Travelling with an Infant Tip #3: Take care of you BEFORE boarding the plane

Once you board the plane, you're going have very little wiggle room (that is, unless you're travelling in first class). You need to make sure that you take care of your needs before you board the plane. It's much easier to go to the bathroom with your baby and the bags and the stroller at the airport, than it is to move up and down the aisle of a crowded plane holding your baby and the rest of your stuff and trying to use those tiny airplane bathrooms with your baby in one hand. Very uncomfortable!

Before you board the plane make sure that you eat, especially if it's a long flight. Hopefully the baby will fall asleep on the plane, but some times he won't so you may not be able to keep the drink they provide you on the plane, even if it's water, from spilling onto the person sitting next to you (especially if they're a stranger).

So make sure that you eat, use the restroom, and have the things you'll most likely need neatly organized at the top of your diaper bag or carry on so that you don't have to search in your bag for your child's favorite rattle or bottle. Even though travelling with a baby isn't the end of the world (most moms do it just fine), careful planning will make it that much less stressful for you and your baby.

So don't forget, take care of you before you go on the plane so that you can take care of your baby and hopefully enjoy your flight.