For reference, our first "big" trip with Luke (like beyond the weekend at the grandparents) was to Kiawah, SC when he was 5 months old. We decided to fly, and stayed in a hotel. Below are some things we learned and some general thoughts. But remember, this is what we learned with our baby — what worked for us, may not work for your family. And what didn't work for us, may work for you. Remember that you know your baby, and what is best for them...the decisions you make and how to go about a vacation are totally up to you!

Air Travel ✈️

• flying with a baby can be anxiety-inducing. there are lots of things to worry about and remember, you have no idea if they are going to be a nightmare or an angel. If you can swing it, do things to make your lives easier, even if it costs a little extra, such as getting TSA precheck, booking the whole row, or upgrading (it's worth to check on shorter flights, the difference between 3 seats in economy and 2 seats in first class may not be that much!)
• give yourself plenty of time to get to the airport. You have an extra person(s) and a lot more baggage to lug around.
• if you're flying with the baby as a "lap infant", make sure they also have a boarding pass
• we brought our stroller (Uppa Vista) and gate checked it. It was nice to use the bottom part for storage as we made our way through the airport. Other option would be to check it, and then wear baby in a carrier to the plane.
• Keep in mind Stroller has to get broken down and put through the security scanner. We were a bit flustered by this the first time around.
• many baby items (stroller, car seat, diaper bag) don't actually count towards your checked bag limit, but check with your airline!
• Breastmilk and formula are an exception to the TSA liquid 3.5oz limit. Keep it in a separate bag. Just let the TSA agent know that you have some for the baby. I heard that sometimes they actually test it? We didn't have this experience.
• most airlines let you board first if you have a child under 2 yo.
• feed baby on the way up and the way down. the swallowing helps to pop their ears during ascent and descent.
• if baby is a little older, bring a new toy or something to play with.
• I was admittedly not good at this, but please don't stress too much if your baby is having a moment. Babies cry. And the whole experience is brand new for them. Air travel is a form of public transportation and your baby has every right to travel that way. Most people are super kind to new parents. And the ones who aren't, well, eff them.

General

• We rented a car with a car seat. It was kind of crappy, and we'll likely bring our car seat the next time we fly.
• Don't pack what you can buy once you arrive (i.e. diapers, wipes). We found the nearest Target to pick up some essentials.
• We decided to bring our Uppa Vista (regular stroller) vs the Minu (travel stroller). There's more room for storage on the bottom of the Vista and Luke tends to nap better in it at this stage.
• If you buy the Uppa travel bags, and anything breaks while the stroller is in their travel bag, Uppa will apparently fix or replace the stroller for free.

Hotel Tips

• Ask if they can put a crib in your room. That way you don't have to lug a pack n play.