Travelling with Baby/Infant/Toddler
Travelling is an exciting and enriching experience many of us look forward to. However, when you have a Baby, the idea of travelling can be daunting, as it requires a lot of extra planning and preparation. But don’t let that discourage you! With a little bit of effort, you can have a fun and rewarding travel experience with your little one.
In this blog, we will explore everything you need to know about travelling with a baby, from choosing the right destination, to packing essentials, to tips for keeping your baby comfortable and happy while on the go.
Whether you’re embarking on a road trip, taking a flight, or going on a cruise, we’ll provide you with practical advice and insights to make your journey as smooth as possible, so you can focus on enjoying your time together as a family.
But let us answer the very first query that comes to our mind “How Soon Can You Travel With a Newborn Baby?”
Travelling with a newborn baby can be an exciting prospect, but it’s also important to consider their health and well-being. Most doctors recommend waiting until your baby is at least two weeks old before embarking on any kind of travel. During the first two weeks, your baby is still adjusting to the world outside the womb, and their immune system is still developing, making them more vulnerable to infections.
After the first two weeks, it’s generally safe to travel with your newborn, but it’s important to take certain precautions. For example,
- Avoid crowded places and people who are sick, as newborns are more susceptible to illnesses.
- Frequent hand washes / using hand sanitizer
If you’re planning a long-distance trip, it’s important to check with your doctor first to ensure that your baby is healthy enough to travel. You may also want to consider the climate and altitude of your destination, as this can affect your baby’s comfort and health.
Besides these basic safety precautions, keep reading for more tips on travelling with infants, older babies, and toddlers, which include additional measures to help keep your little one healthy, safe, and comfortable.
Tips for Traveling With an Infant, Older Baby, or Toddler
Healthwise
1. Booster vaccinations
Ensure your baby has had all required immunizations before travelling, whether by car, plane, or anywhere else internationally. The key to keeping your child healthy throughout their life and, of course, when travelling, is adhering to an immunization regimen.
Be aware that some countries may demand additional vaccines if you intend to go overseas. Before making travel arrangements abroad, you should seek advice from your child’s doctor. For general information, you can also contact the U.S. State Department. This advice also applies to travelling with infants, older babies, and toddlers because children require vaccines and booster shots throughout their early years.
2. Organize Medications and Important Documents at one place
Be sure to carry any medication your child will require while you are away from home before you go on your journey. You can also buy a durable folder to store any vital documents, such as your baby’s vaccination record, copies of current medical reports, your passport, etc., you can also buy a durable folder. It’s usually advisable to err on the side of caution and pack everything you might need while travelling with a newborn, older baby, or toddler!
3. Bring a first aid kit
When travelling, it’s useful to have your baby’s first-aid kit in addition to all the other necessities. One can be kept in the van, the baby’s overnight bag, or the diaper bag.
4. Wash your hands often
Although it was only briefly mentioned above, this is one of the most crucial suggestions for travelling with a baby or child of any age; therefore we’d like to gently remind you of it. Your child is more prone to contracting colds, the flu, or other infections because their body is still developing its natural immune defences. Additionally, it’s best to wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer because you’ll be holding your baby’s hand or carrying them while you travel.
5. Stay hydrated
Although it was only briefly mentioned above, this is one of the most crucial suggestions for travelling with a baby or child of any age; therefore we’d like to gently remind you of it. Your child is more prone to contracting colds, the flu, or other infections because their body is still developing its natural immune defences. Additionally, it’s best to wash your hands often and use hand sanitizer because you’ll be holding your baby’s hand or carrying them while you travel.
6. Be prepared for the weather
Before you travel, check out the weather forecast and pack accordingly. Consider packing some extra clothing for cooler nighttime temperatures or more supplies in case of rain or snow. If the weather suddenly changes, having extra socks, rain covers, a warm jacket, and a hat will be helpful.
7. Practice prevention
When you’re out of the house and on the go, it’s not unusual for an illness or other health issue to develop. Any type of travel, including trips with your baby, can result in colds and sore throats, diarrhoea, motion sickness, mosquito bites, or bedbug bites.
Even though you might not be able to avoid all these problems altogether, planning is helpful. This is possible by obtaining the required travel vaccinations, and inspecting hotel rooms, bus seats, and train cars for bedbugs, bringing your own food, sticking to hot, fully cooked meals, having only a small snack before departure to prevent motion sickness, and remaining hydrated.
Emotion Wise
8. Pay closer attention
Routines at home are sometimes disrupted when travelling with a baby or an older child, so your young child will require more attention. A few suggestions include giving more cuddles and hugs both throughout the day and at night, as well as including engaging games and activities.
9. Permit Your Child to Take Charge
Allowing toddlers and older babies to participate in decision-making as they begin to explore independence is one of the finest travel advice for young children. Find out what they want to wear or what they want to eat for supper. Instead of asking open-ended questions, provide two or three options to make things easier for their small minds. They will be able to take control of their vacation experience thanks to it!
10. Try new things
Encourage new experiences while travelling with your infant or young child to make the trip even more memorable. Although you’ll likely never forget these excursions, give your child some memorable experiences by engaging them in activities that they can’t perform at home. Additionally, as your child grows and develops, they will inevitably want to test out new experiences and abilities!
11. Prepare for Strong Emotions
Once more, children may find it challenging to adjust to regular changes. Traveling entails leaving behind home, sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, and forgoing customary comforts. Your child might find this difficult, perplexing, or even a little frightening. Give your child additional love and support if these feelings manifest as tantrums, weeping, or resistance.
12. Bring Home Bedding
Pack bedding for your infant or young child whenever you can. This is obviously simpler while driving or when you have more room in your suitcase. As their routine is disturbed, they will feel more at ease if they are surrounded by familiar smells and sensations. Simply include a tiny item, such as their favourite blanket or bedsheet, if you’re travelling far via airline, to make them feel “at home.”
SafetyWise
13. Check the car seats twice
Prior to embarking on a trip, it’s essential to ensure the safety of your infant, older baby, or toddler, regardless of whether you’re traveling by vehicle or by airline. To do so, check the expiration date of any car seats you plan to use and verify that they are installed correctly to prevent any potential accidents or injuries.
14. Keep Your Car Clean and Organized
We recommend a clean car for your own sanity. But there are other reasons why keeping a clean car makes road trips more manageable.
For one, it limits the number of random (baby-unfriendly) objects laying around that baby could grab, like a shank, can of mace, or anything from a Taco Bell menu, to name a few.
Baby’s can have a surprisingly long functional reach, and it’s constantly getting longer and more functional by the day!
Two, keeping the car clean and clutter free cuts down on the number of potentially life-threatening flying projectiles (particularly if your car has a rear deck (aka rear dash, aka parcel shelf).
It’s extra important not to store anything potentially hazardous up there if you’re using a rear-facing child seat.
15. Keep in Mind Special Factors When Flying
Remember that travelling with a youngster will necessitate taking some extra precautions. Contact the airline and your child’s healthcare professional if you have any queries. For instance, all equipment, including strollers and car seats, must be publicly inspected at the airport.
16. Monitor water play
Traveling with a baby or toddler may involve some water play, such as splashing around at the beach or in the pool. Whether children are bathing, playing in a shallow pool, swimming, or any other activity, drowning is one of the major causes of mortality in children of all ages and can occur in a matter of seconds. When they are in the water or getting a bath, keep a watchful eye on the kids.
17. Pack hybrid or disposable diapers
Nothing beats the ease of disposable diapers while you’re travelling.
Entertainment wise
18. Bring snacks and food
Meals and snacks are essential to every excursion, and you don’t have to travel with a baby to understand this. Naturally, once your child has started eating solids at roughly 6 months, you’ll need to breastfeed them or bring formula along with solid foods as a supplement. Baby-friendly travel fare can be anything they typically eat—the key is to keep their tummies content!
19. Don’t forget favourite blankets or toys
Bring some remembrances of home with you so your young child won’t feel uncomfortable in new environments since they are still becoming used to the world around them. Be cautious not to leave Mr Bear (or any other “cute toy”) at home. A beloved plush toy, a well-known rattle, or a blanket scented like home will do wonders for keeping your newborns and toddlers comfortable when travelling.
20. Sing Music
Singing is a great method to connect and involve your infant or toddler. It’s a fun way to pass the time on lengthy car trips, for example, and it also benefits babies’ vocabulary growth and other crucial language skills and developmental milestones. Your not-so-little one will soon start singing along and repeatedly singing their favourite tunes.
21. Game Plans for Cars
Keep your child occupied in the car by playing some entertaining games and singing songs. With your assistance, your youngster might love the age-old game I Spy or even counting objects they notice outside the window, such as cows or red automobiles. Another option is a simple tray that attaches to the back of one of the front seats and includes a tonne of items for kids to touch, look at, and listen to.
22. Provide amusement
Your newborn may sleep for a good portion of the journey, but an energetic older infant or toddler probably won’t! Whether in the car, on the train, or in the air, it helps to provide some type of entertainment while travelling with a baby who is a little older and more awake. Both a soft toy and a pictorial book are suitable.
