This month, I flew from Miami to London with my three month old son. I had gathered plenty of wisdom prior to the trip from other travel friendly Moms, but the truth is there is nothing like experience. The trip went great thankfully, and I’m ready for the next one this week.

Here is my run down of prep and execution for a one week trip. For context, I breast feed and use a pump. Also, the weather was around 50 degrees Fahrenheit for this trip. Adjust list according to expected weather and feeding habits.

Bon Voyage!

FLIGHT BOARDING TIPS:

If you don’t have anything to go in overhead bin (because you have checked everything except diaper bag), then I would wait as long as possible to board. Nurse during take off and during landing. Nursing or feeding with a bottle is better than the pacifier for their ear pain with the cabin pressure. Don’t start feeding too early. There are always delays and you could use your supply before the time it’s actually needed. Wait till you are picking up speed down runway. Everyone has different seat preference but if in Economy, I think it is nice to be near a bathroom and on an aisle in case I need to get up quickly.

SCHEDULE with JETLAG:

If possible, it’s smart to try to meet in the middle with time zones when traveling. For instance, London is 5 hours ahead of Miami. Bedtime in Miami is 7:30pm. If I tried to keep him on Miami time it would be 12:30am. Instead, we moved it by 3 hours and put him to bed at 10:30pm each night while on trip. This makes it easier while away and also easier to settle back into home.

PACK LIST:

Overview of bag organization for 2 adults and 1 baby.

1 Checked bag for me / spouse
1 Checked bag for baby
1 rolling carry on with my purse, pump bag, computer and anything else I can’t risk losing by checking luggage, but don’t necessarily need during the flight (this can go in the overhead bin)
Diaper bag with my small wallet/essentials tucked inside (this is the only bag I will open while traveling unless I need to pump instead of nurse for some reason)
Yoyo stroller (folds and goes in overhead bin and doesn’t count as carry on)
Dock-A-Tot in travel case (if flying business, you can carry on and use in your lay down seat. If flying economy, you can check it separately or pack within a large suitcase)

BABY CHECKED TRAVEL BAG

For the kitchen:

- [ ] Dish soap travel size (brush and little brushes) -

- [ ] Pumps & plastics

- [ ] Pump machine & milk plastics

- [ ] Manual pump

- [ ] 4 Bottles (tube inserts, tube covers, open nipple lids, nipples, closed lids, bottle covers and flats)

- [ ] 2 Pacifiers

- [ ] 1 Gas relief (Mylicon)

- [ ] 2 Dr. Brown Sterilizing Bags

- [ ] Black travel bottle bag to keep bottles cold w/ice pack (don’t forget in freezer)

- [ ] 2 Formula bottles for emergency

For the room:

- [ ] Diaper cream (Desitin)

- [ ] Shampoo (Babyganics)

- [ ] 3 bags of Wipes

- [ ] 1 large bag of diapers (or buy there)

- [ ] 5 Bibs

- [ ] 8 Onesies (pjs & outfits) (socks, mittens etc)

- [ ] 4 Sweaters/jackets

- [ ] 4 Hats

- [ ] 5 Swaddles

- [ ] 2 towels

- [ ] 4 small towels (cloths)

- [ ] Dockatot

- [ ] Stroller (or car seat)

- [ ] 5 different socks

- [ ] Daily cream

DIAPER BAG

Changing:

- [ ] 6-7 diapers

- [ ] Bag of wipes

- [ ] Changing mat

- [ ] 2 swaddles

- [ ] 2 burpees

- [ ] 2 small clothes

- [ ] 2 bibs

- [ ] Hair brush

- [ ] 2 outfits (one short sleeve for hot weather)

- [ ] 2 hats

- [ ] 2 pairs of socks

- [ ] 2 pairs of mittens

- [ ] 2 pacifiers

- [ ] 4 nursing pads

Creams:

- [ ] Mylicon (with plastic syringe)

- [ ] Desitin

- [ ] Nystatin (Prescription diaper rash cream)

- [ ] Nipple balm

BAG FOR PURSE (manual pump and empty bottle)

- [ ] 1 pacifier

- [ ] Blue Dr. Browns bottle tube

- [ ] Blue tube cover

- [ ] Open cap

- [ ] Nipple

- [ ] Bottle cap

- [ ] Manual pump w/ small plastic flap (white flap that can easily get disconnected)

Pear

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