Tips on Traveling With a Baby
Traveling with a baby and afraid of having your hands too full with a luggage, a bag and a crying baby? Sounds like a nightmare, doesn’t it?
When you’re unprepared for the journey, there will be challenges in every mode of transport you travel in.
Being nervous about traveling with your infant for the first time is completely okay. However, being prepared for impromptu challenges should be your norm.
Read and find the tips that will make traveling with your baby a smoother and memorable experience.
1) Consider the baby’s age.
As a general rule, don’t travel until the baby is at least 3 months old. You will get the chance to be acquainted with the baby’s needs and it minimizes the risk of infection.
Do not travel to areas that are more than 8000 feet above sea level because the air around this altitude is thin and makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.
Also, avoid traveling if your baby is or has been sick recently. Before traveling anywhere, have a pediatrician check them.
2) Book a direct flight or with longer layover.
When you’re a parent, it is your responsibility to either book a direct flight tickets or keep the connecting flights to a minimum.
Landing usually puts pressure on the little one’s ears and makes them scream and cry out. Additionally, lesser time spent in journey makes it less probable for the kids to throw a fit.
If you’re booking connecting flights, keep them to a minimum and with a longer layover so you won’t be running around with the baby, luggage and all other travel belongings.
You should book the connecting flights with approximately 2-3 hours in between on the ground.
That way the baby will have some time to relax on the ground, and you can grab some normal food, change the diapers and let your kid run free for some time to burn off the energy.
3) Book an extra seat for the baby.
No matter the mode of transport, book a separate seat for the baby even if they are below 2 years of age. That gives you some extra space and more room for your family to move conveniently.
Strapping the baby in a government-approved child safety restraint system (CRS) or device is safer than holding them in your arms.
You can’t securely hold your child with your arms, especially during unexpected turbulence on the plane.
Traveling with the baby can be expensive, so look for airfare discounts. The best airfare deals and flight offers can usually be found on Skyscanner or Momondo.
4) Carry baby necessities.
Breastfeeding is the best way to feed the baby and if you’re not shy, you can do it anywhere in the world so dress accordingly (read easy access). For those of you who can’t, carry more baby food than you think you need.
Babies usually stick to whatever brand they like to eat usually. So double the amount of food and formula supplies you think you’ll need for the duration of the vacation.
In the case of diapers, pack for the length of the flight plus 3- 4 days. You can buy diapers from wherever you go to and packing it as mentioned above should be enough for you to relax and get you bearings when you get familiar with the place you’re traveling to.
Carry a plastic bag to store soiled clothes and some zip lock bags in case you’re unable to dispose of the soiled diapers immediately. Also, don’t forget to pack some baby wipes.
5) Bring a tablet equipped with cartoons, games and white noise.
Traveling with a tablet prepared with shows and games your baby likes are enough to keep the baby diverted for when you’re unable to entertain them.
Nowadays, many games and apps are available on the Play store which works excellently to keep the baby amused for long periods of time.
White noise will help the infant sleep peacefully, no matter where they are. Turn the volume on white noise, and it will drown all other noises that might disturb your baby while they sleep.
It works like a charm during the day when everyone’s out and about. Don’t forget to bring a portable power charger as well.
