All too often, I hear new parents talk about how much they miss taking vacations. When I ask, “What’s stopping you?”, the answer is always around the lines of “It’s too hard to travel with kids”,”It’s too expensive to travel with kids”, “I honestly don’t know how you do it…”
Well, I’m a strong believer that having a baby doesn’t mean you have to give up your adventurous side. Yes, it can be challenging, but the reward of exploring together as a family makes it all worth it. I’m here to help you with the planning so you can tackle that fear and enjoy the ride! Here are ten tips to get you started:
10. Research your gear
Probably the first challenge of travelling with a baby is figuring out which gear to take and which gear to leave. There is just so much of it! First, make a list of what is absolutely necessary for your child to have. These are the things that you can’t live a day without. I focus on safety and mobility. Strollers, car seats, and baby carriers… The gear you will need will be different at different stages of life for your little one. Once you have your list, start your research. We always look for products that are lightweight and easy to carry or pack. Follow this post to see more recommendations of products we love!
9. Pack Light
This tip will go against every instinct you have. But trust me, by reducing what you have to keep up with, you will be reducing stress! We have been successful multiple times in packing only carry ons for our international adventures. I explain how here. Ultimately, you have to get comfortable with not being fully prepared for every single scenario. Think ahead about what you will wear each day. Plan on washing cloths on the go. It’s pretty easy to go through multiple outfits a day with a baby, but onesies are pretty easy to wash in the sink!
8. Think about food and milk
This planning step is very dependent on each and every child. We are very lucky that Little E isn’t picky. He has been eating whatever we eat since starting solids. We have found that baby food is pretty easy to find in most all countries. However, it might be hard to tell what the ingredients contain. We like to bring baby food pouches for travelling. They are easy to store and less messy. Bring a pack of cheap baby spoons, and you are good to go.
If you are breastfeeding, life will be pretty easy. I always bring a hand pump to use for long public transport rides so I wont have to take my little one out the car-seat. If you are using formula, put it in plastic baggies to make it easier to store. Remember, you are allowed to carry on all baby food, formula, and breastmilk on the plane regardless of the amount! Just be prepared to pull it out for inspection.
If you have a toddler, then snacks are a must! I always make sure to have a snack bag in our day pack. You can find snacks at just about any supermarket you go to. Don’t feel like you have to pack enough snacks for the entire trip.
7. Buy diapers there
You also don’t have to pack enough diapers for the entire trip! I promise! Take enough to get you through the airport and maybe one extra day. I have been able to find diapers everywhere. Even from street vendors in Morocco! Pro tip: It will help to know how much your child weighs in kilograms.
6. Know the essentials
What are the things you can’t buy at any supermarket? This may be dependent on where you are going. The things I like to make sure I have on hand always are baby sunscreen, a child thermometer, children’s Tylenol, baby bug spray, and baby soap. It can be difficult to tell what you are buying when it’s in another language. So, if your child has any skin sensitivities you will want your own products on hand. Just put them in small travel bottles to save space and allow you to carry onto the flight.
5. Don’t forget the entertainment
I never travel with a lot of toys. A couple of your child’s favorite toys and few easy travel toys are all you need. Sticker books, a small bag of plastic animals, and a couple small books have been enough for us. My rule of thumb is that all snacks and toys have to fit into my child’s carry-on backpack (toddler size). This includes his tablet and headphones.
4. Prepare sleeping arrangements ahead
I always pay close attention to amenities when booking hotels. Not all hotels will offer roll away cribs. For us, this is a must. However, if you are going somewhere that you know this isn’t an option… add it to your gear list! Don’t waste time going back to the hotel for naps, get a stroller that leans back and let the naps happen on the go!
3. Understand the local culture
We haven’t been to a country yet that hasn’t been extremely baby friendly. Ask questions to people that you talk to on your trip about how the locals feel about children. Is it OK to breastfeed in public? Is it acceptable to bring babies to nice restaurants? In certain countries, you may be surprised at just how friendly the locals can be. In Argentina, I had a local come pick my baby up and carry him off to show her friends! In Morocco, we were surprised to find out that it was custom for men to kiss children on the head to show affection. And in Lithuania, we saw babies in carriages sitting in alleys by themselves soaking up the sunlight while their parents watched from somewhere out of our sight.
2. Every baby is different
I can’t stress this enough. What has worked for us, may not work for you. You know your child! So, if something I say doesn’t seem right to you, try it your way!
1. Be Flexible and have Patience
No matter which tips work and don’t work for you, you will always need to remember to have patience and to be flexible. Understand that there may be sacrifices you will have to make. I missed out on the Lucha Libre match in Mexico City, because someone had to stay in the hotel with the baby. At the same time, our flexibility has allowed us to get out and see things on the go. Little E has taking plenty of naps in the stroller while we hang out in museums. We have stayed up much later then normal bedtime in order to go to restaurants and have nice dinners. A lot of times, our routine is already messed up by jet lag anyways. So let loose, and be prepared to change plans as needed. You may miss out on a few things, but the bonding you are creating with your family is worth so much more.
Extra tip!
Capture the good, the bad, and the ugly! Yeah I know, Our boys aren’t going to remember these trips. But I will always have these moments captured by my camera to share with them. These are memories that I believe they will treasure forever!
