Congratulations! You booked your timeshare and now you are mentally packing your things, ready to take off your next grand adventure…with baby! How fun!
But, at some point, it dawns on you how much (stuff) you have to think of when traveling with your new little. Babies, despite being adorable milk chugging machines, can require quite a bit of gear!
Was this really such a great idea? Should I book a nanny, instead? Possibly. In all seriousness, though, babies are great and, more than likely, there will come a time when you will find life demands bringing baby with you.
So, from one traveling parent to another, let me help make your trip with baby a little easier.
Let’s focus first on the ever-dreaded topic of FLYING with baby.
Early on in the flight, someone usually comes over the intercom to remind you to please remain seated throughout the flight and keep your seat belts fastened, in case you encounter unexpected rough air. That is a good thing to remember when traveling with your little.
Though we may be as prepared as possible, sometimes things happen that there is just no way to anticipate.
For all those other times, here are a few helpful suggestions:
What to Pack (in your diaper bag)
In addition to the usual things you may or may not carry with you on the daily, this is one time you want to make sure to pack a change of clothes for baby…and you! Even if the flight isn’t very long.
In the event of a blowout and/or baby getting sick, it’s nice to be able to change.
On that topic, bring a few gallon Ziplocs for soiled clothes and some type of seal-able plastic bags for soiled diapers.
Bring more diapers (and wipes!) than you think you’d normally use.
Being on a trip with baby in a soiled diaper because this is the one day she went through 10 times more diapers and wipes than normal can be miserable for everyone. So, if she normally uses 5 diapers a day, bring at least 10 with you.
You can usually buy more diapers and wipes at your destination. However, if you’re arriving late at night or at a time when it won’t be convenient to shop for diapers right away, you’ll want to plan for that as well.
If you use pacifiers, be sure to bring AT LEAST two and a pacifier holder. Preferably, one that clips to you or baby so it’s less likely to go missing and/or get dropped when you most need it.
Bring toys and/or books to help entertain baby.
Sometimes a couple of new toys or books are nice, since they can be more interesting for longer periods of time than toys they are used to seeing.
Also, if you have any way to attach toys to you, baby, and/or bag, that can be helpful when they decide to randomly throw the toy when you least expect it.
For this reason, balls are not usually the best toy to have on a plane. Just sayin’.
Also, backpacks make some of the best travel diaper bags – way easier to carry, especially if you have a baby in a carrier and often also rolling a bag behind you.
What about all that baby gear?
As for larger items, a lot of hotels and resorts will have extra cribs or pack ‘n plays you can use once you get there; you just have to know to ask for them. Best to call ahead and reserve it with your room.
If you’re like me and you like to bring one with you, I love our Lotus Travel Crib by Guava Family. It’s a little pricey, but knowing how much we would be traveling, it has been a good investment for our family.
Also, on a recent trip to Maui, we loved having our Summer Infant Pop N’ Jump Portable Activity Center with us.
Really, though, anything you can fit in your suitcase is fair game.
Alright, go grab your diaper bag and let’s pack to make this next flight a success!
Next week, I’ll give you a few tips to help you as you maneuver through the airport and on the plane. Stay tuned!
