Che is a great traveler. Here he is sleeping in the Atlanta airport in front of an iPod vending machine during a recent layover. (Yes, I found the iPod vending machine tempting and fascinating.)

Keys to successful traveling with a young toddler:

• Dress the child to be as cute as possible. Make sure the clothing changes are cute too. An adorable child will get more attention and help for both you and the child when getting on and off of planes…and getting seat assignments. It also makes strangers smile at your child and speak kindly, which can help put the child at ease.
• If you have to travel with a car seat, wrap the long rear stabilizing strap of the car seat around the telescoping handle of a roll-aboard suitcase. This eliminates the need for a stroller and diaper bag, reducing the amount of items you have to lug through the airport. Also, make sure your car seat is clearly labeled that it is approved for aircraft. If not, you may be required to gate check it anyway.
• Bring a long-sleeve bib with you that can be wiped down. I like the one from IKEA. This will reduce the need to change clothes while traveling. If your child is as squirmy as mine, fewer changes are a good thing.
• Make sure you have enough diapers and wipes with you! Be sure to account for using the wipes as hand-washing for both you and the child. Also, it’s best to use alcohol-free wipes to prevent alcohol toxicity in a small child.
• Have enough clean bottles for the length of the flight. Formula is only good for an hour, so having 2-3 bottles for a 4-hr flight will prevent having to use an airplane lavatory to rinse bottles during a flight.
• Learn to change your baby while he is standing up. Not all planes have changing tables, and this can be a critical skill on a long flight…unless you want to lay your baby on the lid of the toilet in the lavatory (ew).
• Find a place to let your baby move around during layovers. Just because your plane is leaving out of a gate doesn’t mean that is where you have to wait. Find an empty seating area for her to run around. Just be sure to watch the time and get back to your gate at least 20 min before scheduled take off.
• Some find it easier to be the first one on the plane. I prefer to be one of the last, since it means less time for my son to be confined to the cramped space.
• Hydrate, both before and during the flight. Keeping both you and the baby hydrated will keep you happier.
• If you are comfortable letting a stranger hold you baby, go to the bathroom while on the plane. After all, no one can kidnap your child while on a standard plane and there will be lots of witnesses. This can be much easier than trying to use the bathroom in a crowded airport. Then again, if you are using the car seat strapped to a roll-aboard suitcase, you can just use a handicapped stall. After all, traveling with a child can be a real handicap.