Even the thought of carrying a heavy suitcase and souvenirs, completing the travel formalities and handling a fussy baby at the same time seems daunting. Certainly, this is a scenario that no parent would want to be stuck in. Yet, travelling is often essential, and you need to learn how to do so with your baby in the best possible manner. We are here to help you out. So, hop on!
- Choose the seats wisely during air travel.
- Allow your baby to explore too.
- Relax and soak up the destination.
- Pack lighter.
- Time it right.
- Carriers can be your best friends.
- Ditch the baby tub.
- Pack the diapers in a limited quantity.
- Carry a lightweight blanket to change diapers.
- Call it off when required.
1. Choose the seats wisely during air travel.
If you are travelling in a long haul flight, you should try to book a seat near the baby bassinet. Shorter flights are much easier to deal with, and you can sit anywhere you wish to. However, the aisle ones allow more room for quick movement. Though, it isn’t always possible to book the bassinet in advance, calling the airline before your travel doesn’t hurt.
Ensure that you reach the airport early because the bassinets are often allotted on a first-come-first-serve basis. Go through the plane’s layout carefully before booking your seat to avoid scrambling at the last moment.
2. Allow your baby to explore too.
If your baby is around one year of age, you can let it explore the local culture as well. If the local children can eat an item, so can your baby! Ensure that the food is cooked in hygienic conditions, and the water is clean to keep foodborne illnesses at bay.
3. Relax and soak up the destination.
To have an enjoyable experience avoid hopping from one place to the other and book your vacations to places where you can at least stay for a couple of days. If there is something that you don’t want to miss out on, you can always hit the road later.
4. Pack lighter.
Babies have their priorities sorted – they need their diapers changed, good food to eat and a safe space to sleep. We often overestimate the baby gear that we would need on a trip. Keep your mobility needs in mind and pack according to your convenience.
For instance, if you would be catching several trains to travel, it would not be a great idea to pack big suitcases. On the other hand, if you are travelling by car, you can do that. The packing and unpacking can still be a hustle. Make a checklist of the essentials so that you carry the optimum amount.
5. Time it right
Easy flights can be quite expensive, but they are worth it. Try booking a flight without any layovers to let your baby sleep. Time it right and try co-ordinating it with your baby’s sleep schedule. Minimizing connections and the length of the journey is vital. If you can afford it, fly business class for a smooth experience. Book it early before the prices hit the roof.
6. Carriers can be your best friends.
Let’s face it – strollers can be quite inconvenient when it comes to moving your baby around. However, with a carrier, you can just wear your baby, and you are good to go. Babies love being close to their parents and will doze off if you walk around for a bit. You will be enthralled by the ease it will bring to your travel in tight spaces.
7. Ditch the baby tub.
There is no point of carrying a bulky baby tub with you when you travel. If your baby loves exploring and gets visibly dirty, you can bathe it in a sink. Otherwise, scheduling bath time twice or thrice a week works just wine. Ensure that you wipe your baby thoroughly after it uses the restroom.
8. Pack diapers in a limited quantity.
Don’t travel with a lifetime supply of diapers. Limit yourself to the days of travel, and add a one or two days more till you get accustomed to the new place. It is a better idea to buy the diapers at the destination itself. Similarly, it is worthless to pack for “what-if” situations. You will be able to find most of the incidentals at the destination.
9. Carry a lightweight blanket to change diapers.
When you are on the go, you need to let go of your inhibitions. Change your baby’s diapers whenever you want to. A lightweight and compact blanket will make the task easier for you by becoming a barrier between your baby and the environment.
10. Call it off when required.
You can try your best to keep your baby happy but if a particular activity or meal is just not fulfilling its purpose, call it off. Feel free to walk out and go back to your stay for some rest.
Timely preparation and planning can make the journey a piece of cake. If you think that we have missed out on any tips, do let us know!