Suitcases, Snacks & Snuggles: Lessons From My First Toddler Travel
- Angelique Woodstock
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
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Even though the initial visit was due to the unfortunate passing of my stepmom, my little girl made the journey easier for me, the mama bear. My heart sank when I received the news, and it was even harder knowing my Dad had to endure this while I was so far away.
I wasn't ready to travel with a toddler, especially on my own, since my husband had just left for basic training. I searched through countless articles, spent hours on Pinterest, and reached out to my amazing mom friends for assistance! First, I want to thank all the moms who supported me on such short notice—you are truly the MVPs.
As a screen-free family, I needed to ensure I packed toys and activities to keep her entertained if she didn't sleep on the plane, not to mention during the wait to board. Here's a tip: include one new toy for them to explore and learn alongside their favorites. This was a game changer for our daughter; she was so intrigued by the new toy that it gave me a solid 30 minutes of uninterrupted reading time on the flight ;). She slept for most of the return flight because it was an early flight, requiring us to wake up earlier to reach the airport.
Our flight to Chicago took approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, and the return trip was the same duration. If you're planning a longer journey, this post might not be for you, as I don't have tips for that yet, lol. Not yet, at least ;)
Items I ordered for the flight included:
Food Storage:
Travel Necessities:
Stroller (which was very useful for storing everything, lol)
Depending on your child's age, car seat or toddler seat attachment
I had my Ergo baby carrier ready for when it was time to board and disembark from the plane.
Toys:
Spongebob Squarepants Reversible Plushie (Her favorite stuffy at that time)
Books:
I'm pleased to report that the trip was a success! I received numerous compliments on my travel system. She also received a lot of praise for how well she handled the plane rides, which made me very proud of our girl.
Here are a few suggestions:
Arrive early to allow time for checking bags, passing through security, reaching your gate, and getting settled.
Note: You have to remove the baby from the stroller during security checks so they can inspect it. This might not be a problem for you if you are using a carrier but jsut incase be prepared to take that off as well for checking. Our daughter didn't want to go back in the stroller after getting cuddles from me, but I played her favorite worship song, and she was okay ;).
They mentioned bringing a birth certificate, but the security didn't check mine, even though I was prepared. They only asked for her boarding pass!
I brought a small lunch bag to carry all her snacks and water. Just a heads up, they do test the water at security!
Choose an aisle seat if you might need to stand and move around. As they grow older, they’ll enjoy the window seat and watching the clouds outside.
If you're breastfeeding, I strongly suggest feeding during takeoff and landing to prevent ear popping. The sucking motion helps with this! Bottle feeding works too ;). And if you just have a sweet baby whose under 1, bring some books to read, little teething toys or other toys they enjoy. Much easier to entertain when they aren’t as mobile as my toddler now haha.
The first trip was a success overall! It was a bonus to spend quality time with Paw Paw and bring some joy to the situation. Rest in peace, Angie. You were one of my primary supporters when I began blogging in 2021. We love and miss you dearly! Until next time….
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