What You Ought To Know About Traveling With A Baby

This post may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure here.

If you’re thinking of doing any traveling any time soon, whether it’s for a much-needed vacation, because you need to attend a wedding, or otherwise, you’re going to have to give extra consideration to your baby.

Needless to say, their presence alone is going to change a lot of things, from how you get from A to B, to what you do there, and the precautions you should be taking all the while. Here, we’re going to look at some of the tips you should keep in mind while traveling with your baby.

Anticipate that everything is going to take more work

You have to be realistic with your expectations. You’re not just traveling with another person, you’re traveling with someone who is completely dependent on you to take care of all of their needs, and you’re going to need to do that during the entire trip.

Traveling with a baby is going to be much more demanding than traveling with a friend or your partner, so you had better be ready for the fact that a lot of your own trip is going to include taking care of their needs, or else you can find yourself getting fed up and burnt out very fast.

Make sure that you bring what you need for them

Most important on any checklist of things to do before you travel is, of course, to make sure that you’re packing everything that they might need throughout the trip. This will include, amongst other things, some sort of travel systems like a lightweight buggy, a baby carrier or sling, a cot for them, and the necessaries to ensure their health, such as sun protection, any medicine they need, and a first aid kit.

If you’re feeding them with formula, then you’re going to need to bring a sterilizer, the formula milk, as well as bottles and teats, with travel bags that make it easy to pack all of them.

Keep a carry-on of travel essentials, too

Aside from the necessities that you’re going to pack to last the entire duration of your travel, you also have to think about what you’re going to need for the trip from A to B, as well. Whether it’s a long drive or you’re getting on a plane, you need to make sure that your baby is well catered for, especially if it is a long journey.

You’re going to need drinks and snacks to keep them fed, hydrated, and placated. Entertaining them is going to become an essential chore, so bringing some toys, books, or other things you can engage them with is always recommended. Make sure you keep their diapers, wipes, and a changing mat nearby to deal with the very real chance of a wet diaper, and a change of clothes is recommended, too.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

Your baby is still going to need their playtime

Taking care of your baby’s needs means making sure that they are fed, safe, and comfortable, yes, but those aren’t the only needs that they have. Babies, especially those who are able to crawl or roll around on their own, are going to need time and space to play, as well.

You might not be able to bring a nursery’s worth of toys with you, but you can look at options like a travel play yard, which can be folded up to make it easy to transport, then laid out when your baby needs a place to play with their toys, or even to have a quick nap. It’s no replacement for playing with them, yourself, but it’s a good way to ensure they have a safe place to enjoy playtime.

Helping them sleep across timezones

Babies, like everyone else, can be affected by jet lag. However, the remedy for jet lag is just about the same for them as it is for everyone else: it’s best to let them sleep it off. Sleep can help reset our body clocks and make it easier to adjust to a new timezone.

You can purchase travel blackout blinds that can make it easy to create a dark and peaceful place to sleep, even if it’s sunny outside when you touch down at your destination. Of course, very young babies tend to sleep often and easily, so they can make this easier to do. Just make sure that you give your baby some time to adjust.

Get a bigger room

There are adjustments that you’re going to have to make when it comes to the destination as well. The first and most important is to consider renting out a larger hotel room or some kind of BNB when you touch down.

You might be used to staying in smaller rooms and keeping things budget, but you’re going to need room for your baby, their cot, any play areas that you might set up with them, and more.

It’s a good idea to pick a room with a balcony, as well. Then you, or you and your partner can relax on the balcony with the door open, so you can enjoy the view while still keeping an ear out for the little one.

Image by Joshua Woroniecki from Pixabay

If you’re flying with your baby

If you’re using an airport and airline, check both of their policies about traveling with an infant ahead of time. Some are going to make it easier, such as by offering front seats with better legroom. Some will offer bassinets to help your baby rest throughout the flight, as well as a diaper changing table.

You might not need these extra bits of help, but they can offer some relief during the trip. What you should make sure of is that you’re able to bring everything including formula milk or breast milk onto the plane, as well as food for your baby.

Of course, it’s far from impossible to enjoy a trip with your baby in tow. You just want to make sure that you’re considering their needs first, every step of the way, and doing what you can to prepare in advance.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.