| Flying with infants and toddlers does not need to be | | | | actual bottles so it is easy to find in the diaper bag. |
| a daunting experience. These tips will help you pack | | | | Bring enough formula for the entire trip in your |
| economically for the trip and plan your schedule to | | | | checked bags - especially for international travels. |
| avoid excess stress. | | | | - Water: After clearing security you should buy |
| Rookie family travelers often make the mistake | | | | enough water to make twice as many bottles as you |
| miscalculating the length of the journey. When | | | | think you will use on the flight. Remember to bring |
| traveling with kids, the trip begins the minute you | | | | enough to make bottles when traveling from the |
| walk out the door and does not end until you reach | | | | airport. |
| your hotel or destination. Be sure to include the travel | | | | Analyze your gear requirements. Do you really need |
| time to and from the airport in you packing | | | | the stroller in the airport or is it easier to check it |
| consideration - not just the length of the flight. | | | | with your baggage? Baby carriers are fantastic but |
| Allow plenty of time at the airport. Remember the | | | | must be removed before clearing security. All gear - |
| days of arriving at the airport with just enough time | | | | including baby carriers, strollers and car seats must go |
| to make the flight? Those days are over. Figure out | | | | through the x-ray machines. This takes additional time |
| when you would normally get to the airport and add | | | | so plan accordingly and practice using the equipment |
| at least an hour. Children of any age will slow you | | | | so you are quick at assembly. Also, if you have a |
| down because it takes longer to clear security, you | | | | tight connection, gate checked strollers often take |
| need to stock up on water after the checkpoint and | | | | time to be returned - perhaps checking it would be |
| there is always one diaper to change before boarding. | | | | best. |
| Be a smart packer - there is a fine line between | | | | If you decide to check a stroller, it is worth the |
| being prepared and bringing too much. Here are the | | | | investment to buy a bag to protect it in flight. This |
| guidelines we follow: | | | | bag is also a great place to stash extra diapers. |
| - Disposable Diapers: No matter how old the child, | | | | Remember that strollers are often considered |
| assume you will use one diaper an hour and add one | | | | over-sized luggage by the handlers and will come out |
| or two extra for good measure. If you are traveling | | | | on a special carousal - look for the golf club or ski |
| internationally, pack enough diapers for the entire trip | | | | racks and you will often find your stroller. |
| in your checked luggage. For domestic travel, include | | | | The TSA allows people traveling with a baby to bring |
| enough to last a few days. | | | | on a limited amount of liquids related to the baby - a |
| - Bottles: Carry on enough clean bottles to make it a | | | | bottle, for instance. This does slow down the |
| one complete day (we usually carried on about 10). | | | | screening process so we recommend limiting your |
| Rinse out all bottles once used and leave a small | | | | liquid carry-ons to the bottle currently in use. If you |
| amount of water in the bottom to make it easier tell | | | | must use a liquid formula, bring a note from your |
| the clean ones and dirty ones apart. Include a small | | | | doctor explaining the need and alert the TSA |
| bottle of dish-washing liquid in your checked bags so | | | | representative so they are prepared for the |
| you can wash bottles at your destination. | | | | screening. |
| - Formula: Carry on adequate formula for two days | | | | We hope these tips help ease the stress and fear of |
| use. Leave powder in its original packaging and pack a | | | | traveling with a baby by managing the amount you |
| small can or single use packets. The packets are | | | | need to pack. |
| convenient for packing and can be packed in the | | | | |