by Denise Stegmann on September 2nd 2019
First Time Flying with my baby
Since we are an international family we absolutely need to embark on a plane to keep up family connections. So my first child flew for the first time when he was three months old. And this was not just a cute little domestic flight. No, we flew from Minneapolis to Amsterdam. And, I did it all by myself. Family on both sides of the Atlantic made it easy for me. I got a ride to the airport, and my parents picked us up in Amsterdam. So it actually wasn’t too crazy. But for a new, completely sleep deprived mom it was still quite nerve wrecking.
I had my sweet little baby in a baby carrier in front of me, and a backpack with all of our needs on my back. The best advice I had received from a friend had been- on the plane you will do exactly the same things you are doing at home, just on a plane. This really had a calming effect on me after I had read horror stories of babies puking on other people's work laptops. I mean really, what would you do in that situation? So with my friend’s advice in mind I braved airport security. It was a nice surprise that I was escorted to the front of the line. This was 2014. With my second baby in 2017 this has never happened. So I think policies must have changed. So in 2014 I really breezed through security, with only one backpack and no need to take the baby out of the carrier. Then I had about two hours to wait in the gate area since I had arrived super early at the airport. I guess that’s what you get for allowing lots of time.
Once I went on the plane and started to look for my seat my baby started freaking out which also spiked my heart rate quite a bit. By the time I arrived at our seat I was an anxious mess. I started to nurse my baby right away since this always seemed like a good idea. But after that initial intense crying I honestly never quite relaxed even though my baby fell asleep as soon as the plane took off. The engine sound, the sound of no return finally put him to the needed sleep after the hectic airport atmosphere.
In the first year of my child’s life we had taken many flights, and the sleep right after take off had actually always been a given. I know this isn’t anything any parent can count on since my second child did not react this way to take offs. On this first flight with my first child, just the two of us, conditions actually had been quite perfect. We had two seats, and a bulkhead where a cot for the baby could be attached. The flight attendants were all very nice, and on the other side of the aisle there was a guy who assured me that he was an experienced Dad and ready to help at any time. Still, I couldn’t quite relax even though I know in hindsight that this had been the ideal experience.
I actually don't remember what happened after we landed in Amsterdam except that I asked a nice young man to help me lift my checked bag off the baggage carousel. But here are my few pieces of advise for the traveling parent of a young baby:
Arriving at European airports in 2019
Passport controls are now standard when you arrive at a European airport from out of Europe and this is your final destination. Please be prepared to stand in line for a while to have your passport checked. After the passport check you can get your luggage.
I had my sweet little baby in a baby carrier in front of me, and a backpack with all of our needs on my back. The best advice I had received from a friend had been- on the plane you will do exactly the same things you are doing at home, just on a plane. This really had a calming effect on me after I had read horror stories of babies puking on other people's work laptops. I mean really, what would you do in that situation? So with my friend’s advice in mind I braved airport security. It was a nice surprise that I was escorted to the front of the line. This was 2014. With my second baby in 2017 this has never happened. So I think policies must have changed. So in 2014 I really breezed through security, with only one backpack and no need to take the baby out of the carrier. Then I had about two hours to wait in the gate area since I had arrived super early at the airport. I guess that’s what you get for allowing lots of time.
Once I went on the plane and started to look for my seat my baby started freaking out which also spiked my heart rate quite a bit. By the time I arrived at our seat I was an anxious mess. I started to nurse my baby right away since this always seemed like a good idea. But after that initial intense crying I honestly never quite relaxed even though my baby fell asleep as soon as the plane took off. The engine sound, the sound of no return finally put him to the needed sleep after the hectic airport atmosphere.
In the first year of my child’s life we had taken many flights, and the sleep right after take off had actually always been a given. I know this isn’t anything any parent can count on since my second child did not react this way to take offs. On this first flight with my first child, just the two of us, conditions actually had been quite perfect. We had two seats, and a bulkhead where a cot for the baby could be attached. The flight attendants were all very nice, and on the other side of the aisle there was a guy who assured me that he was an experienced Dad and ready to help at any time. Still, I couldn’t quite relax even though I know in hindsight that this had been the ideal experience.
I actually don't remember what happened after we landed in Amsterdam except that I asked a nice young man to help me lift my checked bag off the baggage carousel. But here are my few pieces of advise for the traveling parent of a young baby:
- Bring at least 5 more diapers than you think you will need
- Make your baby comfortable (warm clothing, bottles or nursing, pacifier)
- Bring snacks for yourself since you don't know if you'll be able to eat the food provided on the plane
- RELAX , your baby is going to pick up on your feelings
- Most likely your baby is going to have the same needs she has on the ground, she just wants to be with you- you are enough
- all the other passengers are probably going to wear headphones so you don't have to worry too much about the noise your baby makes
- most people are going to be happy to help you (helping others makes people feel good)
- This will be a rare opportunity to be able give undivided attention to your baby. Enjoy it!
Arriving at European airports in 2019
Passport controls are now standard when you arrive at a European airport from out of Europe and this is your final destination. Please be prepared to stand in line for a while to have your passport checked. After the passport check you can get your luggage.