Tips for Travelling with Your Baby

There are few things that parents dread more than going on a long plane trip with their young baby. In fact, many mothers and fathers will quite understandably avoid going on holidays simply because traveling with young children is so stressful. There are certainly many aspects of air travel that make caring for a baby difficult: the cramped space, the close quarters with numerous other people, the noise, the irritating changes in pressure and the changes in temperature.

Yet, babies can travel from virtually the day they are born (though airlines do prefer they be at least two days old). By the time a baby is three months old, however, travel does become significantly easier. Countless parents with young babies are able to travel – and enjoy themselves. It’s all a matter of being prepared and staying calm. It is always helpful to inform the airline ahead of time that you will be traveling with your baby.

Packing for travel with your baby

The first step to ensuring a pleasant travel experience for you and your baby is to pack the essentials. For traveling on a long car or plane trip, the following list is certainly considered essential when packing your travel bag or as part of your carry-on luggage:

• at least two changes of clothes (more if it’s a very long trip)

• a healthy supply of nappies, wipes and nappy rash cream

• a front carrier or baby sling

• sufficient formula (if necessary)

• extra cloths that can be used to clean

• favourite toys that make little noise

• a blanket or stuffed animal that your baby loves

Almost as important as packing the right things is the strategic packing of these essentials so they can be accessed quickly and easily. So make sure you put the nappies and wipes at the top of the bag for easy access in case of a little emergency.

Choosing the right toys certainly needs careful consideration; stacking cups, teething rings, pop-ups, much-loved books and soft animals are often among the top items. Basically, anything that belongs to your baby’s most favourite, and preferably those items that don’t make too much noise, should definitely come along.

Tips for during travel

The most important advice for traveling with a baby is to stay calm and remember that the trip won’t last forever. Babies will feed off their parents’ emotions, so if you are extra stressed, they are likely to follow suit. Try to do whatever you can to get a great night sleep before you set out. Make sure to show up at the airport within plenty of time, and don’t forget to bring proof of your baby’s age. Go to the bathroom yourself before you board the plane, as it’s quite cumbersome, to say the least, to use the lavatory on the plane while holding your baby. Try to board early so that the waiting in line and the hordes of people don’t upset your baby.

Take-off is likely to be a particularly stressful time for your baby. The noise level is extremely high and the plane can jump around a bit. Earplugs or cotton can help to control the noise and if you remain calm, the likelihood of your baby settling will be greater. The change in air pressure will create some discomfort to your baby’s ears; a good way to prevent this is by giving your baby a pacifier to such on during take-off and landing.

Once in the air, break up your flight into 15 minute increments. It’s important to understand that no single activity is likely to distract or engage your baby for the entire flight. But if your baby enjoys 15 minutes of stacking cups, 15 minutes of reading, 15 minutes of walking around with you and then feeds for 15 minutes, you’ve already made it through a full hour. Don’t forget to make the most of the time that your baby is sleeping by looking after your own needs.

Finally, make sure to take a camera so you can capture the great moments you have while travelling with your baby. It may not always be easy travelling, but on a lighter note, certainly when it comes to your wallet, remember that airlines allow babies up to the age of two to travel for free.

Do you have any helpful tips to make travel easier with your baby?

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