q&a / more travel tips from brooke
Getting from point A to B with a baby in tow is no easy feat, especially when air travel is part of the equation. We asked Mysha mom Brooke Lavery, co-owner of boutique travel agency Local Foreigner and a mother of three boys (ages 6, 3, and 2 months), for her best tips.
1. Do your research: Air travel with little ones can be hard, but some airlines and airports make the experience easier. For long-haul international flights, book a seat with a baby bassinet (generally for babies under 20-pounds). Airlines vary on their offerings and process to confirm, so do your homework. Take it to the next level with CoziGo, a universal airplane bassinet cover to create a nice dark little cove. Most airlines allow car seats and strollers to be gate-checked for free.
2. Travel light: This is the time to flex your minimalist muscle. Make a packing list a few days before you go so there is time to narrow it down to necessities. If you’ll have access to laundry while traveling, use it. For babies, I pack one-and-a-half outfits per day plus a jammy for every other day— and just like grownups, a cute cardigan can go a long way. For toddler and up, I like to bring a fresh package of Hanes white T-shirts for backup. Have the hotel provide a crib, and request milk in your fridge plus a fruit basket.
3. Prepare your child: Make this a fun new experience. Spend time the week before departure preparing your little one. Read books about airplanes and airports, look at maps to understand the journey, look at photographs of the airport, airplane, and destination. Walk step-by-step through what will happen. When they know what to expect, everything goes more smoothly.
4. Snacks: Pack double the food you think you’ll need. Anything small and individual can occupy time when doled out slowly (i.e. Cheerios), but don’t forget proteins too. Also do not assume the plane or airport stores will have milk. For older toddlers you can bring bottles of milk and have the TSA agents do their silly tests.
5. New toys: Nothing fascinates a little one more than something new and shiny. Hit up the dollar store for an arsenal of trinkets or tap into your hoarder stash for items to bust out slowly over the course of the flight. A simple piece of bubble wrap or a ‘game’ (try a toy hammer, a golf tee, and a piece of Styrofoam) will engulf a toddler’s attention.
6. Tablet: Every family has their own feelings on screen time. In our family, my older boys both have their own Amazon tablets that are only allowed during travel. This is how we flew two back-to-back five-hour flights to Hawaii last winter—those little crack addicts had a rare all-access pass to their tablets loaded with games and shows.
7. Clothing: First time moms are always super prepared in this department, but eventually we all start getting a little bold and lazy. Ask me about the time my 1-year-old projectile vomited upon take-off from New York to Miami all over me and my 4-year-old… and all I had for extra clothes was one pair of jammies for the two kids. My older son spent the flight in his undies under my coat, while I was crusted in puke. Babies need two extra outfits, toddlers and bigs need at least one pair of jammies… and bring a long sleeve T-shirt for yourself too. This will happen to you and you will live to laugh about it. Personally I also like to dress my kids in really cute layered outfits for the plane, old-school style.
8. Let them move: Expend their energy so they’re better prepared to have quiet time, and explain that to them in advance. Go to the airport early and post up at an empty gate, create boundaries and let them run back and forth. Lay your baby down on a blanket in the corner and let them kick and crawl.
9. Get the gear: Invest in a lightweight travel stroller— ideally one that you can strap a car seat to. Personally, I love the Mountain Buggy Nano, but the Colugo and Babyzen YOYO are also beloved. For the age 2-to-3 stage when they’re in their own seat, the Cares Kids Fly Safe Airplane Safety Harness feels more like a car seat… works for some kids, others rebel. Two of my business partners have raved about the SlumberPod which is basically a pop-up tented baby bed for hotel rooms. There are also some cool backpacks that convert to travel bassinets if you can’t guarantee a bassinet from the airline.
10. Stay organized: The secret to being a chill mom and avoiding the rage induced from rifling. Say it with me ‘PACKING CUBES’: one for jammies, a few small ones with two-to-three complete outfits, and then one becomes the dirty clothes receptacle. I use a Birdling Weekender for short trips and Away Luggage for longer.
-- a few more travel tips from brooke --
1. Any general tips you'd give to a new mom traveling for the first time with her baby? Your baby feeds off of your energy— so take the necessary steps to ensure you are the most calm version of yourself. Pack in advance, go to bed early the night before, leave for the airport before you have to.
2. A favorite piece of baby gear that makes life easier on the road:
Your favorite baby carrier. I’m still rocking my old BabyBjorn Harmony on kid number three.
3. Why is it worth the extra effort to travel with your kids?:
1. Little ones are the best cultural ice-breakers—and in my experience it’s far easier to connect with locals when you’re traveling with a cute social magnet, which also forces you to slow down and be more present.
2. The babes benefit— every new experience during that brain-building infant-to-age-5 stage is creating millions of neuron connections.
3. Our memories. These little people grow up so quickly and it’s easy for our sleep-deprived brains to blur our memory— but travel creates an imprint. I’ll never forget what it was like to walk the streets of Florence with my 10-month-old, or snuggle under a beach umbrella on Nevis with my 11-week-old as my toddler played in the waves with Daddy.