Travel with Baby

I remember when I used to fly alone for a weekend to visit my parents in Michigan. I’d pack all my clothes in a rolling carry-on, toss some magazines and gum in the front pocket, dress up a little bit because I’m old-fashioned, and head off to the airport feeling confident and grown-up. I’d shop for a while in the airport, sit at the gate reading my magazine, and have a Coke on the plane.

That all changed when I started flying with Eian. The hour-long flight to Traverse City suddenly seemed like days of travel. When we landed the first time, I felt like we should have been in Europe. Everything about that trip was a dramatic change from pre-baby travel. First, I had to pack two large suitcases for a week-long trip. It’s amazing how much stuff babies need. I didn’t dress up at all either. I wore a pair of old cargo pants because pockets are good when you only have the use of one hand. When we got to the airport, I paced with Eian in the front pack. He wouldn’t let me site down even for a minute, let alone read a magazine or eat something. On the plane, I frantically went through all 5 S’s from The Happiest Baby on the Block (which, incidentally, has saved my life on many occasions). I had no time for a Coke. When we landed, my hair was coming out of a ponytail, my baby was barely holding it together, and I was covered in spit-up.

Traveling with a baby can be a really challenging experience, even for the most prepared parent. As I get ready to go on yet another Michigan trip with Eian, here is what I have for advice:

• If in doubt, pack it. Gone are the days of packing in a carry-on or traveling with a lightly-loaded car. If it might keep your baby happy on the road, it has a right to be there.
• Take deep breaths. When your baby is screaming in the car or twisting out of your grasp on the airplane, try to keep yourself calm by taking a few deep breaths.
• Make lists. Make several lists before leaving. Use them to avoid forgetting anything important like your baby’s medicine or a swaddling blanket.
• Don’t compare. Despite my tirade above, don’t compare post-baby travel to pre-baby travel. It will just make you sad or frustrated. Now is now, and you don’t really want to go back.
• Take snacks. Keep your baby happy (if he’s eating people food) by giving him little snacks every now and then. Nothing turns a mood around like some Cheerios.