Becoming a parent is one of the most life-changing experiences a person can have. Life changes in so many ways when you become a mum or dad for the first time. Adjusting to life as a new parent can make the idea of travelling with your baby a little daunting. While you may be keen to take your first holiday as a family, you may also be concerned about how it will go. Travelling with a child is certainly a very different experience when compared with travelling alone or as a couple. However, that doesn’t mean that you should give up on the idea of seeing the world.
Travel brings so many benefits to kids and can really help to enrich their understanding of the world around them. But you may be wondering how to make your trips abroad as a family a success. The good news is that there are many different ways to reduce the stress involved in travelling with kids. Keep reading to discover some helpful tips to make travelling with a baby for the first time much easier:
Research Your Destination
Choosing a destination is always the first and arguably the most important decision to make when planning a holiday. However, when you’re travelling with a baby, thinking carefully about where you will travel and where you will base yourself during the trip is much more crucial.
Choosing the right destination for your first holiday is a family could be the difference between having a challenging time and making it a trip to remember for all the right reasons. Research will be crucial in this situation, as you need to be sure that the destination is suitable for families, and most importantly, babies.
It’s also important to consider the safety of the destination that you plan to visit. There are quite a few things to consider. This includes factors such as, if there is a swimming pool, is there fencing and a safety gate to prevent children from accidentally accessing it. If your accommodation has a balcony, is it enclosed to ensure that it is safe? Checking these details before you choose your accommodation is important for your peace of mind when you are away.
As well as thinking about the safety considerations of your holiday destination, it’s also wise to think about the practicalities. If you’re going to be travelling with a young baby, you don’t want to be faced with navigating rugged terrain with a pushchair or struggling uphill in the heat. So, it’s a good idea to check what the resort is like and where your accommodation is located within it before you book.
Another factor worth considering before you book is the transfer time from the airport to your destination. A long journey from the airport to your accommodation can leave a baby feeling really unsettled, which can mean that your trip gets off to a stressful start. If you’ve already had a stressful flight with your little one feeling fussy, a long transfer to your accommodation is probably the last thing that you need.
Consider How You Travel
Flying is often the most obvious choice of transport when you go on holiday. However, it’s important to remember that it’s not the only option. You may decide an alternative way to travel is the best choice for your family’s first trip away together. If you’re concerned about being stuck in your seat with an unsettled baby while flying, you may want to choose a destination that you can travel to via a ferry. This should allow you to take your pushchair on board and walk around with your baby if they become unsettled. You may even be able to book a cabin for your crossing so that you have your own personal space with your little one when you need it. This can make feeding your baby and changing their nappy a lot easier.
If you don’t want to be constricted by timings when you travel, you may choose to take things at your own pace rather than needing to take scheduled transport. Travelling in your own car for the majority of your journey can be really helpful when you have a little one with you. This allows you to stop and take breaks when you need it. Travelling in your own car also means there’s no need to worry about other passengers and whether your baby may disturb them if they become unsettled. You may find that your baby travels much better in the familiarity of their own car seat. This may help them to sleep better and feel more comfortable throughout the journey.
Plan Your Travel Time Carefully
Thinking about when you should travel is almost as important as choosing your destination when you are travelling with a baby. Figuring out the best time for you to travel is an excellent way to avoid your baby being unsettled and upset while you make your way to your destination. To decide on the best time for you to travel, it’s helpful to look at your baby’s normal routine.
Choosing to travel at times when your baby is normally sleeping can be a helpful way to keep them in their routine and avoid them becoming too upset on the journey. However, keep in mind that if the flight is delayed, your baby may become restless or fall asleep sooner than you would like. The motion of the car while travelling to the airport may also cause your baby to fall asleep, so being aware that your perfectly planned sleep schedule for your little one may be ruined is wise. Due to this risk, you may feel more comfortable booking tickets to travel at night. This gives you a longer window of time for your baby to get settled and off to sleep. You mya even be able to get some rest yourself while your baby sleeps!
Prepare for the Journey
Keeping your baby comfortable while you travel is going to make the journey a lot easier for both your little one and yourselves. When your baby feels comfortable, they’re less likely to feel fussy and unsettled. So, preparing well for the journey to ensure that you have everything you need to keep them feeling comfortable is a must.
Ensuring that you bring your changing bag on board with you is vital. If you’re flying, you may need to check your permitted size and amount of hand luggage to ensure that your changing bag can be brought into the cabin. Checking that your changing bag is well-stocked is essential, as you may find that you get through a lot of nappies, wipes, and milk at the airport if your flight is delayed. This can then leave you short of baby essentials by the time you actually board the plane.
Leaving your baby in a wet nappy because you have run out of diapers will leave them feeling uncomfortable, and they may even develop diaper rash as a result. This can leave babies distressed and in pain, so it’s wise to ensure you have enough diapers to keep your baby dry while they are sat for long periods. You may also want to read about the 6 Different Types Of Diaper Rash: Causes And Treatment so you know how to avoid your little one developing diaper rash.
If you are bottle-feeding your baby, it’s crucial to ensure that you have enough milk for them to drink during the flight. Think about your baby’s regular feed times, and how these could be impacted by the flight. This will ensure that you can be prepared and have a feed ready for when it’s due.
Drinking from a bottle can also help to alleviate airplane ear in babies. No one enjoys experiencing airplane ear and the uncomfortable pressure that it creates. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the tubes in their ears, babies and young children are particularly at risk of airplane ear.
As well as packing your baby’s essentials, it’s also helpful to add some toys or small books to your changing bag. These will be a great way to keep your baby entertained during the flight, and a useful distraction if they become upset and unsettled.
Start Your Holiday Preparations Early
Finally, it is advisable to start your holiday preparations as soon as you can. Making preparations early gives you the best chance of getting your first choice of accommodation and flight times. If you are applying for your baby’s first passport, it is especially important to start making your travel plans as soon as possible. Applying for your baby’s first passport as early as possible should help you to avoid any last minute panic about it not arriving in time before you travel.
The more organised you are, the more relaxing that travelling with your baby should be. This means that you will be able to spend less time feeling stressed out and more time enjoying quality time and making memories with your family.