Traveling with a baby can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re also bringing breast milk and pumping supplies. I recently flew on four separate flights with my 8-month-old, and while I was definitely nervous beforehand, it ended up being a really positive experience.
If you’re preparing for your first flight with a baby, here are the practical, real-life tips that made all the difference for us.
1. Keep Baby Essentials in One Personal Item
One of the best things I did was pack everything I needed for my baby during the flight into one personal item bag.
Having a single bag under the seat in front of me meant:
- No digging through multiple bags
- No standing up mid-flight to grab something
- Everything within arm’s reach when I needed it quickly
Think of this bag as your “in-flight survival kit.”
2. Bring More Toys Than You Think You’ll Need
I packed 4–5 different toys, and I’m so glad I did.
A few tips:
- Choose toys that don’t make loud or repetitive noise (for your sanity and everyone else’s)
- Bring a mix of textures and activities
- Rotate them to keep baby interested
Some favorites that worked really well for us:
- A remote-style teething toy
- A sensory activity cube (this kept my baby busy for a long time)
- Suction cup fidget toys (these were a huge hit on the tray table!)
Funny enough, we sat next to another couple with a 10-month-old—and they had almost the exact same toys. That’s when I knew we picked good ones!
3. Snacks Are a Game-Changer
If your baby is eating solids, don’t skip snacks.
We brought:
- Puffs
- Teethers
- Easy, mess-free snacks
Snacks helped keep my baby occupied during awake times and made the flight feel a lot smoother.
4. Time Sleep Around Takeoff
This was probably the biggest win for us.
I tried to keep my baby awake until boarding, then gave him a bottle while we waited for takeoff. By the time the plane was in the air, he was asleep.
This worked on all four flights.
The sucking motion can also help with ear pressure, which is another bonus.
5. Use a Car Seat Bag (and Make It Easy to Spot)
If you’re traveling with a car seat, I highly recommend getting a protective travel bag.
We chose a bright red one so it was easy to find in the airport—and I’m glad we did.
One thing to know:
Car seats don’t always come out with regular luggage. On one flight, we had to go to a separate area to pick it up, which caught us off guard.
6. Bring a Lightweight Stroller
A small, travel-friendly stroller made navigating the airport so much easier.
What to expect:
- Sometimes they’ll gate-check it
- Sometimes they’ll allow it in the overhead bin
We also used a protective bag for ours and packed it once we got to the terminal.
7. Traveling with Breast Milk: What to Expect
If you’re flying with breast milk, definitely check your airline’s policies ahead of time. We flew with American Airlines, and they allowed us to bring a soft-sided cooler.
Here’s what I packed:
- 2 bottles with milk
- 4 empty bottles (for pumping during the trip)
- Ice packs (these are allowed!)
TSA Experience (Better Than Expected)
I was honestly nervous about going through TSA with breast milk, but every agent we encountered was kind and respectful.
Here’s what happened:
- They asked before handling anything
- One airport used a device to test the milk without opening it
- Another used a special X-ray and a vapor test
- The agent wore fresh gloves and let me hold the bottle during testing
Overall, the process felt very safe and professional.
8. Pumping on the Go
I brought my Eufy wearable breast pump, and it made a huge difference.
Why it helped:
- Easy to pump discreetly while traveling
- No need to find a private space every time
- Convenient for maintaining supply during travel days
I also packed these cleaning wipes to quickly sanitize parts between uses.
I used this breast pump cleaning kit to wash my pumps while we were on vacation. It was convenient, easy to pack and had everything I needed.
We were really fortunate to have such a smooth experience flying with our baby. TSA agents were accommodating, airline staff were helpful, and overall it felt much less stressful than I expected.
If you’re feeling anxious about flying with a baby or bringing breast milk, that’s completely normal, but hopefully this gives you a clearer picture of what to expect.
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