I certainly won’t forget my daughter’s first trip.  Not because things went spectacularly wrong, either.  Somehow, things went spectacularly right, so I hope I can reach some parents on the fence about giving it a try. Let’s step aside for a second and recall those magical pre-parenthood trips.  Maybe you packed the night before, or maybe you just stuffed the contents of your dryer into a carry-on and went straight to the airport.  You probably arrived with enough time to clear security and maybe hit the lounge or at least grab a coffee on your leisurely stroll to the gate.  You got on the plane, sat down, had that pre-boarding Glenlivet, fell asleep and woke up at your destination.  If you clicked the link, you know where this is going [...]

Of our friends and family, we were not the first to have a child, but it is a safe bet that we were the first to attempt any significant travel with our little one.  Living in Maine has been a great experience, but when our closest relatives are in New Jersey and most distant in San Diego, we realized early on that we would have to get back in the air quickly. For those that have children and will admit to remembering the pre-birth experience, you may recall all of the planning that went into having a child.  Especially as a dad-to-be, I was very concerned with everything from preparing the nursery to the optimal route to the hospital.  Sure enough, those plans went into action and nine months plus three [...]