Our First Flight With a Baby to Romania!

The First Flight of the Around the World Trip

When we booked our first flight with Skyler, I knew it was going to be a big adventure but I didn’t realize just how much we’d learn along the way. Not only was it her first time on a plane, it was also her first international trip. At just 18 months old, she wasn’t walking yet, which meant a lot of carrying, cuddling, and creative entertaining.

We were headed to Romania this was the first stop of our five weeks trip that spanned four countries and circumnavigated the globe.. with an 18 month of. The excitement of the trip was mixed with the kind of nervous energy only a traveling parent understands. I’d flown plenty of times before, but this time my carry-on wasn’t filled with books and snacks for me, it was packed to the brim with everything Skyler might need to survive hours in the air.

---

Packing for a Long-Haul Flight With a Baby

For this trip, my “essentials” looked like:

• A ton of snacks — besides the obligatory cheerios we mostly packed squeeze pouches. Skyler’s favorite at the time were the Happy Tot Organics Stage 4 Protein & Fiber pouches. They kept her full and happy without creating a giant mess.
• Her favorite lovies — because comfort items are gold when everything around you is unfamiliar.
• A soft blanket — perfect for snuggling, covering cold airplane seats, or even making a little “fort” during downtime.
• A TON of pacis — both kids have always loved the MAM pacifiers, and I wasn’t taking any chances on losing them mid-flight.
• Paci wipes — because planes are not exactly the cleanest environments, and everything seems to end up on the floor eventually. These Munchkin Pacifier Wipes were a lifesaver.

I thought I had everything figured out. But then came The Car Seat Decision.

---

The Car Seat Mistake… That Wasn’t Entirely a Mistake

We wanted to keep Skyler safe for her first flight so we brought her Britax car seat on the plane. When googling “first flight with a baby” almost every travel blog I’d read swore it was the safest and most comfortable option. In reality? Lugging that bulky seat through multiple airports was exhausting. The flight attendants looked completely baffled when we carried it on, and installing it in the narrow airplane seat took forever.

The only positive during the flight was that Skyler did get a good nap, she was comfortable in a familiar seat, but at the time, it didn’t feel worth the hassle.

That said, I have to admit it did come in handy later in the trip. We rented cars twice, both times driving on the opposite side of the road — an adventure for another post entirely — and having her car seat gave me peace of mind. It was also extremely durable, surviving planes, multiple transfers, and two weeks of constant use without a scratch.

So while I wouldn’t bring a car seat on the plane again, I might still consider bringing one for the rental car days, though I’d rather not.

---

A Rough First Flight (and a Kind Stranger)

To make matters harder, our first flight was a night flight (in retrospect, there is no good time for a flight with a baby.) Skyler did not handle it well — she was overtired, fussy, and restless. I tried snacks, pacis, rocking, and singing, but nothing seemed to work for long.

I’ll always remember one young woman who noticed me struggling. She walked over and quietly asked if she could help. I panicked, smiled, and politely declined, but her offer meant more to me than she could have known. In that moment, just knowing someone saw me and understood made me feel a little less alone.

---

Lessons We Learned From Our First Flight With Baby Skyler

Looking back, a few things stand out:

1. Snacks are your best friend. I underestimated just how much she’d eat out of boredom, not just hunger.
2. Comfort items matter. Lovies, blankets, and familiar pacis made a huge difference in helping her feel safe.
3. Skip the car seat on the plane. For us, it wasn’t worth the hassle — but it was useful for rental car days.
4. Accept kindness when it’s offered. Even if you don’t take the help, the gesture matters.

---

Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely — but with a few changes. I’d ditch the in-flight car seat, bring even more snacks, and remind myself that crying is not the end of the world. Babies cry, and most passengers are more understanding than we expect.

When we landed in Romania, we were tired but proud. Skyler had survived her first flight — and so had we. And while it wasn’t perfect, it was the first of many adventures we’d share together.

One day, she might not remember that night flight or the snacks or the kind stranger. But I’ll remember. I’ll remember her tiny hand holding onto mine, the way she curled up in her blanket, and the feeling of finally stepping off that plane knowing we’d just taken our very first trip as a family across the world.

Here’s to many more — hopefully with fewer pacis rolling down airplane aisles.

---

This post contains Amazon affiliate links, which means if you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep this blog going so I can share more family travel stories, tips, and resources.