Must-Haves for Flying with a Baby

If you are new to flying with a baby, it can be overwhelming. Even if you are an experienced flyer, flying with a baby is a new learning curve. I know it was for me. After living across the country from my family for years, I was a pro at flying on my own and even as a couple. Some people hate flying, but I personally enjoy it. However, after I had my daughter, flying became a hassle and a stressful experience for me. The first time I flew with her, I was so nervous. I remember looking up all the tips about what I should bring and how it would work flying with her.

Once I tackled that first flight, I was put more at ease. If you are a new mom or a parent who hasn’t yet traveled with a baby, don’t worry! It doesn’t have to be a huge, scary experience. Knowing the ins and outs of flying with a baby is a huge help. There are a few important items that can help make the whole experience smoother for you. I wanted to share with you what I have found that helps my sanity when flying with a baby. So, without further ado, here are my personal top essential must-haves when flying with a baby.

Stroller

This is the biggest flying-with-a-baby must-have in my book. No one wants to lug a baby, car seat, diaper bag, carry-on, luggage, etc. through the airport terminal. This goes for toddlers and older kids too. By using a stroller, you can put the baby in it and put extra bags under it. It is a lifesaver during layovers, going from one end of the airport to another.

The beautiful thing about a stroller is you can take it right through security up to the boarding gate. The attendant’s gate-check it and bring it right back to you at the gate when you exit the plane. It doesn’t count as an extra bag or anything either. Your back will thank you for not carrying the baby all through the airport; you’ll be able to move faster if you have a short layover, and you aren’t chasing the baby around the airport (if they are walking).

If you are bringing your baby’s infant car seat, you can click it right into the stroller (if it is one that has that feature) and gate-check both items. No worrying about checking the car seat or it getting lost. The first couple of times I flew with my daughter, I brought her stroller/car seat combo, and it worked perfectly for us. This past time we flew with both my kids, we brought the double stroller, and it was a lifesaver yet again! I will never fly with a baby or child without a stroller.

Baby Carrier

If your baby is young and fits into a baby carrier, I highly recommend bringing one along. Even if you have a stroller, having a carrier as well can be a huge help. When you go through security, you will have to take the baby out of the stroller and carry them. Strapping them onto your body in a carrier so that your hands are free will make the security process that much smoother. The same goes for boarding and de-boarding the plane. As previously mentioned, the stroller will get gate-checked, so that leaves you carrying the baby onto and off of the plane. If you have a diaper bag or any other carry-on bag, it is difficult to bring everything while also carrying a baby, especially if you are flying alone. Strap the baby onto you in a baby carrier, and you’re ready to go.

Birth Certificate Photo

In most cases, infants 2 and under fly for free, but you will need to make sure to bring along a photo of their birth certificate. The first time I flew with my daughter, I forgot to pack her birth certificate, and it was a huge issue. The attendants told me a photo of the birth certificate would work too. We were able to sort it out, but now I make sure to never forget to snap a photo of my kids’ birth certificates before flying, just in case it’s needed.

Pacifier

If your baby has a pacifier, make sure to bring it! This was a huge help when I flew with my daughter as a baby. It helped calm her down and put her to sleep.

Pro Tip:

A pacifier is a great aid in getting your baby’s ears to pop during flight. Just make sure they are sucking/chewing on it during take-off and landing. My daughter didn’t fuss once about her ears when flying.

Food

If your baby is breastfeeding, flying with them is easier because you don’t have to bring a bunch of extra items along. If they are formula-fed, make sure you have enough for the flights. Airports have more flexible liquid guidelines when it comes to a baby’s food (milk, formula, water). They will usually just test it when going through security versus dumping it out. If your baby is eating any table food, make sure to bring some plastic baby food containers and/or any other little snacks they like for the trip. My kids were obsessed with Puffs, so I always made sure I had at least those on hand when flying.

Pro Tip:

If your baby doesn’t have a pacifier, food is another good option to help their ears pop. I tried to nurse my babies during take-off and landing when I could for their ears.

Toys

Bring toys to help keep your baby entertained during the flight. My daughter loved looking out the window, but that didn’t last the whole flight. I always made sure to have toys to keep her busy and distracted. I also tried to make sure that the toys I brought had little to no noise so as not to annoy other passengers. I would bring books and chew toys, etc.

Favorite Items

If your baby has any favorite items or toys, bring them! And then double-check you have them with you constantly so they don’t get left behind. My daughter had a favorite blanket and doll that comforted her, and we always took them everywhere with us. If she was unsure of her surroundings or not feeling well, those items always helped to ease her mood.

360 Nursing Cover

If you are breastfeeding, bring a nursing cover that works for flying. I had two nursing covers I would use depending on where I was. My favorite was a more breathable cover that wrapped around my neck and only covered the front part of my body. It was not suitable for flying because my daughter would play with it and expose me. I opted to bring along my 360 nursing cover that wrapped around my whole body, and it was the best decision I made. That way, I was covered from all angles by people in front of, behind, or beside me. It was also very helpful for when my daughter was tired and needed to nap, but it was too bright. I just wrapped her under it, and she went right to sleep.

Changing Pad

Your baby is inevitably going to need a diaper change at some point while flying. While most airports are very mom and family-friendly, they can still be full of germs. Make sure to pack a changing pad you can use for changing your little one in bathrooms while flying.

Diapers & Wipes

Make sure you bring plenty of diapers and wipes along for the trip. You never know when your baby will need to be changed. I always tend to overpack when it comes to these items. It’s better safe than sorry, in my opinion. I always bring extra wipes because you can use them for cleaning up messes or wiping things down, not just changing diapers.

Change of Clothes

It’s very helpful to pack a small change of clothes for the baby, just in case of emergencies. Babies are messy. They can have poop explosions or spit-up. No one wants to smell those scents the whole time you’re traveling.

Diaper Bag

When traveling with a baby, having a fully stocked diaper bag is so important. I fill up the diaper bag with all of the essentials I have listed above and use it as my carry-on. Keeping it with you and easily accessible is so helpful with a baby.

Car Seat

Depending on your destination and situation, you may or may not need to bring a car seat with you when flying. We have done all of the options when flying with a car seat. When my daughter was little and in an infant car seat, we brought it with us, clipped it into the stroller, and gate-checked it. When my daughter moved up to a big girl car seat, we checked it with baggage so we didn’t have to lug it through the airport. And on our most recent trip, we didn’t even bring car seats at all and just borrowed car seats from family friends while at our destination. The choice is really up to you, depending on what works best for your flight. Just keep in mind that you will need one at your destination if you are going to be driving around.

Pro Tip:

If you do fly with a car seat make sure to buy a car seat bag/cover beforehand. Whether you gate-check the car seat or baggage check it, having it wrapped in a car seat cover helps keep it from getting all dirty and scuffed up as much.

Ever since flying with kids, I have learned how family-friendly airports are. Changing tables are in most bathrooms, family bathrooms are everywhere, and many airports even have nursing rooms for moms. I used one during a layover the first time I flew with my daughter, and it was so nice. Some even have child play areas you can take advantage of during layovers if your kids are old enough.

DIY Mermaid Birthday Party

For my daughter’s second birthday, I got to live out my mermaid party dreams. She loved mermaids, so we decided to go with that theme. Instead of doing The Little Mermaid, we went with a generic mermaid theme. I had a lot of ideas beforehand because we didn't use this theme the year before, and I also came up with some new ones. This is ultimately what we came up with and used.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Multiple colored paper plates
• Mermaid Happy Birthday sign
• Mermaid/sea wall decorations

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Tape one color of paper plates in a row on the wall.
2. Tape another color of paper plates in a row on top of the first row. Continue color/row after another until you’re done.
3. Put the happy birthday sign on the wall.
4. Put mermaid/sea wall decorations on the wall around the scales.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White T-shirt
• Fabric paint
• Stencils
• Paintbrush
• Tulle skirt

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Using stencils and fabric paint, paint the T and W onto the shirt to spell out TWO.
2. Use a stencil and fabric paint to paint a seashell where the O would go on the shirt for the word TWO.
3. Pair the T-shirt with a tulle skirt for the perfect Mermaid look.

Cake

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• Icing
• Cake topper
• Candle

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Mix and bake a little cake. Or buy one. We bought a mini cake already decorated for my daughter’s birthday.
2. If you are making your own cake, use colored icing to decorate the cake with scales.
3. Add a birthday candle and topper on top.

Balloons

What kid doesn’t like balloons? I love to get a big balloon in the shape of the age my child is turning. You could also have some mermaid-themed or colored balloons.

Sea Life Dolls

Marine animals and mermaid dolls make for the perfect addition to a birthday photoshoot.

Mermaid Accessories

To tie in the theme (and her love of mermaids), my daughter also got some mermaid accessories for her birthday. She got a Little Mermaid snake cup, mermaid tail necklace, and mermaid scale hair bow.

I hope these ideas help to inspire you to throw your own mermaid-themed party and have fun with it. Happy celebrating and creating!

20 of the Best Easter Movies

Give me a good movie marathon, and I am set. Easter may not be the biggest holiday for themed movies, but there are quite a few out there. If you’re looking to have a movie night in for Easter, look no further. There is something for everyone in the family. Check out my go-to movie list for this Spring season.

Movies About Easter

• Easter Parade
• Easter Under Wraps (Hallmark)
• Hop
• It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown
• Peter Cottontail
• The Dog Who Saved Easter

Biblical Easter Movies

• Risen
• The 10 Commandments
• The Greatest Story Ever Told
• The Passion of the Christ
• Veggie Tales: An Easter Carol
• Veggie Tales: ‘Twas the Night Before Easter

Movies About Bunnies

• Alice in Wonderland
• Bambi
• Bugs Bunny
• Harvey
• Peter Rabbit
• Space Jam
• The Secret Life of Pets
• Zootopia

Pop the corn and get the whole family together to enjoy some (or all) of these fun movies for an Easter marathon this year. You won’t regret a night like this. Happy Easter!

Easter Bucket List Activities

I love making bucket lists and checking things off of them. Last year I did some seasonal bucket lists, and this year I decided to start making holiday-themed ones. I’m kicking it off with Easter. If you’re looking for some creative ways to celebrate Easter with your family this year, then look no further. I have compiled this list of fun activities to add to your Easter Bucket List!

Decorate for Easter

Break out the spring and Easter décor. Think flowers, bunnies, and Easter eggs. Change out your garden flag and door wreath. Switch your mantle décor to Easter items and put out the Easter towels.

Make Easter-Themed Crafts

Arts and crafts are a huge hit in our house! Think of all the fun you can have creating an Easter craft or making a footprint bunny. There are so many fun ideas for crafts. Browse Pinterest and Google for some Easter ideas.

Paint Easter Eggs

And speaking of crafts…what better spring craft is there than painting Easter eggs? I’ve only done this once, but I am so excited to try it with my kids. Such a fun activity and cool Easter decorations to have on hand for springtime.

Draw Easter Sidewalk Chalk Art

With the weather getting warmer, it’s the perfect time to get outside and make some Easter-themed sidewalk chalk art. It’s also the perfect Easter photo op. So draw away and snap some photos.

Make Easter Cookies

Break out the dough and make some Easter-themed cookies. You could use Easter cookie cutters to make fun shapes like eggs and bunnies, or you could make plain sugar cookies and decorate them with frosting to make them Easter-themed.

Have an Easter Movie Marathon

If you know me, you know I am all about the movie marathons for any and every occasion. Pop some popcorn and have an Easter movie marathon with the family. If you’re looking for ideas, check out my list of 20 of the Best Easter Movies.

Pet a Bunny

What better way to enjoy Easter than by petting cute little bunny rabbits? Visit a bunny farm or pet store and pet one.

Play Easter Games

Pick out some Easter games and have a fun family night. You could play pin the tail on the bunny or make up an Easter scavenger hunt.

Get an Easter Outfit

As a kid, I loved wearing my special Easter hat during the holiday. As a mom, I now love getting a new little Easter dress for my daughter every year. Treat yourselves to cute new Easter outfits for the family.

Take Easter Photos

After you have your new Easter outfit, you should get all dolled up and take some photos. You could easily do a cute outside photoshoot yourself or hire a professional photographer to take them.

Eat a Chocolate Bunny

What’s Easter without sugar and chocolate bunnies? You should, of course, eat one just because.

Have an Easter Egg Hunt

No Easter list would be complete without the egg hunt. This is a staple for children to celebrate Easter in April. Last year was my daughter’s first Easter egg hunt, and it was so magical watching her excitement. I cannot wait to experience my son’s first Easter egg hunt this year!

If you’re looking for some more generic spring activities, then check out my Spring Bucket List Activities. What are your favorite Easter activities? Let me know in the comments below. Happy Easter!

5-Day Bahamas Cruise

Back in March 2016, we decided to take a belated honeymoon for our first wedding anniversary. We took a 5-day cruise to the Bahamas, and it was so much fun. Not only was it my first time on a cruise, but I was also able to knock off four things from my bucket list in that one trip:

1. Go on a Cruise
2. Go to the Bahamas
3. Go to Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas
4. Swim with Dolphins

It was such an amazing trip, and we made so many fun memories. I’ve been wanting to go on another cruise ever since we got back from that one! We went with another couple, and it was a great bonding time as a couple and with our friends. Cruises are such a neat way to travel and offer so many experiences for your trip. While I’m over here daydreaming about going on another cruise, I wanted to share with you all of the adventures we had.

Depart Port: Charleston, SC

We drove five hours to get to our departure port in Charleston, South Carolina. We didn’t get to spend much time in Charleston, but what I saw while driving around that we did it was so cute. I’d love to go back again and visit sometime. It has a cool historic vibe, and it’s right by the water. Since it was our first time in Charleston and also going on a cruise, it was a bit confusing trying to figure out where to go for parking, but we got it sorted out after a while.

Getting Settled On the Cruise

Getting settled on the ship was an adventure in itself. Luckily, there were plenty of workers around who helped us newbies out. You drop your luggage off at a certain place and then walk to the ship check-in. You go through the check-in process of setting up your accounts, getting your room info, and going through security. Then get in line to board the ship.

Once onboard, the ship is a wonderland. Our ship, the Cardinal Ecstasy, was huge and had so much to offer. It was a bit confusing getting around, and I often got turned around on the ship because the halls and cabins all looked the same.

We had a room with a balcony. Our room itself was a normal hotel room size, not too big. The bathroom was super small, which made it hard to have two people in it at once. The shower was tiny but worked for what we needed. We got settled into our room and enjoyed the harbor views from the balcony. We even got to see a dolphin swimming around before we ever left port. They bring the bags you checked in outside of the ship up to your door.

Before the ship takes off, everyone has to go through a mandatory safety briefing and drill. Everyone has an assigned meeting area based on where your cabin is. You meet there; they take names and go over the safety procedures in case of an emergency (where to meet, etc.). You even walk to the lifeboats. Once everyone completes the drill, you are dismissed, and the ship can leave port.

1 Day at Sea

After leaving port, we were at sea for one day before our first stop. We took the time to explore the ship and all it had to offer. We enjoyed drinks with friends, some shows, and games. We checked out the pool and hot tub decks, fitness center, mini-golf area, and track. Cruise ships really are amazing! I couldn’t believe all it had to offer. We had a buffet as part of our meal plan and got a variety of items each day. The particular cruise we took had a lot of spring breakers on board, so it got to be loud, especially at the pool at times. Our first couple of days, it was cold too, so I didn’t swim anyway. But we did enjoy the hot tub in the 21+ section, which was a little more relaxed.

Freeport, Bahamas

For your excursions, they bring your meeting location and info to your cabin and slide it under your door the morning of your stop. Our off-ship excursion at our first destination in Freeport, Bahamas was an all-you-can-drink beach day. We took a shuttle bus to the beach. Many locals had shops set up all around the beach where they sold their homemade items. There were so many beautiful things! I bought a wooden hand-painted wind chime with dolphins on it. It turned out to be the perfect beach day. It was sunny and warm. The water was gorgeous! So many shades of blue. A true Bahamas experience. We spent the day at the beach and then took the shuttle back to our ship.

1 Night at Sea

We enjoyed more of what the ship had to offer while making our way to our next destination. We had a fancy dinner night, took photos, played bingo, and checked out the fitness center, to name a few things.

Nassau, Bahamas

I was most excited about our second stop in Nassau, Bahamas, and it was by far my favorite day out of the whole cruise. We chose to take an excursion to the Atlantis Paradise Island resort. I had wanted to visit the resort ever since seeing the Mary-Kate and Ashley movie “Holiday in the Sun” (one of my favorite movies as a kid), and I knew swimming with dolphins at Atlantis was a must! Dolphins are my favorite animal, and swimming with them was one of the biggest things on my bucket list that I wanted to do. I figured doing it at Atlantis would make it that much more fun because of how beautiful it is there. So we chose deep-water swim with dolphins + a day at the water park at Atlantis for our excursion.

Our swim with dolphins wasn’t scheduled until the end of the day, so we spent the first part of the day exploring around Atlantis. And let me tell you, the pictures do not do justice to seeing it in person! Atlantis is huge and gorgeous. There are swimming pools and the ocean on the other side. There is a rope bridge and an aquarium with sharks and other sea life. The water slides are no joke either. I only went down one. There is one that is practically straight down. I was too scared to go down it, but my husband and our friends all did it and thought it was a blast. Just be careful if you are in a bikini cuz it could make your swimsuit move around.

After walking around the resort and doing the water slides, we enjoyed drinks and food by the pool. Then we made our way to the back of Atlantis, where the dolphins reside at Dolphin Cay. We got there a little early and watched another group doing their dolphin swim. Then we checked in and stored our items in lockers. They gave us wetsuits to wear and snorkel gear for the swim. We did the deep water swim where we got to swim in the deep water with a dolphin. The guide talked us through the dolphin and answered any questions we had. We got to pet the dolphin as it swam around us in a circle and watch it swim with our snorkel gear.

Next, we went to the shallow area of the pool where we got to do all the typical photo ops. We got to feed them, dance with them, kiss them, and pose for photos. I was in heaven! For our last activity, we took turns floating on a kickboard in the water, and a dolphin would come up and push us with their nose on our foot. Dolphins can swim up to 25 MPH, and it was so exhilarating having them push you through the water. I went first in our group, and it surprised me when the dolphin made contact with my foot, so I squealed, but I had a blast.

Swimming with dolphins was just as magical as I thought it would be, and I plan on doing it again for sure. It was such a fun time, and I am so glad I did it. The only downside was that our excursion was at the end of the day, so by the time our dolphin swim was done, we were almost out of time to get back to our shuttle to make it back to the cruise ship in time. The guys waited to get our photos from the swim purchased while my bestie and I ran as fast as we could all the way to the opposite side of the resort to our shuttle meeting spot. We made it in time to have them wait for the guys to catch up. Luckily, we made it back to the ship in time, and despite the crazy end to our excursion, I had the best day.

2 Days at Sea

Being at sea is such a unique experience. I didn’t get seasick, thankfully, but sometimes when the ship was rocking, it threw my balance off. But that’s why they have railings all along the halls. There is nothing like looking out and seeing only the ocean as far as the eye can see in any direction. It’s a bit of an uneasy, weird feeling, but so incredibly beautiful. The deep blue of the deep ocean is unlike any color I had seen before. It was so peaceful. We took full advantage of all the ship has to offer for our two days at sea, making it back to our port. They take photos at different times and places throughout your cruise, and they print all the photos to have on display for you to purchase. Even if you don’t want to purchase all of the photos, you can still see them.

Arrival Port: Charleston, SC

After five days, we made it back to our initial departure port, Charleston, SC. While our cruise was so much fun, it almost didn’t seem like enough time. I’ve been craving to take a longer cruise ever since. It was well worth every aspect of our trip.

All in all, my first cruise was so much fun! Have you ever taken a cruise before? Let me know in the comments below. If you haven’t (or even if you have), I definitely recommend taking a cruise whenever you get a chance. Happy cruising!