Travelling With Baby - Tips To Make Life Easier
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Traveling with Your Baby: Essential Tips for a Smooth Journey
It may sound daunting, but traveling with a baby does not have to be a nightmare! A little preparation and forward planning is all you need for a successful trip with your tiny traveler.
Pack the Essentials
There are certain supplies that are essential for any trip with your baby. The most important, of course, is enough food and milk for the journey. Always pack more than you think you'll need and include plenty of finger foods if your baby is old enough — these are great for helping to keep him occupied!
If you are breastfeeding and need to express milk, you can store it in a cooler, with ice, for up to 24 hours. You can also store bottles of pre-made formula in the same way — alternatively, you can add pre-measured powdered formula to the bottles, then top it up with cooled, boiled water as required.
Feeding Options on the Go
Another option is to bring “ready to drink” cartons of formula. Whilst ideal for the journey itself, be aware that you may not be allowed to take these cartons with you into certain countries. Sealed containers of formula do not normally present a problem.
Solid foods can be packed into a cooler, although a better idea is to bring foods with you that you can easily prepare during the journey. Avocados and bananas are good examples, as they can be simply peeled, mashed, and served to your baby at room temperature.
Feeding Equipment and Hygiene
Always bring your own feeding bowls and utensils when traveling with your baby — many eating establishments do not have cutlery appropriate for an infant's use. A travel high chair is incredibly useful too — and means that you can comfortably feed your baby wherever you go. Disposable bibs, or a wipe-clean plastic bib, can be very convenient when traveling and they certainly cut down on the laundry!
If you ask for food or milk to be warmed for you, be very careful to check the temperature on its return. Busy waiters or cabin crew may overheat the food and you will need to wait for it to cool down. With this in mind, ask for any food or milk to be warmed well before you're actually going to need it.
Sterilizing While Traveling
Many parents worry about how to sterilize feeding equipment when traveling with a baby. There are many products available to assist with this — from baby bottle sterilizers, microwave sterilizer bags to disposable bottle liners. Most stores dealing with infant feeding equipment will offer a range of traveling accessories such as these.
Other Baby Travel Essentials
Other essential items for your trip will include diapers/nappies and scented diaper bags. If you're heading to a warm destination, adequate sun protection is a must! Also, consider bringing a small nightlight — if you're breastfeeding, it can be very useful in a dark, unfamiliar hotel room.
Comfort and Clothing Tips
To help your baby cope with the trip and to reassure him in new surroundings, be sure to bring his favorite blanket. This can also serve as a handy curtain to shield an airplane sky cot or bassinet from the light, or for naps in his stroller when out and about.
Dress your baby in light layers when traveling — not only does this make it easier to cope with fluctuating temperatures, but if your baby spills his food, for example, you can easily remove the top layer of clothing. Bring a change of clothes for yourself, too — baby's mess tends to have a habit of transferring itself to his parents!
Final Tip: Enjoy Your Trip!
With some thoughtful preparation and the right essentials, traveling with your baby can be smooth, memorable, and full of happy moments. Enjoy your trip!
