I love to nurse my baby. It’s a special time just for her and me. I always try to retreat to a private more intimate space when it comes time to feed my baby, away from others. It’s not that I’m ashamed or think it’s weird when others choose to breastfeed their baby in public- I just understand that it can (unfortunately) make other’s feel uncomfortable and when other people feel uncomfortable I reciprocate those feelings. The last thing I want to do is associate my special bond with my baby is uncomfortable awkwardness. So imagine my horror as I am preparing for my first flight with my baby and realizing I am going to have to nurse her on the airplane. The smallest most cramped quarters where you are practically sitting on your neighbors lap. And me being the ultra modest person that I am- I cringed thinking about it. Now looking back where I have taken more than 35 flights with BabyTravels (to date)- in which I have nursed her on every single one of those flights, I don’t even think twice about it.

My goal is to offer you all of my nursing tips that I have accumulated to make it a more enjoyable flight for your little one and you- making sure that your baby is fed and you feel comfortable.

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This year is going to be crazy, stressful and fun. We have partnered with the Deseret News to do a column on traveling with two kids two and under. We have taken on 12 challenges that we must complete (without breaking the bank mind you). We are excited to be able to update this blog with a bunch of fun new tips and reviews we will have along the way.

To catch up, here is the 12 in 2012 article and here is the first challenge completed.

Make surprise packages for your next road trip

Taking a toddler on a road trip can be exhausting, frustrating and stressful. But it really doesn’t have to be. Try some of these tips the next time you take your two or three year old on the open road and you will be surprised how it can turn a rocky ride into a smooth and even relaxing one!

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Well it’s official. BabyTravels is no longer a baby or considered an infant. We celebrated her 2^nd birthday on Saturday. While we were happy to celebrate her being in our lives we mourned the loss of our infant in arms privileges with her and are slowing realizing the cost and annoyance of having to purchase three airline tickets.Which will make it difficult when looking for cheap international flights. I’m not sure what change one day makes in all of a sudden you can’t sit on my lap but you must have your own seat, but rules are rules. I do have a sneaking suspicion that even though we purchase her a ticket she will still end up on my lap during the flight. At least we will have more wiggle room.

She will use the same seat as an adult, yet she weighs much less than my carry-on which gets to ride with me for free. So where did this rule come from? How did the airlines determine this age? To be honest she probably could have used her own seat starting at the age of 18 months. I did a little research and apparently this is an FAA regulation that children over the age of 2 must have a seat. I also found out that you can only fly with two infants at a time per adult and that you can only have a maximum of one lap child per adult. So I’m guessing what this means is that a mom with twins can fly alone with her twins but one infant would need a seat along with an adult. However a mom with triplets would not be allowed to fly alone and would need both parents or another adult to fly with. They would only need to purchase three tickets however all four of them could not sit in the same row of three seats due to oxygen masks.

I had never thought of that before, yet I doubt I would be daring enough to try to fly alone with infant twins, nevermind infant triplets! I do think it won’t be long till I am brave enough to try to fly with my two year old and newborn baby solo. I know it will be a challenge but I bet I will be up to it!

This is my second pregnancy and when they say that every pregnancy is different they are not joking. These two pregnancies can’t be anymore different. The first pregnancy I traveled like crazy. That may even be an understatement. The first thing I asked at my first doctor’s appointment was when I had to stop flying. My midwife told me 34 weeks. I remember being super bummed because most airlines will let you fly till 37 weeks (they all have different criteria so check with them before you book your ticket). I think during that pregnancy alone I went on over 50 flights. It was awesome.

This pregnancy however, I have only flown a handful of times. And when I was about 23 weeks things were going great, I was feeling pretty good so we went ahead and booked two trips for when I would be 32 and 33 weeks knowing full well that those would be the last times I would fly before having a baby. Then at 28 weeks I found out I had placenta previa and was at-risk for bleeding and having a premature baby. I was sad and then the doctor told me to not travel. It wasn’t like I was going on a vacation, these were once in a lifetime family events. But I understood that my health and the health of the baby came first.

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TSA finally hears the complaints from parents on pat downs and bringing children through security. That is no doubt one of the most stressful parts of traveling with young children is getting them and yourself through security in what usually isn’t a seamless process. In an effort to make it easier TSA has lifted the restriction on taking shoes off children under 12 and will now take steps to avoid invasive pat-downs. You can get more information about it here.

BabyTravels has been on almost seventy flights and we have NEVER had an issue with her needing a pat-down or even being touched by a TSA agent. But we all know that there have been You-Tube videos of toddlers being patted down and other such outrageous events in the media lately that this is surely a response to the out-cry poured out by angry parents and media officials.

The changes should be in affect by the end of the week and should help out when it comes to holiday travel. I am looking forward to not removing BabyTravels shoes anymore. I always cringed when she walked barefoot on the floor and I always thought it dumb I had to remove shoes from her when she was a little infant. What are your thoughts?

This week was rough for me. Reid took BabyTravels to Northern Minnesota to visit family and attend a few special family events while I stayed home. Originally the plan was that I would go as well but due to pregnancy complications, two different doctors forbade me from traveling (don’t they know that’s like asking me not to breathe?). So after much reluctance I allowed Reid to steal my baby girl from me and leave me alone by myself to have fun with family.

It was hard at first, but as I kept getting these cute pictures and getting the reports, and how much fun she was having with all her cousins, that I am so glad I didn’t hold her back! So here are a few of the adventures cute little (not so little anymore!) BabyTravels had in her Midwest Adventure:

Enjoying some beautiful wildflowers. I'll pretend that she picked them for me, but let's be honest she was having so much fun she probably forgot who I was!

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You get to enjoy all the extra legroom.

First off I love reader questions. If you are flying with a baby or a toddler and need advice please feel free to email me. I love to help. I received this question from a mother who was flying with her infant babe for the first time and thought it was a great question. I can from experience say this has happened to me, actually a few times.

This could go either of two ways. First off if you are a prepared and smart mom you have packed a good supply of wipes, a few diapers and a change of clothes that are within reach (i.e. not in checked bag or stowed in overhead bin). If you are more like me and a little less prepared you have two wipes and forgotten a change of clothes.

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