Real-Life Guides for Pregnancy, Babies, Toddlers & Travel

Making formula on a plane doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s exactly how I pre-measure formula and water, pack bottles and feed my baby while flying.

If you’re flying with a baby and staring at the growing pile of bags by your front door, you may be wondering: Does a diaper bag count as a carry-on? The frustrating answer is that it depends on the airline. Some airlines allow you to bring a diaper bag in addition to your regular carry-on and personal item, while others count it toward your standard baggage allowance, particularly when you’re traveling with a lap infant. I’ve flown more than 20 times with my kids on most of

Flying with a baby can make you feel like you need to pack your entire house. You don’t. After flying with my kids more than 20 times, I’ve learned that the best travel gear for flying with a baby isn’t necessarily the stuff marketed as a “must-have.” It’s the gear that makes the airport easier, keeps your hands free, helps your baby sleep, and prevents you from hauling way more stuff than you actually need. It’s the gear that makes the airport easier, keeps your hands free,

Flying with a baby or toddler can make even an experienced traveler question everything. Should you pre-board? Where do you change a diaper on the plane? Can a flight attendant warm a bottle? What should you do if your baby cries the entire flight? I’ve taken more than 20 flights with my kids, but I also have a resource most parents don’t: my mom has been a flight attendant for 50 years. So I asked her what she wishes parents knew before flying with babies and young kids, inc

If you’re wondering about the best age to travel with a baby, my answer might surprise you: 0 to 6 months has been the easiest age for me to travel with both of my kids. After 20+ flights with babies and toddlers, including an 11-hour flight to London with my four-month-old and a solo cross-country flight with my three-month-old, I’ve found that traveling often gets harder as babies become more mobile, not easier. Of course, every baby is different. Some young babies may str

Before my first flight with my son, I had no idea that a lap infant could potentially end up with an empty seat for free. I learned about it in the mom group I joined when my son was about six weeks old. I mentioned that I was flying to the East Coast to visit family for the holidays, and another mom gave me a tip: If you’re traveling with a lap infant, bring your car seat to the gate and politely ask the gate agent whether there are any empty seats on the flight. If there ar

The first time I flew with a baby, I was so worried he wouldn’t sleep. I packed for every possible scenario, mentally prepared for the worst…and he slept almost the entire flight. After 20+ flights with my kids, one of the biggest things I’ve learned is that more stuff does not make flying with a baby easier. In fact, it usually makes it harder. So if you're wondering what you actually need, here's my flying with a baby packing list after 20+ flights with my kids. My goal now

Airport security is stressful enough without standing in the TSA line wondering whether they're about to make you throw away your baby's bottle. The good news: TSA makes several exceptions to the standard liquid rules when you're traveling with a baby. You can bring formula, breast milk, baby food, water for your baby, and other essentials through airport security — including quantities larger than the usual 3.4-ounce liquid limit. Here's what you need to know before heading