Going on holiday with your baby sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? Travelling can be difficult at the best of times, but when you have a baby travelling with you, it gets even tougher. The key is to be prepared. Here are some tips that will help to make the process a whole lot easier:
Travel light – While it can be tempting to pack endless supplies – after all, you never know what your little one is going to need – it is important to travel light. There are a number of clever changes you can make to reduce the amount of luggage you’re going to be taking with you. For example, consider a travel light crib rather than taking your standard one. You can see an example of one of these cribs here. Also, only take a small amount of the things you will be able to buy as soon as you get there.
Schedule your trip around your child’s sleep time – Of course, this will not be possible in some cases, especially if you are travelling by plane. However, whenever you can, you should try to schedule trip around your child’s sleep time, so your child can get into his or her pajamas and go straight to sleep. Sheer bliss!
Try not to take trips that are longer than six hours – If you are visiting family, this may not be possible. But if you are going away for a vacation simply for some fun and relaxation, try to choose somewhere that is closer to home. It’s not ideal to have your baby confined to a seated position for hours and hours.
Bring your child’s favourite toy, as well as items your baby associates with sleep – When choosing toys for your baby, make sure you choose only soft items. Safety is even more important when travelling, as there can be jolts or turbulence. You should also bring any items that your baby associates with sleep, for example, their favourite pillow and blanket. This will be a good way to encourage your little one to nod off when they are in an environment they are not familiar with.
Bring extra diapers and clothing – While you should travel as light as possible, one area where you shouldn’t cut back too much is with regards to baby clothing and diapers. It is always a good idea to dress your baby in layers if you are travelling by plane. You can easily take these layers off if your baby is too hot, but the last thing you want is for your baby to get too cold. After all, a cold baby is a crying baby!
So there you have it: some top tips for travelling with your baby. Use the suggestions and life should be a lot easier for you when going on vacation. Of course, it’s impossible to prevent a few hiccups that occur along the way, but you can take care of most of them with the advice mentioned above.
Jessica Lippe 