So, we’ve all heard about that passenger that hit a toddler on a flight, correct? Ca-RAZY story. If you were under a rock that day, a 60 year old man slapped a 19 month old boy (wait: it gets worse) and told the mom to “shut that N-word baby up.” Before you frantically open a new browser to cancel your spring break flight to visit Grandma and Grandpa in CaliFloridArizona, remind yourself:
You’ve been cooped up all winter. You’ve visited the local free museum so frequently that your toddler could stand in as curator. You’ve sung “Wheels on the Bus” no less than 200 times (maybe in just one week), and you’ve read “Fox and Socks” to the point where you refused to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ bday. (What a tongue twisting A-hole!) You DESERVE this vacation, and you’re going to have fun, damnit!
Let the haters hate: Flying with a kid
1) Unlike Dr. Seuss, the majority of fellow passengers are not A-holes. In fact, I’ve yet to interact with someone who wasn’t extra nice to lil’ man and me. In total, we’ve taken 20 flights in his 20 months of life; about one third of them just he and I. Think of trips to the grocery store: do other people roll their eyes at your kid, or do they tend to make “oh-he’s-so-cute” utterances? I take advantage of fellow passengers’ and/or flight attendants’ kindness, which leads me to my next point.
2) When people offer help, I accept it graciously. Got the peanut in the baby Bjorn and can’t lift the bag to the overhead compartment? Yes, I’d love a hand! Forgot to bring a sippy cup? How thoughtful of you to provide a lid and straw! My baby’s screaming and this huge, burly man with a beard turns around and asks, “Can I hold him?” Be my guest!!
I ask for and accept help all the time; maybe to a fault, according to my husband. I see nothing wrong with sharing the load. Unless it’s a load in the pants, and then I change it myself. There will be no imposing that (literal) shit on anyone but my husband…and maybe my parents…and maybe my best friend, twice in one morning of babysitting. Guess I owe her another bottle of vino.
3) No mom jeans for this traveler.
4) I do NOT bring my diaper bag. Because I am an idiot, I did not register for a diaper bag with backpack straps. My friend has a Petunia Picklebottom, and it’s amazing. I will say that it’s on the pricey side and a bit bulky, and therefore difficult to squeeze under the seat. Heaven knows we can’t actually store the baby bag in the overhead compartment, lest we need more Goldfish crackers.
I just use a regular backpack. This serves two purposes. 1) It limits the amount of crap I can bring. B) I can pretend I’m a junior in college again, backpacking around Europe, instead of about to play with airplane stirrers and coffee cups for the two hour flight to Pennsylvania.
5) The important crap I DO carry in my backpack.
7) You get more bees with honey.
As we make our final descent, know that most people are not haters. Even the TSA agents, whose pearly whites you’d NEVER think you’d see, will crack a smile when you let your little one waddle through the metal detector. Flying with a kid is annoying at worst, and easier-than-I-thought at best. Are you really NOT going to enjoy a much needed vacation because of a few hours of inconvenience? Plus, there is always booze on a flight. Just sit in the back so fewer people will judge you.
Share your flying triumps/defeats below!
Stay social, mom friends.
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Wait! No diaper bag?! There is life OUTSIDE the diaper bag?! Sounds like blasphemy and I am grateful for it!! I am a bit curious why all of your things are in plastic bags in your suitcase. Hilarious article!!
Thanks for reading! As for the plastic bags in the suitcase, they are vacuum seal bags. I recommend them, as they do free up space.
I use to be annoyed by a screaming kid on a flight until I traveled with my grandson on a few of his flights. Now I’m sure the criticism of the “haters” is far outweighed by the understanding of the parents and grandparents on the flight.
Thanks for your comments! I agree- the positive responses from people far outweigh the negative.
Great post! We haven’t travelled with our newborn yet, but we will be abroad for two weeks this autumn – and your post provides food for thought. Have you been abroad with your baby? And do you prefer the back pack to the diaper bag because of the 2-straps? We have a Skip Hop Duo Essential diaper bag, but we’ve yet to use it. I see a lot of parents in Brooklyn (NY) with 2-strap back packs and it seems to make sense.
Congrats on your new addition, and bravo to you for traveling abroad! We have not been abroad, but went from Chicago to Hawaii, so a similar flight situation. It’s actually the easiest when they aren’t crawling or walking yet, so hopefully yours won’t be super advanced
I don’t own the two-strapper, but I would recommend it if you take a lot of public transportation. It also never hurts to save your back some strain and have the weight distributed evenly.
Thanks for commenting!
Crooklyn – a backpack works great but you can get by using the Skip Hop Duo for your trip abroad (we have one and it is great for longer trips). I have much info to share at a later date, but I agree with Erin – people are usually very sweet when you are traveling with a kiddo – especially alone. If there were one bit of advice I would add – if you can – splurge for the money for an extra seat for your kid. THEN be sure to use an FAA accepted car seat and strap that lil one in for the ride. Safest way to go and also allows for you to scoot out for a bathroom break with the wee one safe and sound! The 12 hour flight back from New Zealand alone with Everett almost did me in. Especially when he dropped to the ground at the LA airport to suck on the carpeting after I had been SO obsessive with the sanitization of our seats onboard. Alas, we as parents really are just along for the ride. Two days later – worlds nastiest case of hand foot and mouth. Ahhh the life as a mother. Glam as it gets! Good stuff Erin! Love it!
Oh, Nicole. You are supermom for taking such a long flight with a little guy…and then putting up with the aftermath. Thanks for reading!
“…there is always booze on a flight. Just sit in the back so fewer people will judge you.” Awww, I miss you friend.
Miss you, too!
I love that you accept the help that people offer……that can be a difficult thing to do. I mean when you think about it, people don’t offer things they aren’t willing to do. I will have to remember this bit of advice!
Thanks for reading. That’s very true. And if they regret offering to help, they just won’t do it again.
I am interested in this Petunia Picklebottom…
Great post SocialButtlerflyMom
Thank you!
Hey Erin,
Happy Birthday!! Your blog is great! I’m glad you posted the link because it is very unique & I love reading blogs. This post made me want to travel with my son via airplane, which I’ve never done (and he’s 16 mo old)! Enjoy your day and your new publicity!
Kristin
Thanks Kristin! You can definitely travel with your lil’ guy. As I said, people are really nice. It’s never as bad as you think!
I have also found it helpful to assume the good in other people. 20 trip in 20 months is quite amazing.
Thanks Katie! Agreed. Knock on wood, I have yet to have a negative interaction while flying!
We’re thinking of flying with Connor this summer. Your post, while adding a bit of humor, makes me feel much better! I definitely used to be a person who rolled my eyes when I saw a baby on a flight. Oh how things have changed!
Thanks Alexis! You are not alone…I think we all share the guilt for the stares we used to give others. Good luck on your first flight!