Travelling with a baby or a toddler is nothing but an adventure, especially for the first time. It is a great experience, but it can be daunting when you have a baby as a companion.
You are sure to get nightmares as it may go either ways and we, moms have an ability to overthink everything. So, it is best to keep certain things in mind and be prepared for almost any situation.
We have been travelling with our little one since he was 2 months old. We have travelled by air, train and car and thankfully, we hardly ever had to face any serious tantrums by our little one.
Read on to know all my travel experience with our baby as he grew up from an infant to a toddler. My tried and true tips & tricks that helped us for a smooth travel.
In this Post, You will Find
Travelling by Plane
We embarked upon this adventure when our baby was 2 months old. Yup, that was his 1st flight trip and mine was at 22 years..
Given the current pandemic situation, we need to avoid Public Transport, but there are times when we to have to take them due to unavoidable circumstances.
If you are well prepared and have a plan, you can have a smooth trip.
Before you travel
- Before you make travel plans, make sure you check with pediatrician if your baby is very young or your kid was recently unwell.
- Get the Covid-19 test, it has to be done within 72 hours of travel.
- Prefer a direct flight than a connecting one, if possible.
- Check the weight limit for both check-in & carry on as it keeps changing with guidelines.
- Call & inform the airlines and check for special instructions (if any) while travelling with a child.
- Buy a face shield for the baby as airlines do not provide that.
- Due to Covid-19, Web check-in is mandatory. You need to choose the seats online and print your own baggage tags and put them up on your bag. Check the updated Covid-19 travel guidelines.
On the Day of Travel
- Keep your Diaper bag ready with extra wet wipes and hand sanitizer. Check the Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist here.
- Pack your snacks and food to avoid buying anything from outside.
- Dress your baby in full sleeves clothes and have an extra pair handy
Arrive early to avoid hustle and get the preferred seats. We prefer seats away from wings. Front rows, if available.
- Wipe the trolleys if baby is to touch them. Prefer to keep the baby in stroller or baby carrier.
- Check-in as many bags as you can and carry only Diaper Bag if you are travelling alone.
- Carry a stroller, it can be handed over at the boarding gate. But you need to fold it to pass through security, so plan accordingly.
- Inform the security if you are carrying pumped milk.
- If baby is formula fed, make bottles after the security.
- Change diaper just before boarding to avoid doing it on flight.
- Plan the feedings during take-off & landing to equalize ear pressure. If baby is fed, use soother to avoid ear block.
- Though priority boarding is available if you are travelling with a child, we prefer to board last as we don’t want to confine the baby till the plane takes off.
- Carry a pillow to make baby comfortable on your lap.
- Ask for baby seatbelt for safety.
Tip: If you are travelling alone with your Little One, go for baby carrier instead of stroller and choose an aisle seat. I know how comfortable it is to use the aisle when the baby is crying, and you are alone.
Here is The Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist to help you pack better.
Travelling By Road
We both love to travel and explore different places and we want our kid to experience it too. Though we can’t travel around the world, given the current pandemic situation, we are still taking road trips to make him familiar with the idea of travelling.
We took our first Road Trip with our boy when he was 5 months old, a 5 hour journey and we never looked back. We have travelled 4,506 KM & 85 hours in last 6-7 months and our boy never complained.
Before you travel
- Get your car checked & serviced before the trip. Make sure the tank is full and tyres are checked before you leave.
- Check the route & avoid rush hours. Check with someone who has travelled or do some research to identify the best route.
- If you are leaving early morning, keep everything ready at night and get enough sleep, especially if you are driving.
- Plan for extra time for unplanned stops to stretch your legs, change baby’s diaper or get some fresh air.
- Use sunshades to avoid sun burns. Magnetic sunshades let you open the windows without removing sunshades and are safer, even at night.
- Put a bedsheet at the backseat till car floor. It prevents you from sticking to the leather car seat and keeps your car cleaner. You can also put a waterproof/ water resistant mat to catch the spill ups.
- Download the songs or save them to make sure you play them even without cell network.
- Use lovely night suit sets for travel as they are comfortable. We dress our kid at night to avoid changing in early morning and then change into other one after lunch so that he feels fresh.
On the day of Travel
- Carry Pillows & Cushions to level the seat for little one for sitting or sleeping.
- Carry extra toys to keep kids engage for a longer time but don’t take them all out at once.
- Carry multiple homemade snacks to avoid eating tantrums. Check out Travel Snacks options for toddlers here. If your kid is on formula feed or cerelac, carry hot water and bowls & spoons.
- If you are breastfeeding, ensure to carry enough liquids to keep yourself hydrated.
- Carry two extra sets of clothes for kids and an extra pair for yourself as you need to be ready for spit ups and spill ups.
- Turn off the AC when weather outside is not warm or dusty and open the windows. A breath of fresh air is good for all and avoids crankiness.
- Give your baby a change of place. Let them sit at the front seat taking all safety precautions.
- Never leave the baby alone in the car.
Tip: Please ensure that you have taken a couple of short distance car rides to make baby familiar with the travel concept, before THE TRIP.
Have you checked The Ultimate Diaper Bag Checklist? Click Here
Travelling by Train
Train journeys are very close to my heart as there are some beautiful memories from my childhood. Train journeys are not really the same as they were in 90’s but we want our kid to experience the joy of train ride too.
We first took the train with him when he was just 3 months old and I hope we can do it again when he is old enough to remember it.
- Book on a direct train and prefer AC coach, if possible.
- Check the train delays and arrive early at the station. You should focus on getting into the train safely with baby and your partner or porter can take care of luggage.
- Carry your own bedsheet & baby blanket
- Check for pantry and carry the food items and water accordingly. Carry homemade snacks for your toddler.
- Dress the baby in full sleeves clothes and make a separate baby bag
- Carry extra toys so that if they are soiled, you have the replacement ready. Engage the baby with moving sights outside the window.
- Baby carriers or baby cots are preferable than strollers for train journeys. You can even carry your toddler in baby carriers so that they don’t run around in the crowd.
- Carry a first aid kit including baby’s medicine for cold & flu as per doctor’s prescription.
- Carry extra garbage bag to dispose soiled diapers.
- Don’t let strangers touch or carry your baby. Always keep the baby in line of sight as it is difficult to keep a tab on a toddler.
- Pack up and keep you luggage ready in one place before the destination. Avoid rushing to the door at last minute when you have baby with you.
Sometimes there aren’t enough tips in the world to save you from a challenging travel experience, as babies often have a grand plan of their own. However, knowing what to expect and having a plan can help make the trip run smoothly even with an super active, energy filled toddler and maybe even make it a fun time.
Please check the updated Covid-19 travel guidelines before your travel.
Don’t forget to pack travel essentials for yourself mommy. Click here to get your checklist !!
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are solely based on author’s experience. Please do not consider it as professional advice.
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