22 Tips for Travelling with a Baby

Most parents get jitters about travelling with their baby for the first time. Their feelings are quite obvious. Anxious, most parents seem to worry about how they would handle their babies while on a journey. It seems scary to most of the parents especially if there are long hours of air travel. They seem to worry endlessly as to how they would travel with a baby less than one-year-old and end their trip safely.

But do not feel disquieted and discomforted over the situation. You can overcome obstacles and make travelling pleasurable with your little one if you follow basic guidelines. All you need is to have patience and follow some travelling tips given below:

1. Needless Packing

Be mindful about how much you are packing. Try not to stuff your travel bags with all the baby’s clothes and toys. This will make your travel quite easier and not tedious. With lighter luggage, you can travel in a car, a bus, or a boat stress-free and at ease.

2. Enough Baby Food

While on a trip take enough baby food and formula with you. Baby foods and formula vary from country to country, and you may not get the product and the brand that your child likes. So carry more baby food than required for the journey.

3. Packing Essential Items

Try to pack all the essential items needed for the trip. This includes packing baby bottles, diapers, blankets, pacifiers, and food items. While travelling with your baby, always carry a baby carrier so that it will be easier for you to manage your baby in unknown locations. A portable baby bed, a reclining umbrella stroller, comfortable pillows, a moveable baby chair that can be boarded on any chair, a small mosquito net for your baby, baby’s favourite shampoo, instant baby foods, and cereals tins, a portable power charger that can be used during travel.

4. Plan as Per Climate

If you are travelling to a new place with your baby then carry your baby’s clothes as per the climate. You can plan to carry warm clothes if you are travelling to a cold place or take baby’s T-shirts and shorts with you if you are travelling to a hot destination. That way you will save a lot of money in buying clothes in unknown shops and malls.

5. Essential Medicine

While travelling, always carry your child’s medicine with you including sprays, drops, oils, creams, medicine for fever and cold, a mini first aid kit, etc.

6. Nap with your Baby

Your sleeping schedules might get disrupted while travelling. So try to take a nap when your baby is asleep especially if you are dealing with jet lag. A comfortable regular-size pillow will always help you and your baby to get a good siesta.

7. Keep a Bottle Ready

Always keep a bottle ready with you so that you can feed your child during take-offs or landing so as to help avert your child’s attention from ear pain. In case your child does not like to be bottle-fed, then breastfeeding is the best option to avoid ear pains during take-off and landing.

8. Reveal New toys on the Plane

Surprise your child with new toys on the plane. Show some innovative recent toys to your child after you board the plane. The waiting time of 30 minutes before the plane takes off is usually tough for most parents. Keeping your child preoccupied is quite challenging. At such times, the new toys and games will facilitate diverting your child’s attention for some time.

9. Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphones will help you to distract the attention of your child while travelling. You can engage your baby with an iPad for games, music, and videos. You can load your tablets with white noise that includes the noise of rain, waves, etc. The white noise is calming and peaceful and will help your baby during day time naps as it will sink all the noises around him. Always carry a portable power charger with you.

10. Take Ample Snacks While Travelling with Baby

Always carry plenty of snacks with you while travelling. You don’t know when your baby may suddenly start yelling from hunger. It is safe to pack your bags with all kinds of baby food items such as fruits, apples, avocados, cereals, soft cookies, French fries, sprouts, cheese slices, cheese lings, and whatever snacks your baby likes.

11. Baby Teething

Your baby could be teething and may be feeling uncomfortable. So it is best to consult your paediatrician and carry enough medicines with you while travelling. Baby teething can occur anytime, and it may spoil your fun. The medicines will help soothe your baby’s nerves, and your baby can sleep comfortably at night.

12. Choose a Comfortable Location

Opt for a location where you don’t have to travel much for swimming, or workouts. So if you prefer hotels, or cottages or small bungalows make sure that you don’t have to travel much for your customary routines. That way you can spend more time with your baby.

13. Make your Baby Feel Secure

If you frequently change locations, your baby might feel insecure. Your child might start showing signs of irritation or uneasiness and might display quirky behaviour. Your baby might have difficulty sleeping alone. So make your child feel comfortable when you arrive at a new place. Show your baby the surrounding area whenever you can.

14. Take Help of Co-passengers

While on a flight your baby may start crying for no reason. You may try your best to calm your baby but to no avail. Your baby is cranky and stubborn and refuses to listen. At that time, do not get upset. Remain calm and take the help of co-passengers to handle the situation.

15. Portable Baby Bed

Always carry a portable baby bed with you. They are small and lightweight and can help your baby to get a good sleep. You can fix those travel beds near your bed so that your baby is comfortable. You can save money as some hotels charge rents for the beds.

16. Opt for Children’s Menu in Restaurants if your Baby is Eating Solids

Most of the restaurants have children’s menu on their list. You can definitely opt for those foods. If you want some different food for your baby, you can talk to the hotel waiter and get the desired food. You can ask for soups or for mashed rice and potatoes for your little one.

17. Comfortable Dinner Time

You can make dinner-time pleasurable with your baby. You can have your dinner time early so that the dining hall is empty and your baby will have plenty of space to play around. If you prefer to have your dinner late then feed your baby and keep your baby engaged with some toys so that you can have your dinner peacefully.

18. Local Food for Baby

If your baby is consuming solids foods, then you can try some readily available local fruits. You can also give some fruit juices to your baby when hungry. It is much better than consuming biscuits and bread.

19. Plan Fewer Activities

Keep your schedule flexible and do not plan several sightseeing activities in a day. Your baby may not be able to cope with it. You can plan some travelling activities in the daytime and take some rest in the hotel with your baby during the evenings.

20. Looking After Baby

You are on a vacation because you want to enjoy some free time. But you might have to spend much of the time taking care of your baby. So if you want to relax, you can request your spouse or other family members to look after your baby. You can unwind by going for a walk on the beach or reading a book or having a siesta.

21. Be Flexible

You cannot enforce the same rules on your baby that you did at home. Your child may refuse to eat at the usual time, or your child may be too engrossed in playing and may not sleep till midnight. Just remain calm as the rebellious phase is only temporary.

22. Travelling with Baby Easier

Many parents are scared of travelling with their babies. They want their babies to get older before they take a trip. But their fears and worries are often misguided. Babies can be handled with ease. They can be handled effortlessly than toddlers. So do not waste time and try to make the most of your travel enjoyable and fulfilling.

While travelling with your baby, you might face some minor problems. But do not be scared of the challenges. Your baby may wail loudly at the wrong moment. Your baby might also give you some embarrassing moments. But avoid making a fuss about it. It is a pleasant experience to travel with your baby. Your schedules might get crazy. But it is still all enjoyable. So do travel and make the trip fun and memorable!

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