How to Travel with Baby

Overview

Children of all ages can learn a lot from travel because they can try new foods, do new things, and see new things. They also get to spend quality time with their families. But travelling with kids can also be stressful. You might have to deal with unpredictable schedules, long lists of things to pack, and cranky kids, among other things.

Before travelling with an infant, always consult with your healthcare provider. Your provider will probably give you specific advice about whether or not you should travel with your newborn based on their age and health, as well as more general advice about when you can travel with a baby or an older child.

Travel Tips for Parents of Newborns, Older Babies, and Toddlers

You can do many things to keep your infant, older baby, or toddler safe on a trip and ensure everyone has a good time. Before travelling, it’s best to talk to your child’s doctor, especially if you have a newborn or an infant. Younger babies and toddlers are more likely to get hurt than older babies and toddlers, so when travelling with an infant, listening to the provider’s advice and tips is essential.

Update Immunizations

Ensure your child has received all of the required immunizations before you take him or her anywhere, whether in a car, on an aeroplane, or anywhere else.

Collect your medications and important papers

Before you go on your trip, don’t forget to bring any medicine your child will need while you’re away. You can also buy a sturdy folder to hold your baby’s vaccination record, copies of recent medical reports, passports, and other important papers. When travelling with an infant, older baby, or toddler, it’s always best to be safe and bring everything you need.

Allow for extra time

Always remember that travelling with an infant or baby of any age means everything takes a little longer (or sometimes much longer!). Start early and allow extra time when packing the car, driving to the airport, going through security, checking into your hotel, eating out, etc. This spare time allows for a more comfortable journey and reduces stress.

Bring Your Baby’s Necessities

Although your research may reveal that some basic baby necessities are available at hotels or accommodations, bringing as much as possible is best. If a hotel offers cribs, for example, unless you can guarantee that their baby cribs are up to date on safety requirements, it’s better to bring your own travel crib if possible.

Other baby travel necessities include bottles, bibs, diapers and wipes, pacifiers, etc. Store these in a different diaper bag for easy access! All of these items—and more—are included in our baby travel checklist below.

Remember to bring your favourite toys or blankets.

Your child is still adjusting to their surroundings, so bring comfort items from the home to help them feel at ease in strange places. A favourite plush toy, a familiar rattle, or a blanket with home scents can help keep your babies and toddlers happy while travelling.

Maintain a consistent feeding and sleeping schedule.

It’s best to keep feeding and sleeping schedules consistent when travelling with babies, especially newborns and infants, even when crossing time zones. If you’re travelling across multiple time zones and can’t keep the same feeding schedule, adjust your schedule gradually. The most important thing is feeding your baby when they are hungry, regardless of the hour, and giving yourself some extra grace.

Bring snacks and food.

You don’t have to be going on a trip with a baby to know that meals and snacks are essential! You’ll need to breastfeed or bring formula, of course. Once your baby is about six months old and can eat solid foods, you can add those to their diet. Babies can travel with anything they usually eat if it keeps their stomachs happy.

Think outside the box (or baby bag).

You can get by with what you have: Make an air sick bag puppet, play “peek-a-boo” with a burp cloth, count the number of dogs in the SkyMall catalogue, or try one of these easy things to do on a trip.

Having babies and flying can be hard to do at the same time. But the odds of a smooth flight will be in your favour if you plan and expect the unexpected.