Finding Appalachia

I am getting ready for a big milestone for our family. Little Bit will be taking her first flight so she can visit Florida and Georgia.

Our little girl has already proven to be an excellent traveler based on our multi-state road trip on July of 2023 when we ventured across Texas and New Mexico to visit family in Arizona. She was a little grumpy at the end, but weren’t we all? This adventure will be a bit more challenging as we will have substantial car travel before we even arrive at the airport and we will have to change planes before reaching our final destination. However, I refuse to let life just happen to me without having some semblance of a plan! So here are the tips I have gathered so far.

1. Little Miss will be receiving a brand new toy as soon as we get on the plane. One of my coworkers suggested this from a mommy blog somewhere, so I bought what I think will be a very engaging sensory teether ball. See what I got here
2. I am loathe to allow her onto an electronic device, but I will be prepared with some downloaded videos. Specifically, the PBS Kids App allows you to download video content for when you do not have a connection! It’s not quite developmentally appropriate, as it is rated for 2 years and up, but for a short 5 minute redirect, it will do. See what they offer here
3. We are travelling with the car seat and Baby Girl is sitting by herself. As much as I love and adore cuddling and holding my little girl, I know that she is going to do best traveling the way she always travels, in a car seat.
4. Lots of play time in the airports! I have already located the play areas in the airports we will be travelling through for this trip. I will do my best to run down her batteries while we are on the ground and maybe, just maybe, we’ll get a 30 minute nap while we are in the air!

What are your best tips and trips for air travel with a little one? What has and hasn’t worked? I will update when we’ve made the big journey!