8 oz of food for the flight and the rest in our suitcases. If I had to choose a prepared baby food I feel semi-comfortable giving J it has to be Gerber 2nd Foods Fruit & Veggie . Don’t forget the baby bibs and burp cloths!

• Diapers- This is a must. I have had friends go to India and regret not bringing diapers. Most people believe think that just because Pampers and Huggies are available there they will be fine. Sorry to burst your bubble but the quality and comfort are just not the same! Their poor kids were so uncomfortable and came back with diaper rash. I will steer clear of all of this and pack a few extra diapers in my diaper bag and I am bringing a ton in my checked in baggage. Our family really loves HUGGIES Snug & Dry Diapers. Don’t forget the Diaper Rash Cream! We love Destin Maximum Strength Diaper Rash Cream for J.

 

• Diaper Wipes– It’s about a 16-hour flight from JFK to New Delhi and J is bound to go to the bathroom a few times. It’s essential to keep a pack of wipes in your diaper bag and we also packed a few more packs in our checked in luggage. I like Parent’s Choice Fragrance-Free Wipes from Walmart. They are economical and work well.

 

• Mosquito Net– This is a lifesaver when the baby is sleeping.Those pesky critters love sucking the life out of you at night. I purchased this particular one Baby Travel Bed and Pop-up Mosquito Net because I received great feedback on it from friends and family. They also have a few choices at Walmart if you prefer to shop there.

• Mosquito Repellent– This is a major one for me.  Ugh, these pesky little things are everywhere during this time of year(It’s 90+ Degrees in Delhi at the moment).  With all the diseases going around with mosquitos, I’m taking every precaution I can think of to avoid J getting bitten. I bought Babyganics Natural Insect Repellent, patches, wrist/ankle bands, tea tree oil and plugins. I packed long pants and long sleeve shirts for J, both of which are light colored to avoid attracting mosquitos. J is too young to take any other tablets or vaccines for travel so that’s the best we can do. I did get all his vaccines done for his age plus the flu shot a few weeks ago for precautionary purposes. Babyganics Deet-Free Mosquito Repellent is our go-to choice!

 

• Alcohol-Free Baby Hand Sanitizing Wipes– Let’s face it, babies touch everything! J puts his hands on everything and without fail everything makes its way to his mouth! I am OCD about keeping him as germ-free as I possibly can. I purchased 10 packs of these just for our trip(i’m not kidding about the OCD level). Once again Babyganics is another sure-fire winner for my favorite wipes brand.Alcohol-Free and oh and they smell heavenly, WIN! We bought these Babyganics Alcohol-Free Hand Sanitizing Wipes, Mandarin

 

• Baby Lotion/BabyBody Wash and Baby Shampoo– I have a ton of this leftover from my Baby Registry Bags,what better time to put them to use than now? My favorite lotion for him is hands down Aveeno Baby Lotion(leaves his skin super soft). For Baby Body Wash I usually turn to Johnson and Johnson or Mustela. Last but not least our favorite shampoo is No Tears by Johnson and Johnson. Live Clean has a wonderful Lavender and Chamomile Scented lotion for babies! Works great after giving your baby a shower, it put’s mine right to sleep(most of the time).

 

• Baby Carrier/Sling- Last but not least- a baby carrier will be a lifesaver. I love the fact that a carrier frees up my hands and J LOVES it! I have recently come across a wonderful baby carried called Soul Slings! I’ve heard wonderful feedback from other mommies who have used it and loved it.  I am excited to try it out on my trip!. I will update you on how it goes when we come back.

 

• Medicine for Baby- I have packed travel sized Tylenol/Saline Drops/Cough Medicine/Gripe Water/Gas Drops and a thermometer. You never know when the need for them may arise and it is always a good idea to have them on hand. This Little Remedies New Baby Essentials Kit is perfect because it has everything in one.
  

 

• Babies Favorite Toys and Blanket– This helps put them at ease and they won’t feel so out of their surroundings. I am bringing J’s Mickey Mouse doll and blanket. This child of mine LOVES anything, Disney!

 

• Teething Rings– If your baby is teething as mine is these will be a big help.

Last but not least, enjoy the trip, it’s an experience. Make tons of memories, take a lot of pictures and just stay alert. At the end of the day, it is only you who knows your child the best. If you feel there may be something wrong, seek medical attention right away. Look out for my next post on our Travels to India!