My husband and I LOVE to travel. We have done a lot of travelling over the years, but with baby no.2 due in a few months, and saving to buy a house, our travelling has been minimal. Hopefully next year we can have a fun in the sun family holiday somewhere nice.

Our travels since R has been with us, have mainly been to the UK to visit family and last summer we went to Italy.

Planning and packing

With travelling comes packing. Packing for a baby or toddler is a big job that requires time and organisation.

Check with the airline what you can check in for free. With Ryanair you have two pieces of baby equipment for free so we have always checked in the car seat and buggy.

Most places you go will have a travel cot, so not much need to be carting this around.

We have always checked in the buggy. We bought the buggy case for it so when you have the buggy packed in there is actually quite a lot of space around it that you can fit other things. We use this space to pack all of R’s clothes and accessories and anything else we can fit in, and it’s all free of charge with no bag weight limit!

Also, if it’s possible it might be a good idea to try choose a flight time when your baby/toddler is due a nap so they might doze off once you’re all comfy in your plane seat.

Getting to the plane

So once we checked everything in, we carried R in the baby carrier so we had all hands free to pull our hand luggage along and carry our passports etc. This worked up until R was about 13 months old and started walking, so that didn’t work anymore. For the few flights we have been on since then, we used the courtesy strollers in Dublin airport once you go through security down to the gate, and the second time we couldn’t find any strollers so R had to walk and be carried. This was not ideal as we had hand luggage and she is heavy now!

If walking, a harness is a good idea as airports are busy places, so you don’t spend your time chasing your little one around chairs and into shops etc!

For our next trip we will have to change our tactics and keep the buggy out with us rather than check it in as I don’t think the courtesy strollers are in Dublin airport anymore, which is a shame.  Unless anyone has any other good ideas they would like to share?

On the plane

Packing your hand luggage is most important!

Always make sure to have a spare change of clothes, spare dummy, enough nappies, Calpol/Nurofen, lots of snacks, bottle/drink, toys, a book, colouring book with colours, their favourite cuddly toy, a blanket, and if they are Peppa Pig lover like my little girl, then have a few episodes downloaded to your phone or ipad just as a back up!! Pack it all in a little backpack that is ‘their bag’ and away you go!

Always good to change the nappy before you get on the plane as space to do this on board is limited.

We usually give R a dose of Calpol just before getting on the plane to help with any ear pain when taking off.

We try to make sure R has her dummy or is drinking when taking off and landing, again to avoid any sore ears.

If you get a window seat that is perfect for keeping your little one distracted before take off with everything that is going outside – watching the other planes come and go, the baggage carts driving around, the lights flashing..there’s lots to look at!

When up in the air then it’s all about keeping them occupied with activities and/or food. Trying to keep them away from pulling the person’s hair in front or kicking the chair in front is a busy job, but if you come armed with everything above you will be sorted, and won’t be that couple with the real annoying child that won’t stop screaming!

Happy travelling!