We recently took our first family vacation and I have to tell you…. as excited as I was about the idea of lounging by the pool warm sun, having a hotel maid making the bed, and spending some uninterrupted quality time with my guys (husband + son…)

…the thought of getting on a plane with Jackson (7 months) was nerve-wracking.

Some days just getting out the door to the grocery store seems insurmountable, so I honestly wasn’t sure how on earth we would survive a trip across country.

The trip wasn’t easy, but I learned quite a few things in the process, and we enjoyed a wonderful vacation upon arrival.

Here are 3 of my best tips make sure your travel plan is successful:

1. Time the flight.
  This was the main error that we made with our trip.  Without even thinking about it, we booked a flight that ran into Jackson’s bedtime… if your baby is a sound sleeper, that may work.  But for some babies (my son included) without a good FULL night’s sleep at bedtime, it makes a very tired (aka fussy) baby on the flight and a very tired (aka fussy) baby the next day as well. The key is to take a look at your baby’s schedule and see if you can plan your trip for your baby’s calmest time.  For some, that may be during a nap time.  But every baby is different.  For us, we know that Jackson gets MORE fussy when he gets tired, so we will schedule trips during the day from this point on.
2. Car Seat or Lap?
 We opted to hold Jackson on our lap for the flight.  He loved to look out the window and to jump between mommy and daddy’s arms.  BUT you do have the option of brining a car seat and booking an extra seat for your little one.  Officially, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recommends that babies under 40 pounds be secured in car seats on airplanes but it’s not required. Most airlines have special rates for infants and do not charge for “lap passengers.”  If you do book an extra seat, you’ll be able to bring your carseat on board and the flight attendant can help you install it.  If choose to fly with your little on your lap, here are a few things we found helpful:
   - Use a baby carrier.  We brought our Bjorn and it worked well. It was much easier for you to relax and get comfortable on the flight and gave us a few extra hands to drag around luggage and carryon bags during layovers..
   - Book a seat on the aisle!  As fun as it was to watch Jackson look at the window, the enterntainment didn’t last long- and we were definitely wishing we would’ve been able to get up more easily for diaper changes or to walk him when he become fussy.
3. Relieve pressure in their ears!  Try nursing or giving them something to suck to relieve the pressure in their ears (this worked well for Jackson) during take off and landing.  If you choose to nurse, remember to bring a nursing cover for privacy and to wear clothing that makes it easy to latch baby on without too much rearranging, like a button-up shirt that you can unbutton from the bottom.

Remember, traveling is hard on everyone.  Be patient with yourself and your child.  

If they cry (which he did)- OH WELL!  Don’t assume every traveler on the plane is glaring at you… most parents know exactly what you’re going through!  oxo! -Kate