Julianne travelled a lot before she was born (I went to La Paz, Mexico in March 2014 and then Tulum, Mexico in April, 2014). I was worried she wouldn't be the best traveller (as everyone always mentions babies cry at take off and landing) but my baby girl was born to travel!
In October 2014 Julianne and I travelled solo to Fort McMurray, Alberta to see my husbands family. It went great!! Julianne nursed at take off and landing, and my baby bjorn carrier was useful to keep her snuggled for her naps so I could enjoy a book and snack. We then travelled again in November 2014 to Victoria, British Columbia to see my family. We then travelled again in January 2015, and have plans to fly again in February to Disneyland and Palm Springs, California! In February we are even taking my husband Chad with us - time for him to see how great his baby girl travels!
Some lessons I have learned when travelling though that new parents might find handy:
1) Lap seating - I have only had Julianne at the age where she is still small enough to cuddle the whole flight but having the middle seat vacant is handy! I usually check in for my flight a day early (thanks to west jets awesome mobile app!) and choose a window seat. Note - aisle seat might seem like a good idea but it isn't. Baby girl's head or legs or my elbow would be in the way of the cart or other guests walking up the aisle. Window seat also offers more privacy for breastfeeding!
I also ask the check in agent at the gate where we board the flight if there is someone sitting in the centre seat of my aisle. If so, I ask if there are any seats vacant that I could move to where the middle seat would be vacant. Usually this is the back of the aircraft near the washroom with the change table so it works out.
2) Carry on items - my first time flying with Julianne I brought my diaper bag. Big mistake. Its loaded with items (change of clothes for both of us, books, snacks, diapers, wipes, nipple cream, water bottle, toys for Julianne, our travel documents, my wallet, cell phone, headphones, etc) that I felt off balance. My sister in law suggested I replace my diaper bag with a back pack and wow! huge improvement. More even weight distribution and easier to manage.
3) Stroller and car seat - when travelling with an infant on westjet (I only travel westjet in Canada) you get to choose two oversize items free of charge (stroller, car seat, and/or playpen). I have been lucky everywhere I have travelled there has been a pack n' play there for me to use. I could probably arrange for stroller and car seat too but since I like my stroller and car seat combo I usually bring it (also who knows about the condition of car seats you can rent, etc). I check in the car seat and base now (as the first time I didn't as Julianne was super tiny and it was a challenge to not lose the base venturing around the airport). I now also check my stroller unless I have a significant lay over (i.e. more than an hour). Julianne now fits nicely in the stroller without the car seat so she can recline and I power walk through the airport to stretch my legs and get a snack when I end up in an airport for the 2-2.5 hour layover I sometimes have.
4) Changing baby - lessons learned here. Again my sister in law mentioned she always packed ready to go bags for changing baby (fill a ziplock bag with change pad, set of wipes, diaper, and change of clothes) so you can literally grab from your bag and head to the washroom. Great idea as my first flight I didn't have this organized and guess what - Julianne peed while I was changing her which meant I vacated the washroom with a naked (diaper on) baby and asked this kind lady to hold her (she was more than willing) while I found Julianne's change of clothes.
5) As for holding baby - don't be shy of asking the flight attendants to hold your infant while you use the washroom. They are always helpful and in my experience, happy to do so.
6) Passport - we got Julianne's passport done when she was 2 months old. Her photo makes her look like the youngest criminal ever, but its so cute and she has changed so much already from that photo! This will come in handy when I take her to the states, but when travelling in Canada after my first flight they started asking for her id (i.e. birth certificate or passport). So I am glad I did that!
7) Snacks for mama - most of the food in the airports are junk (unless your lucky enough they have a Tim Hortons for some chill or Jugo Juice for a smoothie or Starbucks for an egg white or turkey sandwich) and expensive. I usually pack crackers, hummus, veggies and cheese or beef jerky for the trip. I also bring my water bottle and the flight attendants are always willing to fill it for me at any time. I also pack gum for my ears and a soother for Julianne as she sometimes doesn't want to nurse at take off or landing.
Well those are my tips so far! Oh and another lesson - if you are travelling to see family be prepared to bring stuff back! I have brought boxes home from each destination now paying the additional baggage fee of $25. I feel blessed that our daughter and I are spoiled by our love ones but I don't need that many suitcases! I have saved on baggage fees though by getting the westjet master card at RBC, and have booked all of my flights so far using our RBC avion visa :) I knew those points would come in handy!
In October 2014 Julianne and I travelled solo to Fort McMurray, Alberta to see my husbands family. It went great!! Julianne nursed at take off and landing, and my baby bjorn carrier was useful to keep her snuggled for her naps so I could enjoy a book and snack. We then travelled again in November 2014 to Victoria, British Columbia to see my family. We then travelled again in January 2015, and have plans to fly again in February to Disneyland and Palm Springs, California! In February we are even taking my husband Chad with us - time for him to see how great his baby girl travels!
Some lessons I have learned when travelling though that new parents might find handy:
1) Lap seating - I have only had Julianne at the age where she is still small enough to cuddle the whole flight but having the middle seat vacant is handy! I usually check in for my flight a day early (thanks to west jets awesome mobile app!) and choose a window seat. Note - aisle seat might seem like a good idea but it isn't. Baby girl's head or legs or my elbow would be in the way of the cart or other guests walking up the aisle. Window seat also offers more privacy for breastfeeding!
I also ask the check in agent at the gate where we board the flight if there is someone sitting in the centre seat of my aisle. If so, I ask if there are any seats vacant that I could move to where the middle seat would be vacant. Usually this is the back of the aircraft near the washroom with the change table so it works out.
2) Carry on items - my first time flying with Julianne I brought my diaper bag. Big mistake. Its loaded with items (change of clothes for both of us, books, snacks, diapers, wipes, nipple cream, water bottle, toys for Julianne, our travel documents, my wallet, cell phone, headphones, etc) that I felt off balance. My sister in law suggested I replace my diaper bag with a back pack and wow! huge improvement. More even weight distribution and easier to manage.
3) Stroller and car seat - when travelling with an infant on westjet (I only travel westjet in Canada) you get to choose two oversize items free of charge (stroller, car seat, and/or playpen). I have been lucky everywhere I have travelled there has been a pack n' play there for me to use. I could probably arrange for stroller and car seat too but since I like my stroller and car seat combo I usually bring it (also who knows about the condition of car seats you can rent, etc). I check in the car seat and base now (as the first time I didn't as Julianne was super tiny and it was a challenge to not lose the base venturing around the airport). I now also check my stroller unless I have a significant lay over (i.e. more than an hour). Julianne now fits nicely in the stroller without the car seat so she can recline and I power walk through the airport to stretch my legs and get a snack when I end up in an airport for the 2-2.5 hour layover I sometimes have.
4) Changing baby - lessons learned here. Again my sister in law mentioned she always packed ready to go bags for changing baby (fill a ziplock bag with change pad, set of wipes, diaper, and change of clothes) so you can literally grab from your bag and head to the washroom. Great idea as my first flight I didn't have this organized and guess what - Julianne peed while I was changing her which meant I vacated the washroom with a naked (diaper on) baby and asked this kind lady to hold her (she was more than willing) while I found Julianne's change of clothes.
5) As for holding baby - don't be shy of asking the flight attendants to hold your infant while you use the washroom. They are always helpful and in my experience, happy to do so.
6) Passport - we got Julianne's passport done when she was 2 months old. Her photo makes her look like the youngest criminal ever, but its so cute and she has changed so much already from that photo! This will come in handy when I take her to the states, but when travelling in Canada after my first flight they started asking for her id (i.e. birth certificate or passport). So I am glad I did that!
7) Snacks for mama - most of the food in the airports are junk (unless your lucky enough they have a Tim Hortons for some chill or Jugo Juice for a smoothie or Starbucks for an egg white or turkey sandwich) and expensive. I usually pack crackers, hummus, veggies and cheese or beef jerky for the trip. I also bring my water bottle and the flight attendants are always willing to fill it for me at any time. I also pack gum for my ears and a soother for Julianne as she sometimes doesn't want to nurse at take off or landing.
Well those are my tips so far! Oh and another lesson - if you are travelling to see family be prepared to bring stuff back! I have brought boxes home from each destination now paying the additional baggage fee of $25. I feel blessed that our daughter and I are spoiled by our love ones but I don't need that many suitcases! I have saved on baggage fees though by getting the westjet master card at RBC, and have booked all of my flights so far using our RBC avion visa :) I knew those points would come in handy!