Baby’s first adventure: 7 game-changing tips for traveling with a baby
Embarking on your baby’s first trip is a milestone, and believe me, I’m right there with you, in the thick of planning my own little one’s debut journey. I know firsthand the mix of excitement and jitters that comes with traveling with a baby. To ease our collective minds, I reached out to my circle of travel experts—seasoned parents who’ve mastered the art of globetrotting with tots in tow. I’ve compiled the crème de la crème of their tips along with my own experience to create a guide that’s tried, tested, and totally parent-approved.
Choosing your destination is the first step
It’s crucial to consider what kind of vacation you’re after. Are you looking for a peaceful beach retreat to unwind? Or perhaps an adventure that’s easier to manage while your child isn’t yet walking? Pick a place that matches your desires. Also, consider the time zone differences. If your baby isn’t sleeping well yet, staying closer to your time zone can help avoid too much disruption to their routine.
When it comes to flights, direct routes are your friend
Less time spent taking off and landing means a smoother experience for everyone when traveling with a baby. If possible, book a separate seat for your baby to give you both some extra space. For longer flights try to get the bulkead where a bassinet can be attached to provide a safe sleeping space for your little one. Also, planning flight times around your baby’s nap schedule can be a game-changer.
Choosing where to stay is next
Choose accommodations that cater to families with small children. Look for hotels offering cribs, in-room refrigerators for milk and snacks, bottle sterilizers or microwaves, and bottle warmers or a kettle. Some hotels offer additional perks like babysitting, childproofing, and strollers, among others. And for longer stays don’t forget about laundry service – this can be incredibly helpful since babies require frequent changes.
Packing is often the most overwhelming part (at least for me)
Babies come with a lot of gear. Thankfully, most places you’ll visit sell basic baby supplies, so for longer trips, you can buy what you need there. Just pack enough to get through the first few days. Make a comprehensive list: clothes for all weather, plenty of diapers, wipes, baby food, formula, bottles, and favorite toys. In your carry-on, include the essentials for easy access – think enough diapers, wipes, a change of clothes (or two), favorite snacks, and a couple of beloved toys to keep your baby entertained. And remember, always pack extras – with babies, it’s best to be prepared for anything.
When it comes time to the travel day, remember that airline policies are generally baby-friendly
When traveling with a baby you can typically bring a stroller and car seat without extra fees, and sometimes an additional baby item like a diaper bag. Since policies vary, check with your airline in advance. For formula or breast milk, TSA allows more than the standard liquid limit so bring as much as you need for the travel day (and then double or triple it) – just notify the security agent when you start the screening process.
During the trip, maintaining your baby’s routine is key
Bring along familiar items like a special toy or blanket to help with sleep. If you’re dealing with a significant time change, try to gradually adjust your baby’s schedule before you leave. Shift sleep times in 15-minute increments to ease them into the new time zone. Once you arrive, use natural light to help reset their internal clock. Remember, patience is essential – babies will adapt in their own time.
Finally, ensuring the trip is a vacation for everyone, not just baby care in a new (and less convenient) location, is vital
It’s about balance – planning activities that are enjoyable for adults, yet manageable with a baby. For instance, a scenic drive where your baby can nap in the car seat while you take in the views, or a wine tasting at a family-friendly vineyard where kids are welcome. Look for destinations with a mix of sights and relaxation spots, like parks and beaches, where everyone can enjoy themselves at their own pace. Also consider bringing along a nanny or grandparent, or booking a few hours with the hotel’s nanny services to give yourself a breather. This way, you can enjoy a spa day, a leisurely meal at a normal dinner time, or simply some quiet time to recharge.
Remember, it’s also a vacation for you, so don’t overpack your itinerary. Keep plans flexible and allow for spontaneous adventures – sometimes these unplanned moments make for the best memories. Think of it this way: you’re not just hopping from point A to point B. You’re kicking off your kiddo’s travel tales. It’s about those chill afternoons by the sea, the giggles when you discover something awesome together, and the snapshots that’ll fill your family albums. With these top tips, you’re totally equipped to make your baby’s first vacation a joy for everyone. So, buckle up your little one, grab that extra pacifier, and dive into this adventure. Here’s to smooth sailing (or flying!) on your family’s journey.
Kristin Winkaffe
Kristin Winkaffe is the Founder of Winkaffe Global Travel. Winkaffe Global Travel designs extraordinary journeys for travelers seeking transformative, culturally immersive, and conscientiously luxurious travel adventures.
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In the queue for a Gatwick flight to Seville I started chatting with a young mother who had a 7 month old baby.
When I asked if it was the baby’s first flight the mother said that it was his 3rd. She’d already taken him to Sydney to meet his grandparents and had flown on her own as her husband didn’t enough days holiday.
Inspirational!
You’re right about airlines being baby friendly. We’ve only flown twice with our little one and on both trips I was very impressed with how considerate the airline staff were. What was encouraging was that we flew with 2 different airlines. All in all the travel wasn’t too stressful though the fact that all the flights were under 3 hours may have helped.
Luckily I’m past this stage with my kids and with their headphones on they’re not too much trouble on a flight now.
This does bring back memories. At times the logistics of travelling with a baby seemed like a re-run of D-Day.
My first child was a perfect traveller smiled and accepted it all. The second was such a nightmare that we never even attempted it with number three!
This is all very encouraging as we’re trying to pluck up courage to do our first flight with our baby. Thank you for so many sensible tips.
As a passenger who has had some very lengthy delays with 2 flight journeys I totally recommend direct flights. The thought of being stuck in an airport waiting hours with a baby just doesn’t bear thinking about.
My top tip would be to invest in a lightweight stroller that’s easily collapsible and very portable.
Yes, that’s a good call. The only thing is that it won’t have anywhere near as much storage space as your pushchair at home is likely to have. Remember to take a sturdy shoulder bag for all the changing kit, sun cream, snacks and spare clothes etc etc! Going on holiday with young children really is like planning a military invasion.
Before my grandson was born, my son and his wife had plans to take their new born to New Zealand at the age of 6 months.
Once the reality of parenthood had arrived they changed their destination to Alicante and even that short hop proved to be something of a stretch.
The lesson is don’t plan too far ahead. Get to know your baby first.
One of the problems of travelling with your children is that inevitably your ideas of holidays are a hangover from the free days before children. You almost to have to forget everything that you thought you knew about travel and have to start again. Reading this post really carefully could be a good start.
Luckily both of mine were great people watchers so there was enough to keep them occupied for the first hour or two of a flight as long as I got an aisle seat. But I know that flying with kids isn’t as easy for everyone.
This brings back many memories, some good, some bad. We had been great travellers, really adventurous backpackers, before we decided it was time to finally have a family. The impact of kids on our travelling was one of our biggest anxieties. I wish that I’d read these wise tips about 15 years go.