Travel Tips – 5 Strategies That Will Make Traveling With A Baby Easier
Photo: Marcin Jozwiak/Unsplash
Believe it or not, traveling with a baby isn’t all that hard. In fact, with some strategic preparation, traveling with a baby can actually be pretty easy. Of course, as with anything, practice makes perfect, so be ready to cut yourself some slack if you’re traveling for the first time with your little one.
Babies need near-constant entertainment and distraction, so it’ll take some effort on your part to make the trip an enjoyable one for you, your baby, and the rest of your family. Don’t go it alone – enlist the help of everyone who’s traveling with you to care for and entertain the baby, so it all doesn’t all fall on your shoulders. Beyond that, follow the tips below to make traveling with your baby easier.
- Pack the Right Baby Formula – And Plenty of It
Since your little one’s main nutrition source is baby formula, you’ll want to make feeding as quick and easy as possible. The best baby formula for travel, according to most parents, is the ready-to-feed type because it’s most convenient. With that said, powdered baby formula is also easy to prepare on the go, so choose the option that fits your budget and your needs best.
- Have a Well-Stocked Diaper Bag at the Ready
A well-stocked diaper bag is the key to any successful trip with a baby. Your little one requires a multitude of things to be happy and healthy, so be sure you have everything you need within arms’ reach at all times.
Extra diapers, wipes, pacifiers, clothes, toys, snacks, and even something for yourself are all diaper bag must-haves, so don’t skimp on the essentials when packing for your trip. Whether you’re traveling by plane or by car, your lifeline to sanity is the diaper bag.
- Wear Baby to Keep Your hands Free
If you’re traveling by plane, consider wearing your baby on the flight. This will keep your hands free for other things while keeping your baby close and comfortable. Wearing your baby will also make it easier to nurse during the flight without making it obvious, and the gentle shimmy and ambient noises on the plane will help lull your little one to sleep.
- Bring Digital Entertainment
While screen-time limitations may be in full force at home, travel-time is the exception. It’s called survival, and if your little one is entertained by a kid-friendly video or two while you’re traveling, who’s to judge?
So, bring along a device pre-loaded with content your child enjoys watching or listening to, and be sure to include some entertainment for yourself for those times when your little one goes to sleep, and you have some time to yourself.
- Dress Your Baby in Layers
Babies tend to be most comfortable if you dress them in layers that you can take off and put on as temperatures change during your travels. Easy access onesies make diaper changes a cinch, but remember, messes happen, so be sure to pack extra clothing in the diaper bag for both you and your baby. No one likes to wear clothes with spit-up, or worse – poop – on them.
Traveling with a baby doesn’t have to be as difficult as it seems. As long as you plan strategically, prepare ahead of time, and follow the tips discussed above, you can make traveling easier for your baby, yourself, and anyone else who’s coming along.
