My First International Flight With a Baby: What I Learned (The Hard Way!)
If you’re staring at a long-haul flight map and clutching a diaper bag in fear, I get it. I’ve been there! My first flight with a baby was a quick domestic trip when my oldest was only 2.5 months old, but our first international flight happened when she was 9 months.
I’ve flown to Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Costa Rica with my girls, sometimes with my partner and sometimes solo on a “girls trip” with my amazing friends. Here is the unfiltered truth about traveling the world with tiny humans.
The “Lap Infant” Hack: Flying (Basically) for Free
What I love most about traveling with babies and toddlers is that they are basically free under two if you fly with them in your lap. I say “basically” because, on international flights, you usually pay a small fee (about 10% of the fare), but it’s a steal compared to a full ticket!
I chose the lap infant route for both of my daughters as long as I could to keep our trips economical. Is it more challenging? Yes. But with some pre-planning and a really good baby carrier, it’s way less daunting than it sounds.
Short vs. Long-Haul: Know Before You Go
International travel usually falls into two buckets for us:
The “Short” Haul: Our trips to Mexico and Costa Rica were around 5 hours. For these, I just follow my usual domestic flight advice. Just don’t forget the passports!
The Long-Haul: Flights to Europe are a different beast. The flight over is usually an overnight “red-eye,” and the flight back is… well, it’s long. But honestly? The younger they are, the easier they are to contain—ha!
Quick Tip: Pack light! I’m a carry-on-only mom. It’s so much more comforting to know everything I need is right there, and I don’t have to worry about a lost bag ruining the start of our trip. However, no shame in a checked bag! I checked a bag for my first Long-haul flight with a nine month old.
The Bassinet vs. The Carrier
airlines advertise bulkhead bassinets. I booked one for our first trip, but my daughter wasn’t having it. Between the size limits and having to take her out every time there was a tiny bit of turbulence, I ended up holding her the whole time anyway. That’s when I learned: The carrier is king. By our second trip, I just kept the baby in the carrier for sleeping. My hands were free to eat, read, or just breathe.
Booking Seats and “Bedtime” Tricks
If you aren’t flying overnight, it might be worth upgrading your seat for the extra space.
- The Footrest Hack: You can buy inflatable footrests that turn a normal seat into a little bed for kids over two.
- The “Wiggles” Factor: Extra space is great for toddlers who need to stand up and move a bit without blocking the aisle.
To get my girls in the “sleepy” mindset for our flight to Spain, I bought special PJs just for the plane. Combined with their favorite stuffed animal and a bottle during takeoff (great for ear pressure!), they usually settle right in.
The Reality Check: “Kids Cry, Don’t Stress It”
I’ll be honest: our 22-month-old is a bit more of a crier than my oldest. On one long flight home, she had a total meltdown from pure exhaustion.
Here’s the thing: Kids cry. Try your best to soothe them, but don’t let your own stress levels skyrocket. Most people are understanding, and honestly, with everyone wearing noise-canceling headphones these days, they probably can’t even hear us!