There is many a parent I know who choses not to travel when their child is a baby. I completely respect this decision.
But this post is for those who would like to continue travelling, even after baby, and might be looking for some tips. The tips here are a combo of practicality and inspiration …
5 Tips for Travel with Baby
Tip #1: Try and keep your bedtime rituals going for the evening, but flexibility is the name of the game during the day.
Unlike most adults, babies can sleep just about anywhere.
Tip #3: If you know you’re travel-bound once baby arrives, don’t get him accustomed to food at a certain temperature. Room temperature food is just as yummy and makes eating anywhere possible.
Some places make nicer feeding spots than others!
Tip #5: Budget-conscious travel as a family will often mean going without some of the comforts of home. Accept this before you pack your bags.
Rub-a-dub-dub in the SINK? Water is water.
Jules – share the bottle warming tip when in a hotel room…
When I was a baby my mom used to bathe use in this great big bucket/basin at the cottage. When The Boy was a babe we used to do the same thing. It was a minor calamity when it sprung a leak after 35 years, when my sis went to bathe her wee one in there.
Wish I had some tips before I travelled to Belgium with a 6 and 8 year old boys. Thought I was prepared, but I tell ya the only part of the trip I am blocking out is the plane ride. 8 hours watching flight attendants eat the foods he is allergic to and trying to convince and active boy that sitting for this long is FUN!!!
What can you do???
Kath – oh yes! great idea … I’ll have to share that one soon.
Nat – awww… I like your big bucket at the cottage story. Thanks for sharing!
Stefanie – oh no, sorry to hear the flight was somewhat traumatic for you! Long flights really are THE most challenging part of travelling with kids. In case it helps for another time, what I do is this: if it’s an 8-hour flight, I’ll bring 4 different snacks and 4 different new toys/games/coloring books (this is in addition to a portable DVD player with ear phones!). You have to be very sneaky and make sure your children don’t see the snacks or toys before you get on the plane — they just magically appear each hour. I also walk the aisles alot to burn a bit of energy and stretch the legs. I find that flight attendants fall into two categories — terrible or terrific. So I also bring my own empty water bottles and fill them up from the sink myself so I don’t have to rely on their service.