Usually travelling with a baby or a toddler is troublesome. Babies need some additional stuff. It may happen that parents forget to pack an essential thing before the journey or get frustrated by the agile child. To prevent such mishaps you need to be cautious. Whether it is a plane, train, or road trip with your infant or toddler, organised preparation can make your vacation easy, joyous and trouble free. Check here for proven tips for travelling with a baby.
15 Tips to Travel Safely with Babies
Get to the spot early
Remember flying with a baby takes crucially more time than travelling on your own. Try to arrive 30 minutes to 20 minutes before your flight so that you cannot sweat thinking about missing your flight. Here the simple fact is that travelling stress is dictated by your departure time. When you hustle to reach the bus terminal, train station or airport you go through extra stress.
Therefore, it would be wise to reach the spot early to entertain your baby for a longer stretch of time outside the comforts of home. Besides, it gives you a chance to feed your baby, and do the other necessary procedures in a relaxed manner.
Prepare for the climate
While planning a vacation, it is a very essential part to be aware of the climate. Sometimes, you need to travel from a cold climate to a warm climate, or vice versa. If you are planning to travel to a cold destination, make sure you bring extra warm clothes for you and the baby. While touring in a hot destination with warm climate, pack comfy wear for the baby and for adults bring shorts, T-shirts and soft comfortable cotton wear.
Travel light
You can’t take everything when you make a journey with your baby. If you leave most of the baby stuff at home during travelling you may need those things. To avoid such a dilemma, you can make a list of essential stuff for your infant or toddler. Such you can make your baggage light without leaving essential things behind at home.
Bring only what you need
Don’t take so many things when you are travelling with your baby. If you take so many things, you cannot concentrate on your baby. You can buy your necessary items once you arrive.
Take breastfeeding gadgets
While packing bags, make sure you bring some type of relief for yourself in case the baby isn’t feeding well. Even if you don’t usually pump breast milk, take a manual pump so that it could be a vacation-saver if the baby is leaving you engorged.
Diaper
Of course, bring more diapers than you think you will need. However, you don’t need to bring the whole case. You can carry diapers in your back bag so that you can use them whenever you need them.
Stay calm
Travelling with a baby can be stressful, but most of that stress is due to worries. When you are anxious, you cannot calm your baby which can ultimately give discomfort to other passengers. Naturally, babies can cry on a journey, but you need to handle that situation with comfort and calmness. So, try to stay cool though it is not as easy as we know. The calmer you stay, the more your child will mirror your emotions.
Bring enough baby food
If you breastfeed your baby, you do not have to worry about baby formula. But if you don’t breastfeed, you need to take formula. In the case of an older baby, you need enough food for him or her. Actually, once a baby finds a formula it likes, it’s typically the only one they will eat. So, make sure you bring enough baby formula or food for the length of your trip.
Of course, you can buy formula or food for your baby after reaching your travel destination. But sometimes, you don’t get the right one you usually use for your baby. By taking unauthorised or unhealthy foods, your baby can become sick, then your journey will be difficult.
If you are going on an air journey, you need to know that some foods are not allowed to cross borders, especially fruits and meats. So, check with border security ahead of time to determine what foods are allowed.
Buy the baby’s own seat
When a baby naps in the parent’s arms, it is difficult to tolerate for a long time. While resting on mom or dad’s arms or shoulders, babies may not sleep so easily, which, incidentally, isn’t always comfortable for the parent either.
If you have the ability, you can buy an extra seat for your baby. Definitely, this decision depends on your finances. If you can secure a restless baby in a seat rather than bouncing them on your lap for a long time. There’s a better chance they’ll actually sleep during the journey. Certainly, it can be a game-changer, to make your journey comfortable.
Fly during nap or happy time
If you book your seat beside the window and everything departs smoothly, your kid may be too distracted to sleep because they like to enjoy everything new. But booking seats that correspond with a child’s nap schedule at least gives you better odds for a smoother trip.
However, if you can’t fly when your lovely kid usually sleeps, try to plan the trip during periods of the day when your baby usually stays in a happy mood. You can take a journey in the afternoon or evening also. If the weather is fine and relaxing and your baby will enjoy that.
Two aisle seats
Booking two aisle seats so that you can provide a much-needed change of scenery for an infant-in-arms. Each time the child is taken on a journey, they’re reintroduced to a new environment and new neighbours. The new environment recaptures their attention. Besides, it’s much easier for you to get up and soothe your baby by walking up and down the aisle.
Feed them during take-off and landing
Feed your baby during take-off and landing. You need to feed your baby before landing as after you need time to settle off. And during taking off, you feed your baby as you may not get suitable time in the journey to feed your baby.
Babies are especially sensitive to the changes. Uncomfortable sensations make them exhausted. You can comfort the baby by nursing. But if they don’t want to eat, give them a pacifier.
Bring cheap toys
Toys can make babies pacify easily. To save money, make sure you take cheap toys so that you don’t mind losing or accidentally leaving on the plane. Wrap them in cheap wrapping paper like a gift. Whenever your child gets restless during the journey, give them a new gift and help them unwrap it. Definitely, they will enjoy playing with the paper, then the actual toy.
Bring a tablet with shows
When you are travelling with older babies, tablets have become an essential travel item for your baby. Your baby can have an enjoyable time playing games or watching kids’ movies on the tablet. Besides, there are a lot of fun baby apps to download to give your baby a comfortable and relaxed journey.
Make sure you bring a portable power charger. If possible, take two gadgets, like a table and a smartphone. One gadget should be typically available for the parents’ usage. It can also support you if one gadget runs out of battery power.
Slow down
This is the most important baby travel tip. Don’t try to repeat the way you usually travel before a baby. Things are different now as you are a parent now. So try to avoid too many hustles, activities or sightseeing in one day.
Plan your tourism activities or adventure itinerary ahead with a fresh and recharged mind. Break up the day and make a planned and nice routine. However, don’t worry if you don’t have to fill your days with constant activities.
Bottom Line
Journeys can give you the scope to make some amazing memories that last a lifetime. Though making a trip with your baby might be challenging, you can easily conquer it and make the journey enjoyable. A little precautions and planning can help you get the most out of your vacation time with your lovely baby. You can consider our above-mentioned tips to make a baby-friendly trip.
Source: United News of Bangladesh