I Need Tips for Traveling with an Infant

6 month old is easy... They will probably sleep the whole time. Pick a flight around nap time and give bottle when the plane gets to ear popping range.

Get a car seat backpack. We have one and it works very well.

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Bring an umbrella stroller

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This

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Most easily maneuvering joggers will compact enough to fit in ride-share services vehicles.

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You can't stack a ton of stuff like diaper bags, plus shopping bags, etc. on an umbrella stroller, which is kind of the point. Diaper bag and that's it.

The expensive arse stroller (first time mom requirement) is unwieldy, takes up a ton of sidewalk and table space, and tends to get stacked with so much shite that it tips over when you take the kid out. Even if you buy a Kevlar bag to gate check it, it almost never comes out the same way. About the only way it's superior is on a lot of cobblestone streets, with those eight independently maneuvering wheels and unicorn tear dispensers. And don't forget you now have the car seat to deal with in a rideshare.

The easiest thing? A baby Bjorn, zero footprint, ultimate maneuverability. My daughter kicked me in the nuts for months, which I will remind her of in 20 years.

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The expensive arse stroller (first time mom requirement) is unwieldy, takes up a ton of sidewalk and table space, and tends to get stacked with so much shite that it tips over when you take the kid out.

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plus…you aggravate everyone else trying to fit that fricking thing everywhere you go

For a stroller, buy a Mountain Buggy Nano. It folds up to the size of a briefcase, it's light, and it has some capacity for storing diaper/wipes/shopping bags. We have 4 kids and travel a decent amount. Just got back from London & Ireland with it. It was one of the better child investments for us. If we're doing ride share/taxi, we don't use a car seat, just hold the baby in our lap, to each their own in this regard. If we're renting a vehicle, we rent a car seat with the vehicle.

Baby Bjorn.
Car Seat and Foldable stroller combo... with good storage space. Most strollers fold up welll, do not bring a jogger.
Car seat bag or pack. And you can stuff other "carry on" items with it and gate check it.
Multiple binkys
Pack 2 change of baby clothes for the flight and do keep your diaper bag prepared for anything.
Extra shirt for both you and your wife in carry on for any accidents.

We've done Amsterdam with a 4 month old and are coming back from Hawaii with her at 8 months, she travels well and we've been prepared for most problems, including getting stuck this past week when hawaiin airlines shut down but sent our luggage ahead.

I find one of us having a really good non diaper bag carry on backpack is critical. For long flights books/headphones. Something with water bottle holder , extra storage, etc. Something modular and tough.

We've traveled a decent bit with infants and toddlers at this point. I don't really get the umbrella stroller shouts for the air travel itself (different story on location maybe).

We used a double stroller and a big Uppa stroller for tons of flights, and the size was never an issue - actually it was often helpful because you can hang other bags off it, etc. You're gate checking it anyway. We dispensed with the stroller bags and what have you, our Uppa got beat to hell I'm sure, but it's about 5 years old and still looks fine and functions normally.

I hate AA but no chance I'm doing connections with small children unless I can avoid it. As others have said, the worst time to fly with your little kids are right when they're starting to get mobile IMO. Too old to immediately sleep, too young to comprehend that they can't crawl/walk all over the place.

If your kid is doing solids, buy a ton of those yogurt bites/puffs or similar foods to occupy him/her.

Absolutely book the direct flights. We’ve flown a ton with infants and toddlers, the worst feeling in the world is being on a terrible flight (kids acting up) and knowing you have to get off the plane and do it all over again shortly after. The shortest total travel time is always the best solution.

I'll probably get downvoted to hell but, here's my go to. We've taken 6 flights with our now 8 month old, did the first one at 3 months old, and I'm taking my first solo flight with him next month.

1. Book First Class seats. With you and the Mrs., and Jr. as a lap infant, you'll have a whole row to yourself and you'll quickly use up the extra baggage allowance with all of the baby stuff.
2. Get a bag and gate check your stroller. Don't want to be carrying them longer than you have to. Plus, with a direct flight, no chance of it getting lost and it'll be waiting on the jet bridge.
3. Don't book bulkhead seats, you'll want to have the baby bag readily available during all phases of flight.
4. Pack a change of clothes. I've had to change multiple times due to spit up and things from the other end (maybe not as large of an issue with a 6 month old)
5. If they have a nap cadence, try and book a flight that works best for them. Our son is better in the mornings than the afternoons, so we try and always fly then.

For the strollers, we traveled with a Doona, easy to get in and out of rental cars and rideshare vehicles, collapse down easily and can fit in the overhead bin. You don't need the base to use it.

Doona



I'm sure there are many more things I'm forgetting, but that's top of mind for now.

I haven't seen a bassinet in use on a domestic narrowbody flight. Also, I would try and avoid a connection at all costs with an infant. No need doing the whole boarding/deplaning song and dance more than once.

As far as strollers go, we have 3 and the Doona is the cheapest