Traveling Tips with a Baby

As the world slowly begins to open back up, the thought of travel is crossing our minds more and more! Most of us have spent this last year at home, so it makes sense that your family may be eager to take a trip. When thinking about traveling with a new baby, there are often many unknowns! Today we are here to talk about travel tips with a baby, and offer you some tips and tricks to make this experience as easy as possible!

Traveling tips for long car rides

Long car rides with a baby can feel daunting. You may wonder if your baby will cry the entire time, or how to pack all of the items needed, even just for a small getaway! Each baby is different; some sleep well in cars and generally do well in their car seat, and others not so much. If your baby is usually happy in its seat, then traveling with your newborn may be an easier task than you imagine. If your baby is still adjusting to being in their car seat, your car ride may be a bit more complicated. Below are some tips to help!

• Consider planning your drive around babies’ naps; if the drive is longer than one nap cycle, consider finding a plan to stop places around when they wake up and spend time out of the car until their next nap.
• Get a window shade to block out direct sunlight on the side your baby’s seat is on.
• Consider bringing an iPad with a sound machine app to help with babies’ naps.
• If your baby takes a pacifier, be sure to keep these in an easily accessible place.
• Be sure to bring a travel diaper pad, extra diapers, and extra wipes!
• Having an adult sit in the back seat with a baby can help them to stay calm and distracted when awake.
• If you are bottle-feeding, be sure to bring your milk in an easily accessible cooler bag!
• For breastfeeding moms- consider how you are most comfortable feeding at home, and try to bring easy supplies that will help support this on the road, such as a boppy pillow, blanket, etc.!
• Pack the car as best as you can the day before so that you can leave home right when your baby’s nap has started.

Remember, it is hard to predict how your first car ride with your little one will go! The tips above will help with this plan, but every baby is different!

Traveling tips for flying with a new baby

Thinking about your first travel experience with your new baby may be an exciting and overwhelming thought. There is so much to consider when flying with a baby! Below are some helpful tips for babies’ first plane ride!

Before your flight here are some questions to consider:

Will we bring a crib, or will the place we are going have one provided?

Are we traveling out of the country, and if so, do we have a passport for our baby yet?

How will our baby be fed on the plane?

Above are some helpful questions to ask before your first plane ride! These will help you determine and prepare for your trip ahead! Here are some helpful tips and tricks for babies’ first plane ride.

• Try to nurse or give your baby a bottle during take-off and landing. The pressure can affect their ears during this time, and a sucking motion will help. If they take pacifiers, this can help as well!
• Consider bringing a sling or way to wear your baby. That way, you can be hands-free while traveling.
• Bring extra clothes and swaddles for your plane ride.
• keep a diaper bag full of extra diapers, pacifiers, toys, and any extra needed supplies that’s easily accessible ( we recommend storing these right below your seat}
• Consider calling the place you are staying and asking if they have a crib to provide. If so, consider bringing your bedding from home!
• Be sure to check all airport guidelines regarding baby bottles and milk if your baby is exclusively bottle-fed before arriving at the airport.
• Try and enjoy!
• Consider downloading a sound machine app to your phone to help with white noise on the plane

Traveling with your new baby can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience! Try to enjoy the fun moments, and remember that the complicated and overwhelming moments will pass! Don’t forget to take lots of pictures. If your family is going on vacation and you feel like help from an expert may be beneficial, please don’t hesitate to contact our team! Our doulas often travel with families!

Thank you for tuning into this week’s blog, “Traveling tips with a baby.” For more helpful tips on all things pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and parenthood, please visit our other weekly blogs!